Tuesday, July 28, 2026

At first glance, this week's meeting looks fairly routine, with most of the agenda made up of contracts, engineering agreements, and housekeeping items. However, there are a few items that could have a lasting impact on the county, particularly involving housing, infrastructure, labor agreements, and a property acquisition through eminent domain.

FULL AGENDA HERE

Agenda Update:
Special Meeting Added Due to Dove Fire

Update (July 27): Since we published our Board of Supervisors preview, the County has scheduled a Special Meetingfor Tuesday, July 28 at 1:00 p.m. to address the ongoing Dove Fire.

The Special Meeting contains a single agenda item: ratifying the Proclamation of a Local Emergency that was issued on July 26 after the Dove Fire threatened homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure throughout the Sonora area. State law requires the Board to ratify the declaration within seven days.

While this may sound like a procedural step, it's an important one. Ratifying the emergency proclamation preserves the County's emergency powers and helps ensure Tuolumne County can request state and federal assistance, including reimbursement for eligible firefighting, emergency response, and recovery costs. The resolution also requests additional disaster assistance from the State of California as recovery efforts continue.

At this time, the regular Board of Supervisors meeting is still scheduled to follow, although that could change depending on conditions surrounding the Dove Fire. We'll continue monitoring the situation and provide updates as they become available.

Consent Calendar

Most of these items are expected to pass with little discussion unless a supervisor pulls them for debate.

$2.5 Million for Manufactured Housing

The County is proposing a $2.5 million agreement with Habitat for Humanity of Tuolumne County to administer the state's Manufactured Housing Opportunity & Revitalization (MORE) Program. The money would be used to repair or replace aging mobile homes, including homes damaged by wildfire, with an emphasis on low income households. Full Agenda Packet 07.28.2026.txtTXT

Behavioral Health Projects Continue

Two contracts totaling nearly $930,000 would move forward planning and construction management for a Peer Respite facility at Tuolumne General Hospital. These facilities provide short term voluntary mental health support as an alternative to hospitalization. Full Agenda Packet 07.28.2026.txtTXT

Jail Medical Services

The Board will extend the County's jail medical contract for three more years while adding new CalAIM requirements to better coordinate inmate healthcare. Full Agenda Packet 07.28.2026.txtTXT

Fire Safety Compliance

Supervisors will receive the annual report confirming inspections required under California's fire safety laws for schools and other public buildings. Full Agenda Packet 07.28.2026.txtTXT

Road and Bridge Projects

Several engineering contracts continue work on major infrastructure projects, including:

Rawhide Road / Woods Bridge Replacement
Algerine-Wards Ferry Bridge Replacement
Countywide transportation safety planning

Together these contracts represent millions of dollars in ongoing infrastructure investment. Full Agenda Packet 07.28.2026.txtTXT

Other Consent Items

The Board is also expected to:

Approve appointments to the Behavioral Health Advisory Board.
Approve a lease for part of the Transit Center property.
Approve a training agreement related to Child Welfare Services. Full Agenda Packet 07.28.2026.txtTXT

Department Item

Deputy District Attorneys Contract

Supervisors will consider approving a new three year Memorandum of Understanding with the Deputy District Attorneys' Association covering wages, benefits, and working conditions through June 2029. The negotiated costs have already been incorporated into the County's adopted budget.

Public Hearing

Blanket Creek Bridge Property Acquisition

Perhaps the most significant action item of the meeting is a public hearing authorizing the County to acquire a temporary construction easement through eminent domain for the Blanket Creek Bridge Replacement Project on Algerine-Wards Ferry Road.

The easement would allow construction of the new bridge and associated roadway improvements. Because the County is using eminent domain authority, approval requires a two thirds vote of the Board. Full Agenda Packet 07.28.2026.txtTXT

Closed Session

Supervisors will meet privately to discuss:

The annual performance evaluation of County Administrative Officer Roger Root.
Existing litigation involving the Tuolumne County Transportation Council. Full Agenda Packet 07.28.2026.txtTXT

What We'll Be Watching

Although this is a relatively light meeting, there are four items worth following:

The $2.5 million Habitat for Humanity housing agreement. This could bring significant assistance to residents living in aging or wildfire damaged manufactured homes.
The new labor agreement with Deputy District Attorneys. Compensation agreements often set the tone for future negotiations with other bargaining units.
The eminent domain hearing for the Blanket Creek Bridge project. Property acquisitions are always closely watched, particularly when eminent domain is involved.
The County Administrative Officer's performance evaluation. While discussions happen behind closed doors, any reportable action afterward could provide insight into the Board's direction.

Overall, this appears to be a shorter meeting focused primarily on moving ongoing projects forward rather than debating major policy changes.

Agenda Update:
Special Meeting Added Due to Dove Fire

Update (July 27): Since we published our Board of Supervisors preview, the County has scheduled a Special Meetingfor Tuesday, July 28 at 1:00 p.m. to address the ongoing Dove Fire.

The Special Meeting contains a single agenda item: ratifying the Proclamation of a Local Emergency that was issued on July 26 after the Dove Fire threatened homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure throughout the Sonora area. State law requires the Board to ratify the declaration within seven days.

While this may sound like a procedural step, it's an important one. Ratifying the emergency proclamation preserves the County's emergency powers and helps ensure Tuolumne County can request state and federal assistance, including reimbursement for eligible firefighting, emergency response, and recovery costs. The resolution also requests additional disaster assistance from the State of California as recovery efforts continue.

At this time, the regular Board of Supervisors meeting is still scheduled to follow, although that could change depending on conditions surrounding the Dove Fire. We'll continue monitoring the situation and provide updates as they become available.