North State Breakdown Agenda Preview 11-14-2024

Today we cover the November 14th Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting agenda. We explore how Supervisor Patrick Jones, in his final stretch, is pushing divisive items aimed at undermining election integrity and attacking Registrar Joanna Franciscut. We also discuss his hypocrisy regarding much-needed grant funds while calling out the latest attempts to influence zoning decisions and control county processes before his term ends. Find out why this meeting is pivotal for our community and how Jones’s actions may leave lasting consequences

Transcript:

Welcome to the North State Breakdown with Benjamin Nowain.Today, we're going over the upcoming Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting. This meeting will take place this evening, Thursday, November 14th at 5:30 p.m. at 1450 Court Street.

Let's walk through what's on the agenda and why these items are important for our community.

Starting the regular calendar is R1, a certificate of recognition for Becca's Café, celebrating their efforts during community emergencies. This item, sponsored by Supervisor Garman, acknowledges the café's history of supporting local causes.

R2 follows with a standard update from the County Executive Officer on current county issues, along with reports from the supervisors.

Things take a more serious turn with R3, which is a carryover from last week's November 7th meeting. Sponsored by Supervisor Jones, this item focuses on concerns about timestamps and audit logs from the March 5th, 2024 primary election. This discussion will revisit Steve Umfleet's presentation, which was previously excluded as expert testimony in Laura Hobbs' election-related case. This agenda item appears to continue Jones' agenda to question the legitimacy of the election, which he lost to Supervisor-elect Matt Plummer by a significant margin.

R4: Ballot Overspray ConcernsR4, another item sponsored by Jones, addresses issues with ballot overspray involving Runbeck Election Services and Hart InterCivic. This issue hadn't been seen with the Dominion voting systems previously used by the County. The board majority voted 3-2 to remove the Dominion voting machines in June 2023, based on unfounded claims of voter fraud.

The irony is that if Shasta had stayed with the Dominion machines, we would not be having the ballot overspray issue, as Dominion machines do not have the same problems with Runbeck printing as the Hart machines do.

Supervisor Jones has promoted the idea of in-house ballot printing, which would be impractical given the county's size. Supervisor Crye mentioned on his radio program that other counties were experiencing issues with Dominion machines:

However, the reported issue in Michigan did not affect anyone's ability to cast a ballot or delay the vote count, unlike the situation faced with the Hart machines and Runbeck. This agenda item could be seen as an attempt to question the integrity of the current election process.

R5 revisits the $1.4 million grant from the Centers for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL), approved on April 9. Despite the grant providing needed funds for election security, it has faced skepticism due to past political associations. The board will consider whether to waive attorney-client privilege to release related communications to the public.

It seems that Supervisor Jones' prerogative is to damage Assistant and Registrar of Voters Joanna Franciscut before he leaves office. This item appears to be a continuation of that effort. Jones' consistent attacks on election officials suggest a final attempt to discredit the election process and those involved.

Adding to the irony, during the opioid settlement special meeting on November 12, 2024, Jones made a contradictory statement:

Supervisor Jones

Supervisor Crye

Supervisor Jones

Supervisor Crye

Supervisor Jones

Despite this statement, Jones continues to oppose accepting the CTCL grant funds.

Presented by the Assessor Recorder, R6 involves repealing Resolution 2001-228 to change the low value exemptions for real and personal property. This amendment follows a cost analysis showing that the existing thresholds no longer align with current assessment expenses.

R7: Zoning AmendmentR7 involves a public hearing to amend zoning for a 4.96-acre property in Redding, changing its classification from highway commercial with design review to commercial recreation. This change deserves attention, especially with recent leadership changes in the department that could influence decision-making.

Public Comment PeriodThe public will have a chance to speak on items within the Board’s jurisdiction. Although the standard speaking time is three minutes, recent instances have seen it reduced to two minutes, potentially limiting public input.

The consent calendar typically includes routine items passed without much discussion. These often cover standard appointments, budget amendments, and minor administrative tasks that keep county operations running smoothly. However, a few items are worth highlighting:

C7: Approval of budget amendments to increase appropriations by $22,000 in the elections budget. This funding, offset by restricted funds, ensures the elections office has the resources to carry out its duties. The CTCL grant likely plays a role in this budget, underscoring the irony of Supervisor Jones' opposition.

The irony here is hard to ignore, given how much Supervisor Patrick Jones is currently pushing back against these funds, despite their clear contribution to election support.

C12: Approval of an agreement with Gables Hauling and Demolition, Inc., for a voluntary cleanup assistance program to aid residents affected by pandemic-related economic hardship. This program, supported by a budget amendment of $250,000, reflects the county's response to lingering effects of COVID-19 and commitment to community welfare.

With Supervisor Jones sponsoring numerous items, this meeting may be one of his final attempts to shape policy before his term ends in December. Community presence is vital, not just for sharing opinions but for observing and holding leaders accountable during this period.

And that's the agenda preview.