County will note emergency coordination with tribe; public access to tribal centers left to tribal discretion except during declared sheltering

During discussion of the letter of commitment, county staff addressed whether the county’s emergency operations teams would help stand up evacuation or shelter sites on tribal lands. Terry Logston said the Strategic Growth Council asked the question and he confirmed the county’s willingness to work with tribal-hosted sites, saying the county already partners at locations such as the Middletown Rancheria and the Twin Pine Event Center.

Logston clarified the public-access approach: "When it's a cooling center, warming center... it will be open to the general public," he said, adding that outside of emergency functions access to the facility would be at the tribe’s discretion. Supervisor Houghton asked whether the center would be open to the public beyond emergencies; Logston reiterated that routine public use would be determined by tribal leadership.

The board approved the amended letter of commitment that will include language about emergency coordination; staff said the amended letter will be posted with the agenda for the grant submission.