Effective Monday, December 14th, the Development Services public counter will be closed until further notice due to the current level of COVID transmission in our community.

The permit counter can provide virtual appointments to the public using Microsoft Teams with virtual appointments available Monday – Friday from 1 pm – 5 pm. You can schedule an appointment by submitting an email to our staff at: [email protected]. You will be contacted by our staff with a meeting invitation.

You can download the Microsoft Teams application for your laptop, PC or mobile device and it provides both voice and video contact. If you have any problems with your online appointment, please call (530) 822-7400 and we can assist you. We will also have a drop box available for applications, payments, and correspondence outside the front of our building located at 1130 Civic Center Boulevard, Yuba City CA. Staff will be available by phone and email only.

We also have multiple options for submitting applications and plans:

• Our “Fast Track” online permitting can be applied and paid for here. Please verify you are in Sutter County.
  • Sutter County Fast Track Contractor Building Permit Application
  • Sutter County Fast Track Owner-Builder Building Permit Application
• You may complete our Building Permit Application and submit your plans and documents to [email protected]
• There is a white drop box available in front of our doors at 1130 Civic Center Boulevard where you may drop off plans, completed permit application, etc. or
• You can always mail in your submittal documents to Sutter County Development Services, 1130 Civic Center Boulevard, Yuba City, CA 95993

In the fall of 2016, Sutter County Library, with the help and guidance of The Aspen Institute, embarked on a re-envisioning of Library Services. Public surveys, dialogues and a leadership roundtable laid the groundwork for an expansion of library services for the community.

By the summer of 2018, the City of Yuba City and Sutter County had agreed to tentatively move forward on a plan to expand services at the library. County Development Services accepted proposals from several design firms and HGA Architects and Engineers of Sacramento was chosen to lead a brainstorming session with city and county representatives, which included library staff.

June of 2019, the City of Yuba City presented Sutter County Library with $1,163,000 in city library impact fees. These funds are required to be used on expansion of library services. The county also agreed to contribute library impact fees to this project. After several planning meetings, HGA presented preliminary plans for the library.

On October 27, 2020, Sutter County Board of Supervisors adopted the plans and specifications for the expansion project.

This project will require that the Main Library in Yuba City be closed during construction. We are currently planning to provide limited service starting December 14 at Sutter County Museum, 1333 Butte House Rd, Yuba City, Tuesday – Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and Saturday 12:00 to 4:00 pm. This alternate site will provide curbside service.

Sutter Branch Library (Sutter) and Barber Branch Library (Live Oak) Will have curbside hours Monday - Friday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Now the exciting part- The library will expand the square feet dedicated to the public with an Innovation Center, a new Meeting Room and two Study Rooms. Furnishings, carpet and some technology will also be updated.

Unfortunately, book donations will not be accepted until further notice. Cash and check donations would be gladly accepted at any branch or by mail:

Sutter County Library

750 Forbes Ave.

Yuba City, CA 95991

Library Sutter Branch

2147 California Street

Sutter, CA 95982

Library Barber Branch

10321 Live Oak Blvd.

Live Oak, CA 95953

For now, we’re looking forward to Spring/Summer 2021!

Sutter County’s community support program has resulted in grants totaling almost $2 million to 104 small businesses and 31 non-profit agencies impacted by COVID-19.

The Sutter County Board of Supervisors authorized the Small Business Economic Resiliency Grant program in response to the financial losses encountered by businesses during the pandemic. The program was possible because of federal funding authorized in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Recovery Act signed by President Trump in the summer after bi-partisan approval in Congress. The Yuba-Sutter Economic Development Corporation administered the program.

“We’re very proud of this program and our partnership with Yuba Sutter Economic Development Corporation to get money into the hands of our local businesses and nonprofits who were impacted as a result of COVID-19.” – said Ron Sullenger, chair, Sutter County Board of Supervisors.

