Supervisors adopt ‘Vax or Test’ policy for all employees

UKIAH >> During the Board of Supervisors meeting Aug. 3, the board adopted a resolution to declare the intent of Mendocino County to reduce and eliminate the carbon footprint of the buildings, with an initial investment of $2 million. The board also directed the Mendocino County Human Resources department to update its COVID-19 policy to ask for proof of vaccination from employees, and a frequent testing policy for unvaccinated employees.

According to Geof Syphers, CEO of Sonoma Clean Power, the carbon footprint resolution would focus on installing solar electricity panels with backup battery storage systems on public buildings, increasing the number of electric vehicle chargers throughout the county, and switching busses to fuel-cell or electric vehicles.

Installing solar electricity panels on public buildings is intended to help cut the reliance on PG&E and cut county power costs.

Adding more public electric vehicle chargers is intended to help with tourism. With car manufacturing companies focusing more on electric vehicles, future tourists will need fast chargers on their vacations. Towns with more chargers will attract more tourists, as the tourists can spend more time vacationing and less time trying to charge their cars, Syphers said.

According to Syphers, the executive director of the Mendocino Transit Authority, Jacob King, assured him that switching the busses to electric was a feasible goal.

Syphers said surveys and petitions were sent out to the public, and received overwhelming support for these ideas. More than 650 residents signed the petitions, and 40-plus major businesses and civic organizations voiced their support.

The board will decide on how this project will be funded when more information about the rest of the budget is settled, though it’s likely that much of the funding will come from a PG&E settlement.

Dr. Andy Coren, Mendocino County Public Health Officer, recommended that the board direct the Mendocino County HR department for a COVID-19 policy with proof of vaccination and frequent testing for unvaccinated employees. This is to serve as an example for all other employers within Mendocino County.

According to Coren, Mendocino County’s COVID-19 rate jumped up significantly in July. The California Department of Public Health has recently recommended indoor masking, and on July 28, California extended the “Vax or Test” policy to all state workers. The board will also adopt a Vax or Test policy with all county employees.

The board meeting lost power midafternoon, so some information was not attainable. This newspaper reached out to officials for clarification but did not receive comment back by publication.