Politics
Here you will find a broad range of news articles political in nature.
Update Tues., June 18, 2013- Sups. revision of Guiding Principles draw strong negative reaction
Two weeks after the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted to revise the Principles which guide the County General Plan Update (GPU), a large negative reaction built and opposition to the decision was evident once again at the GPU meeting this Mon., June 18. 2013. Opposition to the revisions were related both to their content and to the process used to adopt them, which limited public input to the same meeting in which they were adopted. As a result of the public outcry the Sups. decided to revisit the Guiding Principles and to give the public advanced notice when that would be done. More can be heard on this development using the player below.
This report was submitted by KMUD News Correspondent Daniel Mintz and was aired on the KMUD Local News Tues., June 18, 2013
The original post of this story can be viewed below.
Chapter 1 of the Humboldt County General Plan Update (GPU) includes a section called Guiding Principles which are meant to: "provide a statement of community values and the overall objectives of the General Plan." On Monday, June 3, 2013, using a "straw vote", the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors tentatively approved a revision of those principles. The revision was drafted by Supervisors Fennell and Bohn. The vote to adopt, with two minor changes, carried by a 4 to 1 vote, with Supervisor Lovelace as the dissenting vote. The biggest changes occur in Principles #4 and #6 as shown below.
In the Fennell/Bohn revision of #4, the concept of focused development in areas already having preexisting infrastructure was omitted as was the statement, "...discourage low-density residential conversion of resource lands and open space."
Planning Commission Version
4. Ensure efficient use of water and sewer services and focus development in those areas and discourage low-density residential conversion of resource lands and open space.
Fennell/Bohn Revision
4. Cooperate with service providers in delivering efficient water and sewer services and infrastructure and support scientifically proven alternative waste management systems in areas not served by public sewer.
In the Fennell/Bohn revision of #6, the statement, "...protect agriculture and timberland over the long term" was omitted as was, "...using measures such as increased restrictions on resource land subdivisions and patent parcel development."
Planning Commission Version
6. Protect agriculture and timberland over the long term, using measures such as increased restrictions on resource land subdivisions and patent parcel development.
Fennell/Bohn Revision
6. Encourage, incentivize and support agriculture, timber and compatible uses on resource lands.
A complete comparison between the old and revised Principles can be seen below.
Use the player below to hear a report on this story submitted by KMUD News Correspondent Daniel Mintz. This report aired on the KMUD Local News Wed., June 12, 2013.
Guiding Principles as they appear in the Planning Commission Approved Draft GPU:
1. Ensure that public policy is reflective of the needs of the citizenry as expressed by the citizens themselves.
2. Preserve and enhance the character of Humboldt County and the quality of life it offers.
3. Provide sufficient developable land, encourage development of affordable housing for all income levels, and prevent housing scarcity under a range of population growth scenarios.
4. Ensure efficient use of water and sewer services and focus development in those areas and discourage low-density residential conversion of resource lands and open space.
5. Support the County’s economic development strategy and work to retain and create living-wage job opportunities.
6. Protect agriculture and timberland over the long term, using measures such as increased restrictions on resource land subdivisions and patent parcel development.
7. Protect natural resources, especially open space, water resources, water quality, scenic beauty, and salmonid habitat.
8. Include actionable plans for infrastructure financing and construction.
9. Adhere to a practical strategy that can be implemented.
10. Provide a clear statement of land use values and policies to provide clarity in the County’s permit processing system and simplify review of projects that are consistent with the General Plan.
11. Maximize the opportunities to educate the public about the planning process, in order to have meaningful participation in the development and maintenance of the Plan.
12. Support a broad public participation program at all levels of the decision making process; including study, workshops, hearings, and plan revisions.
Revisions proposed by Supervisors Fennell and Bohn:
Note: the approved minor changes to these revised Principles were: replacing the word " Honor" in Principle 2 (below) with "preserve" and adding "fisheries habitat" in principle 7.
Additional Resources:
Humboldt County vs. Bob McKee court decision released
Written by Bob Froehlich
In a long-awaited court ruling, filed Friday, June 7, 2013 by Humboldt County, Judge Dale Reinholtsen, Southern Humboldt developer Bob McKee has been ordered to pay $200,000 in fines to Humboldt County. In the costly 11- year lawsuit the county maintained that the defendants, Buck Mountain Ranch Limited Partnership, Robert McKee and Valery McKee, violated the Williamson Act in their development of the Tooby Ranch near Garberville, purchased by McKee, et. al. The ruling is not final. Both parties have 20 days to file objections with the court. Hear more details about this ruling using the player below. For copies of the ruling and its accompanying court order documents see the links below.
