Tuolumne County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Tuolumne County agenda roundup: $1.5M wildfire grant application, Wards Ferry bridge review, and a $1.77M Axon contract ahead

Five Tuolumne County bodies posted agendas for meetings between Oct. 5 and Oct. 8, led by a Board of Supervisors session that included a request to authorize an application for up to $1,500,000 in wildfire and forest resilience grant money. Minutes for none of those meetings had been published as of Oct. 19, so what each body actually decided is not yet part of the public record. The items below are what the agendas listed for action or discussion.

Board of Supervisors, Oct. 6

The agenda for the 9:00 a.m. meeting in Sonora listed a consent calendar followed by 10:00 a.m. public hearings.

Consent item 15 was Resolution 95-26, authorizing a Wildfire and Forest Resilience grant application to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy for up to $1,500,000 for the 108 Project. Consent item 8 was a telepsychiatry agreement with Kings View Behavioral Health not to exceed $460,000 per fiscal year, covering July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Consent item 2, Resolution 91-26, would accept $22,982 for Transitional Housing Program Services and $14,148 for Housing Navigation Maintenance Program Services.

The hearings covered rezonings LUNR 26-9 and LUNR-25-24 and Williamson Act contract changes LUNR-25-28 and 26WA-001, affecting parcels that include a 617-acre site and a 407.98-acre site. Consent items 9, 10, 16 and 17 were resolutions continuing local health and state of emergency declarations tied to the Dove Fire and the TCU September Lightning Complex Fire. Closed session listed litigation and two employee performance evaluations.

Historic Preservation Review Commission, Oct. 5

The commission was asked for recommendations, not final approval, on two items. The first was the proposed replacement of the 1915 Wards Ferry Road bridge over Deer Creek (Bridge No. 32C0003), rated structurally deficient and at 65% design. The proposed single-span replacement is about 75 feet long with retaining walls using soil nails and sculpted concrete. The bridge is rated Category 5 and is ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places; an Archaeological Survey Report was approved under NEPA and CEQA.

The second item was the Tuolumne County Museum at 158 Bradford Street, Sonora, where the proposal covers porch deck and stair replacement, repair of two main supports with epoxy fillers, and custom bannister rails. Structural supports under the deck were not included due to access limits.

Natural Resources Committee, Oct. 7

The committee's main agenda item was a report and discussion of data centers in Tuolumne County and adjacent counties. The meeting was set for 10:00 a.m. at the A.N. Francisco Bldg., 48 Yaney Ave., Sonora. The agenda also listed approval of Sept. 2, 2026 minutes, staff and member reports, and a public forum with speakers limited to 3 minutes. The next meeting is Nov. 4, 2026.

Behavioral Health Advisory Board, Oct. 7

The 4:00 p.m. agenda at the A.N. Francisco Building was largely routine: roll call, public comment, approval of Sept. 2 draft minutes, correspondence, and director, staff and member reports. The only new business was welcoming new Advisory Board member Zack Abernathy. Continued business was a Data Notebook Review. The next meeting is Nov. 4, 2026 at 4 p.m.

Homelessness Committee, Oct. 8

The 9:00 a.m. agenda in the Committees & Commissions Room at 48 Yaney, 3rd Floor, included a Camp Justice Workgroup update covering long-term planning and service strategies for individuals with complex needs, a Pallet Project update, a Homeless Services staff report, and community organization reports. The committee advises the Board of Supervisors on homelessness policy and programs. The agenda listed no specific votes or dollar amounts.

Coming up

Oct. 20 — Board of Supervisors. An agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. not to exceed $1,769,934; an agreement with Mother Lode Job Training not to exceed $500,000; and an agreement with Friends Outside not to exceed $494,446. Public hearings are set on facility fee waivers and two rezonings: T-Five Ranches to General Commercial at Standard Road and Mono Way, and 0.87 acres at 20381 Sherry Court to Single-Family Residential: Mobile Home Foundation Combining District.

Oct. 21 — Tuolumne County Planning Commission. Public hearings on disestablishment of Agricultural Preserve 315 and a zone change for 200± acres at 17140 and 17080 Murphys Road, and on a Williamson Act contract application and rezoning for 971.45± acres at 11645 Avenida de los Ranchos. The commission will also discuss a Data Center Ordinance and conduct a General Plan Implementation Review to identify priority issues for the Board of Supervisors.

