A SUBCONTRACT AGREEMENT between Advocates for Human Potential and the County of Sierra to support Behavioral Health Mobile Crisis and Non-Crisis Services was discussed during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting held April 2nd in Downieville. Behavioral Health Director Sheryll Prinz-McMillan explained BHIN 23-025 specifically states that Sierra County is required to have a “Mobile Crisis Service Benefit”. Advocates for Human Potential (AHP), is the third-party partner distributing initial set-up funds. The $631,580 will allow them to buy a vehicle and pay for training, administrative costs and partnerships that allow Sierra County to meet the requirement of an implementation of the Mobile Crisis benefit by July 1, 2024. She added the goal for this project is to pay for resources that can be used to respond to Mental Health Crises as well as be utilized in other settings to improve its ability to meet the mental health needs of Sierra County. Supervisor Sharon Dryden questioned whether this was only for Medicare recipients. Prinz-McMillan stated the funding was coming from the state so it is targeting Medicare recipients. Medicare patients would be reimbursed. For others, they are working on a mechanism to get reimbursed, as the mobile crisis unit will be going to anyone regardless of whether they have Medicare or not. As for new positions to operate the unit, Prinz-McMillan will be requesting partial positions and hope they can have billable services with clinicians. Behavioral Health currently has case managers going through training and plans to use telehealth through Starlink, so the vehicle will be functional and multi-purpose. Dryden saw this as a huge lift for a small county and wasn’t comfortable because of the scope. Prinz-McMillan said this funding only allows them to prepare for the program. Dryden felt if they accept the funds there’s a commitment to run the program.
Supervisor Lee Adams complimented her on taking options with partners, adding the state is trying to make “one size fit all” and making way too many changes too fast. He added, at least this mandate comes with money, and appreciated Prinz-McMillan buying stuff that can be used for other things. The agreement was approved with Dryden voting no.
A REPORT on Sierra County’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance implementation was given during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting held Tuesday, April 2nd in Downieville. Planning Director Brandon Pangman stated the ordinance became effective a little over a year ago and they have received quite a bit of feedback. Monica Beachell, Departmental Specialist, prepared a high-level overview which included an analysis of fees and staff time. The department received 34 applications. 4 were denied due to zoning. Overall, they have 23 approved, 1 is inactive because of a change in ownership and 2 were abandoned. Currently, there are 4 active permits in Downieville, 12 in Sierra City, 4 in Calpine, 1 in Sierraville and 1 in Sattley.
Beachell stated she is first point of contact and applicants are overwhelmed with the amount and complexity of questions. Staff is often asked to clarify water quality testing and consumer confidence reports, zoning, and primary appliance manuals. Staff reviewing applications deal with complex issues dealing with incomplete, inaccurate or poorly drawn plot and floor plans, open building permits or pre-existing violations, and determining maximum occupancy. She went over some potential amendments to the ordinance which include: A provision to be current on property taxes. Many applicants gloss over the 20 lbs. fire extinguisher requirement and only obtain it after the inspection. Beachell felt a lesser poundage would help. Applicants have expressed frustration with obtaining a landline and suggested they either have a landline or VoIP. Include a definition of a primary appliance. The 100’ hose and 2 hose bib requirement was confusing. They need a clearer formula on parking requirements. Beachell explained they had no idea how much time it would take to process an application. $345.50 for first three years doesn’t include all the staff time, violations, meeting times for open building permits. She looked at a permit and went through each staff member’s time during the process and it came to $748.09. Beachell suggested to change to an annual rate. Violation penalties needed to be looked at, as the current $500 isn’t a big enough deterrent. Beachell compared other counties’ violation fees which are quite a bit higher. They currently have 2 major violations outstanding, pending District Attorney involvement. Pangman added there are more than two but, these are egregious.
Supervisor Lee Adams thanked them on the presentation. He stated getting to operate one of these short-term rentals is a “privilege not a right” and everyone should pay their costs. He suggested adding a couple $100 to the permit application to get closer to full cost recovery. He was open to suggestions on parking. Adams stated to do what is reasonable for fire extinguisher and hose bib requirements. It was also suggested to take out the landline requirement and just make sure they have reliable phone capabilities and operation guides for water heater, air conditioner, and furnace as primary appliances. Supervisor Lila Heuer had an issue that residents could no longer rent a room in their house. She felt with the amount of county events and shortage of housing, homeowners should be allowed to do it. Heuer wanted the Planning Commission to revisit this issue and felt they should be looking at opportunities to bring people in.
Pangman will bring the feedback to the Planning Commission for review and bring any changes back to the board for approval at a future meeting.
THE APPROVAL of a proposal from Nigro & Nigro for auditing services for fiscal year ending June 2024 was discussed during the Sierra County Office of Education and Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School Board meeting held Tuesday, April 9th. It was stated the $59,000 to audit the district and county was double what they’ve paid in the past. Board President Kelly Champion felt it a huge amount of money and
wanted to see other proposals. District Superintendent Sean Snider understood they had to be under contract by April 1st. Champion read it to be a suggestion only. County Superintendent James Berardi felt there wasn’t anything the State could do if they didn’t have an accounting firm yet. The decision made Snider a “little nervous” but stated it was the board’s decision. Champion didn’t want to do anything in haste. The item was tabled to get more proposals.
