Branden Hendrix

The meeting began with the roll call and a public comment period where residents passionately addressed concerns regarding traffic safety, specifically speeding and high rates of near-misses or incidents on Fred Hate Drive near a narrow bridge and on Highway 101 in the Smith River area, citing a recent fatal hit-and-run involving a pet and near-misses involving children. Commission members acknowledged the ongoing nature of these concerns, referencing new state legislation (AB 1014) that allows for potential speed limit adjustments independent of the 85th percentile rule, and mentioned supporting pedestrian safety planning documents from the Tolowa Dee-ni Nation. Following public comments, the commission moved to adopt the consent calendar, which included approving minutes from the November 4, 2025 meeting and addressing a minor discrepancy in the funding amount for the 2026 statewide local streets and roads needs assessment resolution. The primary agenda item discussed was the development of the 2026 through 2027 Overall Work Program (OWP), which guides the commission's work and project funding. The OWP process includes incorporating mandatory and preferred work, such as the Regional Transportation Plan update, economic and demographic profiling, and regional mapping (GIS data). The OWP development is currently in its initial public review stage.

The board meeting addressed several agenda items, including the consent calendar which involved the approval of the October 27th meeting minutes and a purchase order (2025-26-21). A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to adopting Resolution 2025-26-04 for the 2025 Short Range Transit Plan, which discussed potential service changes, including analyzing the possibility of morphing the medical shuttle into a fixed route to Medford if funding becomes available. The board also awarded an agreement not to exceed $29,83X to Mobility House for the Williams Drive Charge Management System, designed to optimize electric vehicle charging and manage peak electricity usage. Furthermore, an amendment of $33,500 was approved with Doken Engineering for the Williams Drive project to cover site survey and design for two necessary backup generators. The final item was a discussion regarding the decreasing funding projections for LC Top funded programs, which have historically supported the free rides farebox subsidy and fleet electrification projects.

The meeting addressed the Director's Report, which confirmed that the Authority continues to operate the Klamath Gasi and Del Norte County transfer stations without financial support from Crescent City or Del Norte County, with disposal rates lower than comparable facilities. Updates included details on a free holiday tree disposal program through the end of January, requiring trees to be under six feet and free of flocking or metal stands. Operational improvements at the transfer station, led by the new operations manager, were noted, including the construction of wooden bins for fluorescent bulbs. Inspection reports indicated no areas of violation or concern from the Department of Environmental Health. Financial discussions highlighted payment challenges related to staff phone services due to billing cycles with T-Mobile and the county ERP system, necessitating advanced payments to avoid service interruptions. The board also reviewed price proposals for improving security at the Del Norte County Transfer Station property adjacent to the station, involving the placement of stacked cement blocks to prevent unauthorized vehicle access, camping, and woodcutting. Funding for this security improvement is drawn from excess property line funds, pending necessary permitting approval from the Del Norte County Planning Department. Financial review showed the agency is currently "in the black" halfway through the fiscal year, with fees ahead of budget.

The meeting commenced with a roll call and moved to public comment, where three minutes were allotted per speaker, though none were present. The consent agenda was approved unanimously. Key discussion points in the director's report included the ongoing operation of transfer stations without financial support from Crescent City or Del Norte County, and the directive to seek a coastal development permit for installing block walls at the Del Norte County Transfer Station due to potential wetland impact. A significant issue is the required migration of the primary scale management software (Creative Information Services) to a new online platform called Fulcrum, which staff views as inadequate due to internet reliability concerns; an exploration process involving the Rural Counties' Environmental Services JPA is underway to find replacement software. Grant updates were provided for the OWR4 organic materials planning grant and the HD39 grant concerning marine flare collection events. Further discussions covered contamination concerns at the Smith River recycling bins, with staff recommending an ad hoc committee to review options, including potentially ceasing the free garbage disposal service currently being used by the community at those bins, as the service is being abused. Financial reports indicated accounts over 90 days were referred to collections, and the Authority was running 27.38% ahead of budget at the end of January. Other scheduled discussions included Recology Del Norte's financials and legislative items.

The regular session meeting addressed operational and financial matters. Key discussions included the approval of the consent agenda, which covered payment for the annual household hazardous waste event. The director's report highlighted continued operation of transfer stations, lower per ton rates compared to neighboring counties, and recent community events, including a marine flare collection and a food rescue initiative. A significant portion of the meeting focused on approving Transfer Station Change Order 36 for the replacement of a primary vehicle door at the Delmar County Transfer Station, with an approved cost not to exceed $51,700. The board also elected a new secretary, Darren Short, and adopted a resolution establishing a temporary special project stipend for an employee, Katherine Brewer, acknowledging her considerable additional effort in implementing the new ERP accounting system.