Tuolumne County Board to weigh $1.5M wildfire grant application, $460,000 telepsychiatry contract

Tuolumne County supervisors are scheduled to consider a wildfire grant application of up to $1,500,000 and a telepsychiatry agreement not to exceed $460,000 per fiscal year at their Oct. 6, 2026 meeting in Sonora — the largest dollar figures on a week of county agendas that also include rezonings, a proposed 122-foot wireless tower and a 1915 bridge replacement.

None of the meetings below have published minutes. Everything described is what the agendas list; no decisions or vote tallies are recorded in the material provided.

Board of Supervisors, Oct. 6

The board meets at 9:00 AM in Sonora. Agenda items include:

• Consent item 15: Resolution 95-26, authorizing a Wildfire and Forest Resilience grant application to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy up to $1,500,000 for the 108 Project. The figure is an application ceiling, not an award or a payment.
• Consent item 8: a telepsychiatry agreement with Kings View Behavioral Health not to exceed $460,000 per fiscal year, covering July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
• Consent item 2: Resolution 91-26 accepting $22,982 for Transitional Housing Program Services and $14,148 for Housing Navigation Maintenance Program Services.
• 10:00 AM public hearings on rezonings LUNR 26-9 and LUNR-25-24 and Williamson Act contract changes LUNR-25-28 and 26WA-001, affecting parcels that include a 617-acre and a 407.98-acre site.
• Consent items 9, 10, 16 and 17: resolutions continuing local health and state of emergency declarations tied to the Dove Fire and the TCU September Lightning Complex Fire.
• A closed session on litigation and two employee performance evaluations.

Airport Land Use Commission, Oct. 1

The commission was scheduled to review Conditional Use Permit LUNR-26-18, a proposal for a 122-foot-tall unmanned wireless tower at 18330 Apple Blossom Ln, about 0.5 mile south of Tuolumne City, on a 10.21± acre A-10 parcel. County rules require the commission to review structures taller than 75 feet even outside airport areas. A staff evaluation found the project consistent with the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, subject to one condition covering glare, dust, smoke, electrical interference and bird attractants. The commission may find the project consistent, consistent with modifications, or inconsistent; the agenda records no final decision. The applicant is listed as Samantha Herrmann – The Towers, LLC; surface and mineral rights owners are Joel Vermeer and Vickie Vermeer.

Historic Preservation Review Commission, Oct. 5

Two items were scheduled: the proposed replacement of the 1915 Wards Ferry Road bridge over Deer Creek (Bridge No. 32C0003), rated structurally deficient and at 65% design, and repairs to the Tuolumne County Museum's front porch at 158 Bradford Street, Sonora. The bridge is rated Category 5 and ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The commission is asked to make recommendations, not to give final approval.

Natural Resources Committee, Oct. 7

Meets 10:00 AM at the A.N. Francisco Bldg., 48 Yaney Ave., Sonora. The main item is a report and discussion of data centers in Tuolumne County and adjacent counties. The agenda also lists approval of Sept. 2, 2026 minutes and staff and member reports. No votes or contracts are listed.

Behavioral Health Advisory Board, Oct. 7

Meets 4:00 p.m. at the A.N. Francisco Building, 48 Yaney Ave., Sonora. The agenda is largely routine: roll call, public comment, approval of Sept. 2, 2026 draft minutes, correspondence, director and staff reports, and board member reports. New business is welcoming new Advisory Board member Zack Abernathy; continued business is a Data Notebook Review. No contracts, ordinances, fees or rezonings appear on this agenda.

Homelessness Committee, Oct. 8

Meets 9:00 a.m. in the Committees & Commissions Room at 48 Yaney, 3rd Floor. Items include a Camp Justice Workgroup update covering long-term planning and service strategies for individuals with complex needs, a Pallet Project update, a Homeless Services staff report, and community organization reports. The committee advises the Board of Supervisors on homelessness policy and programs. The agenda lists no specific votes or dollar amounts.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings were listed in the data provided for the next 14 days. Two agendas note next meetings on Nov. 4, 2026: the Natural Resources Advisory Committee, and the Behavioral Health Advisory Board, which lists 4 p.m. at the A.N. Francisco Building, 3rd Floor Committees & Commissions Conference Room.

Tuolumne County Board approves $2.5M for housing, declares emergency for Dove Fire

The Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors approved a $2.5 million agreement with Habitat for Humanity for manufactured housing projects at its July 28 meeting, along with several other infrastructure and personnel actions. The board also declared a local state of emergency for the 2026 Dove Fire.

