KZYX News

Fort Bragg City Council Hears Annual Reports on Crime Statistics, Homeless Programs, and Stray Animals The April 14th City Council meeting was lightly attended. It's not clear if an error on the agenda itself was partially to blame. The Zoom meeting link was missing the passcode, making remote participation impossible, although streaming was available. Emails to the city clerk were responded to with the correct link. Two annual reports, one from the Fort Bragg Police Department and one from the Mendocino Coast Humane Society, provided insights into crime rates and the number of stray animals.Chief Cervenka provided crime statistics for 2024. The police responded to over 15000 calls, which resulted in 1166 reports, 514 arrests, and 315 traffic citations. They seized 8.75 pounds of illegal drugs and 26 firearms. There were 106 vehicle collisions, of which 8 were due to DUIs. In general, crime decreased locally except for domestic violence, which increased by 53%. Chief Cervenka said the increase was due to better training of his officers, who are making more arrests, and the victims’ access to post-pandemic assistance.Chief Cervenka also provided an update on the extreme weather shelter for this past winter. The extreme weather shelter is run by the police department through their Crisis Response Unit (CRU) program, which facilitates helping houseless individuals off the street and into housing. The extreme weather shelter operates from November 15th to March 31st and is opened based on precipitation and temperature as predicted by the National Weather Service. The shelter operated 83 out of the possible 136 operational days, provided beds 644 times for 107 individuals. The emergency shelter handles overflow from the hospitality house, which maintains 25 beds. Although there was an increased need for beds this past winter, there was a 15% drop in individuals needing help. Cervenka attributed that to the police department's homeless housing program, or CRU. Judy Martin, the Executive Director for the Mendocino Coast Humane Society provided an annual report on the animals in their care. They currently have 97 animals, of which 44 are available for adoption. In 2024, they took in 631 animals and adopted out 504. According to Martin, the coast shelter takes in animals from Leggett to Gualala, provides basic veterinary care to low-income families, and works with Fort Bragg police on impounds.The City of Fort Bragg provides the Humane Society with $60,000 in funds and leases property to them for the shelter. The Humane Society is primarily funded by sales at the Arc Thrift Store, donations, and grants. The City declared May 1st through 7th as Rhododendron week to recognize the many hybrids developed in Fort Bragg. The 46th annual John Druecker Memorial Rhododendron Show is scheduled for May 3rd and 4th. It is held adjacent to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and is open to the public. Admission to the Rhododendron show is free.Under consent, the council approved updates to the purchasing, bidding, and signatory requirements, affording City Manager Isaac Whippy the authority to sign off on purchases of up to $60,000. All contracts over $5000 require a minimum of three bids. Contracts over $60,000 require council approval. The council also adopted changes to the municipal code, reducing parking and altering parking lot landscaping requirements for multi-family housing developments, and approved a four-year lease with Toshiba for printers and copiers. Earlier on the meeting agenda, the council honored Jason Balassi for his thirty years of service in the public works department, received a presentation from the Fort Bragg Library, and honored volunteers during National Volunteer Week, which is April 20 – 26 this year.Under, items from the council, Councilmember Lindy Peters provided a report on the FBFD financials. According to Peters, the Fort Bragg Fire Department is in good shape financially. It currently has approximately $954,000 in the bank and expects additional funding from Mendocino County soon. Lindy thanked the staff and many volunteers who keep the fire department operational.

Mendocino County’s Chief Executive Darcy Antle held the first of several listening sessions on next year’s budget in Fort Bragg on Tuesday. The goal of the session was for the public to provide feedback on budget priorities — what they want funded as well as what they are willing to cut. Among the priorities mentioned were two dangerously deteriorated roads, as well as need for the coast to get its fair share of funding for spay and neuter. Regarding cuts, residents said it was too late to trim the spending they believed was most wasteful — an expensive criminal prosecution of an elected official who ended up being fully vindicated. They called for accountability from the people they believed were responsible: the district attorney and the county’s chief executive.

