Supes to talk COVID-19 response
Board to also discuss auditor-controller's office staff and Project Trellis
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will consider several pertinent agenda items during the board’s meeting Tuesday. The board will consider adoption of the “Healthy Communities Resolution,” an alternative to the state’s overarching response to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with a staffing analysis regarding the Humboldt County AuditorController’s Office and updates to Project Trellis, the county’s cannabis micro-grant, marketing and local equity program. Healthy Communities Supervisors will consider a resolution from 1st District Supervisor Rex Bohn to join other California counties in supporting the “Healthy Communities Resolution” related to the state’s COVID-19 response.
The “Healthy Communities Resolution” follows four guiding principles, according to the staff report:
• “That our county is best served by an ability to respond locally to the COVID-19 virus in accordance with local data and circumstances, as specified in the attestation filed with the California Department of Public Health.
• That our county is geographically diverse and ill-suited for the county-wide restrictions imposed by the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, and the state should enable COVID19 response to be tailored to geographically separate areas, such as different zip codes, as circumstances and case levels warrant.
• That school districts in our jurisdiction are urged to safely open all schools as soon as possible” and provide in-person instruction to the greatest extent possible without further delay.
• That our county requests an extension of time beyond Dec. 31, 2020, to encumber and spend our federal CARES funds, to which we are entitled by law, consistent with our respective local plans and programs.”
The “Healthy Communities Resolution” calls for more flexibility for individual communities responding to COVID-19 rather than the “one-size-fits-all” approach taken by the state in its Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Auditor- Controller During Tuesday’s meeting, the board will return to its discussion surrounding its internal investigation into the Humboldt County Office of the Auditor- Controller. The board will review and discuss
staffing related to the Auditor- Controller’s Office.
During the board’s Oct. 13, 2020, meeting, a report from staff outlines Auditor- Controller Karen Paz Dominguez’s request for three additional permanent positions to be added to her office: one assistant Auditor- Controller, one senior accountant- auditor and one executive secretary.
“At this meeting, the board directed staff to return with classification reviews to include relevant licensure and government code, and return with longterm support recommendations,” according to the staff report.
The staff report includes a timeline beginning with the Auditor- Controller’s request for additional staff on Oct. 13, 2020, up to Jan. 6, 2021. The report also includes budget and staffing comparisons to several other California counties.
The board will also consider an operational realignment study.
“When an organization is serious about change management, a road map for change must be developed and defined,” the staff report noted. “It is important to distinguish change management from organization development with the latter using scientific tools to diagnose organizational health, usually on an on-going basis.”
Project Trellis
The board will also consider two items relating to Project Trellis, Humboldt County’s cannabis microgrant, marketing and local equity program. The board will review the Bureau of Cannabis Control’s local equity program and spending plan and consider the establishment of the Cannabis Micro- Grant & Loan Advisory Committee.
The board previously approved a 10% allocation of Measure S funds for the project that included a 15% allocation to the county’s local equity program, according to the staff report. In addition, the local equity program will receive $1.3 million from the Bureau of Cannabis Control and $2.4 million from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Office of Business.
“The attached spending plan gives greater clarity for $1.3 million and adoption of this plan does not adversely impact the overall Project Trellis budget nor the General Fund,” the staff report noted.
The second agenda item will establish a Cannabis Micro- Grant & Loan Advisory Committee. The same 10% allocation of Measure S funds will offset the increased cost of staff time required for the committee’s 12 meetings. According to the staff report, “The estimated staffing cost for the remainder of the fiscal year is $7,378 and have been included in the fiscal year 2020-21 Adopted Budget.”
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday. The agenda can be accessed at https://humboldt.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.