The Humboldt County Association of Governments approved during its Thursday night meeting to amend its Technical Advisory Committee bylaws to include representatives from Karuk, Trinidad, Yurok and Hoopa Valley tribes.
According to HCAOG’s draft bylaws, the purpose of the TAC is to advise the association on transportation funding matters.

HCAOG, an eight-member agency made up of the seven incorporated cities and the county, is the designated regional transportation planning agency responsible for programming state highway programs, road improvements and transportation resources.

The Hoopa Valley Tribe has been attempting for several years to gain a seat on the board and failed most recently when association members deadlocked in a 4-4 vote to include the tribe at a special meeting in December.

Also approved during the meeting was a renewal of the Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies Call Box maintenance agreement renewal.

The renewal request from Irvine-based Comarco Wireless Technologies for monitoring, inspection, maintenance and initiation of repair services for the region’s 66 call boxes remains unchanged from the previous year’s contract for $29,700 annually.

The contract runs through Oct. 10, 2007.

HCAOG Executive Director Spencer Clifton said in an interview Friday that there was considerable discussion during the meeting between members about the call box issue and conflicts with public cell phone ownership.

Because so many people own cell phones, the high prevalence is rendering call boxes obsolete in some parts of the state, Clifton said.

However, that is not the case in rural areas where cell phone coverage is sparse or nonexistent such as Humboldt County, he said.

Although the boxes are used an average of three to four times per month, Clifton said it is difficult to assess the value of the contract because two call box calls resulted in two lives being saved.

“It is hard to put a price on that,” Clifton said.