Ted Williams

Societal challenge youtu.be/2YOGLIqKrDc?si…

For the Hopland Sidewalk Project, Caltrans has distributed a flyer with a QR code that links to the project website, where traffic updates and project information are being posted regularly. Caltrans will also be sending out messages through social media, keeping QuickMap updated, and maintaining the weekly District 1 Road Information Bulletin. Caltrans construction staff are establishing a landline phone number to receive and track comments, concerns, or complaints, and they will continue providing updates at the monthly HMAC meetings. In addition, the contractor, O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc., will designate a public coordination contact who will conduct door-to-door outreach to communicate construction schedules, dates, and impacted areas with the community at least one week in advance of work.

Discussion and possible action by Mendocino County to formally support Assemblymember Chris Rogers’ AB 2494, which would modernize the operations of the demonstration state forest system, will be heard at the Tuesday, March 24 Board of Supervisors meeting. The agenda, including Zoom and phone participation details, is expected to be published by Thursday evening, March 19.

Pomo). "EPIC thanks Assemblymember Rogers for his leadership on helping California reach its 30x30 goals by modernizing how we manage our own forests. California’s state-owned forests should be managed for all of its people. Under state law, however, these lands are directed to be cut and sold by private timber companies. AB 2494 would enable CalFire to manage our forests to help meet California’s 21st Century priorities by redirecting management towards objectives that benefit all—protecting wildlife, sequestering and storing carbon, and providing recreational opportunities—while still allowing for timber production that is a byproduct of forest restoration activities. This legislation would also open the door for state demonstration forests to count towards 30x30 —which Gov Newsom has championed on the global stage and is more important now than ever before as we continue to grapple with the climate crisis. As long-time supporters of 30x30 and forest protection, we are proud to support this bill,” said Melodie Meyer, Conservation Attorney, EPIC. ###

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Assemblymember Chris Rogers (D-Santa Rosa) introduced AB 2494 to modernize the operations of the demonstration state forest system. In California, there are 14 demonstration forests managed by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, including two within Assembly District 2. The management principles for the demonstration state forest system have not been modified in decades and current regulations do not reflect the state’s climate resiliency goals. The updated management principles in this bill align with Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-82-20 and help meet California’s 30x30 initiative by encouraging ecological restoration and building resilience to climate change and wildfires within demonstration state forests. This bill ensures that the protection of ecological conditions within demonstration state forest lands are prioritized by declaring that these lands be used primarily for research, recreation, and demonstration purposes. The updates under this bill are critical to support rural economies in transitioning away from dwindling extractive economies and instead enhancing ecotourism in these communities. “Our demonstration state forest system contains precious old growth redwoods and allows for innovative research around wildfire resiliency and watershed restoration,” said Assemblymember Rogers. “This bill aligns with Governor Newsom’s 30x30 conservation framework and prioritizes the environment, recreation, scientific research and addressing climate change as the main focuses for the state to manage our public lands.” AB 2494 moves the state away from relying solely on timber harvesting to manage the demonstration state forest system. Under AB 2494, the sale of timber and other forest products will still be allowed, but as a biproduct of ecological restoration or research projects. This bill will also allow funds from the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund to be used to maintain demonstration state forests. “I commend Assemblymember Rogers leadership in aligning California’s management of its demonstration forests with the priorities shared by the state and Mendocino County,” said Supervisor Ted Williams, Fifth District Supervisor for Mendocino County. “Like many rural communities, Mendocino County is struggling. As we transition away from an economy that relies primarily on extractive industries, which no longer provide sustainable support for our residents, we must expand opportunities for revenue and job creation. By directing the state to manage demonstration forests for public access, tribal co-management, climate resilience, and biodiversity, we can attract additional user groups such as mountain bikers, mushroom foragers, hikers, birdwatchers, and others to help steward our public lands and support resilient rural economies.” "Tribal nations and Indigenous communities have long faced barriers to caring for their ancestral homelands since colonization—including being shut out of true co-management and limited in bringing Traditional Ecological Knowledge into California’s State Demonstration Forests. Updating the State Demonstration Forests Act is a major step toward changing that. I’m thrilled to see Assemblymember Rogers push for greater inclusion of tribal sovereignty in how our state forests are managed. This is an impactful step towards educating the public regarding Tribal Sovereignty and historical trauma and its effects today, as well as providing acknowledgement of those Tribes and once known villages impacted by antiquated laws. Inviting and including Native voices through partnership and co-management is how we will make systemic changes in land management,” stated Buffie Campbell (enrolled member Sherwood Valley, descendant of Noyo Reservation and Yokayo Rancheria; Northern

