FAQs

At the local level I believe in working collaboratively with all political parties. I believe in balancing a strong economy with protecting our quality of life and environment. I strongly support public safety, strong educational opportunities, economic sustainability, resilient communities, and government accountability at all levels.

Since taking office April 2019, I have been working to advocate for my constituents needs and address issues impacting our communities. I am committed to serving District 5 residents in the following ways:

• Supporting our law enforcement and first responders
• Addressing the critical danger of catastrophic wildfire
• Ensuring government accountability to each and every constituent
• Protecting our quality of life and environment through conservation and stewardship
• Supporting economic sustainability and balanced growth 
• Seeking and supporting local workforce housing solutions

• Supported increased salaries and compensation across our public safety staff;
• Supported increased investments in equipment and technology such as body-worn cameras, mobile probation vehicles, investments in a new crime lab, a new sheriff’s substation and court house in Tahoe City, new hanger for Sheriffs fixed-wing aircraft;  
• Supported additional positions in our District Attorney’s office;
• Supported investment in our jails and training programs;
• Supported technology and innovation in all areas of public safety

Just 6 months after taking office, I championed the first-ever short-term rental ordinance in Placer County, which received unanimous support of the Board in November, 2019. Becoming effective in January 2020, and modified since, the ordinance:

• Established fees that funded 5 full-time code enforcement staff.
• Established higher penalties including loss of permit for repeated violations.
• Established a cap on the number of permits. 
• Established turn-over of permits at time of sale. 
• Required health and safety inspections.
• Required bear bins for trash.
• Required adequate on-site parking.

To read more about my work on short term rentals, click here.

•  Supported increased expenditures to secure more grant-funding for forest work and defensible space in and around our communities. 
• Supported the establishment of a full-time position of a Regional Forest Health Coordinator at Placer County – the first County in the State to create this position.
• Supported comprehensive mapping of threat zones throughout the entire County.
• Advocated for the establishment of stricter hazardous vegetation ordinances and additional code enforcement officers.
• Advocated at the State and Federal level for additional funding to manage and maintain forest health on Federal and State lands.
• Supported additional funding and resources for the Resource Conservation District’s chipper program.  

I am committed to continuing the County’s pressure on our State legislators to address regulatory and legislative changes to reduce the costs for our residents. Supported efforts to recognize homeowner and business investments in hardening their homes and investing in defensible space.   

I have voted for and encouraged more investment by the County in protecting our communities. This has included both direct funding and staff working on securing grants for State and Federal lands surrounding our communities. I have also met with State and Federal officials to push for more streamlining of permits and investment by the Federal government on their properties.

Much of the growth and development in the western and south part of our County was approved through specific plans before I joined the Board. Moving forward this growth needs to be balanced with continued investment in the Placer County Conservation Plan and Placer Land Trust. I have supported funding for the acquisition of thousands of acres of land and the additions to the Hidden Falls Regional Park. I helped establish the Tourism Business Improvement Districts for North Lake Tahoe and Olympic Valley which are generating millions of dollars of investments in trails, transit, micro-transit, additional trash collection, parks, and beach improvements. I support in-fill and re-development over new development in our District. I have strongly supported investment in stormwater projects, and restoration and protections of our wetlands, rivers, and streams.

Placer County is experiencing many of the same issues as the rest of the State with a critical shortage of housing, especially for our young families and workforce. I have strongly supported the use of County resources for workforce housing. These include: the Mercy Housing project at the Placer County Government Center; Work Force Housing Preservation Program; the establishment of the Housing Trust Placer; investment in infrastructure to serve affordable by design projects; Lease to Locals program; and others. In addition, I supported the establishment of the mobile temporary shelter tents at the Government Center. Working with a local non-profit, the Gathering Inn, leaders from our business community are supporting the efforts to address our homeless population. This example should be replicated in South Placer so that the entire County is involved in addressing our homeless population before it spreads further. I am proud that Placer County has been awarded a Pro-Housing designation by the State due to our investments and programs in housing.

I am very accessible and believe that it’s important to our residents to reach me with concerns and questions. I can be reached at the County offices and through my official email or at the campaign email cindygustafson2024@gmail.com. I hold regular “Supervisor Chats” to ensure you can meet with me outside of government offices. I attend as many events as possible and I meet with individual homeowners and groups of homeowners with specific concerns and issues. I also enjoy touring with many of our local non-profits that are helping serve our community. If you would like to get in touch, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

NO.  These projects were approved and litigated  BEFORE I joined the Board.  Since taking office I have been encouraging these and other larger landowners to address the strong concerns expressed by our residents regarding: transportation solutions; workforce housing; evacuation; continued public access; water availability; design and peak-season over-crowding.  These issues must be addressed before projects are brought back to the Board of Supervisors for consideration.

I very intentionally chose to live, work and raise my family in a small community in Placer County.   I treasure that lifestyle and want to make sure our children and grandchildren have that same opportunity.  I absolutely share the concerns of those throughout District 5 that want the same for their future and their families’ futures.  I absolutely support protecting the nature of our rural communities throughout District 5.  But redevelopment and new development will occur as landowners make investments in their property. That needs to be balanced carefully to ensure our way of life is not forever disrupted.  I look forward to updating the County’s General Plan to make sure we are able to create a future that aligns with our residents’ wishes. 

Yes.  I have supported the expansion of conservation land throughout the County but especially in District 5.  Placer Legacy and Placer Land Trust have helped us purchase thousands of acres of land and protect it from future development. I will continue to strongly support these efforts.

Transportation is one of the most challenging issues facing our entire region.  Even if we stop any redevelopment  in our region, growth in adjacent communities will drive traffic and congestion.  I have had more success in Eastern County because of my efforts before joining the Board to secure more local funding to address solutions.  This includes:  free transit, micro-mass transit, trails, sidewalks, parking management and ordinances, and now our efforts to create reversible transit lanes on Highways 89 and 267.   I am proud of the efforts we have made to fund and advocate for additional passenger rail service from the Bay area to Western Nevada.  There has been interest from our Federal representatives in California and Nevada.  These efforts and solutions are only possible because of the local funding that has been approved with the support of the business community.  

In the western areas of the District we rely on existing funding and impact fees from new development to address transportation solutions.  The Highway 49 corridor is incredibly challenging as we see the commute volumes of traffic to I80 ever-increasing.  Caltrans controls Highway 49 and so I have continued to work with them to support traffic management, safety improvements and complete streets designs.  Placer County must work with Nevada County to address these issues.  I have also strongly supported studies for more passenger rail service – Capital Corridor and the Bay all the way to Reno/Sparks.  Providing more effective transit and rail options will reduce traffic volumes. 

I strongly support the efforts that Placer County has been making but I do believe we need to continue with the full support of the Board of Supervisors.  The Placer County Auburn government center has been cleaned up and the number of homeless has been reduced, but we still have individuals that are encamped along private and other public properties.  Our efforts with The Gathering Inn, faith-based groups, and the community have seen some success.  I have been a strong supporter of duplicating the services offered in Auburn in a location(s) in South Placer. It is essential we find a location and move forward with services that will alleviate further migration to Auburn.  I will continue to fight for additional solutions and opportunities to help individuals get back to being productive members of society and protect our community members and businesses from the impacts of homelessness.