Welcome to my February 2022 newsletter! 

 Please allow me to give an update on items concerning the Placer County Government Center (formally known as Dewitt Center) in North Auburn.

This month will see tenants moving into Mercy Housing at Rock Creek (official name). While it was anticipated that the move-in would be in early November it was delayed due to PG&E’s discovery of a Line Recloser (LR) protective device outside of the project. Those of you who may have traveled Bell Road in the last three months would have seen the PG&E project on the roadway to accomplish the LR device replacement. This has allowed the Mercy Housing project to be energized. Fortunately, the work was completed before the storms hit the region.

In January, Mercy received the Temporary Certificate of Occupancy which allows move-in. Mercy Housing Administration has moved into the onsite Community Building which is now being used for resident coordination. 

The final Certificate of Occupancy will be obtained once final completion tasks are done. On the list for example is the current paving of 1^st Street and landscaping throughout the site. The move-in process will take two or three months and I for one cannot wait for the Grand Opening which has yet to be scheduled.

The Placer County Board of Supervisors is also going to consider a no camping ordinance on county property. The intent of the ordinance is to ensure that county property remains safe and available for use by all members of the public, people who visit county offices for services and Placer County employees, and that county buildings, walkways, sidewalks, and other open spaces are available for the unimpeded use and enjoyment of all. The ordinance would not prohibit camping on county-owned properties where overnight camping is permitted, such as campgrounds. As of the date of this newsletter, the ordinance is tentatively scheduled on the Board’s February 8, 2022 agenda.  

Additionally, the Board has authorized the purchase of three mobile camera systems to be deployed in locations at the Government Center in cooperation with the Placer County Sheriff’s Office this week. 

Lastly, I want to highlight the amazing work the employees of the Placer County Animal Services Center do for our citizens and all types of animals not only in Placer County but in neighboring counties especially during disasters.  

In December 2021, Placer County’s new Animal Services Center marked its five-year anniversary with a $5.00 adoption fee throughout that month. The Animal Services Center opened in 2016 with the ability to house 80 percent more dogs and 75 percent more cats. The new center also has the capacity to house more than twice the number of animals during large incidents, such as the recent wildfires. Animal Control provided hundreds of hours of mutual and local aid by assisting with animal rescue, transportation and sheltering during the Camp, North Complex, River and Caldor fires. The active volunteer base more than doubled and reached nearly 50,000 volunteer hours at the new center.  

Individuals that have adopted a pet from Placer County Animal Services are encouraged to share an update of their adoption story on Placer Animals on Facebook by emailing Placer County Animal Services Information: ANSInfo@placer.ca.gov 

To learn more about the shelter, volunteering, or donations, visit:

https://www.placer.ca.gov/1909/Animal-Services

Warm Regards,

Supervisor Jim Holmes

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office is looking for experienced, quality deputies to join their team! If you are a current law enforcement officer or you have served as a full-time peace officer within the past 12 months, you are eligible to apply to work with them. Learn more

The Placer County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, January 11, approved a regional groundwater sustainability plan to protect groundwater resources in a portion of western Placer.    Learn more...

Please note this workshop is not a County of Placer sponsored event and the County is not involved with the workshop.

Auburn CoHousing is offering a free presentation about Cohousing. Future residents of the Auburn project will share information and answer questions.  Learn more...

As of January 3, Pioneer Community Energy (Pioneer) began providing residents and businesses of El Dorado County and the City of Placerville with electric generation.  Learn more...