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The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors returned to the contentious and somewhat complex subject of short-term rentals (Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.) during this week’s regular meeting. 

A little over a month ago, the board adopted a 45-day urgency ordinance that placed a temporary ban on new short-term rentals (dwelling units that are rented to guests for 30 consecutive days or less) to give staff time to form new rules for such uses. During this week’s regular meeting, the board considered a 22-month extension to the urgency ordinance.

“The purpose of this is to discourage people from rushing to initiate short-term rentals during the period when an ordinance is being adopted,” Planning Director John Ford explained. “The adoption of the moratorium and the extension of the moratorium do not change the way the county is going about treating short-term rentals. … It is important that the regulations do get adopted and that we’re able to proceed without having to have people arguing about whether or not they’re pre-existing or not.”

First District Supervisor Rex Bohn asked whether the proliferation of short-term rentals “has reached the level where we need to have [an] ordinance or a moratorium going forward,” noting that he has not seen much of an interest in short-term rentals in the unincorporated areas of his district.

“I’ve never gotten a lot of complaints,” he said. “I mean, I’ve had some issues [and] we’ve talked to you and we’ve addressed. I think the way we do this is we address an issue. … If you have one bad apple, you don’t throw the whole bushel out. You know, you try to save what you can.”

Ford | Screenshot

Ford, however, stated that the county receives “a consistent flow of complaints” regarding short-term rentals. “In the last five weeks, we received five, so we’ve received about one per week,” he said.

While the exact number of short-term rentals in Humboldt County is unknown, Ford estimated during the board’s June 6 meeting that there are roughly 1,000 short-term rentals operating in the county, most of which are unpermitted. 

Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell also raised similar concerns about how the ordinance would impact rural communities where “housing is now abundant and people are struggling to pay their mortgages.” 

Ford acknowledged the difference in the number of short-term rentals in urban versus unincorporated areas of the county. “Rural areas have a different set of needs,” he said.

“There should be some different criteria in the more rural areas versus areas that are really concentrated around [Humboldt] Bay, which are more characteristic of neighborhoods,” he said. “In areas where maybe the economy is struggling a little bit more, maybe some discretion – more discretion – could be allowed to allow there.”

Fourth District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo spoke in favor of limiting short-term rentals, noting that she “actually knows several people who have been displaced from units that have been renovated and turned into short-term rentals.”

“Part of that was that there is a cap under the Tenant Protection Act where you can’t raise rents more than ten percent or five percent plus the cost of living change, whichever is lower, over a 12-month period,” Arroyo said. “I do think there are some bad actors who are using the opportunity to renovate and then turn something into a vacation rental to get around that. … I think since we’re seeing some shortage of housing, there’s no financial incentive for that.”

Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson emphasized that the item before the board was an extension to the short-term rental moratorium – “an extension that already exists” – and would not change existing property owners’ ability to operate an existing short-term rental, “It is just to prevent a rush to create new [rentals] while the county is developing a draft ordinance.”

“This was done to address an issue that, in other jurisdictions, where some property owners rush to convert long-term rentals – where people are living – into [short-term rentals] before what they perceive is a deadline for potential grandfathering of existing units,” Wilson continued. “This has, in many cases, caused the displacement of long-term renters, sometimes families with children and we’re … then we will have done our job.”

Fifth District Supervisor and Board Chair Steve Madrone acknowledged Bohn and Bushnell’s concerns about how the ordinance would impact rural residents. “It varies all over the county as to what’s actually going on and in Southern Humboldt, in the middle of where the cannabis industry has been struggling, there are a lot of units available.” However, he said, Fifth District residents are being displaced.

“I can tell you, in the Westhaven area, [short-term rentals are] absolutely displacing many residents,” Madrone said. “I’ve had many calls from people that are very desperate and, once they get displaced, they have a very difficult time finding new housing because the market around the [Humboldt] Bay area and here in the northern Humboldt/Trinidad area, it is pretty saturated in terms of demand.”

