District 5 Newsletter | Strengthening Public Engagement in Placer County 

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DISTRICT 5 NEWSLETTER | FEB. 1

Strengthening Public Engagement in Placer County 

Cindy

Last week, the Board of Supervisors held a governance workshop to evaluate ways to improve the operations and support for each supervisorial office. Our primary goal was to enhance consistency and efficiency in how we serve our communities. A key focus of this discussion was exploring ways to improve public engagement and ensure that all residents have meaningful opportunities to participate in County decision-making. 

Municipal Advisory Councils (MACs) were first established in the early 1970s to provide advisory input on local issues. Over time, as Placer County has grown, the role and structure of MACs has evolved. Under current County Code, MACs are formally designated to review and comment on land-use and planning matters. However, each supervisorial office has developed additional ways to engage with residents, and we believe greater consistency in public outreach is essential to ensuring equitable access for all. 

Expanding Opportunities for Public Participation 

As your representative, I am committed to making sure your voice is heard and that our community has the most effective tools for engaging in County processes. Over the past several years, District and Board staff have been assessing the effectiveness and fairness of relying on MACs for community input. A recent grand jury report further highlighted the need to reevaluate our engagement strategies. While MACs remain valuable for land-use discussions, we recognize they are not the only—nor always the most effective—way to facilitate robust public participation. 

Some of the challenges identified include: 

   • Limited public awareness about MACs and their role 

   • Low meeting turnout and lack of virtual options for the majority of
      locations  

   • Brown Act requirements for MAC meetings that can prevent timely
      meetings because of quorum requirements 

These and other factors can sometimes lead to community frustration, particularly when Planning Commission or Board of Supervisors’ decisions do not align with MAC recommendations. 

A More Inclusive Approach 

To address these challenges and ensure broader public engagement, we are exploring additional tools to supplement the MAC process. These include: 

   1. Hybrid or online town hall meetings for regional issues, allowing
       broader and more convenient participation 

   2. Community forums to receive regular updates on County programs
       and provide a platform for non-County agencies to share their
       updates

   3. Online engagement platforms (such as Engage Placer) to make it
       easier for residents to share input at their convenience 

By expanding our outreach efforts, we hope to foster more informed discussions, provide greater accessibility for those who cannot attend in-person meetings, and ensure that all residents and businesses have an opportunity to contribute to shaping Placer County’s future. 

These additional tools are designed to complement—not replace—our existing MACs, creating a more transparent, collaborative, and inclusive decision-making process. 

We welcome your feedback as we work to refine and enhance public engagement. Your voice is essential in shaping the future of our community. 

In service, 
Supervisor Cindy Gustafson 


D5 JANUARY MEETINGS/EVENTS + CASEWORK SUMMARY

Jan. 2025 Calendar

Meetings/Events:

  • 29 Internal Meetings
  • 36 External Meetings
  • 12 Board Meetings
  • 7 MAC Meetings
  • 6 Events

Casework: Assisted 72 Constituents 


EVENTS, NEWS & RESOURCES

PLACER 2050 BACKGROUND REPORTS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW

General Plan Photo

The Placer County Community Development Resource Agency has released a series of draft background reports along with an “Assets, Issues and Opportunities” booklet that will help stakeholders learn more about the Placer 2050 General Plan Update and provide input. Last year, the county launched its effort to comprehensively update the general plan, a road map document that will set a new vision for the unincorporated area of Placer County through the year 2050. The background reports include an introduction and 19 chapters that provide an overview of demographic, economic, land use, mobility, natural resources, infrastructure, environmental justice, community health and other conditions.
LEARN MORE + VIEW REPORTS


PLACER 2050 VISIONING WORKSHOP SCHEDULE RELEASED

Placer County Photo

The Placer County Community Development Resource Agency is launching a series of in-person and online Placer 2050 General Plan Update visioning workshops beginning Feb. 26 through April 30. The visioning workshops are an opportunity for residents and stakeholders to provide input into a variety of topical areas including sustainability, community design and housing, transportation, community health, safety and resilience, parks/open space, agriculture, economic development, utilities and infrastructure. LEARN MORE


BROADBAND ACCESS COMING TO MORE FOOTHILL COMMUNITIES

broadband photo

The Placer County Board of Supervisors approved a contract agreement to expand broadband to foothill communities spanning the Interstate 80 corridor. The contract is part of the county’s Foothill Broadband Expansion Project. This phase of the project will expand broadband services to approximately 3,825 homes and businesses in the Applegate, Cape Horn, Magra, Dutch Flat and Alta communities. The $23,752,674 contract agreement was awarded to Astound Broadband for the period of Jan. 15 to Dec. 31, 2026. Funding for the project was awarded to the county last year by the California Public Utility Commission. LEARN MORE


PLACER SEEKS $20M GRANT TO EXPAND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR HOMELESS

Homekey photo

Placer County is partnering with local nonprofit AMI Housing to apply for a competitive Homekey+ Program grant from the state. The initiative, if awarded, would bring up to $20 million in funding to expand permanent supportive housing through the purchase and renovation of a motel building in unincorporated Auburn. The project would build on the county’s earlier success with Homekey projects in Kings Beach and Roseville, which pair permanent housing with ongoing case management and onsite support for formerly homeless individuals with complex needs. Permanent supportive housing solutions, coupled with intensive services for homeless individuals with serious mental illness, have helped reduce homeless rates in Placer County to one of the lowest rates statewide. LEARN MORE


COMMITTEE AND COMMISSION OPENINGS IN DISTRICT 5

District 5

There are several open opportunities on local committees and commissions in District 5, offering a chance to get involved and help shape important decisions in our community. If you're passionate about making a difference, consider applying and contributing your voice to local governance. LEARN MORE + APPLY TODAY

COLFAX CEMETERY DISTRICT
DONNER SUMMIT MAC
FISH AND GAME COMMISSION
LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD 


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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Free, confidential, multilingual and available 24/7. Connect to resources for housing, food, transportation, healthcare, heat safety resources and more. Your source for non-emergency disaster information.
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Placer Alert notifies residents about emergency events and other important public safety information via phone call, text or email. Please help us to help you by signing up to receive these important alerts.
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Placer Business Resource Center

North Tahoe Community Alliance

Sierra Small Business Development Center

California State Treasurer's Office

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East Placer Bulletin


UPCOMING
MEETINGS & EVENTS

February 3
Auburn Veteran's Hall 
Foresthill Forum

February 4
Meddlers
NTCA Breakfast Club
Board of Supervisors

February 5
Tahoe Transportation District 
•  Strong North Tahoe

February 6
Olympic Valley MAC

February 13
Eastern Placer Town hall 

February 14
LiSWA Board Meeting
SSV Board Meeting

February 18
Meddlers
Board of Supervisors 

February 19
Weimar/ Applegate/ Colfax MAC

February 26
Meddlers

February 26
TRPA Board Meeting

[VIEW PLACER'S
ONLINE CALENDAR]