A FOREST SERVICE UPDATE was given to the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ at its regular meeting held May 2nd in Downieville. Sierraville District Ranger Rachel Hutchinson reported the front desk position will start May 22nd and the office will be open Monday through Friday. She stated a road closure order was in effect through May 23rd but roads should open up as snow melts.
The Sierraville Shooting Range was due to be open the following week.
Campgrounds in Sierraville will not be open until May 26th.
Jackson Meadows is not expected to open until July 4th. Snow there, is still up to the traffic signs.
Acting District Ranger for the Yuba Ranger District, Andrew Mishler reported that the District is getting close to making a final selection for the District Ranger position. He stated the Ramshorn Campground tree removal project is over 50% complete. Both Sierra and Yuba Pass Campgrounds that also need tree removal are still under snow.
GOLD LAKE ROAD was discussed during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting held May 2nd in Downieville. Deputy Transportation Director Bryan Davey reported they have been getting a lot of pressure on opening Gold Lake Road. He said it is not likely to be open at the normal time, adding there’s still 12 feet of snow in spots on the Plumas County side. He felt it would be mid-June before the road can open. Davey stated they moved the trailheads for the OSV program up to the Windy Point. They were able to get the contractor out to Packer Lake Road to work on a bridge project, but Salmon Lake road is still inaccessible. Snow is still over the top of the signs, adding it’s been a historic snow year.
Davey said Sardine is the one resort that would be able to open earlier as snow has significantly melted there.
the Downieville COMMUNITY CENTER RENOVATION PROJECT was discussed during Department Manager’s reports at the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting May 2nd. Deputy Transportation Director Bryan Davey reported on talks of hiring a contractor as a temporary employee to significantly reduce the cost of the overall budget. He stated they are looking at redesigning the kitchen and stage. He felt they were closing in on something over budget but not significantly like it was. Davey was confident they may get to a solution. He said USDA was not comfortable with the negotiated contract content, but they are working to get final approval so they can execute the plan.
DISCUSSION regarding contracts with Feather River Forestry, LLC for Forestry and County Coordinator services and direction to move forward with the Upper North Yuba Forest Health & Resilience (Yuba 49), Green Acres Forest Health & Resilience, and Roadside Fuels projects was held during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting in Downieville on May 2nd. County Counsel David Prentice submitted an opinion on the matter which states in part: On April 18, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to the Master Stewardship Agreement (County Agreement 2020-095) providing for a supplemental project putting significant funds towards roadside fuels reduction (project). It is anticipated that Danielle Bradfield will act as project manager. Ms. Bradfield is the County Forester under contract with the County of Sierra through Feather River Forestry Services, LLC. A question regarding conflict has arisen regarding Ms. Bradfield and her company as related to the project.
All contracts existing between the County and Ms. Bradfield have been reviewed in conjunction with the project agreement. Following this review, no conflicts of interest have been identified. As the County Forester, it is expected that Ms. Bradfield would be involved in a project of this nature. The possible conflict identified in Government Code section 1090 does not apply here. There is no evidence that Ms. Bradfield participated in the making of the project agreement which is a federally funded project. The agreement was presented to the County and approved by the Board without input from Ms. Bradfield other than as the County Forester. While Ms. Bradfield benefits from the agreement, she did not make the agreement. Therefore, unless other material facts exist which are not known to this office, there is no conflict or Section 1090 violation.
A question regarding the application of prevailing wage to the project has also been raised. Forest thinning projects and forest fuels reduction are not “public works” projects subject to prevailing wage. AB 1717 sought to include like projects as public works, but said bill was vetoed by the Governor based on wildfire concerns if fuels reduction was not carried out due to expense of prevailing wage. Moreover, prevailing wage does not apply to federal projects. Supervisor Paul Roen stated they wanted to get contracts instituted this summer. Bradfield stated Yuba 49 and Green Acres are ready to go they just have a lot of snow. She said they’d like to get a Request for Proposals (RFP) released to start the lower elevation road side fuels projects. By consensus, the Board gave direction for Bradfield to move forward.