Arroyo asked about the timeline for the county to adopt the ordinance. Ford noted that the 22-month and 15-day extension to the temporary moratorium “is kind of the maximum amount of time” the county would need considering staff are tentatively planning to present the draft ordinance to the Board of Supervisors by the end of the year.

“We’re going to go down to Southern Humboldt on Aug. 9 [and] we’re going to have a meeting in the greater Eureka area on Aug. 16,” he said. “We’re looking at having a Planning Commission workshop on Sept. 7 and … that will start public hearings with the Planning Commission. Presumably by the end of this year, it’ll be in front of the Board of Supervisors.”

After quite a bit of back-and-forth discussion, Arroyo made a motion to approve staff’s recommendation “as written.” Wilson seconded the action, adding, “At the very least, these conversations are signaling and advertising that we’re having this conversation and that people should come in and be part of it.”

The board voted 3-2, with Bohn and Bushnell dissenting, to approve staff’s recommendation. But because the item required a four-fifths vote for approval, it did not pass. 

Madrone questioned whether the board would be able to pass the affirming motion. “I don’t think you need a four-fifths vote to affirm that you can’t get a four-fifths vote, if that makes sense,” Ford replied.

The board went back and forth on the subject for a bit longer. Eventually, Wilson made a motion to deny the moratorium extension but affirm the board’s intention to maintain June 6, 2023, as the date by which preexisting uses will be established. Any ordinance that the county comes up with will distinguish between short-term rentals that were operating before that date and afterward. Arroyo seconded the motion.

The board voted 3-2, with Bohn and Bushnell dissenting, to approve the convoluted action. 

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PREVIOUSLY: Humboldt Supervisors Shoot Down Billboard Ban (For Now), Approve Temporary Short-Term Rental Moratorium and Proposed Budget for Next Year

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Other notable bits from Tuesday’s meeting:

• The board received a report from staff regarding the Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury’s recent investigation into the county’s Child Welfare Services division. The board reviewed the Grand Jury’s recommendations and discussed what the county has to address some of the issues outlined by the Grand Jury. Staff acknowledged that there were some aspects that the county could not presently address, including staffing issues in the division and budget limitations.
• The board also approved several minor amendments to the county’s solid waste collection franchise agreements with Recology Humboldt County, Recology Eel River and the Humboldt Sanitation Company for Fiscal Year 2023-24.
• The board passed a retirement resolution acknowledging the invaluable work of Anne Holcomb, the recently retired executive director of Food for People.

For 25 years, some of California’s best-known early childhood services have been funded by an almost ironic source: Taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products.

That was the deal voters made when they passed Proposition 10 in 1998, levying a tobacco tax and dedicating the money for programs that would help families with young children.

The arrangement was never supposed to last forever. Advocates for youth services have known from the beginning that fewer people would smoke over time, and the funding would fall.

Now, the money for so-called First 5 California programs is starting to plummet and First 5 leaders around the state say they are beginning to trim their budgets and cut back on programs. The trend is accelerating following last year’s approval of Proposition 31 to uphold a state law banning the sale of flavored tobacco products, compelling youth programs to adjust their budget assumptions.

“We all expect revenues to go down, the question is what will be the magnitude,” said Michael Ong, chair of the state’s Tobacco Education and Research Oversight Committee.

The cuts are unfolding in different ways based on local decisions. For example, the First 5 in Stanislaus County most recently cut one of its PlanetBaby! programs, which provide support for pregnant women and moms of babies up to a year old. That comes in addition to other recent funding cuts for programs supporting foster children and dental health services.

First 5 funds a broad number of programs in partnership with nonprofits, local hospitals, clinics and county health and education offices. Services vary by county, but some of the programs they fund include: children’s mobile immunization clinics, dental services, developmental screenings, family case management, parenting classes, and home visits from a nurse for first-time mothers.

First 5 California revenue falling

By 2026, the First 5 Association of California expects to receive almost 30% less from tobacco tax compared to 2021. It came up with yearly projections based on updated tobacco tax estimates from the state’s Department of Finance.

