Mendocino County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Mendocino County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Public Ambulance Joint Powers Agreement
Public Health and the Coastal Valleys EMS Agency gave supervisors a picture of how emergency medical services are operating countywide. EMS staffing and response times are a persistent concern in rural counties like Mendocino.
Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO) Program
The county could opt into a state program allowing residents to legally run small food businesses from their home kitchens. If the board approves, staff will draft a local ordinance and permitting process.
First Quarter Budget Report and FY 2026-27 Budget Amendments
The Board adopted the third-quarter budget amendment for the current year and got its first look at the preliminary 2026-27 budget — a preview of what services and staffing the county can afford next year.
Bower Park Improvement Project Phase 3 Grant
The board added $170,000 of one-time money to finish the South Coast park's lighting, fencing and landscaping. Local speakers backed it but questioned who will maintain the park long-term — an estimated $100,000 a year question left unanswered.
Ukiah Area Trash Capture Devices
A $205,000 construction contract would install trash capture devices to keep litter out of local waterways around Ukiah.
Animal Shelter Spay/Neuter Funding
A $408,000 donation is funding low-cost spay/neuter across the county, but a veterinary shortage is slowing things down; the county may rent its care van to a traveling vet with discounts for Covelo, the coast, and reservations.
Sea Level Rise Policies for the Mendocino Coast
The county was set to hold a public hearing on adopting baseline sea level rise policies into its coastal plan and sending the amendment to the California Coastal Commission. These rules could shape future coastal development and how the shoreline is protected for decades.
Briceland Road Bridge Replacement Over the Mattole River
The consent calendar included a $530,000 engineering design contract for replacing the Briceland Road bridge over the Mattole River near Whitethorn — a key link for the isolated southern Humboldt-adjacent community.
Residential Permit Amnesty Program Considered
Dozens of residents testified that county permitting is too expensive, slow, and intimidating — only 12 of 38 housing-related amnesty applications finaled. The Board directed staff to review failed cases, meet with those owners, and hold community meetings rather than launch a new amnesty program now.
Sea level rise and coastal plan update
The county is developing baseline sea level rise policies for its coastal General Plan element.
Permanent County CEO appointment
The county is working on filling its top administrative job — the CEO who runs day-to-day county operations. The board discussed the appointment behind closed doors and announced no hire, so the position's status remains up in the air.
Renewal of Climate and Tree Mortality Emergency Declarations
The board renewed its local emergency declarations for tree mortality and climate change, keeping the county eligible for related response tools and funding.
County Executive and Legal Leadership Appointments
The board is weighing performance reviews for four department heads and appointments to two top county jobs, including Chief Executive Officer and County Health Officer. Who fills these roles shapes how county services are run day to day.
1% Road Sales Tax Falls Short
The county tried to put a 1% transportation sales tax on the November ballot to fund road paving and maintenance staffing. It needed four of five supervisor votes just to pass the board, and got three. Roads stay underfunded.
Behavioral Health Contracting and Mental Health Client Services
The board approved $19.2 million in contracts with five mental health providers, but punted on whether providers must use the county's Avatar record system or may keep their own systems with a hybrid model. A new ad hoc will study it and report back.
Performance evaluations of department heads
The Board evaluated several top officials behind closed doors, including the Interim CEO, Agricultural Commissioner, Air Quality Pollution Officer, and Public Defender. Outcomes stay confidential unless they affect employment.
County Health Officer appointment
Supervisors privately discussed filling the County Health Officer position. No decision was announced, leaving the county's public health leadership question open.
El Niño winter storm emergency
The county ratified an emergency proclamation for a potentially historic El Niño, but staff say state permitting could take 9–18 months — meaning flood-prevention work in places like Hopland likely can't happen before the storms.
Willits library refresh and ADA upgrades
The Willits library gets a full overhaul — ADA fixes, new flooring, HVAC, windows and an outdoor kids' patio — funded entirely by Measure O sales tax dollars, under a new 10-year plan to share library capital money fairly countywide.
Meadow Farm code enforcement fee waiver
The county waived about $9,000 in building-permit penalties for the Fort Bragg nonprofit so it can afford permits to fix inherited code violations; one supervisor warned about setting a precedent.
Code enforcement priorities and neighborhood nuisances
The board kept life safety as the top code enforcement priority and added law-enforcement referrals, but a 4-1 split revealed frustration that nuisance complaints — trash, junk, illegal occupancy — aren't being addressed fast enough with staffing down to two field officers.
Data center moratorium extension
The Board imposed a 45-day emergency ban on approving new data center projects in unincorporated Mendocino County while it studies their water, electricity, farmland and fiscal impacts. A renewal hearing — possibly for a term as long as two years — is expected October 6.
Deteriorating county roads
Mendocino County ranks in the bottom five of California's 58 counties for road conditions, with an average pavement score of 47 and about half the network in poor or failed shape. Full repair to good condition would cost $575 million — far beyond current funding of about $5.5 million a year.
Reynold's Highway bridge replacement over Outlet Creek
A 1955 single-lane timber bridge — the only access and evacuation route for west-of-creek residents near Brooktrails — will be replaced with a new two-lane structure designed for 100-year floods, fully reimbursed by the federal Highway Bridge Program.
Labor Negotiations with County Employee Unions
Nearly 20 employees and union reps pleaded for a 3% cost-of-living adjustment, saying county workers qualify for food assistance, can't afford local housing, and that the county's 1% offer and cut to longevity pay would drive staff away.