Housing and infrastructure decisions

At the July 28 regular meeting, the board took the following actions, all unanimous unless noted:

• Approved a $2.5 million subrecipient agreement with Habitat for Humanity for MORE program projects.
• Approved a $1.5 million agreement with Chabot-Las Positas Community College District for training.
• Approved a $719,950 contract with Aspen Street Architect Inc for Peer Respite design.
• Approved a $209,000 contract with Jules Advisory Group LLC for Peer Respite management.
• Approved a $1,474,517 increase for Rawhide Road Woods Bridge Replacement engineering.
• Approved a retainer agreement with Meyers Nave law firm for employment litigation (5-0).
• Passed Resolution 73-26 authorizing eminent domain for Blanket Creek Bridge Replacement (4-1).
• Adopted Resolution 72-26 approving a 2026-2029 memorandum of understanding with the Deputy District Attorneys’ Association.

Emergency declaration

In a separate action on July 28, the board adopted Resolution 74-26, ratifying a Local State of Emergency for the 2026 Dove Fire, as required by the California Emergency Services Act. The vote was unanimous.

Other recent meetings

The board met on August 4 and 5, but minutes have not yet been published. Agenda items included:

• **August 4 regular meeting:** Approval of July 28 minutes, reappointment of Housing Loan Review Committee members, a three-year employment agreement for Community Development Director Tamera Blankenship, and consideration of increased appropriations for engineering plans for a floating fuel platform at Tulloch Reservoir.
• **August 4 special meeting:** A closed session on property negotiations for 18237 4th Street, Jamestown.
• **August 5 Natural Resources Committee:** Review of member candidates, a letter of support for ACWA’s “Vision for Our Water Future,” and staff reports on grant progress.
• **August 5 Behavioral Health Advisory Board:** Re-appointment applications, filling a veteran’s representation vacancy, a CalAIM update, and review of the 2026 Data Notebook for Foster Youth and Wrap Around Services.
• **August 5 Planning Commission:** Public hearings on three rezoning requests (North Airport Road, Parrotts Ferry Road, and Cooperstown Road) and proposed ordinance amendments to Chapters 17.32 and 17.36 regarding accessory dwelling units and nonconforming structures.

Coming up

• **August 11 – Board of Supervisors (special meeting):** Direction on FY2026-2027 budget preparation and priorities.
• **August 13 – Homelessness Committee:** Camp Justice Workgroup update on pallet project and funding, including discussion of $10,000/month camp cost and $22,000/month with personnel, plus a staff report on homeless services.

Tuolumne County Board Set to Act on $2.5M Housing Agreement, Dove Fire Emergency

The Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors had a full agenda for July 28, 2026, with items totaling more than $6 million in proposed contracts and agreements, a public hearing on eminent domain for a bridge project, and a resolution to ratify a local state of emergency for the 2026 Dove Fire. Because meeting minutes had not been published as of Aug. 3, the roundup below reflects what was scheduled for action, not confirmed outcomes.

Board of Supervisors — July 28, 2026

The Board was scheduled to consider a Subrecipient Agreement with Habitat for Humanity of Tuolumne County, Inc. for up to $2,500,000, the largest dollar item on the agenda.

Also on the agenda:

• An engineering design services increase of $1,474,517 for the Rawhide Road crossing Woods Bridge Replacement.
• A contract with Aspen Street Architect Inc. up to $719,950 for a Peer Respite at Tuolumne General.
• An agreement with Chabot-Las Positas Community College District up to $1,500,000 for Title IV-E training.
• A public hearing on eminent domain for a temporary construction easement at 15400 Algerine-Wards Ferry Road, tied to the bridge replacement project.

A separate Board agenda for the same date included Resolution 74-26, which would ratify a proclamation of a Local State of Emergency due to the 2026 Dove Fire.

Minutes for the July 28 meetings had not been published by the time of this roundup, so vote tallies and final actions are not yet available.

Fire Safety Advisory Committee — July 22, 2026

The Fire Safety Advisory Committee was scheduled to discuss several 2026 strategic goals, including developing a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors on a Red Flag Ordinance and recommendations for enforcing the existing vegetation ordinance.

Other agenda items included approving minutes from the April 22, 2026 meeting, a strategic goal to advocate for insurance relief in Tuolumne County, and a strategic goal to secure sustainable funding for fire safety. No specific dollar amounts or project names were listed. Minutes were not yet published.