The photo above, from the Redwood Times, shows Bob McKee addressing the Rotary club in Garberville.
The audio in the player below was submitted by KMUD News Correspondent Daniel Mintz and aired on the KMUD Local News Wed., June 12, 2013.
Documents:
An item appeared on the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors Agenda for their April 16, 2013 meeting which will begin the process of vacating a portion of county owned property known as the Jim DeMulling Memorial Park in Garberville .
The agenda item and accompanying recommendation appeared as quoted below.
"Vacation of a Portion of Redwood Drive (C6B105) and Thomas Drive (6B150), also known as the Jim DeMulling Veterans Memorial Grove in Garberville."
"RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of Supervisors direct staff to prepare the necessary documents for the vacation of a portion of the unused right of way of Redwood Drive (C6B105) and Thomas Drive (6B150)."
According to the document above removing the property, not used for public road purposes, will allow the county to manage the property for non-road related purposes, and could ultimately allow the county to, "lease, license, or sell the property."
The DeMulling Park area, at the Northern entrance to Garberville, has been, and is currently, used as a meeting place, resting area, and refuge for the Houseless, Homeless, Traveler (HHT) population in Southern Humboldt. At times, however, it has also been the site of incidents of illegal activity and violence, making the continued use of the area by the HHT Community a point of controversy between various factions in the SoHum Community at large.
Use the player below to hear or download the audio of a report on this Board item, submitted by KMUD News Correspondent, Daniel Mintz. This piece was aired by News Director, Terri Klemetson, on the KMUD Local News Tues., April 16, 2013.
Related KMUD News Posts:
Other related links:
Law enforcement responds to fight at Veterans Park; two deputies slightly injured-Redwood Times
Even Laundry Nazi's Get Hurt Feelings- Kym Kemp's Red Headed Blackbelt Blog
Humboldt County Treasurer explains school bond financing
Written by Bob FroehlichRecently school construction bond financing has been in the news. Click here for story in the Pasadena Sun. In 2010 Southern Humboldt County voters approved Measure L for local school construction projects. KMUD News Coordinator,Terri Klemetson, interviewed Southern Humboldt Unified School District Board President, Dennis O'Sullivan, about Measure L bond financing. That interview, aired Dec. 11, 2012 and can can be found in the archived local news. Click here for that link (sixth story into the newscast).
In a followup to this story, Terri Klemetson interviewed Humboldt County Treasurer, John Bartholomew. A portion of that interview aired on Dec. 19, 2012.
Use the player below to hear the extended interview with Bartholomew.
According to a press release from Office of Secretary of State, dated Oct. 8, 2012:
While Election Day is still weeks away, October 8 marks the start of “election month,” when county elections officials prepare to mail November 6 General Election ballots to the millions of Californians who opt for the convenience of voting by mail.
“With the ever-increasing popularity of voting by mail, Election Day has really become election month,” said Secretary of State Debra Bowen, the state’s chief elections officer. “Voting by mail lets you vote when you decide it’s convenient because you can mark your ballot and mail it now, or mark it as you make up your mind on issues and candidates. Whatever you do, make sure your county elections official receives your ballot by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day so it will be counted.”
Any California voter may vote by mail. The last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is October 30. A registered voter may request a ballot by using the application printed on the back of the sample ballot booklet mailed by the county elections office, or obtain an application online at: www.sos.ca.gov/elections/vote-by-mail/pdf/fill-in-vote-by-mail-app-instruct.pdf. Registered voters can also vote in person at their county elections office prior to November 6.
County elections officials will begin mailing vote-by-mail ballots as early as October 9 (post offices are closed today for a federal holiday). Ballots have already been mailed to military and overseas voters. Vote-by-mail voters can cast their November 6 ballots through the mail, drop them off at any polling place within the voter’s county, or vote in person at county elections offices. Once county elections officials determine the signature on the vote-by-mail ballot return envelope matches the voter’s signature on his or her voter registration application, and the voter did not vote elsewhere in the same election, the ballot is counted. All valid vote-by-mail ballots are counted in every election, regardless of the outcome or closeness of any race.
Vote-by-mail ballots comprised 65 percent of ballots cast in the June 2012 primary – the most ever in a California statewide election.
