[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6141382,"mediaKeyId","5573003-6d7028b077e13a0b0747ff240a0d45b3","parentId",5573003,"title","Board approves contract amendment to extend CDBG-DR housing administration as projects proceed to construction","audioSeconds",760,"startMs",5615000,"endMs",6375000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573003-6d7028b077e13a0b0747ff240a0d45b3&start=5615&end=6375","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573003-6d7028b077e13a0b0747ff240a0d45b3/thumbnail_5615000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6141382/Butte-County/California/Board-approves-contract-amendment-to-extend-CDBG-DR-housing-administration-as-projects-proceed-to-construction","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141382-c24334f80962659bc25ddbb865136298/orig.mp4?Expires=1770539773&Signature=krcxFdJu-oaoJvOwy3NMd6dV2sXd30KHnZBpTemhoc0AbFJw6U1w9lcowMGZRVM6CMxnVbkSOS8vn8fBk9~gXVOFJDtuYuAXkDxRYm-R4KQMTxItLv1ZUZ4lnTIKzlW-0SmM8XVmkMJ0w~NNxUl3cj5BYHCu9uP70WUjwPHrZjrkIMO1fbSr5GaSDk3G~um8F9U4WI2ObOymdLm7AqFAdiLfRPmWczJ9iELhmnDiDNneY7PGo3~Py1PUDBlraIpp8L0nvGJmazs38hh0vtJMgPJTQ8INU7kv9oI5WzF4yW6EMgDmiOkM3ZDWquuQxWBpe~fs~YXcNjyhaowCGgqUFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Butte County, CA","date","2025-08-12T00:00:00Z","article","The Butte County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 12 approved an amendment to the county’s contract with Housing Tools to administer Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG‑DR) funds and to support nine multifamily housing developments created in response to the Camp Fire and other disasters.

Katie Simmons, deputy chief administrative officer, and Shelley Ohmes, program development manager, told the board the county’s CDBG‑DR allocation has grown over time and the state extended the expenditure deadline to February 1, 2030. That change, combined with construction timelines, required more administrative time for monitoring and closeout.

County staff asked the board to extend the contract term with Housing Tools to Dec. 1, 2030, reallocate funds among tasks to cover additional closeout and monitoring needs, and increase the not-to-exceed contract amount by $212,349 to a new cap of $957,951. Simmons said the additional administrative costs are eligible for reimbursement under the federal program.

The nine projects range from approximately 47 to 75 units; one project, Lakeridge Circle Apartments in Magalia, will provide 64 units in the unincorporated Foothills and recently received state approval to execute loan documents. Other projects are in Chico, Gridley and Oroville; three Oroville projects are complete and leased. The county has conditioned affordability covenants and long-term monitoring obligations as part of the funding agreements.

Board action: The board moved, seconded and approved the contract amendment and authorized the chair to sign. Staff said they will continue to work with HCD to file required documentation and monitor developer compliance through the loan and covenant terms.

Why it matters: The CDBG‑DR funds are intended to be last-in financing to fill gaps in the funding stack for affordable multifamily housing created after disasters. Administrative and monitoring costs are recoverable under the grant rules but require additional staff time and consultant support to manage multiple projects at different stages of planning, construction and lease-up.

Next steps: County staff will execute the contract amendment, continue monitoring the nine projects, and return to the board if additional projects move forward.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Supervisors Meeting - August 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Supervisors approved a contract amendment with Housing Tools to extend program administration and increase the not-to-exceed amount to oversee nine CDBG-DR multifamily housing projects, extend monitoring through 2030 and cover closeout and oversight work.","taxTitle","Butte County, California","taxId",4123,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6141387,"Assessor explains Williamson Act, AB 1265 and county direct-charge; board asks for deeper fiscal analysis",1240,7659000,8899000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573003-6d7028b077e13a0b0747ff240a0d45b3&start=7659&end=8899","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573003-6d7028b077e13a0b0747ff240a0d45b3/thumbnail_7659000.jpg","/articles/6141387/Butte-County/California/Assessor-explains-Williamson-Act-AB-1265-and-county-direct-charge-board-asks-for-deeper-fiscal-analysis","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141387-bf58fc1cb88c9b4767688ec9f12f859f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770539773&Signature=anVjUaLAgjDjqcoTm2XAG9IYnMvEwwbgMFgEPsZmR1f98~gveVuoIyqh~pOIlKefsIDzpz4CRvKECq-0acg25Se~oX4I3-RrfoKBl2uvQoibP7ELI3f2BifiRenEGcLzF6UAfzm5hFW4V7~KWOk7fefH5IVafnT7wKaxaUwCY6Ml51OWICsinMyNbR~H2ntBQNRKaWCd14CITB5p-fDLN4fcVex-gtGXKB-ARAcBQelJCceFxwVoB-pTrU5Oh0yvlRRcIvGFD4KStQoGfz9ecq5yQMASHGGO-GOjZ7~qwbcMESvQswM8Fa~yI31ulGEp7GLY11ax4t70PSf7Tc8nGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County Assessor Elissa Douglas briefed the Board of Supervisors on Aug. 12 about the Williamson Act (California Land Conservation Act of 1965), the county’s implementation of AB 1265, and recent changes that have increased property assessments for some enrolled parcels.