Last spring, First 5 projected it would receive approximately $348 million from California’s cigarette taxes this budget year. After voters passed the flavored tobacco ban, updated estimates show that First 5 expects to receive $38 million less than that.

By 2026 that number could go down to $280 million, according to the projections. How much of that each local First 5 gets is based on a formula that takes into account a county’s birth rate.

It’s far less than First 5 received from tobacco taxes two decades ago. In 1999-2000, First 5 received about $690 million in tobacco tax revenue, the most ever, according to First 5 California.

“We all expect revenues to go down, the question is what will be the magnitude.”
— Michael Ong, chair of the state’s Tobacco Education and Research Oversight Committee

California tacks on $2.87 tax to each standard pack of cigarettes. From 1989 to 2019, California’s smoking rate among adults has dropped from 22% to 10%, according to UCSF research.

Experts say tobacco tax projections should be taken cautiously as revenues are difficult to forecast immediately after a major change, such as the flavored tobacco ban.

Ong, chair of the state tobacco oversight committee, said First 5s would ideally try to diversify their sources of revenue if they can. “But that’s a pretty tall order for county governments,” Ong said.

Statewide, tobacco tax dollars make up about 73% of First 5’s annual budget, although this largely varies by county. For example, First 5 in Kern County relies almost entirely on tobacco taxes. Meanwhile, the First 5 in Monterey County said in its most recent annual report that almost 40% of its funding now comes from grants and philanthropy.

How to replace tobacco tax money

Last month, a Kern County grand jury released a report where it determined that its local First 5 would need to find additional revenue streams, other than tobacco, “to offset this downward spiral.” One possibility, according to the report: have California and local governments increase alcohol taxes.

And while taxes aren’t an easy sell to voters, especially in a red county like Kern, it’s important to consider all options, said Amy Travis, executive director of First 5 Kern County.

“We know it (tax) works,” said Travis. “We know tobacco use is declining, so I think it’s a matter of asking what’s next? Is that alcohol, marijuana, sugary beverages?”

Shammy Karim, executive director at First 5 Stanislaus County said any new funding stream should come at the state level to maintain some uniformity and equity in the types of services available in all 58 counties.

“I used to work in Santa Clara County, and in Santa Clara County, I could reach out to Google or Apple or other Silicon Valley organizations and say, here’s what I need. And most of the time, I would get it,” Karim said. “I don’t have the opportunity to do that here.”

“We know tobacco use is declining, so I think it’s a matter of asking what’s next? Is that alcohol, marijuana, sugary beverages?”
— Amy Travis, executive director of First 5 Kern County

In Orange County, some immediate cuts are coming in the form of less funding for nonprofits that run shelter beds for families with young children.

“We didn’t pull the rug underneath them but we have been working on a plan to reduce our funding in the homeless services arena,” said Kim Goll, the executive director of First 5 Orange County. While First 5 is not the only funder of these shelter services, losing their share could result in less staffing, for example, Goll said.

“Our community will feel those cuts and we’ll be a smaller organization because of the flavor ban.”

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CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Jesse Rey Trinidad Martinez passed away unexpectedly on July 9th, 2023 at the age of 44. Jesse was born on November 29, 1978 in Arcata. He was a lifelong resident of Trinidad and enrolled tribal member of the Trinidad Rancheria. Jesse was of Yurok/Karuk descent and was extremely proud of his Native American heritage. Jesse was currently a student at the College of the Redwoods and was just a year shy of graduating with a degree in business accounting/restaurant management.

Being the oldest and only brother to his four sisters, Jesse would often joke about how he was always surrounded by girls, yet he really loved all of his sisters. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for them and was super close with them all. He was very protective of his sisters, which everyone knew that about him. Jesse was a mama’s boy at heart even if he didn’t necessarily like being called that. Our family would often joke that he was our mom’s favorite child. Jesse was very close with his mother and had always stuck by her side throughout the years. After his father passed away, he really stepped up to make sure his mother was always taken care of. Jesse had lived and taken care of his mother up until his passing. His only child, Alayna, was also his pride and joy, his baby, his everything. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for her, she was his rock. They enjoyed watching TV together, playing video games, cooking meals together, and going to the movies.

