Will There Finally be a Proper Burial for Tri-Agency?

Board Chairman Dean Wilson opened the discussion to consider and vote on the request to conduct and participate in a Joint Meeting of the entire Board of Supervisors, City Council and Harbor District Board of Commissioners and discuss the dissolution of Tri-Agency.

3rd District Supervisor Chris Howard expediently made the motion to approve attendance to the,as yet, unscheduled meeting.

1st District Supervisor Darrin Short made the second and praised the work Tri-Agency has contributed to economic development of Del Norte County.“It just makes sense for all three entities (to) get together on what could be the cusp of ending this (Tri-Agency) Board,”said Short.

2nd District Supervisor Valerie Starkey directed her question and comment to County Counsel, Jacqueline Roberts.“If we get together at a joint meeting to discuss ending Tri-Agency, we’re still at a standstill... an impasse, because we could not suspend the by-laws and reintroduce the discussion. This Board has had four or five bites at the apple.”Counsel Roberts stated,“Perhaps some might change their minds.”

The Joint Meeting conundrum focuses on off-shore wind power development. Both the City and Harbor embrace wind power development; the County has rejected the discussion.

Chairman Wilson reminded his colleagues the City and Harbor are not precluded from exploring off-shore wind power discussion, independently.“Either governance may proceed with individual efforts on wind power,” Wilson emphasized.

The County has chosen not to participate.

Public Speaker Sam Strait painted a much different picture of the perceived successful efforts of Tri-Agency. Strait disputed Howard’s praise of the efficacy of Tri-Agency. “I beg to differ with Supervisor Howard but stirring the pot again seems ludicrous when you are battling against a public that says No to Tri-Agency. This agency should be dead.” Strait referenced failure of off-shore wind development on the Atlantic Coast.

The vote to attend the Joint meeting was as follows:

Starkey: NO Borges: NO Short: YES Howard: YES

Stating no City councilor, nor Harbor Commissioner nor Supervisor should be deprived of his /her voice, Wilson broke the tie and voted YES.

Will all 15 members of the City, County and Harbor be poised to be pallbearers? The answer is unknown.

Tri-Agency Joint Powers Economic Authority remains on terminal life support.