To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Regional Parks
Staff Name and Phone Number: Bert Whitaker, 707-565-2041
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Approve the Reappointment of Dr. Caryl Hart, Ph.D. to the Great Redwood Trail Agency Board representing Sonoma County for a term of two years beginning July 7, 2026, and ending July 7, 2028. (Countywide)
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Approve the Reappointment of Dr. Caryl Hart, Ph.D. to the Great Redwood Trail Agency Board representing Sonoma County for a term of two years beginning July 7, 2026, and ending July 7, 2028. (Countywide)
end
Executive Summary:
The Board of Supervisors is responsible for appointments to over 75 Boards, Commissions, Committees, and Task Forces. Vacancies and upcoming expiring appointments are posted on the County’s list of Boards, Commissions, Committees, and Task Forces website.
Rule 50 of the Board Rules of Procedures states that the Clerk of the Board shall convene staff to review prospective countywide appointments and make appointment recommendations to the Board. The current item recommends reappointment of Dr. Caryl Hart to the Great Redwood Trail Agency representing Sonoma County.
Discussion:
The Great Redwood Trail Agency (GRTA) was established by the Great Redwood Trail Agency Act, Government Code § 93000 et seq., to develop and manage the Great Redwood Trail and discharge the duties of a rail common carrier before the Surface Transportation Board. The GRTA’s service area is the former North Coast Railroad Authority rail corridor in Mendocino, Trinity, and Humbolt Counties. The rail corridor in Sonoma and Marin Counties was transferred to Sonoma - Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART), which will be responsible for rail-with-trail development for the Southern Segment of the Great Redwood Trail. The GRTA replaced the North Coast Railroad Authority in 2021.
The GRTA is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors composed of eight representatives (two per county) of Sonoma, Mendocino, Humbolt, and Marin counties and one representative of the cities served by the rail line. Directors serve two-year terms and until their successors have qualified. Dr. Caryl Hart, Ph.D., is an attorney and expert in public lands and park policy, with over 25 years of advocacy, scholarship, and administrative experience. She is currently Vice-Chair of the California Coastal Commission, where she has served since 2019. Dr. Hart has served the GRTA since her initial appointment in December 2017 and remains dedicated to the work of the agency. This item recommends her reappointment to serve a fifth term.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
July 9, 2024 (#47) Reappointment to the Great Redwood trail Agency Board.
July 12, 2022 (#34) Reappointment to the Great Redwood trail Agency Board.
February 4, 2020 (#20) Reappointment to the North Coast Railroad Authority Board.
December 19, 2017 (#11) Appointment to the North Coast Railroad Authority Board.
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
None
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
None
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None