Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Tuolumne County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
28 issues
General Plan Implementation Review
The commission began its required annual look at how the General Plan is working, with recommendations due to the Board in December. Commissioner Kopf's list of planning issues — standardized well, septic, and road requirements — anchors the starting list.
Navigation Center homeless services at two-year mark
The Navigation Center has served 172 people since opening in 2024, with 63% exiting to stable housing versus a 25% state average. But a speaker described being discharged back to living in her truck, arguing write-up rules push vulnerable people onto the street.
Air Pollution Control District FY 2026/2027 budget hearing
The district's budget grows $151,060 but stays self-funded with no general fund support, with expanded wood stove replacement vouchers and a new engineering consulting contract for permitting.
PG&E 10-Year Electrical Undergrounding Plan support letter
The board wants more undergrounding in Tuolumne County but split over a PG&E-drafted letter asking the CPUC to approve its 10-year plan. Critics worry ratepayers will pay for the most expensive option while PG&E profits; the final letter adds a push for cheaper alternatives.
Continued local health emergencies from Dove Fire and TCU Lightning Complex debris
The Board continued both the local state of emergency and the local health emergency tied to the TCU September Lightning Complex Fire, keeping hazardous debris cleanup authority and state assistance in place.
Facility fee waivers for nonprofits and volunteers
A proposal to let nonprofits and volunteer groups use county facilities free or half-price ran into cost worries, prime-weekend conflicts, and confusing language about political groups — continued to November 3 for fixes.
Supervisor Griefer's social services remarks
Three speakers criticized Griefer's reported comment that social services 'would simply not exist if people made better choices.' Griefer responded that his remarks were taken out of context and said he stood by them, while another supervisor encouraged department tours.
Hunt & Sons cardlock fueling agreement amendment
Public Works sought an amendment to its fueling services agreement with Hunt & Sons, LLC, which keeps county fleet fueling arrangements in place.
Jail food and commissary services contract
The Sheriff's Office sought a contract with Keefe Commissary Network, LLC for jail food and commissary services, capped at $700,000 and already included in the current-year budget.
FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grant acceptance
County Fire asked the Board to accept a FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grant of $3,416 to bolster the Fire Fund.
Deputy Sheriffs' Association 2026-2028 labor agreement
Union and county employees spoke about stalled negotiations, healthcare costs jumping from $65 to $851 a month for one worker, flex days, and a feared county imposition — before a closed-session bargaining session.
Waste Management collection changes on private roads
A Sonora resident said Waste Management stopped driveway pickup on her private road, forcing residents to haul cans over a mile to Highway 108 for the same price, and asked the county to revisit the franchise.
2026 Primary Election Results
It's election day and turnout was already over 45% by mid-morning, with all ten drop boxes and five vote centers open until 8 p.m. A publisher also challenged the county's 100-foot electioneering boundary measurement.
FY 2026-27 road repair and rehabilitation project list
Supervisors want to put roughly $3 million of the budget contingencies toward paving interior neighborhood roads, split among the five districts, with possible sheriff work crews for brushing. Final numbers come back September 22.
2026-2029 Fleet & Roads labor agreement
Road crew turnover has topped 50% for five years because pay sits near the bottom of county scales; the new MOU gives 15% then 3% a year to stabilize staffing.
Williamson Act non-renewal near Sonora
Two landowners made opposite moves: the Kowalczyk-Keagy family exited a 200-acre ag preserve near Sonora, while the Moyle family enrolled roughly 971 acres near La Grange. Both passed easily with no opposition.
New Williamson Act enrollment in La Grange
A landowner wants to lock in nearly 972 acres near La Grange as protected agricultural land under a new Williamson Act contract, keeping it in farming with a property tax break. It would expand Amen Agricultural Preserve #134.
Data center rules for Tuolumne County
Supervisor Campbell wanted a 45-day emergency moratorium on data centers; the board instead voted 5-0 to have staff draft actual rules covering water, power, siting, and fees for these huge facilities.
Code enforcement capacity
Multiple speakers — including CSERC's Chelsea Lewandowski and Commissioner Kopf — flagged the county's weak code enforcement as an underlying problem: rules without enforcement are meaningless, whether for existing projects or any future data center.
Jamestown Mine Site remediation extension to 2041
The county extended its 2006 mine remediation judgment to 2041, paying $120,000 a year while roughly 300 gallons per minute of contaminated groundwater must be evaporated. Supervisors discussed pursuing revenue-generating uses like solar or small data centers on the site.
Dove Fire Local Emergency
The Dove Fire burned about 220 acres near Highway 108 and Stockton Road, forcing around 1,400 evacuations and threatening over 800 structures. Ratifying the emergency keeps the county eligible for state and federal reimbursement, though the cost and structure losses are still being tallied.
East Sonora commercial rezoning (T-Five Ranches)
Leftover bypass parcels near Mono Way and Standard Road were rezoned to General Commercial, opening the door to commercial development in East Sonora.
Vaccination rates in Tuolumne County
County kindergarten vaccination rates sit just below the 95% goal — 27 more vaccinated kids would have hit it — and two measles cases occurred last year, prompting a Health Officer data presentation.
PG&E PSPS event and future shutoff policy
PG&E outlined last week's shutoff that hit 7,255 customers; supervisors Kirk and Brandon pressed for answers on why power was cut on a calm day and want a follow-up agenda item on claims and pre-staging.
Sheriff's Office technology upgrade and AI surveillance concerns
A resident presented research urging the Sheriff to reject Axon license plate readers, camera-network software, drones and AI report-writing tools, citing privacy and accuracy concerns. The Sheriff had challenged the public to weigh in.
Transition from leased to county-owned facilities
The county pays roughly $250,000-$270,000 a year in rent and budgeted $1.5 million to move departments into county buildings, including the historic courthouse with a leaking roof. Supervisors pushed for faster action after a similar plan failed by one vote years ago.
Ambulance services update
Two veteran paramedics said Mercy's new 911 contract is failing: 90 open shifts this month, 16 experienced employees gone, and imported medics housed in hotels. County staff defended the transition and promised a full report soon.
Soulsbyville residential rezone (Sherry Court)
A 0.87-acre rezone to fold existing homes into an adjacent lot passed 3-1 despite HOA objections that it violates Willow Springs CC&Rs — the county says it can't enforce private covenants.