Altogether, Sutter County has authorized up to $4 million to go toward community support programs to help our County recover. In addition to the small business and nonprofit programs, Sutter County has given $145,875 to the Yuba Sutter Food Bank to help with home food delivery for vulnerable people and to respond the greater need for food distribution due to COVID-19’s impact on the local economy. The Sutter County Superintendent of Schools is administering an $800,000 program to provide support to families who have increased child care costs due to school closures.

• Official Final Presidential General Election Results

Sutter County’s 2019 crop and livestock values increased 14.7 percent over the previous year, to more than $698 million, according to the annual Sutter County Crop and Livestock Report released this week.

Overall values were estimated at $698,680,000 in 2019 compared to $609,058,00 in 2018, according to Agricultural Commissioner Lisa Herbert.

Rice remains the top-ranking crop in 2019 with a 22.3% increase in acreage. A slight decrease in yield was offset by an increase in price pushing the total value to $214,145,000. In second place, walnuts total value increased 48.4% to $127,526,000 due to an increase in yield and price. Prunes rose one spot to third with increases in acreage, yield and price to a total value of $62,691,000. Rising to fourth from sixth, processing tomatoes had a 33.6% increase in acreage and slight increase in price to a total value of $51,666,000. Clingstone peaches fell from third place to fifth due to decreases in acreage and yield to a total value of $49,984,000. In sixth, nursery products total value fell to $41,102,000 due to a 38.3 % decrease in quantity sold. Almonds held seventh place with slight decrease in acreage with increases in yield and price to a total value of $39,866,000.

The report is prepared based on estimates provided by growers. It reflects estimated gross values only and does not reflect net profits or losses to the producers.

“I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the cooperation of all the growers, organizations and individuals who provided us the data that allows this report to be compiled,” Herbert said.

To see the entire report, visit this link:

• Crop Reports

The Boards of Supervisors of Colusa, Sutter, and Yolo Counties have approved a shared memorandum of understanding (MOU) which will create a combined, regional child support agency to serve the three counties.

The counties began exploring the potential of regionalizing the three child support programs in January of 2019 which included a complete examination of the various aspects of child support and department operations. During a time when child support allocations from the State of California have been flat for almost two decades, creating a single child support agency would generate increased efficiencies, cost effectiveness, shared key positions, centralized mail processing, and a consolidated training program. With a more strategic use of resources, the agency will be better able to serve its communities’ child support need and continue to provide a high level of customer support and service delivery.

The newly approved agency, titled “The Colusa, Sutter, and Yolo Regional Child Support Agency”, begins January 2, 2021. Each of the three counties will retain a physical child support location to ensure easy access by customers.

“This is a wonderful example of government collaboration! I am proud to be part of this process,” said Colusa County Administrative Officer Wendy Tyler.

“It's a big step for all three counties and I'm looking forward to seeing its continued development,” said Director of the California Department of Child Support Services David Kilgore.

“This is an exciting milestone as we have undertaken a deliberative process including the staff of the three offices, working to design a regional operation that is able to continue to support these three communities.” said Director of Colusa, Sutter, and Yolo County Child Support Offices Natalie Dillon.

• Colusa County
• Sutter County
• Yolo County

CDC Guidance for Thanksgiving gatherings

The COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful and isolating for many people. Gatherings during the upcoming holidays can be an opportunity to reconnect with family and friends. This holiday season, consider how your holiday plans can be modified to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to keep your friends, families, and communities healthy and safe.

Here is some guidance from the Centers for Disease Control.

Printable Flier

• Thanksgiving Safety Flier

The current unofficial count for the Election Results will be posted and updated periodically after the Polls close at 8:00 p.m. on November 3, 2020.

• View the Unofficial Presidential Primary Election Results

We Are Open For Early Voting Now

• Elections

Sutter County Elections will conduct a mobile ballot drop off and voter registration effort at the Moose Lodge, 205 South Walton Avenue, Yuba City, from 9 a.m. to noon on this Saturday, October 17. Individuals can drop off their voted ballot, or register to vote (a ballot would then be mailed to you) from their car. COVID-19 protocols in place, including keeping the pen you use to register to vote. Staff asks that you also mask up.

