The $4,703,840 in estimated damages were largely concentric to county roads and bridges and could qualify for reimbursement under the California Disaster Assistance Act. Humboldt County Public Works Director Tom Mattson said that, relative to the amount of rain dumped over several days, the county “dodged a bullet.”
The resolution – supported unanimously by the present supervisors, though 5th District Supervisor Steve Madrone and 4th District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo were absent – allows a government agency, nonprofit or religious organization to set up a site where homeless residents can park and stay safely while receiving connection to services. While the resolution was initially passed in June, 2022, not a single agency or nonprofit took advantage of it.
A county ad hoc committee found that after staff expenses, office rent and operating costs, the bureau had $59,024 out of the $315,874 they got from the county in fiscal year 2023-24 to fulfill their end of the contract, which requires marketing Humboldt County to potential tourists. The committee concluded the funds were “insufficient for a robust marketing campaign,” per the staff report for the item.
The move was at the request of Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services Director Connie Beck, who said that she anticipates the positions currently funded my Measure Z – four of the Mobile Intervention Services Team, which includes eight total positions, but half are vacant due to grant funds running out – will likely continue to operate under CalAIM – the states attempt to integrate the Medi-Cal program more closely with social services – funding by January.