Jesse’s number one passion was cooking, especially BBQ food. He was such a great cook, he cooked better than anyone his family. He also loved football in which he was a die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fan. Jesse’s other interests included; fishing, hunting, working out at the gym, hiking, listening to music and hanging out with friends. Everyone who knew Jesse looked up to him. A leader to so many, he was the most coolest and nicest guy around. He was the life of the party and was the most fun guy to be around. Many would say Jesse was always the most strongest and toughest guy in the room. He was the type of guy you’d want to have your back. Jesse had a heart of gold and truly cared about others. He was also the best story teller. In particular, Jesse was really good at imitating other people’s voices which made all of his stories that much more entertaining. He was one of a kind — a great brother, father, son, uncle, and friend.

We are really going to miss you, Jesse, for our protector and lifeline is now gone. We will never forget all of our precious memories together and the all special .mes that we shared. We love you brother, we know this isn’t the end and that we will one day all be together again. Jesse is survived by his mother Kim Martinez, daughter Alayna Martinez, his sisters Trina (Joe) Mathewson, Lisa Martinez, Brianne (Anthony) Ulmer, and Amanda Martinez. His Uncle Keith (Erica) Ervin & Don Ervin. His Aunt Frances (Corey) Pederson and his Grandpa Craig Ervin. His nieces Reya Mathewson and Sophia Ulmer. His nephews Brenden and Talon Bates & Joey and Makoah Mathewson. He is also survived by his girlfriend Toni Mericle as well as many numerous cousins/extended relatives.

Jesse is preceded in death by his father, Rey Martinez, grandmother, Carol Ervin and cousin Tawny Ervin. Funeral services for Jesse will be held on Saturday, June 22 at 1 p.m. at Paul’s Chapel in Arcata. Following the service, a burial ceremony will take place at the Trinidad Cemetery. Lastly, please come join us for a reception in honoring Jesse’s life that will take place at the Trinidad Town Hall at 4 p.m. on the same day. The reception will be potluck style/BBQ themed, so feel free to bring your favorite dish.

In lieu of flowers, a GoFundMe account was created for the Martinez family in which any donations will go towards funeral costs and in supporting his family during this difficult time. Here is the link to the GoFundMe- https://gofund.me/41753e14

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Is the City of Fortuna ready for roundabouts? 

It depends on whom you ask. A recent social media post proved divisive on that question, though the conversation was based on a couple of conceptual designs that have not been (and may never be) approved.

Still, the post quickly racked up nearly 100 comments, with sentiments ranging from supportive (“That’s actually the best use I’ve seen for a roundabout”) to incredulous (“I hope this is a joke”) to vehemently opposed (“NOO!!!).

One photo in particular seemed to leave people scratching their heads:

In an email, Fortuna City Manager Merritt Perry explained that this “photo simulation” doesn’t depict an approved design. Rather, it’s a conceptual image from a proposal submitted to the city by engineering firm GHD in a bid to perform preliminary design and permitting work.

The caption that accompanied the social post claimed that the roundabouts are “Coming soon,” which is also not quite accurate. Roundabouts may eventually be built at two major interchanges of Fortuna streets near Highway 101, but even under the most optimistic timeline neither project will be completed for at least five years, according to Fortuna Public Works Director Brendan Byrd.

”If we got grant funding magically tomorrow, the earliest construction [start date] would probably be three to four years [away],” he said, adding that the work itself would likely take another 18-24 months. 

Fortuna staffers have been working since at least 2010 — with Caltrans, the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG), the public and other stakeholders — on ways to improve and “modernize” the Kenmar and 12th Street interchanges with Highway 101, with the goals of enhancing traffic flow and safety while increasing pedestrian and bike connectivity on both sides of the highway. 

In a phone interview, Byrd said the city’s 2010 General Plan Update found those two interchanges would soon be outmoded. In fact, they’re already problematic. 

