Remarks by Michelle Bushnell
116 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 4 of 5
Second, and I do want to say congratulations and welcome aboard to our two new department heads.
Thank you. I like to see these things. It's working lands, and it definitely is a benefit for the landowner to be able to retain generational amounts of lands. And TPZ is a good exemption for folks that commercially harvest their timber. So I'm glad to see this property come forward.
I just want to thank you as well. The animal shelters, it can be a really heart-wrenching place to work, and it takes special people, and it's so important to the community. I've seen lots of dogs from the shelter up there get reunited, which is really important, and that they've been safe until their owners can be found, which is a key thing for folks too. So congratulations on your retirement, and I hope you get to enjoy your family a little bit more.
Sure, so I just want to say thank you to your department. I know several people that have, I don't think otherwise would have been able to get their child support, and it really can be a stressful thing for families, and I know that this department especially has really helped a lot with the process. So thank you.
Thank you. I just wanted to comment on item six in the consent calendar, the update on the sheriff's oversight committee and the ad hoc, which is supervisor Arroyo and myself. And we have met quite robustly in the last month and a half and met with Eureka PD and our sheriff Hansel and are making headway and good positive feedback with the sheriff as well. and we're continuing that work. We are asking for a little bit of, we're gonna extend it just a little bit because the work's so important, and we're having just really good feedback from the sheriff and from Eureka PD, and just want, we've…
Thank you. So I would like some feedback from the board. Supervisor Madrone and myself along with outside counsel and CAO worked really hard and diligent on this item and we concluded last Tuesday after our board meeting and Supervisor Madrone was very satisfied according to his own statement so this statement that he has made today is a bit of a shock to me and I'm looking for guidance from the board whether you would like to go through this item and see if we can get it adopted or if you would like to continue this item and perhaps we can try to reconvene the ad hoc and see what's going on.…
Through the chair. Thank you. So you weren't asked about this because there was an ad hoc and we couldn't, we couldn't ask you and that's why you weren't asked about it. I don't think there's any nuggets in here and it's a very straightforward policy with some improvements and some some guidelines that were talked about during a couple of hearings that happened at this board. And I think that Supervisor, I know that Supervisor Madrone and I did a lot of work around this and we're very thoughtful and not to have this item weaponized, which was what one of the issues was prior to with the old…
The two things that both of you asked, the 2-2, if there is a 2-2 vote, then the supervisor, a supervisor, has an opportunity then to bring a separate item that would be guided by the Board of Supervisors majority vote, which could be three, and that was to be able to get away from that to two or not have any action. So that safeguard was put in there for that reason. And around, it kind of goes around a statement that I said that I don't feel like you're judge and juries and that, with you would need a super majority for a vote of censure, so this gets away from that, but you could bring…
Thank you. So the option is to keep the one we have, which there are some issues with it, or to adopt a new one. We did look at other counties and use some reference. We also used legal counsel and brought this new version forward that is takes care of some of the holes that you just talked about, Supervisor Bone, which is including having three department heads and a CAO that work for this board directly and taking that item away from them that yes, everybody is human and it is a sticky situation for them and uncomfortable. They've done it with great integrity and have really followed the…
Thank you. Currently, the advisory committee that we have of three, one is recusing because of conflict issues that were brought up, the reason why we're doing this. And I think involving, we all have different relationships with our electeds, equal electeds, and it also would be a personnel issue. And so I don't know how you get around that complaint issue. and not have personnel involved. And that's why we talked about when you get a complaint, it's a personnel issue. It's not something that the whole world gets to know right away because if it's not factual. So last Tuesday, this is why we…
Thank you. I just, around what Supervisor Bone said, I would just like to ask the CAO what her thoughts are around that topic, because we talked about it in our ad hoc a lot.
I'm gonna make a motion to accept staff recommendations around the code of conduct.
I asked him to build in 15 minutes so we could have a little break before we go in, if that's okay with the chair.
Well, thank you all. We'll get out of your hair. Thank you so much. Thank you. Take care. Nice to see you. Thank you. Grab my bag. OK.
Thank you. I already, I'm not going to read it today, but I already delivered the resolution and attended their party down there. It was great. And really value the Bembo Inn and what it brings to Humboldt County and Southern Humboldt and the traditions that they have kept there with their designs and remodels. They do a great job.
I'll make a motion to accept the consent calendar. And I also want to just reference to the multiple projects from Public Works that are Measure O funded. And across the county, you can see a lot of road work going on right now with those funds. And so I want to thank the public for voting for that and that it's making a difference on our county roads.
Thank you. I just want to say that I think the community from the Southern humble area, it's been a long process and you've been very patient and hopefully we can get some somewhere today with this and move forward and you guys feel hurt. So I appreciate you being here again today.
Well, I hate to buck your system, but I would prefer to hear public comment to get my thoughts around things.
Thank you. So I have a question around the temporary moratorium. My understanding is that the Q zone currently, and I think you've talked with your staff, John, but a special permit will be required. And that my understanding is the moratorium wouldn't need to happen because the process is going to be followed. I know some of the commenters said, you know, there was a disconnect, which I think we all agree. And can you comment on that, please?
Thank you. I think it's really important that we recognize that hazardous trees do happen and that we allow that process. And with the Q Zone in place, the public and the Planning Commission can weigh in and the documentation that's required if there is another application for hazardous tree removal will be followed, correct? Correct. Okay. And then secondly, I wanted to address one of the commenters with the information not getting to you. So we worked really hard to get the information out. It was on KMUD, it was on Red Headed Black Belt, Director Ford emailed. the Lower Redway community…
Okay, so I wanted to ask additionally because I want to make sure that the public input process is going to happen. And so what does that look like for you guys getting the public process input happening?
Let me interrupt because is there an additional item just to really get it out there that needs to be here to make sure that that process happens?
Okay. Well given that, and you know, I, I like this list. I'm going to make a recommendations for, I'm going to make a motion for staff recommendations, a through E including three and add also that we include a working committed, an open working committee to talk about the Q zone in the lower Redway and larger area of Humboldt County.
Yeah, the motion maker is a minimal to that, and I don't want to micromanage the process, so I didn't mean to have you use just one committee. I want you to use what you need to get to where the county needs to be with these ordinances.
Can I comment on that quickly as the motion maker?