Measure Z - Public Safety/Essential Services


Overview

In April 2014, Humboldt County residents told the Board of Supervisors they were concerned about the lack of funding that is available for public safety services.

In response, voters in November passed Measure Z, a half-cent sales tax, to pay for maintaining and enhancing services.

These web pages are dedicated to providing information regarding how those funds are being spent, and how you can make your voice heard in the process.

A look at spending

Click on the graph below to see in-depth information showing which agencies are receiving Measure Z funds and how they are spending it.


Learn more about projects that Measure Z funded each year, and read some of the success stories and challenges agencies are experiencing as they try to make our community safer.

Measure Z news and information for:

FY 15-16   |   FY 16-17   |   FY 17-18

Recent News

January 2020

STAR social media post - Jan. 7

November 2019

KMUD Radio social media post - Nov. 4

Eureka Police Department facebook post - Nov. 15

October 2019

STAR Ambulance social media post - Oct. 8

Fortuna Police facebook post - Oct. 2

July 2019

More than 90 self-contained breathing apparatuses distributed to volunteer fire departments 

February 2019

Local fire departments receive much-needed equipment

January 2019

Notice of Vacancy on Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Measure Z Expenditures

Vacancies are occurring on the Measure Z Citizens’ Advisory Committee due to the resignation of Jonathan Flyer who represents District 1, Mike Newman who represents District 4, John McFarland who serves as an Alternate and Brian Anderson who represents the Fire Chief’s Association. Supervisor Bohn wishes to appoint Glenn Ziemer as the District 1 representative due to the resignation of Jonathan Flyer. Details on vacancies

December 2018

Sheriff Measure Z Position Reallocation

At the request of the Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES), Human Resources initiated a classification review of the vacant Sheriff’s Measure Z Senior Legal Office Assistant position. In order to attract a qualified candidate, with the knowledge and expertise required of this position, Human Resources has recommended that the position be reclassified to Program Coordinator. This revised position classification will also provide for a candidate who is able to assist the Emergency Services Manager in the event of an emergency.  Read the Full Report

Motorola Solutions, Inc. Communications System and Services Agreement

Motorola Solutions, Inc. is providing a state-of-the-art communications system for use by the Sheriff’s Office and Public Works. This system will, for the first time in the county, interconnect all major radio sites into a cohesive system that will simultaneously rebroadcast all transmission to allow units from the southern portion of the county to communicate directly with units in the northern part of the county.
The new radio system will be highly fault tolerant wherein common network equipment that can affect multiple sites will be redundant to reduce the potential for a single point of failure.

Read more about the new radio system

Sheriff's Office receives new BearCat

Watch the short video on the Sheriff's Office facebook page

Measure Z Memorandum of Understanding for Fiscal Year 2018-2019

Now that the Measure Z allocations has been finalized for fiscal year 2018-2019, the final step in the allocation of these funds was to approve Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with outside agencies.  Before the Board today were MOUs with the City of Fortuna, City of Rio Dell, City of Trinidad and Southern Trinity Health Services, Inc.. Read the MOUs

October 2018

Measure Z MOU for Fiscal Year 2018-19 and Extension of Time to Spend Previously Allocated FY 2017-18 Measure Z Funds

Measure Z allocations were finalized for FY 2018-19, and the final step in the allocation of these funds is to approve Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with outside agencies. Before the Board were MOUs with the cities of Arcata, Blue Lake and Eureka, Boys & Girls Club of the Redwoods, K'ima:w Medical Center and the Humboldt County Fire Chie's Association. 

Read more about the MOUs and Extension.

September 2018

First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, Certified Public Accountants, Expand the Scope of Service to Include the Provision of External Audit Services for Fiscal Years 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 for Measure Z 

On June 26, 2018, the Board adopted the fiscal year 2018-19 budget and directed staff to make an adjustment of unallocated Measure Z funding for $48,300 for a comprehensive Measure Z audit. On August 21, 2018, the Board authorized the Chair to execute an agreement ($81,500) and engagement letter with CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, Certified Public Accountants, for the provision of an annual external audit service pursuant to Section 25250 of the California Government Code. CliftonLarsonAllen LLP agreed to amend the August 2018 agreement to include Measure Z audit services for the defined period. Read the Agreement

February 2018

Feb. 27

Photo of Sheriff’s Sno-Cat rescue vehicle

New snow recovery vehicle helps save life

A man’s life was saved this morning with the help of a new Sheriff's snow rescue vehicle.

