The following is a column submitted by Mendocino County 3rd District Supervisor John Haschak. The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the Mendocino Voice.
It is great to see the civic pride and number of people who have come home to enjoy the 100th anniversary of Willits Frontier Days. Along with the parade, rodeo, BBQ and all the Frontier Days festivities, the County Museum is open to explore the history of our county. Happy Birthday to the United States on its 250th birthday!
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors approved a balanced budget. Unknowns at this point include the costs of negotiations, federal freeze on In Home Support Services, having to hire more eligibility workers for MediCal eligibility requirements, increased retirement fund contributions and indigent care.
For the last few years, annexation has been a big topic. A Master Tax Sharing Agreement was approved by the cities and the county in 2024 (I was the lone dissenting vote). The agreement has been very controversial. Last year, the board decided to work with the City of Ukiah instead of withdrawing from the agreement. The city and the county disagree on the impact of Ukiah’s current proposal.
I proposed, and it was approved by the board, that we agree to a neutral expert who can look at the numbers and services and help us get to an agreed-upon understanding. If we can’t, then we can certainly opt out of the agreement.
On July 7, I am bringing forward an agenda item to direct staff to return to the board with an urgency ordinance establishing a temporary moratorium on the processing and approval of new data centers. Right now, data centers may be permitted without any discretionary approval in certain zoning districts, which limits the ability to condition or prevent data center construction.
Certainly, the exorbitant use of water is a prime concern. A temporary moratorium on data centers would prohibit new centers from being developed pending the consideration and study of the land use activity, including looking at various issues such as water and energy consumption, noise pollution, neighborhood compatibility, etc. County staff would return to the board with recommendations for addressing the permitting of data centers after studying the issues.
If you stay at a hotel, motel, or short-term rental in Mendocino County, there is a transient occupancy tax and a 1% tax called a Business Improvement Tax (BID). This is used to promote tourism. Visit Mendocino County has had the contract. Hoteliers in the inland area have felt that the inland portion of the county has not been properly promoted. The board approved an ad hoc committee of me and Supervisor Cline to explore other contract options. There is a newly formed Inland Mendocino Tourism Council that wants to have fiscal and marketing control of the inland area in partnership with VMC. If the old way isn’t working, let’s look at new approaches.