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Supervisor District 4
Agriculture
Promote and protect the agricultural industry within Nevada County.
Learn more:
- In 2021 Nevada County updated the “Right to Farm” ordinance. This ordinance is a renewed commitment by the County to enhance and encourage agricultural operations within the county.
- The Agricultural Commissioner’s Office produced the 2020 Annual Crop and Livestock Report. Direction was given to include cannabis as a supplemental report for next year's crop report, as allowed by Senate Bill 659 (2019).
- Focus on land use issues affecting agriculture such as water, drought, and fire preparedness. Using the County’s General Plan document to help guide the county on long-term policy decisions.
- Work with local partners in agriculture including Ag Commissioner’s Office, Ag Advisory Commission, Farm Bureau, UC Cooperative Extension and local law enforcement (Sheriff’s Office) and fire (CAL FIRE) to create a livestock access pass for commercial livestock operators. This pass potentially allows commercial livestock operators the ability to access areas under evacuation in order to care for their animals.
- Attention to zoning and preservation of ag land.
Emergency Preparedness
Lead the community in all-hazards planning, preparedness, response, and recovery with a focus on wildfire; engage residents in emergency preparedness; create more defensible space around properties and roadways; and mitigate the impact of Public Safety Power Shutoff events.
Learn more:
- Prioritizing roadside vegetation maintenance along evacuation routes. Annually, Public Works brushes approximately 50-70 miles and mows an estimated 40-50 miles (approximately 10 feet from the shoulder) of its 560 miles of County-maintained roadways. This maintenance cycle is completed every 8-10 years and is funded by gas-tax, vehicle license fee, and grants. See this map which shows progress on this project.
- I supported opening up North San Juan's community center as warming/cooling center and community resource center during Public Safety Power Shutoff events. The Penn Valley Library his also being used as a cooling center when necessary.
- I support the numerous fire safe communities in District 4 from North San Juan to South County.
- District 4 benefits from strong coordination and collaboration between its three fire districts (North San Juan, Penn Valley, and Rough and Ready) and CAL FIRE. Through a cooperative agreement, the CAL FIRE Grass Valley Emergency Command Center (GVECC) provides regional fire and medical dispatch services to Western Nevada County fire agencies. Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL) technology installed in CAL FIRE resources integrates with GVECC’s Computer Aided Dispatch program, providing for the dispatch of the closest available resources for a rapid response and aggressive fire attack. Through cooperation and unified command with local fire and law enforcement agencies, 98.2% of the 55 vegetation fires that took place in District 4 in 2021 never grew beyond ten acres, exceeding CAL FIRE’s mission to contain 95% of all fires at ten acres or less.
- Looking at making updates to the County's Hazardous Vegetation Ordinance in February-March of 2022.
Housing
Coordinate with local jurisdictions, developers, and other partners to facilitate the development of and access to affordable and workforce housing development.
Learn more:
- I'm so pleased to serve on the Regional Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners where we work to enhance communities by creating and sustaining decent, safe and affordable living environments that foster stability and increase self-sufficiency for people with lower incomes. The RHA was a critical partner in two affordable housing developments in Penn Valley: Lone Oak Senior Apartments and Courtyard at Penn Valley Apartments.
- I support Hospitality House in their mission to to bring homeless people in Nevada County into a circle of community caring that offers shelter, sustenance, medical care, advocacy, opportunity, dignity, and hope as we assist them in transitioning from homelessness to housing.
Libraries
Provide District 4 with a comfortable and safe environment to pursue reading, access information, explore cultural opportunities, and build community connections. District 4 is unique in that it is served by the County-run Penn Valley Library and the community-supported San Juan Ridge Community Library.
Learn more:
- The Penn Valley Library, which opened in 2002, is the newest branch of the Nevada County Community Library system. This branch operates in the Lake Wildwood Shopping Center on Pleasant Valley Road across from the main entrance to Lake Wildwood.
- In January 2021, the library moved to a larger location in the same shopping center, doubling in size to over 2,100 square feet. The new location offers outdoor patio seating, a community meeting room, and an area for children to enjoy story time. This library location also serves as a cooling center during the hottest days of the year.
First Five
Promote the importance of early childhood by investing in complex systems of care, empowering families, and strengthening the community.
Highlights from 2020-2021:
- Over 740 children and over 350 parents were served through supportive services such as Family Resource Centers, Parenting Workshops, Early Childhood Behavioral Health Services, and developmental screenings.
- Over 350 children and 140 parents were served through early education opportunities and quality child care providers.
- Over 300 children and parents were served through home visiting services.
- Commission staff participated in 2 formal Community Collaboratives and 3 additional COVID-related collaborative efforts centered around providing quality child care to families, coordinating home visitation services, and the development of a child abuse prevention plan that crosses sectors and public/private organizations.