Unspent Measure Z funds allocated to Humboldt County road repairs

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted this week to allocate about $514,000 in unspent Measure Z tax revenues toward county road repairs and safety enhancements.

Read the Times-Standard story

View the mid-year budget staff report

January 2018

Arcata program gives youth a second chance

Thanks to Measure Z funding, the Arcata Police Department implemented its own juvenile diversion program that has diverted 76 participants from the juvenile justice system over the last four months.

Read more about this new program

Renewed opportunity to fund public safety projects

If you have a project that provides a public safety or essential service to our community, consider applying for Measure Z funds. The Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Measure Z Expenditures is now accepting applications, and you have until Feb. 23 to apply.

Appoint Ernie Branscomb as 2nd District representative on Measure Z Citizens' Advisory Committee

Read agenda item on Branscomb appointment

Appoint Sheriff Honsal as Sheriff's representative on Measure Z Citizens' Advisory Committee

Read more about the appointment of Sheriff Honsal

December 2017

DA Fleming Announces Hiring of New Deputy District Attorneys

Today, Humboldt County District Attorney Maggie Fleming announced the hiring of Deputy District Attorneys Josh Rosenfeld and Joel Buckingham.

October 2017

Measure Z agreements with 12 outside agencies

Read the agenda item approving memorandums of understanding with 12 agencies

Change Public Information Specialist job classification

Read the Oct. 17 agenda item.

August 2017

2016 Fire Chiefs Association annual report

Humboldt Bay Fire Department Chief Bill Gillespie will present a brief annual report for the Fire Chiefs Association. The report will be for the 2016 year and will reflect the call volume and accomplishments of the Humboldt County Fire Services, including services performed with Measure Z funding.

Read the Fire Chiefs' report and watch the discussion 

Agreement to provide law enforcement within Blue Lake city limits

Read the agreement with Blue Lake

Transfer Code Enforcement to Planning & Building

This agenda item transfer the Code Enforcement Unit (CEU) from County Counsel (budget unit 121) to Current Planning (budget unit 277), and reassigns County Counsel Measure Z (budget unit 299) to Planning and Building.

Read the Aug. 15 agenda item.

Fortuna selects School Resource Officer

Officer Frank, Fortuna’s School Resource Officer hired with Measure Z funds

In 2012, the School Resource Officer position was eliminated due to budgetary constraints. According to Police Chief Bill Dobberstein, “Fortuna has worked with the County to build support for reinstatement of a School Resource Officer to serve schools in Fortuna and throughout the Eel River Valley area. The award of $145,580 in Measure Z funds to the Fortuna Police Department was critical to making the School Resource Officer a reality.”

Resident deputies return to rural Humboldt

Humboldt County Sheriff's deputy Ben Filippini is 24 years old and just three years out of College of the Redwood's Police Academy. Beneath the back of his short blond hair, his neck is sunburned a dark red where a tactical helmet and mask did not cover his skin at a recent outdoor training session. He's quick to smile, quick to laugh and he listens more than he talks. All of these things work in his favor at his current job — resident deputy for State Route 36 from Fortuna to Blocksburg. 

Read more at the North Coast Journal.

July 2017

Advance step request for Deputy Public Defender

Mr. Sheets has been an attorney since June of 2011. During that time he has developed the necessary legal qualifications and experience to warrant an advanced step. This experience includes working on trials, directing investigative teams to prepare cases, misdemeanor and felony case experience, and working on adult criminal, juvenile and civil cases.

Read the July 18 agenda item

Donate Probation vehicle to county Motor pool

An all wheel drive sport utility vehicle was purchased from the fiscal year 2015/16, Probation Measure Z budget. The donation of this vehicle will allow for its maintenance through the county motor pool which will be more cost effective than if Probation were to maintain the vehicle separately.

Read the July 11 agenda item

Did you know ...

The Board of Supervisors is obligated to spend nearly 64 percent of all funds on specific programs. This often comes in the form of funding that comes from the state or federal government. The Board has discretion over General Fund monies, which accounts for roughly one-third of the annual budget.