MENDOCINO CO., 9/23/24— The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors will hold its regularly scheduled meeting this Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the county offices in Ukiah. On the docket is a proposal for a countywide noise ordinance as well as a reduction in the county’s cannabis business tax for tax years 2025 and 2026. The board will also vote on an agreement with Redwood Community Services to provide housing resources to former foster youth between ages 18 and 25. The supervisors will also vote on purchasing a commercial drone system for the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.
The proposal for a Mendocino County noise ordinance, presented by 1st District Supervisor Glenn McGourty, follows guidelines common in other jurisdictions. Such an ordinance would mandate county residents to abide by a list of rules regarding quiet hours and maximum noise levels, requiring quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and that device noises remain below 50 decibels in residential areas. It would also forbid any continuous noise over 85 decibels within 2,500 feet of another residence and require loud animal sounds to be kept at a minimum. If a resident violates the ordinance, he or she will receive a civil citation, not punishable by jail. These citations usually include escalating fines for serial violations. Do note, Fort Bragg, Ukiah, and Point Arena already have noise ordinances in place.
Another important item on the board’s agenda is a proposed ordinance to reduce cannabis operators’ business tax for tax years 2025 and 2026. The ordinance would be applied to cannabis cultivation and nursery operations, reducing the required tax by 40% for tax year 2025 and 35% for tax year 2026. This would be a substantial reduction for many cannabis businesses that paid a flat rate of $2,500 in taxes according to the original cannabis ordinance.
The board will also discuss approving an agreement with Redwood Community Services Inc. (RCS) of $207,750 to provide housing and other services to former foster youth between the ages of 18 and 25. This agreement would be effective until October 2025 and requires that RCS provide services to young adults including educational support and tutoring, college application assistance, and help finding affordable housing.
One of the last agenda items debates the purchase of a commercial drone system, costing nearly $25,000, for the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. Under AB 481, a law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2021, law enforcement agencies must disclose the purchase of military resources to the public. Agencies must do this “prior to taking certain actions relating to the funding, acquisition, and/or use of military equipment.” According to material in the board packet, “the Sheriff’s Office is in need of a commercial drone system which will be used to investigate crimes and enhances the Sheriff’s ability to protect lives and property when other means and resources are not available or are less effective.”
This week’s Board of Supervisors meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 9 a.m. Residents can watch online at mendocinocounty.zoom.us/j/86891421923. The agenda packet can be found here. Public comments can be emailed to bos@mendocinocounty.org or called in at 707-463-4221.