By Mark in meeting-minutes — 22 Jul 2025

Nevada County supervisors adopt fire maps, approve rezone, pursue grants

Nevada County’s Board of Supervisors moved a slate of land-use, wildfire-readiness, and community services actions on July 22, adopting new state fire hazard maps, approving a rural subdivision and rezone, and authorizing applications for up to $4.9 million in forest resilience funding. One proposed elections ordinance was pulled from the agenda.

Key votes and actions

The Board adopted the state’s 2025 Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones for unincorporated areas. The new maps, produced by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, help guide defensible space standards, building requirements, and emergency planning. Residents may see implications for home-hardening rules and insurance underwriting as the maps are implemented.

Supervisors also accepted the County’s formal response to the 2024-25 Grand Jury report, “A Long and Winding Road for the Homeless of Nevada County,” outlining planned actions and areas of agreement and disagreement with the report’s findings.

Gabelman Rezone approved

After a continued public hearing, the Board approved the Gabelman Rezone Project for APN 060-150-063, reducing the minimum parcel size from 20 acres to 10 acres and adopting related environmental mitigations. Actions included:

Adoption of a Mitigated Negative Declaration and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan.
Amendment of the General Plan Land Use Map from RUR-20 to RUR-10.
Rezoning the property from AG-20 to AG-10.
Approval of a tentative parcel map and resource management plans, including exceptions to fire-safe driveway standards.

Separately, the Board held a first reading of an ordinance to extend the initial approval period for tentative maps from 36 to 48 months, aligning with provisions in state law. The item will return for a second reading at a future meeting.

Wildfire and forest resilience funding

To advance fuels reduction and community protection projects, the Office of Emergency Services received authorization to submit:

Two applications to the CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention Grant Program totaling up to $1.9 million.
Applications to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Directed Grant Program totaling up to $3 million.

Grant awards, if approved, would support local vegetation management and resilience projects; no local match details were specified in the minutes.

Infrastructure and transportation updates

Additional federal construction funding was accepted for two District V projects near Hirschdale Road: $127,000 for the Union Pacific overcrossing rehabilitation and $273,000 for the Truckee River bridge replacement.
The contract for design work on the Rough & Ready Highway at Ridge Road roundabout (District III) was increased by $64,629.76, for a new total not to exceed $675,755.94.
The Sheriff’s Office secured a contract not to exceed $168,000 for vehicle equipment installation to keep patrol and emergency vehicles mission ready.
The County established a qualified list of flooring contractors for facilities projects, with task orders capped at $50,000 and a $200,000 annual aggregate.

Housing, community services, and river access

Supervisors approved state-required documents (declaration of restrictions, performance deed of trust, and disclaimer of interest) for the County’s Ranch House property at 16782 State Highway 49 to comply with California Department of Social Services requirements.
The County will accept Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funding and amend the Housing & Community Services budget for FY 2025-26 (4/5 vote required).
A contract with Truckee Trails Foundation was approved for the “Enhance Public Access along the Truckee River” project, up to $106,037, through September 2026.
The South Yuba River Citizens League’s Outdoor Visitor Safety Grant term was extended 11 months to November 30, 2026; the $59,000 grant is from General Fund Economic Infrastructure Assignment dollars.

The County approved a $275,000 contract with Telecare Corporation for Coordinated Specialty Care Early Psychosis treatment from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
Proclamations designated August 2025 as Child Support Awareness Month and June 2025 as Elder Abuse Awareness Month.

Election services and policy

The Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters was authorized to conduct a special election on November 4, 2025, for the Truckee Library Joint Powers Authority.
An ordinance to align elections for several countywide offices with the presidential primary was pulled from the agenda and may return at a later date.

Cannabis compliance and tax roll action

The County approved a $466,200 professional services contract with Sierra Business Council to administer and distribute Local Jurisdiction Assistance Grant funds from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GOBIZ) (4/5 vote required).
Supervisors approved adding delinquent Community Development Agency assessments to the 2025-26 secured property tax roll. The vote included one dissent from the District II supervisor.

Public comment and closed session

Public comment was received on items not on the agenda. The Board held a closed session to discuss one matter involving a significant threat of litigation against the County; no reportable action was noted in the minutes.

Community recognition and presentations

Employee recognition awards honored individuals and teams across departments, including Employee of the Year Cindy Morgan (Children’s Behavioral Health) and several other category winners.
The Board accepted a presentation on Protecting Animals While Supporting Sobriety (PAWSS) and proclaimed July 20–26 as Probation Services Week.

What residents should know

Fire hazard maps: New state maps are now adopted for local use and may influence building standards and preparedness efforts in unincorporated areas.
Land division timelines: A proposed extension of tentative map approvals to 48 months had its first reading; if adopted at a future meeting, it could provide more time for subdivision projects to proceed.
Road and bridge work: Additional federal funds will help advance two Hirschdale-area projects; expect ongoing construction activity in District V.
Mental health services: Early psychosis treatment funding is in place for the next year.
Truckee River access: A new contract aims to enhance public access along the river corridor.

One item was pulled, the meeting adjourned at 2:54 p.m., and several consent items carried budget impacts but did not raise taxes.

Learn more: https://nevco.granicus.com/MinutesViewer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=8182