Plumas Supes Hold Hearings, Discuss Tax Appeals

QUINCY — The December 9 meeting of the Plumas County Board of Supervisors was prolonged into the afternoon with discussions on renewal of the county’s tourism marketing district, new recycling plans for Quincy, and the process for hearing property tax appeals.

A hearing on the proposal to renew support for the Plumas County Tourism Marketing District drew a number of comments from the public, much like a prior meeting on November 4. The resolution before the Board would have continued the tourism district for 10 years and increased the assessment the county collects from lodging providers from 2% to 3% of total revenue. Written and oral comments expressed views ranging from enthusiastic support for renewing the district for 10 years, to support for a shorter renewal and/or a lower assessment rate, to belief that the district’s results have not justified the costs. After hearing concerns from the public, the Board decided to continue the hearing to their next meeting on December 16 and direct County Counsel Joshua Brechtel to draft an amended resolution that might provide for a shorter renewal and a lower assessment rate.

The day’s second public hearing concerned upcoming changes to curbside recycling in Quincy. Sean Graham of the county solid waste program presented two alternative proposals for the future of curbside recycling, explaining that changes to the existing program, and the rates charged to residents, are necessary due to the pending expiration of contracts established previously between the American Valley Community Service District and Waste Management, Incorporated. There was no public comment on the question. The Board voted unanimously to direct staff to develop an option that would extend curbside recycling services to include East Quincy in addition to downtown Quincy, which already has that service. A $12/month rate increase for both areas would be deferred to July 2027 under that option. The Board set a second hearing for December 16.

County Assessor Cindie Froggatt shared information with the Supervisors about the process for adjudicating property tax appeals for 2023 and 2024. She said her office has 23 pending appeals that could require hearings by the Board of Equalization, whose members are the same as the Board of Supervisors. Board members and County Counsel agreed to begin hearing appeals in March with a goal of finishing the process by July. Further discussion is to take place at the next Board meeting.

In another action, the Supervisors voted unanimously to rename Squaw Carpet Lane, a short gravel road near Antelope Lake, to Demtatoko Trail to comply with a state law that requires certain offensive words to be removed from California place names. The road’s former name refers to a common native plant (Ceanothus prostratus) also known as pinemat or mahala mat. The new name derives from the plant’s name in the local Tosidum Maidu language.

An agenda item to authorize recruitment for the vacant County Administrative Officer position was deferred to a later meeting.