Photo of the week

This #PlacerLife photo of people watching fireworks in Lincoln was taken by @carrieinfocus on Instagram. 

Featured story

Get wildfire ready: Free expo this Saturday, virtual town hall July 14

Fire season is here, and Placer County is offering you two opportunities this week to prepare.

Wildfire Preparedness Expo - July 11, 8 a.m - 12 p.m., Auburn

Join us for this free community event designed to provide residents the tools and knowledge to protect their homes, families and neighborhoods from wildfire threats. Free BBQ included! Learn more

Eastern Placer Wildfire & Evacuation Preparedness Virtual Town Hall - July 14, 6 p.m., via Zoom

Hosted by District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson, this important community conversation on wildfire readiness features the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, CAL FIRE, Placer County Office of Emergency Services and local fire districts. Topics include fire season tips, evacuation protocols, alerts and notifications, creating a personal plan, resources and live Q&A with public safety officials. Learn more

Community planning 

Placer 2050 General Plan team enters next phase, seeks input

Our Placer 2050 General Plan update planners will be presenting at a municipal advisory council near you in the coming months. Each presentation will be tailored to provide information on community plans in each MAC area. See schedule

Public safety

Open house held for Sheriff’s Office’s new Auburn training academy

The Sheriff's Office welcomed community and law enforcement partners to an open house this week at the new POST-certified academy. The inaugural class begins Aug. 17, marking a new chapter in training California's peace officers. Learn more

Veterans

Mural project for Roseville Veterans Memorial Hall seeks donations

Placer County is proud to partner with Blue Line Arts on a new mural on the wall of the Roseville Veterans Memorial Hall that will honor the service and sacrifice of our local veterans while creating a lasting public landmark. Read more

Wildfire safety

Fire risk reduction certificate now available - download now

Residents and business owners can now download the county’s Fire Risk Reduction Community certificate from the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection - the document insurance companies need to offer lower rates. Read more

In other news

Elections Office announces candidate filing and workshop for November general election

Residents can now recycle bulk cardboard in Kings Beach

Building a more inclusive and resilient community

Now on Engage Placer: Explore the new responsible refuse program for bulk cardboard recycling in Kings Beach

Hundreds of volunteers leave Tahoe better than they found it at annual July 5 cleanup event

Caltrans: Eastbound SR-20 closed at Omega Scenic Point through July 23

A statement from District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson regarding July 4 in North Lake Tahoe

175 years of Placer County history

In 1854, Auburn’s first public school was officially organized. It moved into various buildings in Auburn until 1866, when the school committee purchased a lot on Broad Street, now Lincoln Way.

Auburn citizens raised over $1,700 to construct the schoolhouse, but by 1874, a larger schoolhouse was built to accommodate the growing number of students. The buildings stood side by side where students would receive an education up to the eighth grade.

By 1914, a new schoolhouse was needed to replace the ageing buildings, and the following year, work began on the grand structure. It was designed by architect W. H. Weeks and cost $47,000 to construct, which included decorative features made by the Gladding McBean Company of Lincoln.

In the 1980s, as Auburn’s population continued to grow, another new school was built in the Skyridge area of Auburn and the former historic structure became the Auburn Civic Center.

Today, inside the city hall, a restored historic classroom is preserved and named in honor of Benton Welty, the school’s principal from 1923-1943.

On Saturday, July 11, the Placer County Heritage Trail Museums Tour will be in Auburn, where visitors can visit the historic Benton Welty Schoolroom from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and see firsthand the work of the Placer County Historical Society to bring this important Auburn landmark to life.

Saturday’s event will also welcome travelers to the Bernhard Museum for a full day of free family-friendly activities. Visit the Heritage Trail webpage to learn more.

