As we head into the holiday season and a new year it is a good time to reflect on the past year. The following is a recap of some of the important issues the County has supported and resolved during 2023:

FIRE PREPAREDNESS

• OES Model | Supported a new, innovative model (1^st County in the State) to integrate our Sheriff and Placer Fire into the OES Department, allowing for more effective advance planning, communication, and response to emergencies.
• LandTender | Supported a contract with LandTender for a complete mapping of forest lands within our County in order to inventory and prioritize forest health projects.
• Firewise Communities | Placer County ranks third in the state for Firewise communities, and staff recently created an online dashboard so people can easily see if they’re part of a community or near a community that they can join.
• Mosquito Fire | All 25 properties that suffered damage and/or destruction during the Mosquito Fire enrolled in the debris removal program through OES and have now been returned to the owners.

PUBLIC SAFETY/LAW ENFORCEMENT

• DSA Agreement | Supported the new MOU with the Placer County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, giving deputies an immediate 10% raise and another 11% over the following three years. This agreement allows our deputies to earn what they deserve and the department to increase recruitment numbers. 
• Retail Theft | Supported the District Attorney’s office $2 million grant award through the State's Organized Retail Theft Vertical Prosecution Program to combat the rising levels of retail theft crimes.
• Sexually Violent Predator | Provided letters and testimony to the Courts and Department of State Hospitals regarding the placement of the SVP upon his release. Our office specifically urged them to not use our rural communities for this placement.
• Fentanyl Conviction | Supported our DA and Sheriff in the pursuit and the first murder conviction for fentanyl poisoning in the State of California.

HOUSING/HOMELESSNESS

• Mobile Temporary Shelter (MTS) | Supported the opening of the MTS at the Placer County Government Center, which was limited to 54 people compared to the previous encampment of well over 100, and the awarding of the management to a local non-profit the Gathering Inn.

BROADBAND

• Supported over $18M in broadband funding towards $35 million in projects serving more than 13,000 homes (6,418 are in District 5). 

LIBRARY SERVICES

• New Construction at Auburn Library | Supported a $4.9 million grant from the CA of Building Forward Library Infrastructure Grant Program for upgrades to the Auburn Library.
• Supported expanded library service hours in Foresthill, Tahoe City and Kings Beach.

CONSERVATION LANDS

• Rohrer Ranch | Supported the county’s purchase of 140 acres of land adjacent to Hidden Falls from the Rohrer family.
• Hidden Falls | Supported the recently approved Trail Realignment Project, realigning approximately 2.6 miles of trail and significantly reducing construction and long-term maintenance.
• Lincoln 595 Ranch | Approved $910k as a matching grant to the CA Dept. of Conservation’s Sustainable Ag Land Conservation grant ($8.23M total) to the Placer Land Trust for 1,169 acres in West Lincoln.
• Mourier East Property | Supported the acquisition of 241 acres at the Mourier East Property in West Placer.

IMPROVED COUNTY FACILITIES FOR PUBLIC SERVICES

• Clerk/Recorder/Elections Building | Supported the new state of the art building as well as continued services in Auburn.
• Health and Human Services Building | Supported the $90 million new HHS building at Placer County Government Center (opening in the Spring of 2024).

Wishing you & your loved ones a very happy & healthy holiday season.

In service,
Supervisor Cindy Gustafson

Meetings/Events:

• 24 internal meetings
• 39 external meetings
• 7 board meetings
• 6 MAC meetings
• 16 events

Casework: 70 constituent cases

Each year Placer County works to collect gifts for foster children and other children served by HHS. Each child is asked what they’d like for Christmas and then the request is notated on a tag. This year, The Goularte Group is helping organize the drive for Placer County. Those interested in purchasing gifts for local foster children can visit this website to select a child and sign up. A holiday event will take place December 9 at the Loomis Train Depot, 5775 Horseshoe Bar Road. Unwrapped gift donations will be collected from donors at this time and holiday celebrations will take place. LEARN MORE