CALPINE COMMUNITY HALL was discussed during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting on April 2nd about an agreement for professional services between Bruce E. Boyd Architects & Planners and Sierra County for the Hall’s floor leveling project in an amount not to exceed $35,000. Public Works Director Bryan Davey stated the renovation would repair damage to interior, which includes floor and settling issues, upgrade ADA accessibility requirements, and improve usability of the building as a community center. The agreement was approved.
Nichole Johnson
[email protected]
Supervisor Lee Adams complimented her on taking options with partners, adding the state is trying to make “one size fit all” and making way too many changes too fast. He added, at least this mandate comes with money, and appreciated Prinz-McMillan buying stuff that can be used for other things. The agreement was approved with Dryden voting no.
A REPORT on Sierra County’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance implementation was given during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting held Tuesday, April 2nd in Downieville. Planning Director Brandon Pangman stated the ordinance became effective a little over a year ago and they have received quite a bit of feedback. Monica Beachell, Departmental Specialist, prepared a high-level overview which included an analysis of fees and staff time. The department received 34 applications. 4 were denied due to zoning. Overall, they have 23 approved, 1 is inactive because of a change in ownership and 2 were abandoned. Currently, there are 4 active permits in Downieville, 12 in Sierra City, 4 in Calpine, 1 in Sierraville and 1 in Sattley.
Beachell stated she is first point of contact and applicants are overwhelmed with the amount and complexity of questions. Staff is often asked to clarify water quality testing and consumer confidence reports, zoning, and primary appliance manuals. Staff reviewing applications deal with complex issues dealing with incomplete, inaccurate or poorly drawn plot and floor plans, open building permits or pre-existing violations, and determining maximum occupancy. She went over some potential amendments to the ordinance which include: A provision to be current on property taxes. Many applicants gloss over the 20 lbs. fire extinguisher requirement and only obtain it after the inspection. Beachell felt a lesser poundage would help. Applicants have expressed frustration with obtaining a landline and suggested they either have a landline or VoIP. Include a definition of a primary appliance. The 100’ hose and 2 hose bib requirement was confusing. They need a clearer formula on parking requirements. Beachell explained they had no idea how much time it would take to process an application. $345.50 for first three years doesn’t include all the staff time, violations, meeting times for open building permits. She looked at a permit and went through each staff member’s time during the process and it came to $748.09. Beachell suggested to change to an annual rate. Violation penalties needed to be looked at, as the current $500 isn’t a big enough deterrent. Beachell compared other counties’ violation fees which are quite a bit higher. They currently have 2 major violations outstanding, pending District Attorney involvement. Pangman added there are more than two but, these are egregious.
Supervisor Lee Adams thanked them on the presentation. He stated getting to operate one of these short-term rentals is a “privilege not a right” and everyone should pay their costs. He suggested adding a couple $100 to the permit application to get closer to full cost recovery. He was open to suggestions on parking. Adams stated to do what is reasonable for fire extinguisher and hose bib requirements. It was also suggested to take out the landline requirement and just make sure they have reliable phone capabilities and operation guides for water heater, air conditioner, and furnace as primary appliances. Supervisor Lila Heuer had an issue that residents could no longer rent a room in their house. She felt with the amount of county events and shortage of housing, homeowners should be allowed to do it. Heuer wanted the Planning Commission to revisit this issue and felt they should be looking at opportunities to bring people in.
Pangman will bring the feedback to the Planning Commission for review and bring any changes back to the board for approval at a future meeting.
THE APPROVAL of a proposal from Nigro & Nigro for auditing services for fiscal year ending June 2024 was discussed during the Sierra County Office of Education and Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School Board meeting held Tuesday, April 9th. It was stated the $59,000 to audit the district and county was double what they’ve paid in the past. Board President Kelly Champion felt it a huge amount of money and
wanted to see other proposals. District Superintendent Sean Snider understood they had to be under contract by April 1st. Champion read it to be a suggestion only. County Superintendent James Berardi felt there wasn’t anything the State could do if they didn’t have an accounting firm yet. The decision made Snider a “little nervous” but stated it was the board’s decision. Champion didn’t want to do anything in haste. The item was tabled to get more proposals.
CALPINE COMMUNITY HALL was discussed during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting on April 2nd about an agreement for professional services between Bruce E. Boyd Architects & Planners and Sierra County for the Hall’s floor leveling project in an amount not to exceed $35,000. Public Works Director Bryan Davey stated the renovation would repair damage to interior, which includes floor and settling issues, upgrade ADA accessibility requirements, and improve usability of the building as a community center. The agreement was approved.
Nichole Johnson
[email protected]