Explore our new interactive timeline — updated every Thursday with photographs, milestones and the stories of people who built this county. Explore timeline

Advisory committees and commissions

Whether it’s representing your community or sharing your expertise on topics like agriculture or parks, there are always opportunities for you to help advise county leaders on the issues that matter to you most. Recruitment is open now to fill seats on the following committees or commissions, among others. Learn more and apply

Current recruitments include:

• Area 4 Agency on Aging Advisory Council

• Building Board of Appeals

• Cemetery Auburn District

• Cemetery Colfax District

• Cemetery Tahoe District

• Economic Development Board

• Fish & Game Commission

• First 5 Placer Children & Families Commission

• Flood Control & Water Conservation District Board

• Gold Run Cemetery Committee

• Greater Auburn Area Fire Safe Council

• Greater Lincoln Area Fire Safe Council

• In Home Support Services Advisory Committee

• Juvenile Justice / Delinquency Prevention

• Library Advisory Board

• Donner Summit Municipal Advisory Council

• Municipal Advisory Council - Granite Bay

• Municipal Advisory Council - Horseshoe Bar Penryn

• Municipal Advisory Council - Olympic Valley

• Municipal Advisory Council - Rural Lincoln

• Municipal Advisory Council - Sheridan

• Municipal Advisory Council - West Placer Citizens

• Newcastle Ophir Municipal Advisory Council

• North Auburn/Ophir Fire Safe Council

• Placer County Child Care Advisory Council

• Placer County Older Adult Advisory Commission

• Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council

• Solid Waste Local Task Force

• Veterans Advisory Council

• Wastewater Advisory Committee

Fun things to do this week

Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in...

Roseville: Mahany Park Certified Farmers' Market, Maidu Park Farmers' Market, Roseville Fountains Farmers' Market, Kaiser Riverside Farmers' Market, Kaiser Eureka Farmers' Market, Sutter Roseville Farmers Market, Friday Nights Live at The Fountains: Good2Go

Rocklin: 26 Parks in 2026, Living Smart Farmers Market

Lincoln: Farmers’ Market at Fowler Ranch, Kaiser Lincoln Farmers' Market, 

2nd Saturday - Downtown Businesses

Loomis: Summer Concert, Kids & Family Sound Bath

Auburn: Auburn Old Town Farmer’s Market – Placer Farmers Market, Farmers Market at Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital, Auburn Music On The Square, Heritage Trail - Auburn's Special Saturdays, Market in the Square, Cruise Night, Natural Wonders

Colfax: Colfax Farmers’ Market

North Lake Tahoe: Tahoe City Farmer’s Market, Music on the Beach, Kings Beach, Concerts At Commons Beach, Tahoe City, Movies on the Beach Tahoe City, Big Blue Adventure Tahoe Off-Road Triathlon, Country Fridays: Line Dance Night, Jurassic Summer Reading Program at the Tahoe City Library, Maker's Market

...and many Placer County Library and Placer County Museum events.

Visit our regional partners to discover more of the fun happening right here in Placer County!

Placer County Visitors' Bureau
North Tahoe Community Alliance
Tahoe City Downtown Association
The Arts Council of Placer County
Placer Valley Tourism
PlacerGROWN
Placer Wine Trail

Upcoming public meetings and events

Wildfire Preparedness Expo, July 11, 8 a.m. Information
Board of Supervisors, July 14, 9 a.m. Information
Eastern Placer Wildfire & Evacuation Preparedness Virtual Town Hall, July 14, 6 p.m. Information
West Placer Community Forum, July 15, 6 p.m. Information
West Placer Municipal Advisory Council, July 15, 6:30 p.m. Information
Donner Summit Town Hall, July 16, 6 p.m. Information
Donner Summit Municipal Advisory Council, July 16, 6:15 p.m. Information

To learn about other Placer County committees and commissions and current opportunities to serve your community click here.

List of active projects throughout Placer County

Projects are listed alphabetically and by Board of Supervisors districts. A hard copy of the list is available at the Placer County Community Development Resource Agency, 3091 County Center Drive in Auburn. 

Active Projects

Click here to sign up for emergency notifications