We Are Open For Early Voting Now

• Elections

Just six weeks after the Sutter County Board of Supervisors applied for emergency funding to purchase a motel for affordable housing and wrap around services for individuals and families, California Governor Gavin Newsom today announced approval of a $6.7 million grant to buy the 62-room Baymont Motel, self-storage yard, and restaurant on Highway 99 near Oswald Road south of Yuba City.

Once the purchasing process is complete, the County intends to immediately quitclaim the property at 4228 Sawtelle Avenue (Highway 99) to Habitat for Humanity Yuba-Sutter to be operated as permanent housing for Sutter County residents who are currently, or become, homeless, according to County Administrative Officer Steven M. Smith.

Habitat for Humanity of Yuba-Sutter will work with Hands of Hope in Yuba City to administer the permanent housing solution and provide a variety of services to assist homeless individuals in retreating from the insecurity of the river bottoms and the streets into the security of four walls and a locked door. The agencies will work closely with Sutter County Health and Human Services Department, but the operation will be entirely under the umbrella of Habitat for Humanity.

"This is not a homeless 'shelter'," CAO Smith pointed out when the Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 on August 11 to submit the grant application to the California Department of Housing."This will be affordable housing targeting those with a history of homelessness operated by an agency whose mission is to house people."

Governor Newsom announced the Homekey project in June. The state offered a total of $600 million in grants to jurisdictions throughout the state for creative solutions to get homeless individuals off the streets during the pandemic. Most of the funds used to purchase the motel were allocated to California when Congress passed, and the President signed, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in late March. He announced 19 new projects today, bringing the total funded to date to 49. (For a full list of projects, visit https://www.bcsh.ca.gov/homekey/)

Homeless individuals housed at the Habitat for Humanity will pay a capped percentage of their income to live on the property. While the rental amounts will be small, it will help pay for some of the services to be provided, Habitat for Humanity Yuba-Sutter Chief Executive Officer Joseph Hale told the Board of Supervisors.

The operation of the self-storage business will help Habitat for Humanity fund maintenance and services at the property. And the agency operates a Re-Sale store out of a former department store in Marysville that raises additional funds that can be used in supporting the motel project. Hale said Habitat for Humanity intends to work with Hands of Hope, which has more than a quarter century of experience serving the homeless population.

"This is an outstanding opportunity to provide a safe, secure, sanitary place for individuals, rather than the streets and the rivers," said Board Chairman Ron Sullenger. "By using available grant funds to purchase a property to provide housing, and transferring the property to a non-profit agency to operate it and provide services, the County is improving opportunities for housing without becoming a landlord.

"At this property, residents can feel safe, get any help they need, and begin anew. Combined with our Better Way emergency housing shelter and 13 other programs for the homeless in Sutter County, this will provide people with necessary alternatives to camping in public places. This will allow Sutter County to enforce the no camping ordinance it adopted last year."

"Habitat for Humanity's mission is to end homelessness and substandard housing," Hale said. "For a long time the focus has been on prevention through the construction of low income housing and home repairs for seniors. With this Permanent Housing project, we hope to be a hand up to those actively experiencing the struggles of living without a place to call home." With this Permanent Housing project, we hope to be a hand up to those actively experiencing the struggles of living without a place to call home."

The Board of Supervisors considered a number of properties before making an offer on the Baymont Hotel, which is owned by Ray Patel. The property went into escrow last week. The purchase price is $7.2 million. Sutter County will commit $500,000 in CARES Act funds it previously allocated to make up the difference between the Homekey grant and the purchase price.

"This project has many benefits," said CAO Smith. "It will move people out of homelessness, off the streets and into a secure, supportive environment, yet charge a percentage of their income as rent so each resident will have skin in the game so to speak. The County already puts some individuals in motel rooms at the daily rate if they are experiencing chronic medical problems-this will reduce those costs. It will allow us to engage in enforcement of the ordinance that prohibits camping on county property, including county road right of way, and our precious rivers."

Smith praised County staff and leadership at Habitat for Humanity for putting a complicated application together in a short period of time. Alternatives to the street and the river bottoms have been a priority of the Board of Supervisors since 2017.

With the air quality poor, hot and dry north winds, and red flag warning, it is a reminder that fire season is upon us. Sutter County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is monitoring the fires in surrounding counties and are poised, ready to help! We are working with our community and response partners to provide evacuation centers if needed.

• Evacuation Route Map

The time is now to get a flu shot

Getting vaccinated against influenza has always been important, but never so important as it is right now. COVID-19 is still in our community and shares many of the same symptoms. The "Twindemic" of having both illnesses present can be a dangerous combination that also has the potential if overwhelming out hospital and clinics.

Get your flu shot as soon as possible. You can go to your own doctor or visit a local pharmacy offering the service. Here is a list of options:

Sutter County Flu Shot Information

• Scheduling capability coming soon
• Billed to insurance
• Ages three years and older
• $39.99, high dose for seniors $69.99

• Scheduling capability coming soon
• Billed to insurance
• 10 years and over
• $39.99, high dose seniors $69.99

• To schedule appointment: Pharmacy Sign In
• Billed to insurance
• $38, high dose seniors also available
• Ages six years and older

• Ages six and above
• Billed to insurance
• Uninsured price not known yet

• Ages 9 and over
• Bills to insurance
• Regular $35, high dose (for 65 and older) $60

• Billed to insurance
• Age four and older
• $20 for regular flu shot, high dose shot also available

• Six years and older
• Billed to insurance
• 39.99, high dose $75.48

• Can schedule by phone
• Ages three and up
• $39.99, high dose senior $78.99

• Can schedule by phone
• Age 7 and above
• Bills to insurance
• Seasonal $40.99; high dose for seniors $72.99

• Seven years and up
• $39.99; high dose seniors $72.99

• Ages seven and above
• $41; high dose seniors $70

• Eight years and above
• $38.00 seasonal; $69.75 high dose seniors

• 12 and up
• Bills to insurance
• $30; high dose for seniors not available

Yuba County Flu Shot Information

• Flu shots start at 3 years old, but MinuteClinic providers can administer at 18 months
• Walk-ins are welcome
• Flu shot may be free with medical insurance or Medicare Part B
• There is no copayment unless required by your plan
• The seasonal vaccine is $39.99
• Call your local CVS Pharmacy for more information (742-5103)

• Flu shots start at 6 years old
• Flu shots may be covered by insurance. Medi-Cal covers those 18 and older
• The seasonal vaccine is $38
• Walk-ins are welcome, though appointments are recommended as there is a COVID-19 screening process
• Call your local Walmart or go online for more information or to make an appointment (634-9760)

• Flu shots start at 5 years old
• Walk-ins are welcome
• Flu shot may be free with medical insurance
• The seasonal vaccine is $41
• Call your local Walgreens for more information (743-2594)

• Flu shots start at 5 years old
• Walk-ins are welcome
• Flu shots may be covered by insurance
• The seasonal vaccine is $40
• Call your local Rite Aid for more information (634-9970)

Printable Flier

• Flu Shot Locations - Yuba-Sutter   (Spanish)

Pharmacy Websites

Yuba-Sutter Health Officer Dr. Phuong Luu is one of the first recipients of a new Public Health award named after Butte County’s former Health Officer.

Dr. Luu – along with Shasta County Health Officer Dr. Karen Ramstrom – was awarded the Andy Miller, MD, Public Health Excellence Award via Zoom on Wednesday, Aug. 19. The award was presented by Healthy Rural California, a new nonprofit associated with the Butte-Glenn Medical Society.

“I nominated Dr. Luu for the award for the energy, leadership and effectiveness in which she has exhibited in her new position from minute one,” said Placer Nevada County Medical Society & Yuba Sutter Colusa Medical Society Executive Director Quinn Gregory said. “The region had been waiting for someone since the departure of our beloved former member Dr. Quick and Dr. Luu has been an incredible choice.”

Healthy Rural California’s first award was presented to Dr. Andy Miller – who retired as Butte County Health Officer this summer – in July. The nonprofit’s Board decided to dedicate the award to Dr. Miller’s namesake after his community leadership during emergencies like the Oroville Spillway, Camp Fire, and COVID-19 pandemic, Gregory said, as well as a measles outbreak. The purpose of the award is to recognize other public health officers in rural counties.

“Dr. Luu was faced with a significant public health emergency just two months into her tenure with Yuba and Sutter counties,” Yuba County Administrator Kevin Mallen said. “Her wealth of knowledge and expertise in communicable diseases, as well as public health emergency preparedness and response, has made her an incredible asset during this time. We’re proud that she has been acknowledged with this Public Health Excellence Award.”

“I believe Dr. Luu has done excellent work for our area, considering she has tried to be cognizant of primarily health but also mindful of the local economic difficulties from a nearly complete shutdown and collapse as ordered by the Governor,” Sutter County Board Chairman Ron Sullenger said. “She understands the health impacts of the stress caused by loss of work, and the disconnection of family and friends. She is an extremely bright physician and has been a wonderful acquisition for both Sutter and Yuba counties.”

Dr. Luu became the bi-county Health Officer in mid-January and was quickly charged with heading the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She is also a member of the Yuba-Sutter-Colusa Medical Society and California Medical Association. She temporarily served as interim Butte County Health Officer after the retirement of Dr. Miller.

“I am humbled and honored to have received this award. Though I was only able to work with Dr. Miller for a short time, he was a great colleague and mentor for me during these trying public health times,” Dr. Luu said. “Public health work is tough work, but it is also very rewarding to play an integral role in maintaining the health and safely of the community.”

Sutter County is partnering with the Cities of Yuba City and Live Oak, and several special districts, to develop an update to their 2013 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. Floods, drought, wildfires, and severe weather are just a few of the hazards of concern to Sutter County. While natural hazards such as these cannot be prevented, a Hazard Mitigation Plan forms the foundation for a community's long-term strategy to reduce disaster losses by breaking the repeated cycle of disaster damage and reconstruction. Additionally, only communities with a FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation Plan are eligible to apply for both pre- and post-disaster mitigation grant funding and for lower costs of flood insurance to residents through the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS).

The people most aware of potential hazards are the people that live and work in the affected community. In addition to plan participation by local, state and federal agencies, the community is seeking enthusiastic, community members to be part of our Local Hazard Mitigation Planning project.

We encourage attendance and participation from the general public at our upcoming planning team and public meetings to kick off the project; please select the time and location that works best for you: September 9, 2020 (Wednesday) September 9, 2020 (Wednesday) Planning Committee Meeting 1:30 - 4:00 pm Public Information Meeting 5:30 pm-7:00pm Zoom Meeting Zoom Meeting

For more information on this project and to obtain the Zoom links for the meetings, please visit:

• Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP)

If you are interested in volunteering as a Planning Committee member or for additional information, please contact Zach Hamill, Emergency Operations Manager, at [email protected]. If you have questions, feel free to call Zach at (530) 822-4575.

• Printable Flier

August 10, 2020

Child Support Awareness Month in Sutter, Colusa, and Yolo Counties

(Woodland, CA) - The counties of Sutter, Colusa, and Yolo want to share the importance of August as Child Support Awareness Month, whose theme this year is “Families have changed a lot. So has child support.”

Child Support Awareness Month is recognized nationwide. Child support programs across the country work to raise awareness for services that help parents and families, such as establishing legal orders for financial or medical child support and parentage and helping to enforce or modify current court orders for support. Services are free for parents receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and cost only $35.00 a year for parents who are not. Families of Colusa, Sutter and Yolo are served by Child Support Professionals who are working diligently on their behalf during these difficult times.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed lives and routines, especially for families,” said Director of Colusa, Sutter, and Yolo County Child Support offices Natalie Dillon. “We know that co-parenting isn’t always easy in the best of times but COVID-19 complicates things, from visitation and shared custody to changes in jobs and financial resources as well as distance learning and modified school schedules.”

The three counties have implemented the following enhancements during the COVID-19 pandemic: the self-service portal, Customer Connect, is now more mobile-compatible and allows parents to e-mail their case managers directly; staff can now text individually with parents to streamline communication; and health and safety provisions have been implemented in offices. From working remotely to wearing face coverings, staff have been working diligently to help parents support their families.

Parents are encouraged to reach out to child support staff with questions or concerns.

• Colusa County: https://www.countyofcolusa.org/96/Child-Support-Services
• Sutter County: https://www.suttercounty.org/doc/government/depts/css/css_home
• Yolo County: http://www.yolocountychildsupport.org

• Download this Press Release

The Annual Sutter County Surplus Auction is just a few days away!

This is an online auction and it can be accessed using the link below:

• Annual Sutter County Surplus Auction

Auction Starts:
Saturday, August 1st

Auction Ends:
Tuesday, August 4th

Preview:
Monday, August 3rd
10 am to 2 pm
Location:
146 Garden Highway, Yuba City, CA 95991

• Annual Sutter County Surplus Auction - Flyer

A collaboration between the Sutter County Board of Supervisors and the Active 20-30 Club of Yuba City-Marysville has resulted in national recognition for the annual Public Business From The Floor High School Speech Contest. Out of 541 entries in 18 categories, Sutter County was named "Best In Category" for Civic Engagement and Public Education by the National Association of Counties (NACO) in its 2020 Achievement Award program.

From the website announcing the award:
"Five years ago, the Sutter County Board of Supervisors created a novel program to engage high school students in local government affairs. The annual “Public Business From The Floor” high school speech contest encourages high school students to research county issues and advocate a position from the lectern at a real Board of Supervisors meeting. The contest stresses the right of an individual to petition their government and gives students an opportunity to learn how to address locally elected leaders with their point of view while generating widespread interest in what the students have to say.

With the press in attendance and the event streamed live on the internet, each participant gets three minutes at the lectern—the same amount of time allotted to speakers at Board meetings—to argue a position on a topic that falls under the jurisdiction of the County. Participants are encouraged to visit the County’s website to learn what the County does and are judged, among other things, on how relevant the topic is to County business. County Supervisors and members of a local service club which provides cash prizes are the judges. In 2019, 17 students from seven public and private high schools participated."

That service club is the Active 20-30 Club of Yuba City-Marysville. The Board of Supervisors appreciates their support of a nationally recognized event that promotes participation of local youth in the governance of their community.

Sadly, there was no speech contest this year due to COVID-19, but supervisors look forward to continuing the event when it is safe to assemble.

For 50 years, NACO has recognized innovation in county government operations. For more about the awards, visit the website below.

• 2020 NACo Achievement Award Winners

• Please visit our Coronavirus Testing page for details.

The Boards of Supervisors of Yuba County and Sutter County today authorized a combined $20,000 contribution to a community organized effort to assist chronically ill seniors with grocery and prescription shopping, and restocking the shelves of the area’s food banks.

In separate actions, the Boards of Supervisors each authorized $10,000 to seed the efforts of the Yuba-Sutter COVID-19 Relief Task Force, a group of local volunteers who will work with the United Way to coordinate efforts, and with Health and Human Services Departments from both counties to identify and assist those 65 years of age and older with chronic health conditions, so they can remain at home and still have food and prescription needs met.

The group conducted an online meeting Monday night to discuss the mission and structure of the organization. Practicing social distancing, some two dozen attended the meeting in person in the chambers of the Yuba County Board of Supervisors.

Replenishing supplies at local food banks is critical. Food banks lean quite heavily on oversupplies at grocery stores. Mass purchases of canned food items and other items with long shelf lives by anxious shoppers has put increased pressure on the grocery store supply chain and food bank donations have dropped precipitously.

“There are a number of food banks that are out of food. They are zero and they can’t provide service to our communities,” said Yuba County Supervisor Randy Fletcher, who was among those at Monday night’s meeting.

“This is an important step to help immediately replenish the food banks and pantries,” said Sutter County Board Chair Ron Sullenger.

Organizers of the Yuba-Sutter COVID 19 Relief Task Force said that once they are satisfied they are meeting the needs of the chronically ill seniors, they will then focus on seniors who are not chronically ill, and, with time, the needs of the general community.

For information about joining the community effort to assist financially, as a volunteer, or with donations of canned goods during the ‘stay at home’ order, contact the Yuba-Sutter COVID-19 Relief Task Force at 530-682-5348.

The current unofficial count for the Election Results will be posted and updated periodically after the Polls close at 8:00 p.m. on March 3, 2020.

• View the Unofficial Presidential Primary Election Results

Sutter County holds five seats on the Board of Directors of a non-profit agency that conserves land to protect plant and animal species in south Sutter County and north Sacramento, in mitigation of urban development.

Four of the seats are currently vacant, however the Sutter County Board of Supervisors is soliciting candidates for appointment from among Sutter County residents, particularly those with a background or interest in environmental sciences, nature conservation, engineering, finance, or agriculture. The only qualification is that a person be willing to serve.

The Natomas Basin Conservancy was established in 1994 to implement the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan on behalf of the City of Sacramento and the County of Sutter. Under the plan, developers of the Natomas Basin in south Sutter County and north Sacramento are required to set aside one acre of land for nature conservation for every two acres they develop.

Developers do this by paying fees to the conservancy used to acquire and maintain habitat for 22 plant and animal species. Those species are the:

• Aleutian Canada goose
• Swainson’s Hawk
• Giant Garter snake
• White-faced ibis
• Bank swallow
• Tricolored blackbird
• Northwestern pond turtle
• Valley elderberry longhorn beetle
• Delta tule pea
• Sanford’s arrowhead
• Loggerhead shrike
• Burrowing owl
• Vernal pool fairy shrimp
• Vernal pool tadpole shrimp
• Midvalley fairy shrimp
• California tiger salamander
• Western spadefoot toad
• Colusa grass
• Boggs Lake hedge-hyssop
• Sacramento Orcutt grass
• Legenere

Several developments have already occurred in the Natomas Basin in north Sacramento, and some are expected to begin soon in southern Sutter County.

The Board of Directors of the Conservancy meets on the first Wednesday in February, April, June, August, October, and December. Board members are compensated at a rate of $100 per meeting. Board members must be willing to file a State of California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Statement of Economic Interests-Form 700.

Applications for this, and a number of other boards and commissions, can be obtained from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 1160 Civic Center Boulevard, Yuba City, CA 95993, or from the county website at: https://www.suttercounty.org/doc/government/depts/cr/cob/cr_cob_bc

Photo of white faced ibis, one of several species which benefit from the Natomas Basin Conservancy, by By Alan Vernon - White faced Ibis, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8824384

You don't need a stamp to cast a mail-in ballot

No postage stamp is needed when you are returning your mail in ballot in the envelope provided by the Sutter County Elections Office.

Sutter County Clerk Recorder/Registrar of Voters Donna Johnston reminds voters that postage is pre-paid.

Here are the steps for successfully voting by mail:

• You must mark your own ballot for your vote to count.
• Put your ballot in the envelope provided.
• You must sign your own envelope for your vote to count.
• Drop it in the mail. It is postage paid!
• It must be postmarked by Election Day- March 3, 2020.

Once you’ve mailed the ballot, you can also track it with the Secretary of State’s “Where’s My Ballot?” application. Voters can sign-up at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov to receive notifications about their vote-by-mail ballots by email, SMS (text), or voice call.

Voters who sign up for the “Where’s My Ballot?” tool receive automatic updates when:

• The County elections office mails the voter’s ballot
• The County has received the voter’s ballot
• The County has counted the voter’s ballot
• If there are any issues with the voter’s ballot

Yuba and Sutter County voters can now sign up for the Secretary of State’s “Where’s My Ballot?” tool to receive automatic updates on the status of their vote-by-mail ballots. Voters can sign-up at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov to receive notifications about their vote-by-mail ballots by email, SMS (text), or voice call.

Terry Hansen, Yuba County Registrar of Voters and Donna Johnston, Sutter County Registrar of Voters want to make sure that Yuba-Sutter voters are aware of this valuable tool to help ensure the integrity of Vote by Mail ballots.

