BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

 

                                                                       FEBRUARY 21, 2006

 

 

The Lassen County Board of Supervisors convene in Regular Session at 9:05 a.m. Vice-Chairman Dahle asks for public comment and no comments are received.   The Board recesses to Closed Session at 9:06 a.m. for:

 

Conference with Legal Counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Subdivision (a) of Government Code Section 54956.9: Deborah Henson v. Lassen County; State Personnel Board Case Nos. 06-0212, 06-0169, 06-0173 and as LRA: conference with real property negotiator: a) Location - Herlong APNs: #139-16-70 and 72; b) Negotiator - CAO John Ketelsen; c) Subject - price and terms of transfer from LRA to Scenic Mountain Development.

 

Present in the Closed Session are Supervisors Lloyd Keefer, Brian Dahle and Jack Hanson; County Counsel Craig Settlemire; County Administrative Officer John Ketelsen, Risk Manager Ron Vossler; Community Development Director Bob Sorvaag; Assistant Community Development Director Joe Bertotti and Deputy County Clerk Susan Osgood. Supervisors Pyle and Chapman are absent.  Bob Sorvaag and Joe Bertotti depart Closed Session at 9:10 a.m. Closed Session is recessed at 9:25 a.m.

 

The Lassen County Board of Supervisors reconvenes in Regular Session on Tuesday, February 21, 2006, at 9:30 a.m. Present: Supervisors Jim Chapman, Lloyd Keefer, Brian Dahle and Jack Hanson; County Counsel Craig Settlemire; County Administrative Officer (CAO) John Ketelsen and Deputy County Clerk Susan Osgood. Supervisor Pyle is absent.  Following the flag salute, the invocation is offered by Supervisor Dahle.

 

ANNOUNCEMENT OF ITEMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION

Deputy County Clerk Osgood announces the Closed Session dealt with: conference with Legal Counsel:

 

Existing litigation pursuant to Subdivision (a) of Government Code Section 54956.9: Deborah Henson v. Lassen County; State Personnel Board Case Nos. 06-0212, 06-0169, 06-0173 - Reject claim of Deborah Henson received February 3, 2006.

 

As LRA: conference with real property negotiator: a) Location - Herlong APNs: #139-16-70 and 72; b) Negotiator - CAO John Ketelsen; c) Subject - price and terms of transfer from LRA to Scenic Mountain Development - Extend exclusive negotiating agreement with Scenic Mountain Development for 45 days.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

1. Ben Wallace informs the board that he is running for the office of sheriff in the upcoming election.  He states this is a courtesy call as he will be meeting with the supervisors constituents.

2. Jill Miller speaks as a representative of the Health Department and wants to clarify what may be the board's impression regarding the Medical Marijuana ID program. According to county policy the board only needed to approve the fee that was being charged. Speaking as a private citizen, she states that several calls have come into the Health Department for cards; citizens want to know what the status is regarding the county program. It is an issue that is a great concern to many of your constituents.  She states that she, as a private citizen, did write a letter to the editor of The Lassen County Times which was never printed. Again as a public health nurse, three editorials were prepared for publication in The Times regarding medical marijuana to educate the public and the Board of Supervisors, but they were not published.

3.  Dennis Hinze states he is a resident of Doyle, veteran, college graduate and recent retiree.  He is a medical marijuana user to manage his pain (alcoholism; migraines, broken back); feels it works better than prescription drugs and doesn't have bad side effects.  Mr. Hinze offers to come back to the board at another time to speak further on the subject.

 

AGENDA APPROVAL, ADDITIONS, AND/OR DELETIONS

It is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Hanson and carried to approve the agenda as posted.

 

UNAGENDIZED BOARD REPORTS

1. Supervisor Keefer updates the board on solid waste negotiations with Lassen Waste to possibly extend the franchise that ends July 1, 2006.  Negotiating Committee with Dale Soule, Lloyd Keefer from board, Tom Valentino and Attorney Jim Curtis have been in negotiations since November and it looked like the franchise might be extended with minimal changes to the agreement or no increase in rates until next year.  There has been discussion about the inflation index used.  The Consumer Price Index has historically been used, they proposed a different index which was a little higher; we prefer to stay with CPI index.  Last week a marked-up version of the franchise agreement from Lassen Waste with significant changes was received.  The committee will meet again this week to determine a recommendation to be made to the Solid Waste Board the following week.  He will provide an update at a later date. 