The Sierraville Shooting Range was due to be open the following week.
Campgrounds in Sierraville will not be open until May 26th.
Jackson Meadows is not expected to open until July 4th. Snow there, is still up to the traffic signs.
Acting District Ranger for the Yuba Ranger District, Andrew Mishler reported that the District is getting close to making a final selection for the District Ranger position. He stated the Ramshorn Campground tree removal project is over 50% complete. Both Sierra and Yuba Pass Campgrounds that also need tree removal are still under snow.
GOLD LAKE ROAD was discussed during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting held May 2nd in Downieville. Deputy Transportation Director Bryan Davey reported they have been getting a lot of pressure on opening Gold Lake Road. He said it is not likely to be open at the normal time, adding there’s still 12 feet of snow in spots on the Plumas County side. He felt it would be mid-June before the road can open. Davey stated they moved the trailheads for the OSV program up to the Windy Point. They were able to get the contractor out to Packer Lake Road to work on a bridge project, but Salmon Lake road is still inaccessible. Snow is still over the top of the signs, adding it’s been a historic snow year.
Davey said Sardine is the one resort that would be able to open earlier as snow has significantly melted there.
the Downieville COMMUNITY CENTER RENOVATION PROJECT was discussed during Department Manager’s reports at the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting May 2nd. Deputy Transportation Director Bryan Davey reported on talks of hiring a contractor as a temporary employee to significantly reduce the cost of the overall budget. He stated they are looking at redesigning the kitchen and stage. He felt they were closing in on something over budget but not significantly like it was. Davey was confident they may get to a solution. He said USDA was not comfortable with the negotiated contract content, but they are working to get final approval so they can execute the plan.
DISCUSSION regarding contracts with Feather River Forestry, LLC for Forestry and County Coordinator services and direction to move forward with the Upper North Yuba Forest Health & Resilience (Yuba 49), Green Acres Forest Health & Resilience, and Roadside Fuels projects was held during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting in Downieville on May 2nd. County Counsel David Prentice submitted an opinion on the matter which states in part: On April 18, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to the Master Stewardship Agreement (County Agreement 2020-095) providing for a supplemental project putting significant funds towards roadside fuels reduction (project). It is anticipated that Danielle Bradfield will act as project manager. Ms. Bradfield is the County Forester under contract with the County of Sierra through Feather River Forestry Services, LLC. A question regarding conflict has arisen regarding Ms. Bradfield and her company as related to the project.
All contracts existing between the County and Ms. Bradfield have been reviewed in conjunction with the project agreement. Following this review, no conflicts of interest have been identified. As the County Forester, it is expected that Ms. Bradfield would be involved in a project of this nature. The possible conflict identified in Government Code section 1090 does not apply here. There is no evidence that Ms. Bradfield participated in the making of the project agreement which is a federally funded project. The agreement was presented to the County and approved by the Board without input from Ms. Bradfield other than as the County Forester. While Ms. Bradfield benefits from the agreement, she did not make the agreement. Therefore, unless other material facts exist which are not known to this office, there is no conflict or Section 1090 violation.
A question regarding the application of prevailing wage to the project has also been raised. Forest thinning projects and forest fuels reduction are not “public works” projects subject to prevailing wage. AB 1717 sought to include like projects as public works, but said bill was vetoed by the Governor based on wildfire concerns if fuels reduction was not carried out due to expense of prevailing wage. Moreover, prevailing wage does not apply to federal projects. Supervisor Paul Roen stated they wanted to get contracts instituted this summer. Bradfield stated Yuba 49 and Green Acres are ready to go they just have a lot of snow. She said they’d like to get a Request for Proposals (RFP) released to start the lower elevation road side fuels projects. By consensus, the Board gave direction for Bradfield to move forward.
