El Dorado County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in El Dorado County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Winter Storm 2026/27 Preparedness
SMUD and the County Office of Emergency Services briefed the committee on how dams and emergency response will handle a potentially wet winter. Residents and river users in the Coloma Valley have a stake in how high-water events are managed.
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and 2027 Emergency Operations Plan
The committee formed a new working group on emergency safety and high water in the Coloma Valley, chaired by Natalie Haber with Courtney Laird — a direct follow-up to the flood-prep briefing.
Wildfire Evacuation Readiness and Training
The county's wildfire office reported on its year and laid out its 2026 work plan, and the Board signed the Western El Dorado County Community Wildfire Protection Plan — a voluntary roadmap, not a binding rulebook.
Automatic License Plate Readers in El Dorado County
Residents packed public comment to oppose the Sheriff's Flock/Vigilant camera network, calling it mass surveillance that violates the Fourth Amendment. The Sheriff defended the program, citing crimes solved and monthly audits, and no board action was taken.
New sheriff appointment
Eric Palmberg will take over as Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator when the office opens up December 26, 2026, serving the rest of the term through January 2029.
Senior scam awareness and AI-driven fraud
Scammers are increasingly using AI to target older adults, and the county's senior commission just approved a guide to help seniors spot and avoid these cons. Look for it at community outreach events.
Illegal dumping enforcement and possible hauler licensing
Staff are tired of cleaning up roadside dump sites and want surveillance signs, coordination with the sheriff, and — if dumping continues — a licensing requirement for junk haulers. Unlicensed haulers dumping on the roadside can leave the property owner holding a $1,000 fine.
CSA 3 ambulance subsidy repayment waived
CSA 3 residents won't have to repay the $750,000 the county's general fund kicked in for ambulance services last year, after the Board found repayment would create economic hardship.
Wildfire Defensible Space Funding and Inspections
Three consent items put roughly $5 million toward defensible space assessments and inspections in Western El Dorado County and the Tahoe Basin through 2029, funded by Bureau of Land Management grants and Cal Fire reimbursable agreements.
Elder scams and fraud prevention outreach
The commission advanced AI-driven scam awareness materials for senior outreach packets and heard a briefing on scams and elder abuse operating in the county.
Mosquito Fire settlement funding allocation
The Board decided how to spend $8.24 million of Mosquito Fire settlement money, including $400,000 for a shared fire services agreement. Projects must benefit the fire footprint area; Supervisor Turnboo dissented.
Shared fire services study on the Georgetown Divide
The county will negotiate with Garden Valley Fire Protection District over a regional shared-services model for fire protection on the Georgetown Divide, with the first two years covered by PG&E Mosquito Fire settlement funds.
Substance Use Disorder Prevention Services
The state didn't renew funding, so the county's Fall Prevention Program has shut down. That's a service seniors relied on that's now gone.
Mountain lion activity in Cameron Park
The Agricultural Commissioner reported on mountain lion activity, including a lion killed in Cameron Park, a sheriff public outreach meeting, and Senate Bill 1397. Residents in Cameron Park and nearby communities are watching this closely.
Volunteer driver shortage hampers veteran transportation
Veterans who need rides to appointments are facing a real gap — the support group is down to one active volunteer driver. DMV requirements, fees, and privacy concerns are discouraging volunteers, and alternatives like El Dorado Transit, Paratransit, and VA transport all have limits. The Commission wants a full obstacle report in April.
Unlawful fires ordinance
The Sheriff's Office wants a new county ordinance making it illegal to start or keep unauthorized fires on any public or private land. The Board gave conceptual approval; formal adoption comes back later.