BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

 

                                 MARCH 18, 2003

 

                                        

The Lassen County Board of Supervisors convene in Regular Session at 9:15 a.m.  Vice-Chairman Hanson asks for public comment and no comments are received.  County Clerk Nagel announces the Closed Session items and the Board recesses to Closed Session at 9:17 a.m. for: 1)  Conference with Labor Negotiator Andy Whiteman:  May include the following bargaining units - a) Lassen County Peace Officers Assn. (LCPOA),  b)  Lassen County Correctional Peace Officers Assn. (LCCPOA), c)  United Public Employees of California (UPEC), d) Lassen County Road Workers Assn. (LCRWA), e) Mid-Management, f) Commanders Association, and g) Management; 2)  Conference with Legal Counsel:  Existing litigation pursuant to Subdivision (a) of Government Code Section 54956.9: McCain vs. Lassen County, Case #24431; and 3)  Conference with Legal Counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Subdivision (a) of Government Code Section 54956.9:  PG&E Bankruptcy. 

 

Present in the Closed Session are Supervisors Robert Pyle, Brian Dahle, and Jack Hanson; County Counsel John Ketelsen, County Administrative Officer Andy Whiteman, Auditor Karen Fouch, Assistant to the CAO Chris Beard, Personnel Director Lynne Margolies and County Clerk Theresa Nagel.  Supervisor Keefer is absent.  Supervisor Chapman enters at 9:23 a.m.  Closed Session is recessed at 9:46 a.m.

 

The Lassen County Board of Supervisors reconvenes in Regular Session on Tuesday, March 18, 2003, at 9:49 a.m.   Present:  Supervisors Robert Pyle, Jim Chapman, Brian Dahle, and Jack Hanson; County Counsel John Ketelsen, County Administrative Officer (CAO) Andy Whiteman and County Clerk Theresa Nagel.  Supervisor Keefer is absent.  Following the flag salute, the invocation is offered by Supervisor Hanson.

 

ANNOUNCEMENT OF ITEMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION

The County Clerk announces the Closed Session dealt with:

1)  Conference with Labor Negotiator Andy Whiteman:  May include the following bargaining units - a) Lassen County Peace Officers Assn. (LCPOA),  b)  Lassen County Correctional Peace Officers Assn. (LCCPOA), c)  United Public Employees of California (UPEC), d) Lassen County Road Workers Assn. (LCRWA), e) Mid-Management, f) Commanders Association, and g) Management - no reportable action taken;

2)  Conference with Legal Counsel:  Existing litigation pursuant to Subdivision (a) of Government Code Section 54956.9: McCain vs. Lassen County, Case #24431 - continued to next meeting; and

3)  Conference with Legal Counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Subdivision (a) of Government Code Section 54956.9:  PG & E Bankruptcy - continued to next meeting.

 

AGENDA APPROVAL, ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS

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

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

1.   New CHP Commander Harry Linschoten introduces himself and offers any help he can provide to the county.

2.   Tyler Morrish provides information on an idea he has to build a disk (frisbee) golf course, describing what the course would look like and how the game is played.  He asks for permission to construct the course in the northeast corner of Susanville Ranch Park.  Chairman Chapman encourages him to meet with Community Development Director Robert Sorvaag to discuss his plan and directs that a report be made to the Board at a future meeting.

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

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

 

COUNTY CLERK ITEM

Approve minutes of March 11, 2003.

        

AUDITOR AND TREASURER DEPARTMENTS ITEM

Receive and file Treasurer's Investments Report and Auditor's verification for the month of February, 2003.

 

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT ITEM

Adopt Resolution No. 03-018, authorizing Michael Beard, Roberta Bartley, Judith Davis, Yvonne Smith, Tami Jones and Diana Wemple to act as authorized agents of Lassen County to acquire federal surplus property from the California State Agency for Surplus Property.

 

OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES ITEM

Ratify continuation of the Declaration of State of Disaster / Drought Emergency in Lassen County for 2002.

          

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT - ROAD DIVISION ITEM

Adopt Resolution No. 03-019, of need for the construction of a replacement

structure for the bridge over Whitehead Slough, Bridge 7C-70 on Capezzoli Lane, CR 306.

 

TREASURER ITEM

Receive and file Treasurer's Fund Balance Report for February, 2003.

          

MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE ITEMS

Receive and file the following correspondence:

a.   Lassen County Fair Advisory Board agenda correction for meeting of March 11, 2003, and unapproved minutes of March 11, 2003.

          

UNAGENDIZED BOARD REPORTS

1.   Supervisor Hanson states there have been some discussions relating to a need for fire protection in the Ravendale area and also in the Hallelujah Junction area.

2.   Supervisor Hanson asks that a study session be held early in April, relating to the County acquisition of Sierra Army Depot surplus property to discuss the costs and opportunities connected with these acquisitions.

 

RECOGNITION COMMITTEE - PRESENTATION

Chairman Chapman makes the following presentations for years of service:

Ten years: a brass letter opener to Sharon Holmes, (Health & Human Services Department)

Thirty years: a jacket to Paul Langslet, (Public Works - Road Department)

 

UNAGENDIZED BOARD REPORTS CONT.

3.   Supervisor Pyle wants a study session held relating to groundwater issues in the Honey Lake Valley and other water issues.  He asks CAO Whiteman to work with Community Development Director Robert Sorvaag to make arrangements for the study session and lists several individuals who need to be invited.  He also asks County Counsel John Ketelsen to become familiar with the Honey Lake Groundwater District legislation.