Coming up

• **Board of Supervisors — Aug. 4, 2026:** The Board will consider approving an employment agreement with Tamera Blankenship as Community Development Director for a 3-year term, reappoint Housing Loan Review Committee members, and consider increasing appropriations for engineering plans for a floating fuel platform at the Tulloch Reservoir Public Fishing Access project. Several closed sessions for personnel and legal matters are scheduled.
• **Board of Supervisors special meeting — Aug. 4, 2026:** A closed session will discuss price and terms of property negotiations for 18237 4th Street, Jamestown, CA 95327.
• **Natural Resources Committee — Aug. 5, 2026:** The committee will review candidates for membership and consider a letter of support for the ACWA 'Vision for Our Water Future.' Staff will provide grant progress updates.
• **Behavioral Health Advisory Board — Aug. 5, 2026:** The board will act on pending re-appointment applications, fill a veteran's representation vacancy following Blake Dolman's departure, receive a CalAIM update, and review the 2026 Data Notebook for Foster Youth and Wrap Around Services.
• **Tuolumne County Planning Commission — Aug. 5, 2026:** Public hearings are scheduled on three rezoning requests, including 32.13± acres at 10085, 10079, and 10095 North Airport Road (LUNR-26-24), 1.55± acres at 21901 Parrotts Ferry Road (LUNR-26-9), and parcels at 27077 Cooperstown Road (LUNR-26-3). The commission will also consider proposed ordinance amendments to Chapters 17.32 and 17.36 regarding accessory dwelling unit development standards.

Tuolumne County Board to weigh $4M mobile home park bonds, ambulance fee hikes; county committees tackle homelessness, waste, airport hangar

Tuolumne County's Board of Supervisors is scheduled to hold public hearings on up to $4 million in tax-exempt bonds for the Ponderosa Mobile Home Park acquisition and on an ordinance revising ambulance fees with an annual CPI-based adjustment, according to the July 7 agenda. Minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes are not yet confirmed.

Board of Supervisors — July 7

The Board's agenda lists several items with financial impact for residents:

• **Ponderosa Mobile Home Park bonds:** A public hearing on a resolution for up to $4,000,000 in tax-exempt bonds for acquisition of Ponderosa Mobile Home Park.
• **Ambulance fees:** A public hearing on an ordinance to revise ambulance provider application and permit fees, add dispatch and information technology services fees, and establish an annual CPI-based fee adjustment.
• **Early intervention contracts:** Approval of a contract with ATCAA/YES Partnership up to $600,300 for early intervention services, part of multi-year contracts totaling nearly $1.4 million.
• **Fire suppression:** Discussion of a fire suppression assessment for county-owned property in Groveland.
• **Tourism:** Consideration of an amendment to the tourism promotion agreement with Visit Tuolumne County.
• **Closed sessions:** Labor negotiations and existing litigation.

All items are from the agenda only; the Board's actual votes and decisions are not yet available in published minutes.

Solid Waste Committee — July 8

The committee agenda includes a vote on whether to conduct future BOSSWC meetings in person only. Staff are scheduled to report on an August temporary household hazardous waste event, an August tire amnesty program, and the 1,000-ton report. Discussion items cover the 5-year Countywide Integrated Waste Management Plan update, tobacco product waste reduction projects in partnership with Public Health, and possible uses for the 1,000-ton disposal allowance. The committee will also consider approving minutes from its February 11, 2026 meeting.

Homelessness Committee — July 9

The committee is reviewing operational costs for Camp Justice, with discussion of a minimum operating amount of approximately $8,000 and an annual staff cost of $241,000. Members are also receiving updates on the Miner's Motel renovation project, which is expected to be ready for occupation on October 1st. A budget correction for the Miner's Motel dog park to $4,000 is on the agenda. The committee is also reviewing a membership vacancy for the Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians of California.

Airport Land Use Commission — July 13

The commission will consider Building Permit BP-26-195, which seeks approval to construct a new 3,000-square-foot residential aircraft hangar on a 2.42-acre parcel at 21028 Ferretti Road, in the Pine Mountain Lake Airport Compatibility Zones B1 and B2. Staff reports indicate the project complies with the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, poses no airspace or flight-hazard concerns, and meets height and noise requirements. Conditions include a requirement that no new structure or vegetation exceed 40 feet in height, and that FAA Form 7460-1 be filed at least 45 days before construction. The commission may approve the permit, approve it with conditions, or find it inconsistent with the plan.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Readers should check the county's official meeting calendar for any newly posted agendas or rescheduled sessions. All four meetings covered above remain in "agenda only" status as of this report — published minutes confirming votes and outcomes were not available at time of writing.