Douglas said Butte County currently has about 1,475 Williamson Act parcels, approximately 220,000 acres, and that the county’s implementation of AB 1265 (adopted locally in 2011) applies a 10% direct charge on the tax savings that landowners receive under the program. She said the county’s AB 1265 direct-charge program generates roughly $700,000–$716,000 in recent years; that revenue has been accounted for in the county general fund and was included in the budget the board adopted earlier this year.

Douglas also said her office updated “rental” rates used to value grazing land for the first time in about 15 years; those adjustments, combined with other cost pressures such as groundwater sustainability fees (SGMA), higher operating costs, lower commodity prices and temporarily higher state capitalization rates, have increased the assessed restricted values used on Williamson Act parcels, producing considerably higher tax bills for some landowners. She noted the state capitalization rate has fallen in 2024 and 2025, which will lower assessments going forward.

Public comment from ranchers and Farm Bureau representatives described financial strain on small ranches and urged the board to reconsider the county direct-charge. Commenters said higher property tax bills and other fees have increased pressure to sell or subdivide land, which can increase fragmentation and change land use.

Board response: Supervisors agreed to request staff provide a deeper fiscal analysis of the effects of rescinding or modifying the direct charge (the board controls local adoption of AB 1265 implementation), and to bring a staff report back to a future meeting. County staff noted a procedural deadline of Sept. 9 for changes to appear on the next tax roll and said the $700,000 is embedded in the current fiscal-year budget, creating a near-term general-fund impact if the board were to repeal the charge.

What the county cannot change: Douglas emphasized that state rules govern the valuation approach for Williamson Act parcels (valuation on actual agricultural use rather than highest-and-best use) and that the 10% direct charge amount was set by state legislation; only the county can choose whether to implement AB 1265 locally. Supervisors asked for more detailed fiscal scenarios showing the general-fund impact, distributional impacts on parcel owners, and timing constraints.

Next steps: County staff agreed to return with a more developed fiscal analysis and options for board consideration.","County Assessor Elissa (Alyssa) Douglas updated supervisors and the public on the Williamson Act, AB 1265 (the county direct charge), and recent rent and rate changes; supervisors requested further analysis of fiscal impacts and options before any change.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6141392,"Board authorizes Gridley Veterans Memorial Hall reopening; fairgrounds to manage rentals",289,2410000,2699000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573003-6d7028b077e13a0b0747ff240a0d45b3&start=2410&end=2699","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573003-6d7028b077e13a0b0747ff240a0d45b3/thumbnail_2410000.jpg","/articles/6141392/Butte-County/California/Board-authorizes-Gridley-Veterans-Memorial-Hall-reopening-fairgrounds-to-manage-rentals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141392-8cc4e541ffe4f2fc43b33a1d4f88c7a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770539773&Signature=eoHMnOYZvHukA9qtzA36EZnlS8AKqTKtQsrwTXhXmuD1MEDIWiiPjidO9~5T3Trf-M0t0Wid8HrcVGolxS7MbabIXxOmY5gwkIPrh2WFrJW9f1GHzIdev0YeKyL2DkQuwYlXyc4gIh~Lo221JZKoImjjM4L2BB98EHR6AVMOkpsxYXjBfGJ0UWCQ5E2b7Ffw9GN-J0PYZiuMWDJpwP579NsypHZEL2QC6Kj-KfdJ86qTU3bdyRCTugJg0vVep4hU7I~zUYajZ7aTI-uoJLrXQOJ6Oo61jZRXoDYpUl~rlP0jwuwDlXx9y9ft5OWDsD-4Ht35H2jMUZdNb~86wv7lLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Butte County Board of Supervisors voted Aug. 12 to reopen the Gridley Veterans Memorial Hall for public use and to authorize the Butte County Fairgrounds to manage scheduling and facility maintenance under a memorandum of understanding.

Mike Hodson, director of general services, told the board the Gridley hall had been closed for roof and ceiling repairs and that earlier policies had envisioned each hall forming its own committee to manage operations; Gridley had not formed such a committee. At a June meeting, representatives from two veterans groups, Matt Reed of the Butte County Fairgrounds and county staff agreed the fairgrounds would serve as a single point of contact to schedule events and provide custodial and maintenance services.