2.  Supervisor Hanson reports on a meeting with Peter Heimbigner and the Leavitt Lake CSD Board continuing to work on a park issue.  He has been meeting with CAO Ketelsen and others in the South County on water, sewer and fire protection.

3. Supervisor Dahle will be in Sacramento February 23rd for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Board and hopefully will be announcing the general location of new offices.

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

It is moved by Supervisor Hanson, seconded by Supervisor Keefer and carried, with Supervisor Pyle absent, to take the noted action on the following Consent Calendar items:

 

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES - PERSONNEL DIVISION ITEM

Receive and file Personnel Movement report for January, 2006.

 

 

PROBATION DEPARTMENT ITEM

Approve Agreement with Owens Healthcare, Inc. to provide medications as prescribed by physicians for detained juveniles and provide services of a pharmacist as requested by the Lassen County Juvenile Detention Facility for the period of January 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007; and authorize the Chief Probation Officer or appointed designee to sign the contract.

 

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ITEM

Authorize the Public Works Department to proceed with repair of the Ford Backhoe (C-16) with Nevada Tractor, Inc., Sparks, NV, in the amount of $29,583.27.

 

TREASURER/TAX COLLECTOR ITEM

Receive and file Treasurer's Investment Report for January, 2006.

 

MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE ITEMS

Receive and file the following correspondence:

a.         Lassen County Mental Health Advisory Board meeting agenda for February 14, 2006.

b.         Lassen County Air Pollution Control District Governing Board meeting agenda for February 21, 2006.

c.         Lassen County Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board meeting agenda for February 21, 2006.

d.         Lassen County In-Home Supportive Services Advisory Board meeting agenda for March 1, 2006.

 

AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER

Agricultural Commissioner Ken Smith presents a request to approve an increase to revenue and expenditures for the Agriculture Commissioner budget as a result of the award of unanticipated revenue from RAC Grant Awards.

 

It is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Hanson and carried on a roll call vote, to approve an increase in Federal-Other Revenue (100-0601-2007200) in the amount of $19,290; and to approve increases in expenditures for Special Department Expense (100-0601-3002800) in the amount of $11,790 and for Agriculture (100-0601-3001000) in the amount of $7,500. 

 

COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

1.         CAO John Ketelsen presents a letter to Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi opposing altering the way automobile insurance rates are developed.

It is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Hanson and carried to authorize Vice Chairman Brian Dahle to sign the letter.

 

2.         CAO Ketelsen presents a letter of support for AB 707 (Hancock) Voting by Mail, June 6, 2006 Primary Election.  

 

It is moved by Supervisor Chapman, seconded by Supervisor Hanson, and carried to approve the letter of support for AB 707 and authorize approval for the Lassen County Registrar of Voters to conduct the June 6, 2006, consolidated Direct Primary Election wholly by mailed ballots if legislation is enacted.

 

SHERIFF

Sheriff Steve Warren presents a request for an increased appropriation in the Sheriff's Boating Equipment Line to re-power an existing boat on Eagle Lake. 

 

(County Counsel Settlemire absent 9:53 - 9:55 a.m.)

 

It is moved by Supervisor Chapman, seconded by Supervisor Hanson, and carried on a roll call vote, to approve California Department of Boating and Waterways grant, authorizing the CAO to sign the grant contract and increase the appropriation in the Sheriff's Boating Equipment Line 111-0520-3006200 by the grant amount of $17,500 to a total of $32,500 and increase revenue line #111-0520-2006212 by $17,500. 

 

COUNTY COUNSEL

County Counsel Craig Settlemire introduces a proposed ordinance regarding vehicle abatement that is in conjunction with the city's ordinance.  Each registration fee includes a $1 fee that is to be used for abatement of vehicles that are abandoned.  The vehicle code sets out specific procedures for this process.  An ordinance needs to be adopted, a Joint Powers Authority needs to be created, and if funds are received from the state, disbursements would be made to the city and county agencies that would handle the abatement process.   The ordinance is being introduced today; and at another meeting the ordinance would be adopted; a resolution would also be presented to establish the Joint Powers Authority (JPA) that would receive the funds and that would be in conjunction with the city.

 

Senior Deputy County Council Traci Witry states the ordinance being presented is based on the model ordinance from California Highway Patrol (CHP) and; other counties have also enacted this ordinance.  Deputy Council Witry states this ordinance is up to date, up to code, and she has worked closely with City Attorney Kathleen Lazard on it.  This should be on the City Council's agenda for March 1, 2006.

