Memorandum
Date: February 9, 2021
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Bruno Sabatier, Board Chair and District 2 Supervisor
Subject: Approve Letter of Opposition to SB 55 and Authorize the Chair to Sign
Executive Summary: (include fiscal and staffing impact narrative):
As you may be aware, State Senator Henry Stern introduced SB 55, which directly mirrors 2020’s SB 474 (Opposed by our Board, died in Committee).
As written, SB 55 would prohibit all retail, commercial, industrial and/or residential development in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) and State Responsibility Areas (SRA), as determined by the Director and State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. Much of Lake County falls into one or both of these designations, as demonstrated by this map: <https://egis.fire.ca.gov/FHSZ/>
Implications of this bill are considerable for rural areas, including Lake County. As an illustration, were SB 55 law today, the Guenoc Valley Mixed Use Planned Development Project would be prohibited by law. Instead of the genuine and realistic excitement that is mounting in South County, Lake County would be facing yet another public policy-driven setback.
While Rural County Representatives of California’s (RCRC’s) Legislative team indicates SB 55 is unlikely to be heard prior to March, expressing our strong Opposition now has the potential to affect the course of this highly concerning bill.
I recommend our Board approve the attached Letter, and authorize me to sign, as Chair
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☒ Economic Development ☒ Disaster Recovery ☐ County Workforce ☒ Revenue Generation
☐ Community Collaboration ☐ Business Process Efficiency ☐ Clear Lake ☐ Cost Savings
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Recommended Action:
Approve the attached Letter of Opposition to SB 55 and authorize the Chair to sign.