Hodson said the veterans groups would retain priority use of the facility and that county staff would rekey a small northwest meeting room so veterans have exclusive access. He said the fairgrounds, as a nonprofit, can receive rental proceeds and perform maintenance without triggering prevailing-wage public-project requirements because rental proceeds would not be deposited directly into county coffers.

Board action: Supervisors moved, seconded and approved the resolution; the board authorized the chair to sign. Hodson said a formal MOU will be developed with details on revenue tracking, reconciliation and reporting back to the county.

Why it matters: Hodson said the county and the fairgrounds expect better, more consistent management and maintenance of the hall, which he described as “an economic driver” for Gridley. Supervisors asked how revenue and maintenance accounting would be reported; Hodson said the fairground will track income and costs and that the timing and frequency of reconciliation would be set as experience dictates.

Next steps: Hodson said staff and the fairgrounds will develop the MOU and provide the board with regular reconciliations of rental income and maintenance costs; county staff will rekey the veterans’ meeting room and arrange public outreach when reopening dates are set.","Supervisors approved a resolution to reopen the Gridley Veterans Memorial Hall and authorized the Butte County Fairgrounds to handle scheduling, maintenance and custodial work under a forthcoming MOU; veterans groups will retain priority use and a veterans-only rekeyed meeting room.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6141397,"Butte County authorizes $28 million CAL FIRE cooperative agreement to staff county fire services",134,2266000,2400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573003-6d7028b077e13a0b0747ff240a0d45b3&start=2266&end=2400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573003-6d7028b077e13a0b0747ff240a0d45b3/thumbnail_2266000.jpg","/articles/6141397/Butte-County/California/Butte-County-authorizes-28-million-CAL-FIRE-cooperative-agreement-to-staff-county-fire-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141397-2b0c41e42a1af11dc2e16101184fa602/orig.mp4?Expires=1770539773&Signature=VU~Bf3n0T7thK36GkbJ4aNglQSlTy-SNM4KOVQZad99dQQDOe6tTGEl42lsW7Qz7lye3TYcjzbqGMGWeEFrBjEaYN63UBr7Qehw1uN38XVq69eaXJqaZRTPGouISiHzv8LFQ9k9VT1Y3Qaj1fQ6ggIav~mzTWBGF7AYbmVaeIcCaFm2xKc0ijkaeqOHvfgvCksZHkF8CSCL7GS9neBzGdda6GsQnengc3AoaBOMfb70EgD2YNnHqDV1WJ5bpe~HD3RwtoJhtKyoYyUemZLZSDnmCzDfpKO8hUaSSkQeiEBQMMeR9ZEX-gfFTGkWU59AgTu~t-0ArAb-mik41K9zHwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Butte County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 12 adopted a resolution and authorized the chair to sign the county’s annual cooperative agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), increasing the 2025–26 maximum payable amount to just over $28 million.

Brianna Harvey Butterfield, deputy chief administrative officer, told the board the increase — up from approximately $19 million in the prior year’s agreement — reflects enhanced staffing enabled by Measure H revenues. She said those additions include placing a third firefighter on every engine and ensuring full staffing at all Amador stations, changes the county says will improve response times and overall fire protection coverage.

The term of the agreement is July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Harvey Butterfield described the cooperative agreement as the document that enables CAL FIRE to staff the county fire department, defines financial and operational responsibilities, and provides a framework for deployment and cost recovery.

Board action: Supervisor motioned to approve staff recommendation; the board voted in favor by voice vote with no recorded oppositions.

Context: Harvey Butterfield said the package is typically on the consent agenda but was presented as a regular item this year because of the size of the increase. She credited Measure H funding for enabling the county to shift to industry-standard hours and to add positions. The board did not receive requests for public comment on the item.

What remains: The cooperative agreement will be executed and the county and CAL FIRE will implement the staffing and operational changes during the contract year.