Water and Sewer Rate Increase
Willits residents will see higher water and sewer bills starting in October after the City Council approved a 6.5% water rate hike and a 6% sewer rate increase. If you live in Willits, this is a direct hit to your monthly utility bill.
2026-27 Property Tax Rates
The Board formally set the county's tax rates for the coming fiscal year.
Waterless composting toilets for rural areas
A possible voluntary pilot would let rural residents use container-based composting toilets where septic isn't feasible. Any plan must come back to the Board before implementation.
AB 2494 opposition letter
The Board voted 4-1 to oppose AB 2494; Supervisor Norvell dissented.
ADU amnesty program for unpermitted units
The state's AB 2533 lets owners of pre-2020 unpermitted ADUs legalize them. The Board formed a committee to explore going beyond the state program locally, with a proposal due October 20.
Covelo/Round Valley Safe Routes to School
The county hired Dokken Engineering for $1.1 million to design safer school walking routes in Round Valley.
Anticipated Litigation Against the County
The Board got briefed in private on litigation exposure involving multiple cases. Details stay confidential, but outcomes could carry costs for the county.
Air Quality fee schedule CPI adjustments
Sitting as the Air Quality Management District, the Board set a process for annual inflation-based adjustments to air pollution control permit fees following a public hearing.
City of Ukiah proposed annexation and tax sharing
Sheriff Kendall warned annexation would cost a deputy's worth of funding (~$150,000) in year one; Supervisor Mulheren accused the CEO's analysis of telling only one side and called for a full, independent analysis of costs and savings.
CEO salary increase to $300,000
Facing a second failed recruitment, the Board raised the advertised CEO salary to a $250,000–$300,000 range, passing 3-2. Dissenting supervisors argued the 20% bump next to staff's 3% raise sends the wrong message, while supporters said the higher ceiling is the only way to attract qualified candidates.
$4.5M grant to fight illicit cannabis grows
The Sheriff's Office secured a $4.5 million Prop 64 grant for enforcement against illegal cannabis cultivation, including a code enforcement position and citation software, after reporting roughly 200,000 plants eradicated in July and that 75% of recent homicides occurred at illicit grow sites. Quarterly reports and a public FAQ were added to address community fears about misuse.
Secure Rural Schools Title III project funding
The Board directed staff to partner with the Resource Conservation District and Fire Safe Council to rank and fund fire prevention and related projects with $219,000 in federal Title III funds.
2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan
The Board adopted the updated hazard mitigation plan, keeping the county positioned for federal disaster mitigation and recovery funding.
Grand Jury response on Planning and Building oversight
The Board approved its response to two 2025/2026 Grand Jury reports examining Board oversight of Planning and Building Services, and disbanded the ad hoc committee that drafted it.
Homelessness services and federal policy direction
The county is relaunching homeless outreach as a behavioral-health-focused program with two teams working seven days a week, six new positions, and $230,000 annually in Measure B funds, starting in the greater Ukiah area before expanding. Supervisors and staff framed it as filling the gap for unsheltered residents with mental health and substance use needs.
Wildfire Evacuation Order Downgrade
Good news for people near Covelo: the wildfire evacuation order has been downgraded to a warning, so some residents may be able to head home. But it’s not all-clear—keep your go-bag ready and be prepared to leave again if conditions change.
Sheriff Staffing Crisis
The Sheriff's Office has a 33% vacancy rate pushing toward 45% with injuries, and says illicit marijuana operations are driving homicides, violence and human trafficking. The board unanimously funded five positions at roughly $1 million a year, partly offset by Prop 64 grants.
Water Agency IWPC Contribution
The county is putting another $90,000 into the Inland Water and Power Commission, which Supervisor Haschak framed as backing local control of water resources amid outside water-district and federal involvement.
Grand Jury Findings on Planning & Building
A new Grand Jury report criticizes the board's oversight of Planning and Building Services, including failure to implement state fire-safe regulations (PRC 4290). Supervisors Williams and Haschak will lead the response; a resident said last year's promised follow-up never happened.
Planning and Building Services Leadership Transition
Director Julia Krog announced she's leaving July 17 for a Marin County job; Richard Wegele will serve as interim director with a supporting team, and the CEO is exploring a broader community services department reorganization.
Hopland Shaded Fuel Break Wildfire Grant
The county will apply for up to $950,000 from Cal Fire's Proposition 4 program to fund the Hopland shaded fuel break wildfire prevention project.
SB 1 Road Projects and Bridge Work
The board approved the next three years of state-funded road work in Caspar/Comptche, Redwood Valley, Potter Valley, Ukiah, and Calpella — and Supervisor Cline noted publicly that residents doubt the county will actually show up.
Hill Road Bridge Replacement Over Mill Creek
The Board green-lit bidding on the $7.87 million Hill Road Bridge replacement in the Covelo area — one of the biggest infrastructure items on the consent calendar.
Fiscal Transparency and the $30 Million Uncollected Revenue Question
Supervisors Mulheren and Williams pressed for better financial reporting on road spending, and Supervisor Haschak flagged public confusion about roughly $30 million in uncollected county revenue flagged in a state audit. Staff said the financial system needs years of work before full transparency is possible.
Redwood Valley Water District Annexation (LAFCO A-2025-05)
The Russian River Flood Control District wants to annex the Redwood Valley Water District's service area — an administrative change that would let Redwood use its contracted water anywhere in its boundaries without dissolving either district. The Board's zero tax sharing agreement keeps property tax distributions unchanged if LAFCO approves.