HTML Coverpage Q3Board of Supervisors 2023Information and General Services
Financial Stability and Core ServicesEmergency PreparednessEconomic DevelopmentBroadbandHousingHomelessnessRecreationClimate Resilience
Initiative DetailsComplete the Programmatic EIR and expand the permitting “tool kit” to facilitate broadband.Manage the “Last-Mile” Broadband Grant program with Sierra Business Council.Update the County's “Broadband Strategy.”Fund and implement the "Dig-Once" policy.Engage and inform the community about County efforts to expand broadband.Seek grant funding and advocate at state and federal level for broadband.Housing Master Plans ProjectSupport potential high growth sector developmentCultivate economic diversification, sustainability and equityEstablish infrastructure, further projects and plans to support economic vitalitySeek funding and advocate for economic development prioritiesSupport business attraction, retention and growthFinalize and approve the Nevada County Recreation and Resiliency Master Plan.Promote health and safety at river crossings, lakes, trailheads, and other high-use or high-risk areas.Enhance recreation access, health and safety, economic development, and resource conservation.Support capacity and sustainability of Western Nevada County organized recreation.Identify funding mechanisms and act on advocacy priorities to sustain recreation.Staff recreation collaborative(s) to promote countywide coordination.Establish partnerships to advance and undertake broadband construction projects.Community CoordinationMonitor economically sensitive revenues Reduce Hazardous Vegetation on County-Maintained Roads and County Owned PropertyEnsure healthy fund balances in major operating fundsPrepare and implement long-term financial plansDevelop and manage County budgetClimate Strategic PlanHarden Critical InfrastructureEnhance Carbon Storage and SequestrationFunding and AdvocacyHazard MitigationRecoveryIncrease availability of rental and mortgage assistance funding to prevent individuals and families from slipping into homelessness and implement a CoC-wide diversion strategyExpand services and housing opportunities to transition aged youth and families with children to prevent entry into the adult homeless system and long-term homelessness.Strengthen housing focused case management and post housing supportive servicesExpand year-round shelter capacityImplement a centralized Landlord Liaison Program (LLP)Facilitate and promote partnerships for the development of affordable and supportive housingExpand and strengthen non-congregant, navigation-based, interim housing optionsSupport system wide improvement to data collection measures, collaboration on funding opportunities, and implementation of the County-CoC joint strategic planStrengthen the coordinated multi-disciplinary case conferencing team (Homeless Resource Team)Continue to support and strengthen outreach, engagement, and case management
On Target
Complete the Programmatic EIR and expand the permitting “tool kit” to facilitate broadband.
Board of Supervisors 2023

Description

In the County's efforts to expand rural broadband, we hear from internet service providers (ISP) that environmental permitting is a substantial challenge to complete projects in a timely and cost-efficient manner. As a result, the Broadband Work Group has led the effort to initiate a countywide environmental impact report (EIR) and a "tool kit" to help remove barriers to completing local "last-mile" projects. 

In 2021, the County hired Ascent Environmental, Inc. to complete the Draft Programmatic EIR. The EIR is expected to take approximately 8-10 months to complete and will involve multiple opportunities for public engagement. 

Progress Update

    1. The final Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the development of Broadband was completed in February 2023. The EIR will assist ISPs and developers with environmental analysis and legal compliance for the development of broadband throughout the county, thereby decreasing some associated costs of development.
    2. Staff is currently conducting comparative research across other jurisdictions on the development of a permitting “toolkit” to promote the expansion of broadband development. County staff have developed preliminary permitting flowcharts and decision trees that could be incorporated into the “toolkit”.

Next Steps

Conduct comparative research across other jurisdictions on the development of a permitting “toolkit” to promote the expansion of broadband development with aim to have a draft toolkit by early 2024.

Objectives

On Target
Broadband
Board of Supervisors 2023