The County of Mendocino is a general law County. The Board of Supervisors, which serves as the legislative and executive body of County government and many special districts, is comprised of five Supervisors, each elected by the constituency of their Supervisorial District to serve for a four-year term.
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors (BOS) sits as the governing board of Mendocino County, and also serves as the Board of Directors of the:
- Mendocino County Air Quality Management District
- Mendocino County Water Agency
- Mendocino County Public Facilities Corporation
- Mendocino County In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority Governing Board
Pursuant to the California Government Code, the Board enacts legislation governing Mendocino County and determines overall policies for County departments and various special districts, adopts the annual budget, and fixes salaries. The Board also hears appeals from decisions of various Planning related committees and commissions in addition to considering such Planning matters as General Plan amendments.
The Chief Executive Officer is appointed by the Board and is responsible for day-to-day administration of County affairs and the Executive Office.
County Counsel, appointed by the Board, advises and represents the County and Board in all legal affairs.
The Clerk of the Board, also appointed by the Board, is responsible for maintaining the official records of the Board, attending all sessions of the Board, and managing Board business.
The Board of Supervisors meets throughout the year in accordance with its adopted meeting calendar. Regular Meetings are generally held on Tuesdays, with Regular Closed Session Meetings and Standing Committee Meetings scheduled for Wednesdays throughout the year. For the most up-to-date meeting schedule, including dates, times, and locations, please refer to the Board of Supervisors Meeting Calendar.
More Information on Meeting Types:
Regular
Regular Meetings are the primary public meeting of the Board of Supervisors wherein the Board conducts County business. Regular Meeting agendas typically include a Consent Calendar that allows for routine items to be acted upon in a single motion, as well as Regular Agenda items that require discussion, presentations, public hearings, or Board deliberation. Regular Meetings may also include a Closed Session, during which the Board meets privately as authorized by law to discuss specific confidential matters, such as pending litigation, labor negotiations, or personnel issues. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and have opportunities to provide public comment on agenda items and other matters within the Board's jurisdiction, in accordance with the Board's Rules of Procedure and applicable law.
Noticing: Agendas for Regular Meetings are posted at least 72 hours in advance of the Meeting in accordance with the California Brown Act.
Regular Closed Session
Regular Closed Session Meetings are dedicated to matters that state law permits the Board of Supervisors to discuss in closed session, such as pending litigation, labor negotiations, real property negotiations, and personnel matters. These meetings are designated as "Regular" because they are scheduled in accordance with the County's adopted Master Meeting Calendar, although they may be cancelled when no closed session business is scheduled. Agendas are publicly posted in advance, and members of the public have an opportunity to comment on agenda items before the Board adjourns to closed session. When the Board reconvenes in open session, any reportable actions taken during the closed session are announced, as required by law, before the meeting concludes.
Noticing: Agendas for Regular Closed Session Meetings are posted at least 72 hours in advance of the Meeting in accordance with the California Brown Act.
Special
Special Meetings are held on an as-needed basis to consider specific items of County business that cannot be accommodated at a Regular Meeting or require action before the next scheduled Regular Meeting. These meetings are called in accordance with the requirements of the California Brown Act and are limited to the business identified on the posted agenda. Members of the public have an opportunity to comment on agenda items before the Board takes action.
Noticing: Special Meetings are subject to a shorter notice period than Regular Meetings. Agendas for Special Meetings are posted at least 24 hours in advance of the Meeting in accordance with the California Brown Act.
Each year at the Annual Organizational Meeting (the first Board Meeting of the Calendar year), the Board of Supervisors adopts the Master Meeting Calendar. The calendar includes the scheduled dates for Board of Supervisors Regular Meetings, Regular Closed Session Meetings, Workshops, and Standing Committee Meetings, as well as supplemental information such as the dates of County holidays and key conferences.
2026 Master Meeting Calendar (PDF)(PDF, 288KB)
Note: The PDF calendar only includes scheduled "Regular" Meetings, and will not include any Special Meetings that may be added throughout the year as deemed necessary by the Chair. For the most current information, an accessible listing of upcoming Board of Supervisors and Standing Committee Meetings (including dates, times, and locations for Regular and Special Meetings) is available on the Agendas and Minutes page.
Section 25003 of the California Government Code provides that a Board of Supervisors “may make and enforce rules and regulations necessary for the government of the board, the preservation of order, and the transaction of business.” As such, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors adopts Rules of Procedure at the annual Organizational Meeting (first Regular Meeting in January).
2026 Adopted Rules of Procedure (PDF)(PDF, 339KB)
Each year at the Annual Organizational Meeting (the first Board Meeting of the Calendar year), individual Supervisors are assigned to serve on various Boards, Commissions, and Committees. These Special Assignments include representation on local, statewide, and national entities with which the County is affiliated.
2026 Special Assignments Roster (PDF)(PDF, 129KB)
Individual Supervisors’ Special Assignments are also available in an accessible format on each Supervisor’s individual Board Member webpage via the Board Members option above.
The Board of Supervisors may establish Ad Hoc Committees to address specific matters or projects that require focused attention. Ad Hoc Committees are generally composed of two Supervisors and are established for a limited purpose and duration. An index of the Board’s current and active Ad Hoc Committees, including their purpose and membership, is provided below.
09-01-26 Ad Hoc Index (PDF)(PDF, 174KB)
Consent Calendar:
- A list of agenda items which either implement an earlier Board action or require review by the Board. Only one motion is needed for the adoption of all items listed on the Consent Calendar. Any Board member, staff, or citizen may request that specific items be removed from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion and/or action.
Closed Session:
- Meetings where the Board specifically addresses personnel or litigation matters. For reasons of confidentiality specified by law (Brown Act, Government Code Section 54950, et seq), a closed session is the only Board meeting not open to the general public.
Ordinances:
- County laws affecting the general health, safety, and welfare of the public. All ordinances, except those dealing with specific zoning, become part of the County Code. With the exception of emergency ordinances and ordinances which required a public hearing, all ordinances must go through two readings or presentations at two separate Board meetings. The majority of ordinances do not become effective until thirty days after the approval of the second reading.
Resolutions:
- A formal expression of an opinion, intention, or decision by the Board of Supervisors, agreed to by a vote and generally taking effect upon adoption. A resolution may be amended or rescinded by a subsequent resolution. They are assigned a number and kept on file by the Clerk of the Board, and are reuploaded back to the agenda following adoption for easy access.
Items to be Continued:
- Agenda items, usually regarding land use planning issues, where the Board has received a request for continuation to a future meeting. Those citizens who wish to address the Board on the continued item, but will be unable to attend a future meeting, will be offered an opportunity to speak.
Quorum:
- The minimum number of Supervisors required to be present to convene a meeting and take formal action; a quorum of the Board of Supervisors is three (3).