Last spring the Board of Supervisors reviewed the staffing needs of the District offices and increased each by one staff member. The growth in population in the western end of Placer County has resulted in a much larger District 5, now encompassing over 78% of the land area of the entire County. Representing such a large and diverse area requires much effort and travel. District 5 has 8 Municipal Advisory Councils compared to most others having only 1 or 2. District 5 has over 1,000 square miles and 22+ individual communities each with unique needs, separate volunteer groups, and many community gatherings. Over 80% of our residents reside in the unincorporated area of the County (more than double the next highest district) which makes it incredibly challenging to respond to all the issues and visit with concerned constituents that are spread throughout the region. Sophie and I are thrilled to welcome two new staff members and one summer intern to our District 5 team. We look forward to being able to respond to your issues more quickly and attend more community gatherings and events. We are all honored to represent you!

Bridget Powers, District 5 Director 
Bridget Powers has lived in the Auburn area since 1991 and has been a life-time skier and outdoors enthusiast in Placer County. Her private sector career has provided her with expertise in real estate, building, and finance. In addition to her private sector experience, Bridget has also provided volunteer service and leadership in the region. She is an active Rotarian, served on several non-profit boards, and volunteers for many events and activities. Bridget was elected 3 times to the Auburn City Council and served as Mayor 3 times over a 13-year period ending in 2018. She also served on the Auburn City Planning Commission until appointed to the Placer County Planning Commission in May of 2022. Bridget brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge from both the private sector and through her extensive public service and will be a great resource to the residents of the district.

Alina Prescott, District 5 Representative
Alina Prescott has lived in Placer County her entire life and is proud to call this beautiful and geographically diverse county her home. She was raised in Tahoe City and now resides in South Placer with her husband and their one-year-old son.  She began her career with Placer County in 2019 working for the Elections Office for over 4 years, where she assisted the voters, office holders and candidates of Placer County. Alina comes from a family with a long-standing legacy of public service in Placer County and is honored to follow in their footsteps. She is excited to continue her career in serving the public and hopes to help resolve problems and improve the quality of life for our residents.  

Martin Haswell, District 5 Intern
Martin Haswell was born and raised in Auburn and graduated from Placer High School in 2021. This fall, he will be entering his third year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, majoring in Political Science. A highlight of his high school career included playing baseball and football, making sports a key aspect in his life. Martin grew up immersed in local Placer County politics compliments of his father, Rob Haswell, who is a very active and involved community member. Martin is looking forward to enjoying the rest of his summer which includes the amazing opportunity to work for Supervisor Gustafson.

Placer County’s Community Development Resource Agency is encouraging members of the community to attend a town hall meeting about the county’s Housing Needs Rezone Program on August 9 from 6-7:30pm in North Auburn. The meeting will also be held virtually via Zoom.
LEARN MORE + VIEW AGENDA

Interested in serving as a member of the North Auburn/Ophir Fire Safe Council? The mission of the North Auburn/Ophir Fire Safe Council is to protect the people of Placer County and their property from the effects of wildfire through education, cooperation, innovation, and action. The purpose is to educate the public regarding the dangers associated with living in a Wildland Urban Interface Area and to assist in identifying high-risk areas and to provide a Community Fire Safe Plan for those areas promote fuel reduction programs and projects which will provide a safer environment in the event of wildfires which may threaten the area. Regular meetings are held monthly on the 4th Monday of each month at 4pm at the Placer County Office of Emergency Services in Auburn. LEARN MORE + APPLY TODAY

Placer County officials are asking business owners and entrepreneurs for their help to fill out an economic impact survey stemming from the 2022 Mosquito Fire. The confidential survey, open now until August 4 will measure the economic impact on businesses in the region. This includes: businesses that lost revenue due to closures; wineries that canceled tastings or had crops affected by excessive smoke; entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals who could not generate income during the fire and more. LEARN MORE + TAKE SURVEY

The Placer County Board of Supervisors took the final step needed to launch a timber salvage project being jointly managed by the county and the U.S. Forest Service - improving public safety and preparing 2,636 acres of previously forested ground for replanting and restoration after last year’s devastating Mosquito Fire. The board's unanimous approval amends an existing contract with Mason, Bruce & Girard Inc., an environmental services firm recently chosen through a competitive bidding process to provide forestry services related to the French Meadows Forest Restoration Project. LEARN MORE

Placer County remains committed to the complete recovery and rejuvenation of the areas impacted by the Mosquito Fire. With this contract, the county is taking a significant stride toward achieving its restoration goals while ensuring the efficient use of resources and meeting the requirements outlined by the Tahoe National Forest.

We live in a beautiful, but fire danger critical area - it is ALL our responsibility to ensure we are fire-prepared.  Please be vigilant with your actions and evacuation plans. SIGN UP FOR PLACER ALERT - it is the single best way to stay informed in an emergency.

IMPORTANT WILDFIRE RESOURCES: