To: Board of Supervisors
From: Clerk of the Board
Agenda Section: Departmental
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Consider Amendments and Updates to the Board of Supervisors Appointments Protocol and Review the 2026 Humboldt County Board Appointed Committees, Commissions & Boards List
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Review and approve the protocol for the Board of Supervisor appointments (Attachment 1); and
2. Review and consider adjustments to the current list of Humboldt County Board appointed boards, committees and commissions (Attachment A); and
3. Approve the updated 2026 Committees, Commissions and Boards Exempt from Protocol List (Attachment B); and
4. Consider directing the Clerk of the Board to review any committee, commission or board that the Board of Supervisors would like further review of.
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STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Core Services/Other
Strategic Plan Category: 9999 - Core Services/Other
DISCUSSION:
The Clerk of the Board would like to clarify that there are two annual lists of county committees, commissions and boards.
The first list designates which committees, commissions and boards the Supervisors themselves serve on. This is called the Board Member Appointment List for 2026 and was completed in December 2025.
The second list includes committees, commissions and boards where the Board of Supervisors appoint community members to serve. Supervisors make these appointments either from their own district or as at-large members, which are voted on by the entire Board. This list is provided (Attachment A) for the Board to review and consider possible adjustments.
On April 1, 2014, the Board of Supervisors adopted a protocol for making appointments to committees, commissions and boards. The protocol was last updated on Jan. 7, 2025. A recent review of this protocol with recommendations has led to the following amendments (Attachment 1):
• 2026 Humboldt County Board Appointed Committees, Commissions & Boards list (Attachment A) has changed due to the removal of the Aviation Advisory Committee. This committee was suspended in April 2025 and will be recreated if needed in the future with a possible new title and charge.
• 2026 Committees, Commissions & Boards Exempted from Protocol list (Attachment B) has changed with the addition of the Housing Authority Commission. While the Board does appoint specific members representing their district, the Housing Authority director can recommend appointments for the various other seats.
Last year, the Board of Supervisors asked the Clerk of the Board to review a committee and two commissions: the Aviation Advisory Committee, Human Rights Commission and Fish & Game Advisory Commission. If the Board would like to continue this review process, the Board is encouraged to discuss and select three advisory bodies to be reviewed and direct the Clerk of the Board’s office to complete this review in 2026.
The Clerk of the Board will continue to review this protocol annually and provide updates as needed to ensure transparency and opportunity for the Board and all applicants interested in serving on Humboldt County’s committees, commissions and boards.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Updated Protocol for Board of Supervisors Appointments
Attachment A: 2026 Humboldt County Board Appointed Committees, Commissions & Boards list
Attachment B: 2026 Committees, Commissions & Boards Exempted from Protocol list
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: Jan. 7, 2025
File No.: 25-95