To: Board of Supervisors
From: Planning and Building Department
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
County of Humboldt Extraction Review Team (CHERT) Appointment of New Consultants
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Appoint Geoff Hales, John Bair and Andrew Stubblefield to CHERT; and
2. Enter into contracts with each appointee pursuant to procedures for appointment, duties and compensation mechanism for CHERT members, Chapter 2 to Division 9 of Title III of the Humboldt County Code.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Planning CHERT Fees (608012)
DISCUSSION:
The County of Humboldt Extraction Review Team (CHERT) provides recommendations for extraction quantities, extraction methods, disturbance minimization measures, and mitigations that tier to the Mad River and Eel/Van Duzen Rivers and PEIRs’ general project design features and mitigation measures. CHERT is also concerned with possible adverse impacts to infrastructure such as levees, bridges, and the water district facilities. The US Army Corps of Engineers and the 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. On May 14, 1996, the Board appointed five scientists to CHERT. The county has since codified the method to fill vacancies on CHERT. To this end, on Dec. 11, 2018 your board adopted an ordinance adding Chapter 2 of Division 9 of Title III of the Humboldt County Code. Since then, two CHERT members have resigned, and one has died. The county is in need to fill three vacancies on CHERT.
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 Aug. 8, 2022, to Sept. 9, 2022. The department received four responses to the RFQ.
The Planning and Building 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 its recommendations regarding the three appointments to CHERT. The Corps, NMFS, and CDFW ranked the candidates according to the selection criteria and process as stated in the RFQ, the results of which are the three recommended consultants for appointment, including Geoff Hales, John Bair, and Andrew Stubblefield. Planning and Building Department staff recommend approval.
Your board may notice that the contract for Geoff Hales and John Bair include an additional interested party, McBain Associates, dba Applied River Sciences. Both Mr. Hales and Mr. Bair are employed by McBain Associates, and their work on any CHERT activities could conflict with their daily duties, however, their employer has agreed to allow them to complete the CHERT tasks and provide billing as outlined in the contract. This is in the best interest of the county, as both individuals are highly respected and would bring much-needed strength and expertise to the CHERT team.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Costs to prepare this agenda item and subsequent costs for CHERT activities will be borne by annual charges to surface mining operators (Planning CHERT Fees 608012).
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by managing our resources to ensure sustainability of services Click here to type another item(s) from the Strategic Framework, or leave as a period.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Contract for Geoff Hales/McBain
2. Resume of Geoff Hales
3. Contract for John Bair/McBain
4. Resume of John Bair
5. Contract for Andrew Stubblefield
6. Resume of Andrew Stubblefield
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: L-3, H-4, C-7, C-13
Meeting of: 5/14/96, 12/4/18, 12/11/18; 11/05/19
File No.: N/A, 18-1378, 18-1375, 19-1492