To: Board of Supervisors
From: Planning and Building Department
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Appointment of a New Consultant to the County of Humboldt Extraction Review Team (CHERT)
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Appoint Wesley T. Smith to become a CHERT member; and
2. Enter into a contract pursuant to the procedures for appointment, duties and compensation mechanism for CHERT members, described in Chapter 2 to Division 9 of Title III of the Humboldt County Code.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Costs to prepare this agenda item and subsequent costs for CHERT activities will be borne by annual charges to surface mining operators.
DISCUSSION:
The County of Humboldt Extraction Review Team (CHERT) provides recommendations to gravel operators and regulatory agencies for extraction quantities, extraction methods, disturbance minimization measures, and mitigations that tier to the Mad River and Eel/Van Duzen Rivers Programmatic Environmental Impact Reports (PEIRs) general project design features and mitigation measures. CHERT is also concerned with possible adverse impacts to infrastructure such as levees, bridges, and water district facilities. The United States Corp of Engineers and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife also utilize the CHERT review process for assessing gravel extraction effects including impacts to listed salmonids and designated critical habitat.
CHERT was formed by Resolution of the Board on May 14, 1996 and subsequently appointed five scientists to CHERT. Since that time, one CHERT member has died, and one has resigned. Due to the county’s need to fill vacancies on CHERT, the county has recently codified that process to include the roles and responsibilities of CHERT members. To this end, on December 11, 2018 your board adopted an ordinance adding Chapter 2 of Division 9 of Title III of the Humboldt County Code.
Following adoption of the ordinance, the Planning and Building Department circulated a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking nominations for additional consultants to fill CHERT vacancies. The RFQ nomination period was open from July 15, 2019 to August 30, 2019. The Department received only one response to the RFQ which was from Wesley Smith (resume attached).
The department coordinated with the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) in order to obtain their recommendation regarding Wesley Smith as an appointment to CHERT. The Corps and NMFS both recommended approval, and CDFW did not respond. The Planning and Building Department staff recommend approval.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Appointment of a new CHERT member will have a minimal net impact to the general fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by managing our resources to ensure sustainability of services .
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
United States Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, National Marine Fisheries.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Contract for Wesley Smith
2. Letter of Interest and Resume of Wesley Smith
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: L-3, H-4, C-7
Meeting of: 5/14/96, 12/4/18, 12/11/18;
File No.: N/A, 18-1378, 18-1375