This is a thoughtful and overdue modernization of forest policy. By aligning state forest management with climate goals and Mendocino County’s legislative platform, AB 2494 positions Jackson Demonstration State Forest not only as an ecological asset, but as a long-term economic driver for our county through recreation, restoration, and sustainable resource management. I want to thank Assemblymember Chris Rogers for coming through for Mendocino County by advancing legislation that reflects our local priorities and long-term economic interests.

The County received notice today that the US Census Bureau has created the Gualala Census Designated Place and it will be included in partnership shapefiles released in January 2026. (Thank you Mendocino County staff for following through on my Feb 27, 2024 agenda item: Direction to Staff to Complete Process to Initiate an Update of Boundaries, Features, and Landmarks for Census Designated Places in Relation to Gualala)

Discussion and Presentation Regarding the Mendocino County Health Summit - Part 1 of Health Summit Series Discussing State and Federal Policy Changes to Health Programs and Services LIVE NOW youtube.com/watch?v=NwDJP5…

WOW! TOMORROW HISTORY WILL BE MADE. KaroLYIN LEAVITT WILL HAVE NO ANSWERS FOR THE SUPPOSED “FAKE MEDIA” ABOUT CALIFORNIA’S BEAUTIFUL MAPS. PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY ARE THE GREATEST MAPS EVER CREATED — EVEN BETTER THAN CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS'. DONALD “THE FAILURE” TRUMP BE WARNED, TOMORROW MAY BE THE WORST DAY OF YOUR LIFE. ALL BECAUSE YOU “MISSED THE DEADLINE.” LIBERATION DAY FOR AMERICA!!! — GCN

AS MANY KNOW, DONALD “TACO” TRUMP — AUTHOR OF THE ART OF THE "DEAL" (A BOOK HE SHOULD RETURN TO THE LIBRARY) — JUST MISSED THE BEST DEAL IN HISTORY. HE ALWAYS “CHICKENS OUT” (TARIFFS, CHINA) — BUT EVEN A “CHICKEN” SHOULD KNOW A GOOD “DEAL” WHEN HE SEES ONE. I, YOUR FAVORITE GOVERNOR, GAVIN CHRISTOPHER NEWSOM, OFFERED THE BEST, MOST “AMAZING DEAL” IN HISTORY: STOP RIGGING TEXAS MAPS AND CALIFORNIA WON’T MAKE OURS MORE “BEAUTIFUL.” SADLY — BUT NO SURPRISE — DONALD WAS TOO WEAK (LITTLE HANDS) TO EVEN WRITE ME BACK. NO DEAL! AND NO DEAL = PERFECT, BEAUTIFUL MAPS THAT WILL “END” HIS PRESIDENCY. SOON HE WILL NOT BE “47.” PATRIOTS WILL TAKE BACK CONGRESS. MANY SAY I SHOULD RUN FOR SPEAKER (I WON’T!!!). MAKE THE MAPS GREAT AGAIN! LIBERATION DAY TOMORROW!!! THANK YOU! — GCN