A new rule requiring all non-citizens who have been in the United States for 30 days or more to register went into effect on Friday. What does this mean for non-citizens who have been here for years, who may own cars, homes, and businesses? KZYX News spoke with Julia Gelatt, the associate director of the U.S. Program at the Migration Policy Institute.

In local news today, the United States Army Core of Engineers will undertake a study addressing increased water storage in the Russian River watershed and farmers have asked President Trump to intervene in the Potter Valley decommissioning project. So far the president has not responded.

the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors has voted three to two to allow cannabis farms to expand mature canopy from 10,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet in appropriately zoned areas.

Mendocino County Supervisors voted 4 to 1 on Tuesday to include an additional one million dollars on road repairs in a proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. Supervisors Ted Williams and Madeline Cline brought the motion forward to shine a spotlight on the continuing and deplorable condition of county roads. "Taxpayers expect us to give roads focus, and by focus, I mean funding," Supervisor Williams said.

As Mendocino County begins the often challenging process of planning next year’s budget, a projected $17 million deficit is casting a long shadow. he combination of stagnant revenue and increasing salaries and benefits for county employees is a key driver of the deficit. This combination of stagnant revenues and rising personnel costs is a key driver of the deficit. Adding to the pressure, Pierce noted the discontinuation of several federal public health grants and rural schools funding, further impacting the county's bottom line. However, these made up just a few hundred thousand dollars.

California is facing a $6.2 billion budget gap thanks to an ambitious expansion of Medicaid, which in California we call Medi-cal. The shortfall comes a year after California decided to provide free health care to all low-income adults in the California regardless of their legal immigration status. Undocumented adults aged adults aged 26 to 49, were allowed to apply for Medi-Cal starting Jan. 1, 2024. The cost turned out to be far more than the state projected and the expansion is having a ripple effect in Mendocino County. KZYX News interviewed Natasha Adams, senior program manager of In Home Supportive Services. Adams said there’s not enough social workers to process everyone who is seeking in home care.

On Friday night in Ukiah, more than four hundred people put democracy to the test, packing an auditorium at Mendocino College for a town hall. The next day thousands of people across the county joined millions in nationwide protests against the Trump administration’s policy with large gatherings in Fort Bragg and Ukiah and relatively large gathering in Willits and Point Arena.

More than 400 constituents gathered at Mendocino College on Thursday to engage U.S. Representative Jared Huffman and State Assemblymember Chris Rogers on a variety of concerns ranging from water supply to health care, civil rights and foreign policy.

In February, the California Department of Food and Agriculture announced up to $2 million in funding for new farm to community food hub programs. The announcement caught the eye of local entrepreneur Paul Katzeff. About fifty years ago, Katzeff tried to start a community cannery in Mendocino County. He failed to get funding, but he didn’t give up on the idea.

The Fort Bragg City Council has unanimously approved plans for an 87-unit apartment complex. The decision, made at the last meeting of the city council, comes as California cities face increasing pressure from the state to approve new housing. Councilmember Lindy Peters said opponents could appeal to the coastal commission.

The tussle between cannabis farmers and their neighbors over how much cannabis can be grown next door continued at the last meeting of general government committee on March 26th. But there were signs that the issue may have played itself out, with some cannabis farmers on small plots questioning the push by a small number of farmers to push for a reinterpretation of the ordinance that would benefit them.

Recent welfare checks in Fort Bragg and Little River led to two separate arrests for attempted murder and the City of Fort Bragg is seeking to close a $7 million funding gap for its broadband initiative with a proposed loan.

The announcement came late Friday, following a closed session of the Willits City Council to evaluate City Manger Brian Bender’s job performance. After the meeting, Mayor Larry Stranske made a brief statement during the public portion of the meeting—but offered few details.

Authorities identify two deceased individuals in separate Mendocino and Humboldt County cases. The Mendocino Farm Bureau speaks up for farmers in Siskiyou over water regulations.