 

It is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Hanson to introduce, by title only, Ordinance 527-B providing for the procedure to abate abandoned vehicles. The motion carries  on a roll call vote.

 

RECOGNITION COMMITTEE - PRESENTATION

Vice-Chairman Dahle makes the following presentation for years of service:

 

15 Years: a two pen desk set to Yvonne Smith, H&SS LassenWorks and member of the Employee Recognition Committee.

 

Recess 10:06 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

 

TITLE III REQUEST

Supervisor Keefer states this Title III request for funding from the Lassen County Office of Education in the amount of $77,261.17 is for the 2004/05 Outdoor Education/Youth Camp Program.   The board has historically funded this program out of RAC Title III funds and he is very supportive of this program.

 

It is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Chapman and carried to approve request for funding.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Assistant to CAO Julie Morgan reports on the County's 2005/2006 Mid-Year Budget Review.  She states that at this time the financial condition of the county is good; departments are doing a good job monitoring and staying within their budgets. 

 

The General Fund revenues are slightly higher than anticipated this year and no adjustments are being proposed at this time but the trend is being watched.

 

It is anticipated that some increases in secured and supplemental property taxes will continue through this fiscal year.  The General Fund expenditures are lower than anticipated.  A conservative projection is 2% at this time which includes the vacancy savings that was included in the General Fund.  There could be greater expenditures at the end of the fiscal year.

 

There are a few departments that need to be adjusted: 

o   The Sheriff's Department did receive an additional grant that he addressed this morning. 

o   The Department of Child Support has received an additional grant and is also requesting an additional appropriation that was not budgeted.

o   The Probation Fund is being closely watched and will require an adjustment by the end of the year in the state institutional care line item even though some additional revenues have come in due to an adjustment in the court fund revenues.  Budgetary transfers will be done as needed.  Chief Probation Officer Roy Thiels explains that State Youth Authority costs have increased $28 a day and the total number of wards committed for 90-day diagnostic studies has increased significantly.  

o   As mentioned at an earlier Board meeting, Section 8 Housing has been operating with a deficit and this issue may need to be re-visited again before the end of the fiscal year.

o   Bailiff Fund 125 is operating in a deficit and is projected to end the year this way.   Administration is still negotiating with the Superior Court to find a resolution.

o   Health and Social Services Fund 110 has a few areas of concern due to increasing costs of providing services.    Deputy CAO of Health and Social Services Kevin Mannel and Health and Social Services fiscal officer Diana Wemple report on increased costs from FY 2004/2005 to 2005/2006 for Institution for Mental Disease (IMD); emergency psychiatric inpatient care; and for board and care residential facilities.  This trend may create a shortfall and the department would have to request Board authorization to enact realignment statute allowing a transfer of funds (up to 10% of Public Health's annual allocation).

o  In Capital Projects - CCC Mitigation Fund 152, a line item was overlooked and needs to be budgeted at $3,100 for Rents and Leases.

o  All bargaining units will be negotiating new contracts and that could dramatically impact the budget next year.

o  An increase of about 19% is anticipated in Workers Compensation.  Auditor Karen Fouch states that even with recent changes local government has not seen benefits that the private sector has.  In addition to the claim experience driving up costs, any increase in salaries would create increases. o  CalPers rates will be changing.

o  Public safety will be going up and does impact General Funds.

o  Modest increases are expected in revenues next fiscal year.

o  There may be some cash flow issues due to slow payments from the State.

 

It is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Chapman and carried on a roll call vote, to approve budget adjustments to the 2005/2006 Mid-Year Budget as submitted by the CAO.

 

Recess 10:56 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

 

U.S. FOREST SERVICE

Community Liaison Heidi Perry-McCourt provides an update and distributes information on the Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) proposals for 2006.

 

The President's Budget proposal to list for sale National Forest System land parcels for the purpose of funding payments to Secure Rural Schools (SRS); sale of the parcels is contingent upon the amendment of the SRS as proposed by the President.  A large portion of these lands are in Northern California (Lassen National Forest 14,000 acres; Plumas about 19,500; Klamath 32,900; El Dorado 3,000 acres).  Accurate parcel information will be on the official list in the Federal Register and the public comment period ends March 30, 2006.    Supervisor Chapman requests a map be provided for the Board Chambers.

 

There being no further business, the meeting is adjourned at 11:12 a.m.

 

 

 

                                                                                    ________________________________________

                                                                                    CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

______________________________________ 

SUSAN OSGOOD, DEPUTY CLERK OF THE BOARD