Quotes: “These additions enable the fire department to place a third firefighter on every engine and ensure all Amador stations are fully staffed and remain operational,” said Brianna Harvey Butterfield, deputy chief administrative officer.","Supervisors approved a renewal of the county’s cooperative agreement with CAL FIRE that increases the county’s payable amount from about $19 million last year to just over $28 million for 2025–26, citing Measure H–funded staffing increases that add a third firefighter to each engine and fully staff Amador stations.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6141402,"Butte supervisors authorize targeted emergency work at 5 Mile Basin to reduce flood risk",4748,2702000,7450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5573003-6d7028b077e13a0b0747ff240a0d45b3&start=2702&end=7450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5573003-6d7028b077e13a0b0747ff240a0d45b3/thumbnail_2702000.jpg","/articles/6141402/Butte-County/California/Butte-supervisors-authorize-targeted-emergency-work-at-5-Mile-Basin-to-reduce-flood-risk","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6141402-4359a7705a0314e402c60f00f62987f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770539773&Signature=nDWdRl4gZjPIns7fcQZqUeK~8VlWjMQApGsZzmJ8qH6gtKG8BvAEo~O7rIOJgZqGbomqOE3Q9y8R21NnArZ3p2CwD8OnSSmp45TluZ-W2RIuRqvYh~OL7WKR7OnT1koytyj3~x70Zk9mWiJHKRr5hN8JDWa66zGpb0vSb6sYDC-83w~aattk~W0EwXZF-mnF6EMjPsnYTsgn6JTHm2hCyUNtjPlQAvDJYOFeXLv38Oh3MEUqzNUGfBFCYmeTU-bGDBu7AcFwwqHE1ra2nL047p-TJBVRzSfdtURjs-cCJGEjRvJlqZtZkVw4fbCUr1JnoxeSjFgb2wf~4xSFMlHhng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Butte County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 12 directed county staff to pursue a consultant-recommended, targeted treatment at 5 Mile Basin intended to redirect stormflows away from the Big Chico Creek diversion and reduce near-term flood risk.

The decision, made by board consensus rather than a roll-call vote, follows presentations by Joshua Pack, director of public works, and months of coordination with federal and state agencies and members of the public. Pack recommended a three-tiered set of options and said his consultant favored a focused plan (Alternative 3) that would create flow paths, repair scour holes and remove selected vegetation to push water toward Lindo Channel and Sycamore Creek rather than concentrating flows at the Big Chico structure.

Pack said the county has submitted permit applications to regional regulators, including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and that the Army Corps initially resisted treating the work as an emergency action. He said county staff and federal and state legislative offices — including Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s and Assemblyman Kevin Kiley’s offices — have been engaged to help expedite reviews.

Why it matters: The basin, built by the Army Corps in the 1960s and maintained by the county, is heavily silted and, after recent wildfire and winter storms, has redirected flows in ways that created two scour holes and increased pressure on levees and diversion structures upstream of Chico. Pack warned that a repeat of recent atmospheric river events could produce more serious damage if the basin is not relieved.

What the county will do: Pack described three options: routine annual maintenance (Alternative 1), a full sediment-removal restoration back to the 1960s design (Alternative 2, estimated in excess of $4 million), and a targeted approach (Alternative 3, estimated about $500,000). The board instructed staff to pursue Alternative 3 now, using a job-order contract (JOC) already in place, and to continue pursuing funding and permit approvals for a longer-term solution. Board members also asked staff to continue annual maintenance after the targeted work to prevent re-growth from recreating the same problem.

Funding and risk: Pack said the county had earlier appropriated roughly $2 million in CSA 24 (County Service Area 24) funds to the basin and that Alternative 3 would be funded from that CSA account. He warned CSA 24 is not unlimited. He also warned that moving forward without all permits would carry regulatory risk, including notices of violation, fines or other enforcement actions from agencies, but characterized Alternative 3 as more aligned with regulatory expectations than a full, unpermitted restoration.

Public comment: Dozens of residents who live downstream and adjacent to vulnerable levees described repeated property damage, eroded levees and debris-clogged channels. Speakers including Les Harringer and Daniel Adamas urged a larger removal; others asked that the city of Chico take long-term management responsibility for infrastructure inside its limits. Supervisors said they would pursue a longer-term governance and funding discussion — including potential CSA annexation or state/federal grants — while starting the targeted work for this coming fall.

Next steps: Pack said crews are ready to begin work, and he requested board authorization to allow the JOC to proceed promptly; the board gave a consensus direction to proceed with Alternative 3, continue permit and funding outreach, provide public notice of any start date, and to return material and modeling results to the board as they become available.","After weeks of study and public comment, the Butte County Board of Supervisors directed staff to pursue a targeted, short-term sediment- and vegetation-removal plan at 5 Mile Basin this fall while pursuing longer-term restoration and funding options.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves contract amendment to extend CDBG-DR housing administration as projects proceed to construction

Assessor explains Williamson Act, AB 1265 and county direct-charge; board asks for deeper fiscal analysis

Board authorizes Gridley Veterans Memorial Hall reopening; fairgrounds to manage rentals

Butte County authorizes $28 million CAL FIRE cooperative agreement to staff county fire services

Butte supervisors authorize targeted emergency work at 5 Mile Basin to reduce flood risk