To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Public Health
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Appointment to the Department of Health and Human Services - Public Health Branch, Division of Environmental Health, Local Enforcement Agency Independent Hearing Panel
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Declare a vacancy on the Enforcement Agency Independent Hearing Panel as Technical Expert Representative and appoint Jill Duffy to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term, through Dec. 18, 2026.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Safe & Healthy Communities
Strategic Plan Category: 9999 - Core Services/Other
DISCUSSION:
The Board of Supervisors, the governing authorities of the cities within the County, and the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) have designated the Department of Health and Human Services - Public Health Branch, Division of Environmental Health (DEH) as the solid waste Local Enforcement Agency (LEA). The LEA permits and inspects solid waste handling sites throughout Humboldt County. One component of designation as the LEA is to maintain a local appeals body to hear solid waste permitting and enforcement issues (CCR 14 §18081(e)(2)). A hearing before the appointed hearing panel may be requested to appeal either an LEA action or the LEA’s failure to act as required by law or regulation. When, in the jurisdiction of the enforcement agency, there exists a publicly owned or operated solid waste facility or disposal site (as exists in Humboldt County), there shall be an independent hearing panel (IHP) or hearing officer (CCR 14 §18081(e)(2)). All IHP filings and correspondence shall be mailed to the attention of the LEA at the Division of Environmental Health, 100 H Street, Suite 100, Eureka, California 95501.
The first IHP was established in 1992 by Humboldt County Resolution No. 92-128. A copy of the Resolution is attached here for your Board’s reference. The IHP members are appointed by the Board to serve a two-year term and may not serve more than two consecutive terms. Carisse Geronimo, who currently serves as a Technical Expert member of the IHP, has relocated outside the area and is no longer available to participate in hearings. To maintain a fully constituted Independent Hearing Panel and ensure the County's ability to hear appeals in accordance with applicable state laws and regulations, the Board must declare a vacancy on the LEA Independent Hearing Panel and appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
To identify a qualified replacement candidate, LEA staff considered individuals with experience in both solid waste management and local government processes who could provide balanced technical expertise and independent judgment in hearing matters. Through this process, staff identified Jill Duffy as a strong candidate based on her professional background and familiarity with solid waste management issues within the community. Staff believe Ms. Duffy possesses the qualifications and perspective necessary to effectively serve on the Independent Hearing Panel. The LEA will continue to maintain a list of other qualified and interested candidates for consideration should future vacancies occur.
At this time, the LEA recommends the appointment of Jill Duffy to the Independent Hearing Panel as a Technical Expert Representative. Ms. Duffy brings a substantial depth of experience in both solid waste management and local government. She was the Executive Director of Humboldt Waste Management Authority from 2012 until her retirement in 2022, and two terms as Humboldt County Supervisory 5th District (2003-2011). Post retirement, Ms. Duffy served as interim C.E.O of the nonprofit Humboldt County Fair Association (2023-2024) and most recently as interim City Manager for the City of Blue Lake (August 2025-January 2026).
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Public Health Fund (1175) Local Enforcement Agency Budget Unit (430)
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1175-430) |
FY26-27 |
FY27-28 Projected* |
FY28-29 Projected* |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$1,340 |
$1,340 |
$1,340 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$1,340.00 |
$1,340 |
$1,340 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
|
Funding Sources (1175-430)) |
FY26-27 |
FY27-28 Projected* |
FY28-29 Projected* |
|
Fees/Other |
$1,340 |
$1,340. |
$1,340 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$1,340 |
$1,340 |
$1,340 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
Serving on this panel is voluntary. Members of the panel may receive per diem and necessary expenses while conducting a hearing (PRC §44308(c)). The party requesting a hearing panel is charged a fee of $1,260.00. This fee is used to defer a portion of the costs of holding a hearing and may be used to pay hearing panel members for per diem and necessary expenses in Public Health fund (1175) Local Enforcement Agency budget unit (430). This fee was established by Humboldt County Ordinance No. 2613.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impact:
There are no anticipated impacts on staffing directly associated with the Independent Hearing Panel appointments.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Your Board may choose to appoint one of its members to the IHP in lieu of the proposed appointments (PRC §44308(b)(1)). To avoid a conflict of interest, the governing body representative should be a member who does not sit on the Board of the local solid waste joint powers of authority.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Sections of the California Code of Regulations and Public Resources Code that pertain to IHP member appointment and qualifications and hearing procedures.
2. Resolution establishing an integrated waste management independent hearing panel (Resolution No. 92-128).
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: 12/11/07, 3/6/12, 11/10/15, 12/18/18, 7/30/19, 11/12/19, 12/6/22, 11/28/23
File No.: 18-1597, 19-1052, 19-1548, 22-1582, 23-1494