Voters who sign up for the “Where’s My Ballot?” tool receive automatic updates when:

• The county elections office mails the voter’s ballot
• The county has received the voter’s ballot
• The county has counted the voter’s ballot
• If there are any issues with the voter’s ballot

Voters signed up for “Where’s My Ballot?” will also receive communications from Yuba and Sutter County Election offices about important election deadlines and critical updates such as polling place closures.

The County of Sutter’s Development Services Department will provide a display of the proposed changes at the intersection of Highway 99 at Oswald Road south of Yuba City for the public. The display will in the Sutter County Development Services main lobby on February 18, 2020 from 9 am until 4 pm.

The open house is designed to acquire additional community input on the proposed alternatives, particularly the possibility of a roundabout. This is the first time a roundabout has been seriously considered on a state highway in Sutter County. Sutter County ultimately would make a recommendation to California Department of Transportation. County engineering staff and an engineering consultant will be available to answer questions about the three options.

Sutter County has been seeking a traffic control alternative at the intersection, which has seen an increase in both truck traffic and accidents. Options to improve safety include a $4-$5 million stoplight, a $10-$12 million roundabout, or a $30-$40 million interchange.

Government and private company studies have concluded that roundabouts provide more safety for drivers than stoplights on a high-speed corridor. According to the Federal Highway Administration, roundabouts reduce the types of crashes where people are seriously hurt or killed by 78-82 percent when compared to conventional stop-controlled and signalized intersections. A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety of 19 high-speed rural intersections (speed limits of 40 mph or higher) that originally had stop signs on the minor approaches and were converted to roundabout found a 62 percent reduction in all crashes and an 85 percent reduction in injury crashes.

Sutter County Development Services is located at 1130 Civic Center Blvd., Yuba City.

An open house is planned for 2 p.m.-3 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, at Ettl Hall, 1333 Butte House Road, Yuba City, to provide information on proposed tri-color placard program that would provide visual indication at point of sale of a commercial food facility’s latest food safety inspection. Green is pass, yellow is pass with conditions, red is closed due to immediate health threat.

Sutter County Development Services is recommending the Board of Supervisors create a program which requires all retail food establishments to post a color-coded placard indicating compliance with state environmental health laws.

Why a placard program?

The placarding system is designed to minimize occurrence of the five most critical risk factors for foodborne illness in the United States as identified by the Center for Disease Control which are:

• Food from unsafe sources
• Improper cooking temperatures
• Improper holding temperatures
• Contaminated utensils and equipment
• Poor employee health and hygiene

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in six, or 48 million, Americans contract a foodborne illness each year. (Fewer than one percent are hospitalized; and less than one in 1,000 die from the illness.)

Who enforces these laws?

Sutter County enforces state law by inspecting and filing reports on conditions of commercial food establishments in Live Oak, Yuba City, and the unincorporated areas of the County. Retail food establishments are already required to have a copy of their most recent inspection report available for customer review upon request, and Sutter County Environmental Health Division posts its inspection reports on the County’s website athttps://www.suttercounty.org/FacilityInspection

Is this happening elsewhere?

Food Facility Placarding Programs are becoming more common in many jurisdictions and are designed to provide customers with a quick visual indication of the overall results of the food facilities most recent inspection.

What would the placard program look like?

This program would require all retail food establishments to post a color-coded placard indicating the compliance status of their most recent routine inspection or re-inspection. A green placard indicates the establishment passed the inspection. A yellow placard indicated two or more major violations were discovered. And a red placard indicates the establishment is closed due to an imminent health hazard.

Where can I find out more information?

This matter was scheduled for a public hearing in front of the Board of Supervisors on October 22, but based on the response to letters the County mailed to commercial kitchen operators, there were a lot of questions about the program. Consequently, consideration of the proposal was postponed and, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce, we will be providing an opportunity for retail food providers and members of the public to learn more about the proposed program, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday, January 21 at Ettl Hall, 1333 Butte House Road, Yuba City.