“There’s no bike or pedestrian connectivity, and during peak hours there can be traffic backups, sometimes onto the highway,” Byrd said, adding that the confluence of Hwy. 101, 12th Street and Newburg Road can get “pretty dicey sometimes.”

A project study completed in 2021 found that during peak traffic hours, there’s a poor “level of service” at the 12th Street interchange as a result of closely spaced, stop-controlled intersections. Furthermore, this interchange has no bicycle or pedestrian facilities and the various intersections can be confusing to visitors, the study found.

In March, the Fortuna City Council approved an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND, a type of environmental review) for an improvement plan at the Kenmar Road interchange, though at the time the plan was only about 30 percent designed, and the funding to complete it has yet to be identified.

Staff continues to work on the preliminary design and permitting phases for redesign projects at both interchanges, using funding from a sustainable communities grant administered through Caltrans. Engineers have come up with a range of designs that could improve performance at the interchanges, and almost all of them involve roundabouts.

For example, here’s a design that includes two roundabouts at Kenmar:

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Civil engineers say these circuitous traffic features would solve many of the existing problems at these points of traffic confluence. With the Kenmar project, the city has yet to secure funding for final design, right-of-way work or construction, though Byrd said there are some promising possibilities from the federal government, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and other economic stimulus legislation from the Biden administration.

Both projects will be expensive. Byrd said it will likely cost $25 million to complete all phases of the Kenmar improvement project. And the interchange upgrades at 12th Street?

“I imagine that one could be upward of double that amount,” Byrd said, noting the project’s huge footprint and the necessary structural modifications to the overpass.

Meanwhile, the Great Redwood Trail Agency has expressed concerns about public safety, pedestrian and bike access and the potential for roundabouts to interfere with the railbanking process, which is intended to keep the railroad right-of-way intact in case trains ever make an unlikely return through the Eel River Valley.

“We put a lot of thought into the design for how to navigate bike and pedestrian access through there,” Byrd said of the Kenmar project. Staff will continue to coordinate with the GRTA and other agencies as these projects move forward.

City staff is also working with adjacent landowners, including Clendenen’s Cider Works and Sequoia Gas.

“We’ve got a long way to go,” Byrd said.

Do you wonder why Cal Poly Humboldt students are living in motel rooms in Valley West? They are there because of Arcata’s lack of housing, and lack of will to develop housing. Take the loss of the Village Student Housing Project at the former Craftsman’s Mall site. You may remember that members of our community, our past Planning Commission, and our past City Council killed the project after three years of effort. If the Village had been approved, it would be built and in use today, housing nearly 700 students within walking distance of the campus.

The Arcata Planning Commission held 12 meetings and certified the Environmental Impact Report but ultimately denied the project. The developer went before the Arcata City Council with a substantial redesign to the project, and the Environmental Impact Report review. The project was not approved. The developer spent nearly a half-million dollars in the process, including accommodating public input regarding design and scope to no avail, finally throwing up their hands and walking away. The warning, “Do not touch Arcata” spread like wildfire amongst California’s development community professionals.

In the end, the Village developer contacted Cal Poly and offered their plans and documents. The existing dire need for housing in Humboldt, coupled Cal Poly’s plans for expanding student enrollment, meant they could meet some of their housing needs with the former Craftsman’s Mall project – without City government approval, permits or public input.

As for the City of Arcata, the defeat of the Village Project significantly impacted the City of Arcata’s coffers: no property tax allocation (Cal Poly is not required to pay them), reduced sales tax, and no development fees (which again, Cal Poly is not required to pay). Arcata’s general funds are comprised of sales tax, bed tax, and fees for services to support a balanced budget.

The lengthy debacle of the Village Project was disheartening and set housing for students back by three years. It is fortunate that Cal Poly was able to secure the property and be under construction to provide modern student housing with amenities.

Arcata has long been affected by the lack of housing. Rents continue to soar and consequently make Arcata unaffordable for many households. Unaffordable rents in Arcata and all of Humboldt County cause more people to become houseless.