Today in local news … a 21 year old from Fort Bragg has been charged with participating in an attack on a 68 year old woman that was filmed and shared on social media …. In the wake of Wednesday’s Tsunami drill, we ask what makes a practice drill a success … and some takeaways from Wednesday’s Congressional Hearing on whether to continue funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Vindicated of any wrongdoing, Mendocino County Auditor-Controller Treasurer-Tax Collector Chamise Cubbison appeared before the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to answer questions about the collection of transient occupancy tax and the county’s indirect cost recovery processes. Meanwhile, District Attorney David Eyster, who had previously filed criminal charges against Cubbison, is now under public scrutiny for his own use of public funds.

The Board of Supervisors is being asked to take a stand for salmon restoration in the Klamath River Basin.

U.S. immigration officials are rolling out a new registration requirement for non-citizens staying longer than 30 days. Critics warn the updated system—now featuring online forms —could spark fear in immigrant communities and hinder compliance

Amanda Friscia, executive director of the Mendo Food Network, describes the impact on local food distribution the U.S. Department of Agriculture has halted millions of dollars worth of deliveries to food banks without explanation.

The Ukiah City Council on Wednesday addressed three issues, including mapping updates to flood zones and fire hazard severity zones, electricity fee increases, and increases in business license fees.

Last week, the Fort Bragg City Council voted to pause a lawsuit it had been pursuing against a davis-based business entity known as the Mendocino Railway and instead to pursue a master development agreement with said entity for the 400-acre oceanfront property known as the mill site. In doing so, is the city shirking its responsibility to enforce state and local laws? Peter McNamee is a concerned citizen who has been following the issue.

The wife of an alleged serial killer and the mother of his accuser dismisses the allegations, while the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office says its investigation into claims that an 86-year-old resident of the Sherwood Oaks skilled nursing facility yielded no evidence to substantiate the allegations.

For weeks, social media personalities have taken it upon themselves to broadcast warnings about the presence of federal immigration agents in Mendocino County. Now, it turns out that ICE has been in the community all along, doing what it has been doing for the last six years.

For weeks, social media personalities have taken it upon themselves to broadcast warnings about the presence of federal immigration agents in Mendocino County. Now, it turns out that ICE has been in the community all along, doing what it has been doing for the last six years.

The Fort Bragg City Council and dozens of residents spent Monday night engaged in a heated debate over whether or not to extend the existing litigation pause with the Mendocino Railway and pursue a master development agreement. The council ultimately voted for the pause.

Mendocino College Theater will present "Mendocino Stories: Instructions for Living in a Broken World" over the next two weekends, beginning Thursday, March 13, at the Mendocino College Center Theater on the Ukiah campus.

From Mendocino County Public Broadcasting, this is the KZYX News for Monday, March 10th, I’m Elise Cox. CAL FIRE recently expanded the fire hazard severity zones for all of Mendocino County. By far the biggest impact of the reclassification is in Ukiah. According to CAL FIRE the majority of homes on the west side of the city are in a very high fire hazard severity zone. The change comes as the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority grapples with rising costs and increasing call volumes.

Missing man found in Albion; seniors engage in post-card action at the Fort Bragg Senior Center; and Craig Schlatter, the Director of Community Development for the City of Ukiah briefed the City Council on Wednesday on new CAL FIRE maps that reclassify large areas of the city as being at a higher risk of fire.

It’s been a rough flu season for Mendocino County. Many of us have fallen sick. Our friends, neighbors, co-workers have all been laid up. KZYX News reached out to Angle Slater, a disaster relief nurse with Mendocino County to find out how this year’s flu season compares with other years

Around four dozen search and rescue volunteers spent Monday in the Albion searching for a 72-year-old man who lives on Middle Ridge Road. At the end of the day, Captain Quincy Cromer of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office appealed to the public for help locating Daniel Jay Salmond. Cromer also provided an update on the 29 year old man who died in custody last Wednesday night in Ukiah. Cause of death is pending toxicology. The next update will be the identification of the deceased, which is currently pending notification of next of kin.

More than 130 spectators packed Fort Bragg Town Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 25, to discuss development plans for the former Georgia-Pacific mill site—a beachfront property spanning about 400 acres.