MendoParks and State Parks Present the 2025 Coastal Cleanup Day! MendoParks and State Parks are thrilled to present this year’s California Coastal Cleanup Day – Saturday, September 20, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. First organized by the Coastal Commission, California hosted its first cleanup day in 1985. Close to 2,500 Californians participated in the initial Cleanup, and the program has been growing by leaps and bounds ever since. Since its inception, more than 1.8 million volunteers have removed over 27 million pounds of trash from beaches and inland waterways across California. In 1993, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized the California Coastal Cleanup Day as the “largest garbage collection” ever organized. This incredible day is a way for people to get together both to pick up trash from Mendocino’s coastline, but also to contribute data to science, creating awareness about the dangers of marine debris. This year, California Coastal Cleanup Day will also become the world's largest scavenger hunt. Special "trash" items will be hidden at cleanup sites all across the state. If you find one of them, you can redeem it for valuable prizes! The Coastal Cleanup will take place at multiple sites along the Mendocino Coast, each with its own Site Captain. For more information and to register, visit mendoparks.org/coastal-cleanup. As a 501c3 non-profit organization (EIN#68-0049014), MendoParks receives no government funding or tax dollars for operations. Since 2004, MendoParks has donated over $1.4 million dollars in support of State Parks in Mendocino County - all of which remains local. *** Media contact: Sid Garza-Hillman, MendoParks Executive Director, 707-972-5028

You should have received a County alert, below. It is not known precisely how much impact our coast will receive, but it may come abruptly. The county has held op area calls with public safety and will continue to keep fire departments apprised. Stay safe. Situational Awareness: Tsunami Advisory for all coastal areas, stay out of low-lying coastal areas and stay out of the water.

Fort Bragg 2350 PDT Jul 29 9 hrs 0.8- 1.4 ft

Mendocino County Public Safety and Services at Risk: Speak Now or Lose County Services Later Tuesday, June 24, approximately 10:15am Meeting Location(s): 501 Low Gap Road, Room 1070, Ukiah, CA. 95482 (Board Chambers) Zoom Link: mendocinocounty.zoom.us/j/85065319342 Zoom Phone Number (if joining via telephone): 1 669 900 9128 ; Zoom Webinar ID: 850 6531 9342 Discussion and Possible Action Including Adoption of a Resolution Terminate BOS Agreement No. 24-085 (Master Tax Sharing Agreement) Between the County of Mendocino and the Cities of Ukiah, Willits, Fort Bragg, and Point Arena, due to Fiscal and Operational Impacts Arising from the First Proposed Annexation Under the Agreement; Authorize Notification of the Signatory Cities and Mendocino LAFCo; and Direction to Staff to Notify Mendocino Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) that the County Anticipates the Proposed Annexation would Create a Substantial Risk to the Provision of Mandated Public Protection Services, Consistent with the Framework Established by Mendocino County Policy #13 (Annexations) (Sponsor: Supervisor Williams) Recommended Action/Motion: Adopt Resolution to terminate BOS Agreement No. 24-085 (Master Tax Sharing Agreement) between the County of Mendocino and the Cities of Ukiah, Willits, Fort Bragg, and Point Arena, due to fiscal and operational impacts arising from the first proposed annexation under the Agreement; Authorize notification of the signatory cities and Mendocino LAFCo; direct the Executive Office to notify Mendocino Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) that the County anticipates the proposed annexation would create a substantial risk to the provision of mandated public protection services, consistent with the framework established by Mendocino County Policy #13 (Annexations); and authorize Chair to sign same. Summary of Request: In June 2024, the County of Mendocino entered into a Master Tax Sharing Agreement (MTSA) with its four cities to facilitate annexations through a standardized tax exchange framework. However, the first proposed annexation by the City of Ukiah has highlighted the scale and complexity of implementing the agreement and raises concerns about the County’s fiscal sustainability and ability to fulfill its state and constitutional obligations. Although the County retains responsibility for countywide services following annexation, the demands of evaluating and processing this annexation are substantial and highlight existing shortfalls in County capacity and systems. If carried out under the MTSA’s current formula, the annexation would result in a significant revenue transfer at a time when the County is facing substantial structural funding gaps. The projected outcome would materially impair the County’s ability to adequately staff the Sheriff’s Office and fulfill other state-mandated duties, including welfare, public safety, and emergency response functions. Article XI of the California Constitution and relevant statutory provisions require the County to ensure the general welfare and basic governance for its unincorporated areas and all residents. This recommendation is consistent with Mendocino County Policy #13 (Annexations), which states that annexations will not be favored until a formula is developed to fund the County’s continuing obligations from public revenues generated in annexed areas. The current agreement does not sufficiently ensure such obligations can be met and instead risks impairing core County services. This action seeks termination of the MTSA to avoid breaching the County’s public duties and ensure that annexations moving forward do not undermine core public safety and service delivery. mendocino.legistar.com/LegislationDet…

At a recent BOS meeting, in response to my question about how homebuyers could avoid surprise supplemental tax bills, the County’s IT team developed a web-based estimator. It lets buyers enter a sale date and price to estimate what they'll owe—bringing more clarity to property taxes. mendocinocounty.gov/departments/as…

🚛 Hazardous Waste Drop-Off on the Coast – Community Update ♻️ Thank you to those who’ve shared positive feedback about the recent hazardous waste (HHW) collection event in Caspar—and your request for more regular coastal HHW drop-offs is heard. 🔄 Who sets the schedule? Hazardous waste events on the coast are scheduled by the Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA), where Supervisors Mulheren and Norvell currently represent the County. While these events are costly, the recent increase in the disposal surcharge may help fund more frequent remote events in the coming year. 🗓️ Next MSWMA Meeting: July 10 at 9:00 AM – Ukiah City Council Chambers (with a virtual option). 📍 Meeting agendas and sign-ups: cityofukiah.com/meetings/ 🗣️ Get involved: Public participation is encouraged. Attend and advocate for coastal service! 🧴 Ongoing HHW Drop-Off Options: Some hazardous items (e.g., batteries, fluorescent bulbs, motor oil) can be dropped off at Caspar and South Coast Transfer Stations during normal business hours—even outside of HHW events. Check the attached flyers for accepted items.

Social media comments don’t trigger change. If you’re dissatisfied by how your county spends your tax dollars, this is the venue to influence change: The Mendocino County Executive Office will be hosting a listening session on the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget from 2:30PM to 4:30PM on Tuesday, April 15th at the Veteran’s Hall in Fort Bragg located at 360 N Harrison St, Fort Bragg. This Listening Session is for you to provide input on the County budget, potential budget reductions, and what we need to preserve for a balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26. Each speaker will have three minutes to provide comments.

Animal-Resistant Trash Cans coming to the town of Mendocino! Thank you Mendocino Historic Review Board and Amber Fisette (County Department of Transportation).