The Arcata Gateway Plan, which is part of the General Plan, is part of the work being done to address our housing issues. The City Council asked the Planning Commission to provide an update on the proposed plan by July. Planning Commission Chair Scott Davis will make a presentation to the Council on Wednesday, July 19th.

Public commentors thought it was unreasonable to expect the Planning Commission to meet the July deadline even though the Commission had been working through the plan for two years. They did meet the deadline, and they should be thanked and congratulated.

Gateway supporters know we need more housing for a place to live. They also know that more housing means more people to support our business community – our retail stores, restaurants, music venues, movies, Arcata Playhouse productions, and non-profit events.

Many studies show that access to housing is important for a healthy community, and housing affordable to all income levels is necessary for Arcata to thrive.

Change is inevitable and can be hard, yet it is something I have seen and been a part of since I came to this community in 1971. If changes over the last half century had not occurred, what would Arcata look like today? Are you wondering? Fifty years from now, what will people say about how we are managing change today?

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Alex Stillman is a member of the Arcata City Council.

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It’s been over six years since the county shuttered the John Haynes Memorial Veterans Hall in Garberville — a once-vibrant gathering spot for Southern Humboldt residents — due to an infestation of black mold, a proliferation of toxic materials including lead and asbestos, along with other structural deficiencies following years of deferred maintenance. 

The building sat for years before, in June of 2021, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted to demolish and reconstruct a slightly smaller version of the original building. Today, the board unanimously agreed to execute a contract with Medford-based architectural firm ORW Architecture, Inc., to design the new building.

The entire project is expected to clock in at approximately $3,087,325, which includes hazardous materials abatement, demolition and design of a new veterans hall. The two-year consultant services agreement with ORW Architecture will cost the county an estimated $315,000 in funding from the county’s 2020 Finance Plan. 

During the ensuing board discussion, Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson, who requested the item to be pulled from the consent calendar for further discussion, asked whether staff had sought partners to help fund the project.

“I think that we also owe it to our, you know, the citizenry as a whole in the county to make sure that we are reducing the debt on something like this,” Wilson said. “Right now, the plan is for financing this at the tune of three or three-and-a-half million dollars … with interest rates – as we see it – [of] $250,000 a year for 20 years. … I just want to make sure that we’re looking at programming elements to this that are pretty broad … and if we’re programming all of these things, that [there are] a lot of external touchpoints with real relationships to other potential partner agencies.”

Public Works Director Tom Mattson reminded the board that the subject before them was “really just the award of the architectural contract” and said his department would look into Wilson’s request but said, “We don’t have that specialty in Public Works.”

“Doing that kind of fundraising is really a special job,” Mattson said. “It’s more than just being an engineer, it’s being the kind of person who can get out in the community, can meet with all the different groups. We just don’t have that capability within Public Works, frankly. It probably exists within the county somewhere. I think it’s a good idea, but I think it’s something we need to come back and discuss with the board on a completely separate agenda item.”

Wilson felt the architectural agreement should be informed by the needs of the agencies and organizations that will be offering services in the new building, not decided after the agreement is already signed. “Otherwise, it’s just drawing lines on paper and guessing,” he said.

“If that needs assessment and that programmatic element is looking at things that will have a nexus with [the Department of Health and Human Services] DHHS or [the Office of Emergency Services] OES, in terms of offering spaces for those things …  that’s the moment when we ask those programs and those partners ‘Do you have funding to assist in the capital part [of this project]?’ because that’s generally where you do [or] do not get the funding,” Wilson said. “I feel that this is the moment where we do that on this project.”

Mattson said he understood where Wilson was coming from, adding that he and his staff would reach out to Southern Humboldt veterans to see what they need and seek additional funding sources accordingly.

Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell, who has made the vets hall a top priority since she first ran for office, noted that there has already been a lot of outreach in Southern Humboldt to determine the needs of the community.

“The veterans have disclosed to us what the building was used previously for and … how they could get rents to pay the utilities and pay those types of things,” she said. “We have talked about a cold weather shelter because it would be a county facility, possibly an emergency shelter for [public safety power shutoffs] or any kind of emergency shelter. Don’t think that work hasn’t been done, Supervisor Wilson.”

Bushnell emphasized that she would not want to prolong the process any further. “That is something I don’t want to see and the community doesn’t want to see,” she said.

Fourth District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo also urged staff to look at other potential funding opportunities for the project through OES or the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“As a fellow veteran, I think having a space for veterans is really important. I appreciate all the things that this can provide for the community and I also can appreciate the comment around seeking additional funding,” she said. “The Eureka Veterans Hall, I know the county participated in that project. There was another, I think, $7 million in grant funding from [OES] that helped with that. And similar to the Garberville facility, it was in disrepair for many years and then had to be closed to the public as a result.”

Mattson noted that “you can only apply for so many [grant] earmarks and you will only get a certain amount,” but said his staff would be willing to look into it. 

“If the board wishes to prioritize that we could do that for the next round [of federal grant funds], but I would highly recommend we stick with trying to get funds for our roads, because we have half a billion dollars in deferred maintenance on our roads – much, much less on our buildings,” he said. “So, no, we have not explored that. It would have to compete with all the other county priorities that everybody puts together for the earmarks because we are only going to get a certain amount of earmarks.”

First District Supervisor Rex Bohn quipped that the board has “this wonderful knack of stretching things out forever” and, like Bushnell, emphasized the need to move forward with the contract agreement.

“We’re worrying about what kind of frosting we’re going to put on this cake and we can’t even get the damn cake built,” he said. “I don’t want to say it’s completely our fault that we didn’t maintain [the Garberville vets hall] because I always said, ‘Couldn’t you guys have done something?’ but there’s nothing there now. … We’ve made a lot of promises but we haven’t fulfilled any of them.”

Bohn indicated that he wanted to make a motion to move forward with staff’s recommendation but was asked to hold off on the action by Fifth District Supervisor and Board Chair Steve Madrone, who prefers to hear from the public beforehand. Wilson indicated that he would second the motion when the time came.

Several Southern Humboldt community members spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, all of whom urged the board to move forward with the architectural agreement. Garberville veteran Doug Battles said he respected the board’s effort to find additional funding opportunities for the project but said, “It’s kind of like putting the cart before the horse.”

“You need to keep the process going,” he said. “I understand the situation but just don’t put, you know, something in there that’s going to stop any kind of evolution that it could go through right now. It would probably cause another year’s delay and we can’t afford that.”

Ryan Derby, manager of the Humboldt OES team and local veteran, emphasized the importance of veterans halls and said he would be happy to be involved in the project scoping phase of the project.

“Vets’ buildings play a really critical role in our community,” he said. “It’s an outlet for camaraderie. These people, they have a dedication to service, they have a dedication to loyalty and integrity, and if we show that towards them, they’re going to reciprocate it.”

Following public comment, Bushnell made a motion to move forward with staff’s recommendation and authorize Public Works to execute an agreement with ORW Architecture to design the new vets hall. As promised, Wilson offered a second to the motion.

The motion passed 5-0.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On July 17, 2023, at about 12:20 a.m., a Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy on patrol in the area of U.S. Highway 101 south of Trinidad conducted a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle unable to maintain its lane.  

The deputy contacted one occupant of the vehicle, 50-year-old Aaron Joseph Thuney of Redding. Inside the vehicle deputies observed a firearm and an open box of alcohol in plain view. Thuney was detained and the California Highway Patrol was requested to conduct a DUI evaluation.

Deputies recovered the firearm and found it to be loaded. During a search of Thuney’s vehicle deputies located drug paraphernalia.

Thuney was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)(1)), person prohibited in possession of ammunition (PC 30305), carrying a loaded firearm in a public place (PC 25850(a)), possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia (HS 11364(a)) and driving under the influence of alcohol (VC 23152(a)).

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.