The smallest city in Mendocino County is grappling with some of its biggest economic challenges, as city officials weigh budget cuts and federal funding uncertainties that could impact local operations.

Less than 24 hours after a Superior Court judge dismissed the criminal charges filed against Chamise Cubbison, the duly elected Auditor-Controller, Treasurer-Tax Collector of Mendocino County was back in her office on Low Gap Road.

Three hearings held during the February 24th City Council meeting focused on ways to ease the path for new housing in Fort Bragg, regulate outdoor dining, and approve concessions for an affordable senior housing development on Hazelwood. The first hearing focused on changes to ordinances that were previously approved and sent to the California Coastal Commission for review. They codified standards for tiny home communities and set regulations for tiny homes, RV parks, and mobile homes. The third ordinance established a 10 pm curfew for restaurants with outdoor dining. The three ordinances will now go back to the Coastal Commission for final certification. The second hearing focused on regulations for alternative dwelling units. The City’s previous ordinance which was approved in 2023, did not meet the changes made by the state in 2024. The new ordinance was modified to meet state law. Some of the most notable changes were; · Changes to the maximum square footage of a second unit, which is now 50% of the primary. · The ability to convert storage rooms, garages, attics, barns, sheds, and basements to ADUs as long as they meet state building standards for dwellings. · The requirement for a separate bathroom for a Junior ADU has been removed. · ADUs cannot be restricted to the backyard. · Multifamily properties can add up to eight ADUs depending on the number of existing units. The third hearing was for a 49-unit senior apartment complex to be located at 860 Hazelwood. The project developers intend to make the entire complex affordable making units available for households that make between 30 and 60% of the area's median income. Council was asked to provide concessions from the developer including making it a three-story building and allowing for a height variance to accommodate an elevator shaft. This is the second three-story multi-family complex that is working its way through the city. The preliminary approval was for the concessions only. The project will go before the planning commission and will need Coastal Commission approval to proceed. The Council also increased the signature authority for City Manager Isaac Whippy from $25,000 to $60,000, confirmed the results of the annual police services salary survey, which resulted in pay raises for three classifications, and approved a contract to continue services from Palni Inc. for the Municipal Broadband Utility Project. Whippy provided an update on negotiations regarding the acquisition of the Mendocino Coast Network or MCN which is on offer for $500,000 and efforts to access additional funding for the broadband network. He expects to wrap up these efforts by the end of June this year. Two studies were approved by the council to review rates and fees. One will focus on water services. The second study is on fees at the CV Starr Center. The council also noted that plans to open the CV Starr Center on Sunday are in the works and informed the community of efforts being made by the Mendocino Coast Regional Park District to appropriate monies from a sales tax initiative that was intended for CV Starr for other projects. The council asked residents to attend MCRPD public meetings in March. Mayor Godeke will be at CV Starr on Thursday the 27th, to talk to CV Starr regulars about the center and its programs. Several upcoming events were mentioned by the council, including a Pomo event on the headlands scheduled for April, 26th, and a blues festival scheduled for May 2nd through 4th. Councilmember Tess Albin Smith was appointed as chair for the Mendocino Transit Authority and plans to focus on expanding services on Sunday and to look into providing transportation to local hospitals.

Opponents of the Trump Administration are calling on people to take collective acton on Friday, February 28th and simply to spend nothing.In other news, area seniors mobilized this weekend around the need to re-authorize the Older Americans Act.In Ukiah. Last week on Wednesday, the City Council voted unanimously to include an airport runway project in the Capital Improvements Plan.

In the Christian traditions sacred images depicting Christ, the Virgin Mary, the Saints and biblical scenes are considered windows to the divine. And you can imagine how powerful these images must have been when artists in small villages used local people as their models for Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Understanding the transformative impact this kind of divine art can have on a small rural community isn’t just an intellectual exercise. You can experience it today by visiting the Willits Center for the Arts and viewing the current show there featuring artist Sue Ellen Parkinson.