On December 16 at 11am (Wreath Placement Immediately Following Ceremony), CA0708 - Wreaths for Newcastle Cemetery will be helping Newcastle Cemetery to Remember and Honor our veterans by laying Remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country's fallen heroes. Please help honor and remember as many fallen heroes as possible by sponsoring remembrance wreaths, volunteering on Wreaths Day, or inviting your family and friends to attend with you. LEARN MORE

Bring your new best friend home for the holidays. $10 dog and cat adoptions through the end of December. Please note that additional licensing fees may be required. Can't adopt? There are other ways to support shelter pets this holiday season: Giving Tree- visit Placer County Animal Services and pick a tag to learn about needed pet supplies; Holiday Fostering - provide a temporary home; and donations. LEARN MORE

Placer County Museums is decking the halls at four museums in Auburn and one in Penryn with the nostalgic charm of Christmas past, featuring festive exhibits available for viewing until New Year's Day. Delve into the roots of present-day traditions at the Bernhard Museum in Auburn, and explore practices like baking rings and the placement of coins or thimbles in plum pudding, some of which are no longer observed. LEARN MORE

Ensuring you are ready for the winter months is crucial. Explore our Ready Placer website for advice on creating a winter “go kit,” enrolling in Placer Alert, home/vehicle/travel preparation, road and weather conditions, current incidents, and many additional helpful tips and tools. LEARN MORE

Placer County celebrated the completion of the Lower Secline Water Quality Improvement Project in Kings Beach -- a project designed to reduce sediment flow into the lake to improve water clarity. The project brought needed drainage infrastructure to both Secline Street and Brockway Vista Drive to help prevent an estimated 2,000 pounds of sediment runoff from reaching Lake Tahoe per year. It also stabilized both roadways and added pavement, curbs and gutters, new sidewalks and parking for beachgoers. LEARN MORE

Placer County is moving forward with the first phase of an estimated $18 million wastewater pipeline extension designed to accommodate future growth in the Auburn area. The project will extend an existing sewer line along state Route 49 from near Edgewood Road to the Sewer Maintenance District 1 Regional Pump Station on Joeger Road. The Placer County Board of Supervisors took action on Nov. 27 to adopt environmental documents, approve plans and specifications for the pipeline extension and authorize the Department of Public Works to solicit construction bids for the first phase of the project, which will total an estimated $8.26 million. LEARN MORE

The Placer County Board of Supervisors took action to adopt an ordinance to rezone 332 parcels of land to comply with the Auburn Municipal Airport’s 2021 Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan. Referred to as the Auburn Airport Aircraft Overflight Rezone Project, the county is mandated by state law to align its zoning regulations with the airport's land use compatibility plan. When the Placer County Airport Land Use Commission approved the compatibility plan in 2021, it expanded the airport influence area to enhance safety for aircraft and property owners over parcels that were not zoned for aircraft overflight. LEARN MORE

The Placer County Board of Supervisors Office has part-time secretary openings for the Meadow Vista MAC, the North Auburn MAC, and the  Weimar/Applegate/Colfax MAC. All positions can be filled by one person. The positions require attendance at regular and special meetings of the MAC, which meet as needed in person. The MAC secretary is responsible for posting and mailing public meeting notices and agendas, preparing and distributing summary meeting minutes, and maintaining the records of the MAC in coordination with Placer County staff. This contract position is paid on a per-meeting basis. To find out more about this opportunity, please contact Jennifer Grappasonno with the Placer County Board of Supervisors at bos@placer.ca.gov or 530-889-4010. LEARN MORE + APPLY TODAY

North Tahoe District 5 / Seat #6 of the Library Advisory Board is currently vacant and open for recruitment. The Advisory Board's purpose is to advise and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and the Placer County Director of Library Services concerning policies and procedures for the operation of the County Free Library System. Meetings will be held the second month of each quarter. LEARN MORE + APPLY TODAY

Interested in serving as a member of the Greater Auburn Area Fire Safe Council? The mission of the Council is to promote fire safe practices within the community through outreach, education, and program development and identify ways to protect the community from wildfire. Regular meetings are held monthly on the 3rd Friday of each month at 9am at Auburn City Hall. LEARN MORE + APPLY TODAY