President Ellenberg Hits the Road to Visit Plumas, Sacramento and Yuba Counties 

CSAC President and Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg kicked off her County Tour with visits to Plumas, Sacramento and Yuba counties. Joined by CSAC CEO Graham Knaus, President Ellenberg hit the road August 5-7 to hear directly from county leaders and see innovative county projects in action. 

Plumas County: Rural Innovation and Resilience

President Ellenberg’s first stop took her north to Plumas County, where county leaders offered an up-close look at the opportunities and challenges of serving a rural, geographically expansive community. 

Supervisors Mimi Hall, Tom McGowan, Kevin Goss, and Supervisor-Elect Shawn McKenzie along with CAO Dan Pargee led the group through Plumas County’s new “critical access” hospital, showcased Lake Almanor and provided a glance at new construction underway in the eastern part of the county. The tour also offered an opportunity to experience one of Plumas County’s natural wonders, with a picnic lunch at 7,000 feet next to the Mt. Hough Trail, a world-class mountain biking destination. 

Sacramento County: Local Solutions to Big Challenges

The next stop in Sacramento County, hosted by Supervisor Rich Desmond and CEO David Villanueva, showcased how practical, locally driven responses are key to solving some of the state’s biggest challenges. 

President Ellenberg toured two innovative construction projects.  The Watt Avenue Safe Stay Community will provide 225 transitional housing units in tiny homes with full wraparound services. The $1.4 billion Sacramento International Airport Improvement Project includes a Terminal B expansion, new parking garage and a new rental car center that’s within walking distance of both terminals. 

Although the two stops offered very different examples of county government at work, they shared an important theme: Counties are responsible for tackling complex issues that directly affect residents’ daily lives. Whether expanding housing opportunities or investing in critical infrastructure, Sacramento County demonstrated how collaboration and forward-thinking local investments can create lasting impacts. 

Yuba County: Innovation Takes Many Forms

In Yuba County, Supervisor Renick House, CAO Kevin Mallen and Yuba County staff led the group on a tour that spanned housing, community revitalization, economic development and water. 

The group saw innovative 3D-printed homes, visited the Hmong Community Garden and Park Revitalization Project, and toured affordable housing and revitalization projects in Linda, Olivehurst and downtown Marysville. The day concluded with a presentation from the Yuba County Water Agency, highlighting another area where strong local partnerships are helping communities plan for their future. 

Together, the stops offered a snapshot of a county finding creative ways to invest in its communities, from exploring new ways to build homes to revitalizing public spaces. 

58 Counties, 58 Unique Stories 

A rural hospital, a Safe Stay community, airport infrastructure, 3D-printed housing and neighborhood revitalization may look very different, but each represents county leaders working to solve problems in ways that make sense for the communities they serve. 

By getting out into counties and witnessing local solutions firsthand, CSAC aims to bring those lessons into the broader statewide conversation and create more opportunities for counties to learn from one another. 

58 counties. 58 unique stories. One strong county voice.