The Glass Is Half-Full
I know that the last four months have felt more like the glass is half empty, but we have to remain positive and keep trying. Fighting the spread of this virus and providing our community with a way to continue their livelihoods are both critical to our health, safety and security. Finding a safe balance in a society so torn apart is challenging. I continue to receive hundreds of angry and accusatory emails from both ends of the spectrum, and I will continue to try and educate and calm the rhetoric that is so damaging to our communities.
While Placer County is on the State’s watch list, and scaling back the opening of some businesses appears imminent, we need to know that we can do things to help each other and our communities. Please remember that our goal is to get through this with as little harm to our neighbors, community and loved ones as possible. Please wear a face covering, protect each other, don’t gather inside in groups or without adequate physical distance, be cautious and please understand that your actions affect not only you but our entire community. Placer County is a phenomenal place to live and our cases per capita are low compared to most areas of the State and are far below those areas hardest hit. Keep it up, help others, support those you can – so that everyone can provide for their families, and stay healthy.
Keeping in Touch Virtually It’s hard to believe it has been nearly four months since county and statewide shelter-in-place orders went into effect as a result of COVID-19. In that time we have had to learn a new way of doing so many things in order to navigate through this pandemic, and it is not always easy. But I have been impressed with the changes I’ve seen people make in their activities, their businesses and their communities in an effort to keep things running as smoothly as possible during this time. Here at Placer County we continue to make the same changes in order to ensure you continue to receive county services and information you need.
Holding virtual meetings, the Board of Supervisors has been able to move ahead with critical county business such as approving our operating budget, allocating funds for human services programs and law enforcement, and ensuring public infrastructure projects remain on track. Here in District 5 we have also hosted several virtual community meetings, and will be hosting more in the coming weeks to keep you informed regarding COVID-19 as well as the non-COVID issues our communities face every day.
Last month we hosted a virtual Special Joint Meeting of the North Tahoe Regional Advisory Council and the Squaw Valley MAC where we learned about programs aimed at increasing workforce housing, providing incentives for renovation and development of lodging in the Tahoe Basin and pedestrian improvement projects in Eastern Placer County. Additionally, on July 9th we held a virtual North Tahoe Regional Advisory Council meeting and earlier in the week we held two virtual town hall meetings in one day.
Supervisor Cindy Gustafson, Brian Estes, Unit and Fire Chief, CAL FIRE Nevada Yuba Placer Unit, Placer County Fire Department, Sarah Poindexter, Management Analyst II, Jim Hudson, CAL FIRE Nevada Yuba Placer Unit’s West Division Assistant Chief and Supervisor Jim Holmes participate in the Fire Services Virtual Town Hall meeting.
The first town hall meeting focused on fire services in Placer County and included an update on Placer County Fire Department activities, staffing and structure, as well as information on how to be prepared for the summer fire season. Later that day we held a virtual town hall meeting for the Foresthill community that included an update on COVID-19 from Dr. Aimee Sisson, Placer County Public Health Officer, an overview of resources and programs offered by the Placer County Business Resource Center and information on a local issue with solid waste disposal at the Foresthill Transfer Station. If you missed these meetings and would like to learn what they are all about, please feel free to click on the links above to watch them.
Members of the public submit questions and comments throughout the meetings online or by telephone and get answers to their questions in real time. Please keep an eye out for additional information on virtual town hall meetings for Colfax, Foresthill, Meadow Vista and North Auburn. You can always find out about upcoming events by visiting the District 5 calendar online. I hope you are able to participate in one of these meetings, and I look forward to hearing from all of you on issues in your communities.
Although things are not “business as usual” there is still plenty of business to take care of, and these virtual meetings provide a great opportunity to have personal contact while still maintaining the social distance we all need to maintain in order to remain safe. I want to thank everyone who joined in these discussions. Your participation is the only way we can make sure we are doing our best to address the issues affecting you and your community.
As always, I remain committed to helping the community get through this very difficult time. Let’s continue to help each other stay safe by wearing a face mask and maintaining a safe distance when we are out and about. The sooner we put this behind us the sooner we will be up and running at full capacity!
Please don’t hesitate to contact my office if you have questions or need assistance with County issues or concerns.
– Cindy Gustafson, District 5 Supervisor
Audit Committee gives “A” rating to county financials
Placer County’s accounting and auditing processes have been given a clean bill of health from the Placer County Audit Committee. During this week’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Audit Committee Chair Wayne Nader reported that the committee found the county’s system of internal controls to be in place and operating effectively. The committee also found the financial reporting processes adequate to ensure the financial statements fairly presented the county’s financial position. Learn more
Coming soon…District 5 East Placer Bulletin
Keeping up with efforts by state and county leaders to find the balance between economic vitality and public safety can be challenging these days, particularly in communities where tourism is a critical component of the economy. In an effort to keep you informed about issues affecting business owners, residents and visitors in the eastern portion of Placer County – from the Donner Summit to Lake Tahoe – we will be sending out periodic bulletins highlighting updated guidelines and statistics, opportunities to help educate visitors and residents on how to keep our communities safe and clean, and any other news and information that is relevant to our mountain areas. If you are interested in receiving the East Placer Bulletin, please take a moment to add your contact information to the online distribution list.
Contact information:
175 Fulweiler Ave., Auburn, CA 95603
Supervisor Cindy Gustafson: cindygustafson@
District Director Lindsay Romack: lromack@placer.ca.gov
District Aide Kelly McCaughna: kmccaughna@placer.
Temporary Assistant District Aide Judy Friedman: jfriedman@placer.ca.