The county government gave a handshake to the ~22 local fire agencies in 2017, but recent analysis (my chart attached) indicates underfunding the commitment by about a million dollars. I'm requesting the county follow through this year on that handshake. If you feel county funding for local fire agencies is important, you might wish to be part of the discussion. Our local fire departments tend to operate with volunteer labor. This funding is necessary to assist with equipment/training. It's not a lot of money -- a rounding error to the county -- but out of respect for those who respond to emergencies and those who will call for help, it's important that we follow through on the agreement. Item 4d. It will be heard no earlier than 11am. 400 E Commercial Street, Willits, CA. 95490 (Wonacott Room, Mendocino County Museum) Zoom Link: mendocinocounty.zoom.us/j/81874643935 Zoom Phone Number (if joining via telephone): 1 669 900 9128 ; Zoom Webinar ID: 818 7464 3935 Agenda Title: Discussion and Possible Action Including Reaffirming the Board’s Commitment to the Established Proposition 172 Funding Formula for Local Fire Agencies (5.46% of Annual Prop 172 Revenues plus a fixed $87,521); and Direction that Fiscal Year 2025-26 Prop 172 Public Safety Sales Tax Revenue be Allocated to the 22 Mendocino County Fire Agencies in Accordance with this Formula (Sponsor: Supervisor Williams) End Recommended Action/Motion: Reaffirm the Board’s commitment to the established Proposition 172 funding formula for local Fire Agencies (5.46% of annual Prop 172 revenues plus a fixed $87,521); and direct that Fiscal Year 2025-26 Prop 172 public safety sales tax revenues be allocated to the 22 Mendocino County Fire Agencies in accordance with this formula. Previous Board/Board Committee Actions: At the 5/3/2016 BOS meeting a Memorandum and letter directed a percentage of Prop 172 funds to be annually allocated to Fire Agencies based on a funding formula. At the 12/18/2017 BOS meeting action was taken to increase the Prop 172 allocation to include distribution to City of Ukiah fire department and City of Fort Bragg fire department (Attachment A). Since FY 16-17 Fire Agencies have received allocations of Prop 172 based on an unclear formula. Budget Books reference different percentages and also reference the original funding formula and subsequent increase. Actual Fire Agency allocations do not match stated percentages in the Budget Books and also do not follow the original formula and subsequent increase. Summary of Request: In May 2016, the Board of Supervisors unanimously recognized that local fire agencies perform essential public safety functions and are eligible for Proposition 172 funding, directing that a portion of Prop 172 sales tax revenues be allocated to Fire Agencies on an ongoing basis​. In FY 2016‑17, the County implemented an initial allocation of $398,000 to Fire Agencies (equating to 5.46% of Prop 172 receipts for that year). This approach was formally affirmed at the December 18, 2017 Board meeting, where the Board approved a two-part formula for all future allocations: 5.46% of the County’s Prop 172 revenue plus an additional $87,521 each year (the fixed amount was added to fully include Ukiah and Fort Bragg city fire departments)​. The Board’s action in 2017 clearly expressed its intent that this formula (5.46% + $87,521) be followed in subsequent years​, providing a predictable mechanism to support the 22 local fire districts and departments. In recent years, however, the actual Prop 172 funds budgeted for Fire Agencies have not consistently followed the formula, resulting in reduced funding shares and uncertainty for fire services. After FY 2017‑18 (when the full 5.46% + $87,521 was allocated), allocations gradually declined as a percentage of Prop 172. For example, by FY 2021‑22 Fire Agencies received only $444,000 (approximately 3.9%) of the County’s Prop 172 revenues, instead of about $707,000 that the agreed formula would have provided for that year. This shortfall is part of a widening gap each year - cumulatively, from FY 2018‑19 through FY 2023‑24, Fire Agencies received over $1 million less than they would have under the 5.46% + $87,521 formula​​. Such inconsistencies and lack of an annual “true-up” have made the funding less transparent and predictable for the fire districts, hindering their budget planning and sustainability. The Mendocino County Association of Fire Districts (MCAFD), along with the Fire Chiefs Association, has persistently advocated for clarity and fairness in this funding allocation. They have documented the year-by-year decline and engaged with County officials to resolve the unclear methodology in recent budgets. The request now before the Board is to reconfirm the established Prop 172 formula and apply it for FY 2025‑26, thereby realigning the County’s practice with the original Board direction and public understanding​. Reaffirming this commitment will restore transparency to the County’s budget process and provide fire agencies a reliable, fixed percentage funding source each year, allowing them to better plan their budgets around a clear allocation​. This stability is crucial for the sustainability of fire and emergency medical services in our rural communities, ensuring that volunteer and paid firefighters have consistent support for staffing, training, equipment, and emergency response. Moreover, this action aligns with broader County priorities and public expectations. It directly supports the County’s Strategic Plan (2022-2027) Goal IV.B: “Ensure access to rural fire protection and emergency medical services.”​ Consistently funding fire districts with the Prop 172 formula demonstrates the County’s commitment to public safety and resilience. It also honors the intent behind recent voter-approved measures that bolstered fire/EMS funding - Measure D/E (2020 transient occupancy tax) and Measure P (2022 countywide sales tax) - which were approved by the public with the understanding that these new revenues would supplement, not supplant, existing County support for local fire agencies​​. Reaffirming the Prop 172 fire funding formula thus upholds the Board’s prior commitments and the public’s trust, ensuring that dedicated public safety funds continue to strengthen our local fire protection and emergency medical services in a transparent and predictable manner. 📷