Humboldt County Board of Supervisors to Meet Feb. 10 in Eureka

A disputed roadside billboard, an appointment to the Humboldt County Housing Authority and a handful of consent items headline the Board of Supervisors agenda for Tuesday’s meeting in Eureka. The board convenes at 9:00 a.m. in the board chambers at the Humboldt County Courthouse to take up appeals, appointments and routine administrative actions that could have tangible effects on land use, housing representation and flood recovery.

The board will consider what the Times-Standard described as a request from "the owner of a billboard along U.S. Highway 101 ... seeking to keep the sign in place, despite a permit requiring it be torn down by September 2025." The newspaper noted the sign "has been in place since at least 1955, making it legal but nonconforming, according to a staff report," and reported the structure "was blown down in 2019, according to county planning staff." The matter tests the county’s 2024 ordinance that "prohibited new billboards and allowed repairs only on existing billboards outside of sensitive habitats," raising questions about nonconforming uses and coastal habitat protections along Highway 101.

On the consent calendar the board will see "Approval of Cooperative Agreement No. 25-0553-000-SA, Apiary Protection Program Contract and Supplemental Budget in the Amount of $1,000 (4/5 Vote Required)," a small, targeted budget action listed in advance by local outlets. Supervisors are also asked to approve the Action Summary for the Jan. 27 meeting, an item described in the agenda language as "Approval of the Action Summary for the meeting of January 27, 2026 ... authorize the necessary signatures in accordance with California Governmental Code Section 25103."

Legistar File #: 26-105 places the "Appointment of James Durchslag to Represent the Second District on the Humboldt County Housing Authority" on the consent agenda. The record lists "Sponsors: Michelle Bushnell" and says Durchslag "will serve a four-year term expiring on Feb. 10, 2029." The file notes that appointees must comply with Form 700 filing requirements and complete ethics training every two years, and that the appointment has "no financial impact" to county funds. The Legistar discussion text contains an internal spelling variant of the sponsor name; the official sponsor field lists Michelle Bushnell.

The board will also consider measures reported by the Times-Standard to aid King Salmon residents: "the board will also consider a zero-interest loan program for homeowners affected by flooding in King Salmon in January." Details on loan size, eligibility and funding source are expected in the staff reports posted with the official agenda.

Members of the public may address items when they are taken up in the meeting. The county instructs: "Members of the public may address the Board about an agenda item at the time it is taken up in the meeting. During the 'Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items' portion of the meeting, members of the public may address the Board on any topic." To submit written materials, Humboldt County asks that documents be delivered to the Clerk at 825 5th St, Room 111 in Eureka and warns: "Please provide nine copies of each document on 8.5" x 11" sized paper. Failure to submit the required number of copies will result in the document(s) not being placed in the official record."

For residents tracking Highway 101 visuals, King Salmon recovery or local housing representation, Tuesday’s meeting will set near-term policy steps and appointments. Watch the county’s agenda materials for staff reports and file-level details, and plan to raise concerns during the public comment window if you want your neighborhood perspective recorded.