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors is considering regulating low-intensity camping, commonly known as hip camping. According to the Hipcamp marketing organization, there are currently seventy active private hosts in Mendocino county with a total of 250 individual camping sites.

Turmoil in the cannabis market has affected the property values of agricultural land //turning once-valuable farms into stranded assets. In Humboldt County property owners are lining up for reassessments, only to discover that the relief they seek is still more than a year away. And, in other news, n other news, Mendocino Poet Laureate Devreaux Baker has added a few laurels.

In Mendocino County, and across the United States, Americans gathered on Monday to peacefully protest what they describe as executive overreach. In Ukiah, a crowd outside the courthouse chanted "No kings, no crowns," while Trump supporters across the street said they stood for unity. One thing both sides agreed on, however, was the value of the democratic process.

Cannabis is legal for recreational use in nearly half of all U.S. states. And, it’s an increasingly common substitute for beer or wine. Numerous scientific studies back up the assertion that cannabis is less harmful than alcohol in terms of physical harm, dependence, and social harm. But as a new series by NPR’s Brian Mann and Sydney Lupkin point out, safety is relative and highly dependent on where your weed is sourced. A trusted dispensary may be your best protection against contaminants.

Attorney General Rob Bonta filed another lawsuit against President Trump and Elon Musk on Thursday. This one challenges what Bonta and many others say, is Elon Musk’s unconstitutional exercise of power. And, in other news, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum renaming Fort Liberty, in North Carolina, back to Fort Bragg. But the namesake of the base will no longer be Braxton Bragg, the confederate general for the base was originally named, but instead an unsung hero from World War II, a private named Roland Bragg. Hegseth’s act introduced the idea of flexibility in renaming debates in general and flexibility for Fort Bragg, California in particular. We spoke leaders on both sides of the local renaming debate.

PG&E’s announcement in 2019 that it would decommission the Potter Valley Project led to years of uncertainty. Stakeholders in the Eel River and the Russian River Basin struggled to agree on a common vision for what would happen after the dams were removed. A new memorandum of understanding, announced this week, between the Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission, Humboldt County, Sonoma County, the Sonoma County Water Agency, CalTrout, Trout Unlimited, the Round Valley Indian Tribes, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife represents a big step forward.

One of the first actions taken by the new board of supervisors last month was to agree on rules and procedures that included calling for supervisors to ask questions about the agenda prior to the meeting and limiting public comment to ten minutes. On Tuesday, one resident raised concerns about Brown Act compliance in relation to the first change and the board rolled by the ten-minute rule in response to public input; In Willits a homeowner without insurance is coping with the aftermath of devastating house fire.

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors meets today, starting at 9:00 a.m. We spoke with board chairman, Supervisor John Haschak about two issues that are very likely to generate substantial public comment. The first, has to do with, well public comment, and how much the Board should allow and at what point in the meeting. The second topic has to do with the cannabis ordinance and whether it covers grows of 10,000 square feet or twice that size.

Here in Mendocino County, we all need to be prepared for fire… but do we all have the skills? Lourance Hall of Round Valley Prescribed Burn Association and Terry Warlick of Torchbearr endeavored to both empower the public, and train fire professionals, during a five-day workshop in Covelo held at the end of January.

In a political environment characterized by tumultuous change at the national level, the Ukiah City Council met Wednesday and adopted an advocacy platform focused on maintaining local control; in Sacramento, Assembly member Chris Rogers, who represents Mendocino County an District Two, on Thursday introduced a bill that would require the Governor to include an assessment of funding opportunities for offshore wind seaport infrastructure in his Five-Year Infrastructure Plan; in Humboldt, Congressman Jared Huffman responded to critics of his approach to the Israel - Gaza conflict.

Mendocino County has responded to a request made by the group Mendocino County for Ethical Investing and divested $3 million from the Royal Bank of Canada. And, Monday was a day without immigrants. The point, according to one protester who posted on Instagram, was to demonstrate that American society is dependent on people with no legal status. But some tactics, such as flag burning backfired.