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District 4 Residents and Friends!
As we move through February, I want to share a few highlights from around District 4 and keep you informed about what is happening in our communities.
Public safety and infrastructure maintainance remain top priorities. We continue working closely with the South Placer Fire District as they pursue both short-term grants and long-term funding solutions. Traffic safety reviews and pedestrian improvements also remain active topics as we plan ahead for 2026 projects.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, I wish everyone a happy Valentine’s Day and encourage you to explore the Placer Wine Trail, which offers tastings, tours, and special experiences throughout the season. It is a wonderful way to celebrate locally while supporting our regional wineries and hospitality partners.
Please note that there will be no Granite Bay Municipal Advisory Council meeting this month due to no agenda items requiring MAC review. While it may appear that there have been several cancellations recently, this is due to new requirements governing how land use decisions and planning items are processed. For example, certain zoning matters move directly through formal planning and hearing processes rather than MAC discussion. Because of this, starting in the spring we plan to host more Supervisor Forums in between months where the MAC is not meeting so that way residents can still hear staff and public safety reports.
If you or someone you know needs to contact me or my team, please reach out through our website at Suzanne Jones, District 4 | Placer County, CA. Thanks to recent system upgrades, communication with my office is simple and accessible. The only barrier is not reaching out; I am happy to chat with all of my constituents. Thank you for staying engaged and informed. I truly appreciate your continued involvement and look forward to connecting with you at future meetings and community events.
Our next Board of Supervisors Meeting is on Tuesday February at 9am. Join in person or online Placer County Public Meetings - YouTube
Warm regards,
Suzanne Jones
Placer County Supervisor, District 4
Placer County Hosts Red Sand Project to Raise Awareness of Human Trafficking
Last month, Placer County leaders and community members gathered to participate in the Red Sand Project, a national awareness initiative focused on human trafficking and modern exploitation. The project uses red sand poured into sidewalk cracks to symbolize people who are overlooked, vulnerable, or trapped in exploitative situations.
By making the invisible visible, the Red Sand Project encourages conversations about prevention, education, and community responsibility. County staff, local partners, and advocates joined together to learn how human trafficking impacts communities of all sizes, including rural and suburban areas like Placer County.
The event reinforced the importance of awareness, early intervention, and coordinated support for survivors. Placer County remains committed to working with regional partners to protect vulnerable populations and strengthen community education around human trafficking prevention. Watch a recap video here
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New chair to lead Board of Supervisors in 2026
Supervisor Shanti Landon will be the new chair and Supervisor Cindy Gustafson will be the vice chair of the Board of Supervisors. As part of the rotational process, Supervisor Bonnie Gore passed the gavel to Landon on Jan. 6, the first meeting of the new year. More than two dozen elected and faith leaders attended the meeting to show their support for Landon, whose first message as chair was one of unity and grace. This is the first time Landon has served as chair of the board since she took office in January 2023. We had an opportunity to speak with her about the leadership position. Watch video
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SOUTH PLACER FIRE DISTRICT WINS GRANTS; CONTINUES TO FACE CRITICAL FUNDING NEEDS
Jan. 12, 2026, GRANITE BAY/LOOMIS, CA – While South Placer Fire District (SPFD) faces a budget shortfall due to unfunded state mandates, rising operating costs, flat funding from property taxes and local assessments that haven’t been increased since the 1980s, SPFD Leadership has been successful securing grant funding from FEMA’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program, and the State of California – Office of Traffic Safety, totaling nearly $800,000.
FEMA awarded SPFD a SAFER Grant totaling $750,000 for the next three years to temporarily fund three new positions. This funding allows SPFD the ability to bring all engine companies to 3-person staffing for the three-year term of the grant. After the third year, SPFD will be 100 percent responsible for the three positions.
“It’s wonderful to receive these desperately needed funds,” said SPFD Fire Chief Darin Snedeker. “Our District, like so many here in Placer County and across the State, faces huge funding challenges due to stagnant resources and rising costs. The grant funds are not permanent; they are a temporary fix that helps keep our residents and first responders safe, for the time being. Without a permanent funding solution in place, the SPFD Board and Leadership remain committed to seeking grant funding and balancing fiscally conservative operations while exploring permanent funding solutions.”
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) awarded SPFD a $50,000 grant to purchase and implement the HAAS Alert's Safety Cloud®, a public safety solution that delivers real-time digital alerts to drivers when emergency vehicles are approaching or working on scene. This life-saving technology provides drivers with crucial extra warning time, which reduces the risk of secondary crashes from bottlenecks following an initial crash. Safety Cloud delivers safety alerts to drivers through multiple channels:
- Navigation apps: Automatic warnings appear in Waze and Apple Maps
- Vehicle dashboards: Built-in alerts for 2018 and newer Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and RAM vehicles, plus 2024 and newer Volkswagen vehicles
“In order to reopen stations, attract, retain and train fire personnel, purchase modern equipment, upgrade facilities and deliver the responses times and care our community deserves, we will need to find a permanent funding solution,” said Chief Snedeker. “This is wonderful, but it’s just a Band-Aid.”
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