4.   Supervisor Pyle announces that Lassen Dental Hygienist Assn. member Jeannine Huber came to Westwood to perform dental examinations.  He designates that $1000 of his discretionary funds go to the Lassen Dental Hygienist Assn.

5.   Supervisor Dahle announces that flow meters have been placed on agriculture wells in the    Big Valley area to monitor the usage and develop information for future use.

6.   Supervisor Dahle reports on the RCRC meeting at which representatives of the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) presented information on the resources and environmental protection fee increases that are under consideration in relation to the budget crisis: state park fees, water quality regulatory fees (waste discharge permit fees), pesticide-related fees (mainly the mill assessment), stationary sources of air pollution, timber harvest fees, resources assessment fees, fire protection fees ($6 per acre on private landowners benefiting from the state's fire protection services), dam safety fees, water rights fees, Air Resources Board's Stationary Source Program, and funding pesticide regulation.

7.   Supervisor Chapman discusses this weeks CSAC meeting that he and CAO Whiteman will be attending.

8.   Supervisor Chapman was contacted by the lady at Eagle Lake who wrote about her sensitivity to pesticides.  She withdrew her letter and will be working with Agriculture Commissioner Ken Smith.

9.   Supervisor Chapman announces that fish will be planted in the Susan River on April 16th for the Junior Fishing Derby on the 19th.

 

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Legislation:

It is moved by Supervisor Dahle, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign, a letter of opposition to Assembly Bill 1190 which would remove the western mourning doves and white-winged doves from the game bird, migratory game bird, and upland game bird categories.  AB 1190 would prohibit any open season, as defined, and make it unlawful for any person to take a western mourning dove or white-winged dove.

 

Rail Line Preservation:

It is moved by Supervisor Hanson, seconded by Supervisor Dahle and carried to adopt Resolution No. 03-020, supporting the use of the Wendel to Alturas segment of the Modoc Line of the Union Pacific Railroad for continued local and regional rail freight shipping, for alternative rail use for tourist and recreational rail uses and if none of these actions are able to continue on the line, for protection of the entire railroad corridor through rail banking with interim trail use of the railroad grade and right-of-way; and approve and authorize Chairman to sign a letter of support.

 

Stan Bales reports the rails are already being removed therefore rail-banking is the only alternative.  The railroad bridges will be the last to be removed to allow time for the rail-banking negotiations to occur.  He states it is very important to continue efforts to save the rail corridor.

 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

It is moved by Supervisor Dahle, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to adopt Resolution No. 00-021, approving an Application for Funding and the execution of a Grant Agreement and any amendment thereto from the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development, Jobs-Housing Balance Incentive Grant Program; and authorizing the CAO to execute contract and related documents.

 

COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

Franchise Ordinance:

County Counsel John Ketelsen announces two minor changes that need to be made to the franchise ordinance relating to surety bonds.

 

It is moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by Supervisor Hanson and carried on a roll call vote, with Supervisor Dahle voting NO, to adopt, by title only, amended Ordinance No. 555, renewing a franchise for Adelphia Cable.

 

NorCal EMS:

It is moved by Supervisor Dahle and seconded by Supervisor Pyle to approve the modification of Nor-Cal EMS Contract, agreeing to increase the county fee to an amount that equals its pro-rata share of the total fees from all counties in the region necessary to compensate for state fund reduction. 

 

CAO Whiteman reviews the possible increases to the fees for Lassen County with possible ranges of increase from 2% ($802.04) to 20% ($8020.44).  Emergency Services Director Chip Jackson indicates if there is no state reduction then no increase in fees will occur.  He also points out the great services provided to the county by Nor-Cal EMS and all the help received in the development of the ambulance ordinance.

 

The motion carries unanimously.

          

BUDGET UPDATE

CAO Whiteman states there is nothing to report at this time and he should have more information after the CSAC meeting this week.

 

INFORMATION FOR THE BOARD

1.   CAO Whiteman talked to the police chief who is thinking about getting a track dog, and the sheriff who is thinking about getting a drug dog, about the suggested need for a canine unit.  Chairman Chapman asks the CAO to present an update on the construction status of the dog kennel.

2.   CAO Whiteman reports the first meeting was held with the Susanville Indian Rancheria regarding the proposal to place property north of Susanville in-trust.  It was basically a two hour introduction meeting.  Regular meetings will be held.

 

UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE

Forest Information Officer Heidi Perri distributes two press releases: Top Forest Service official in state accepts Sierra Nevada Review recommendations, starts environmental analysis process; and Review team recommends ways to provide better fire protection for Sierra Nevada communities and wildlife.  She also distributes and discusses information on scenic byways, CD's on Yreka Biomass to Energy Conference and a video on heating schools with wood chips.  The wood chip heating/cooling unit installed in a Vermont school paid for itself in three years.  Units are being installed in schools located in Oakland, Yreka and Lake Tahoe, and it is noted they meet California's air quality regulations.

          

SIERRA NEVADA FRAMEWORK

It is moved by Supervisor Dahle, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to adopt Resolution No. 03-022, requesting Regional Forester Blackwell to make timely changes to the Sierra Nevada Framework Record of Decision and FY 2003 Quincy Library Group (GLG) Implementation Plan.    

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting is adjourned at 10:55 a.m. in honor of our military troops overseas.

 

 

 

                                __________________________________________

                                     CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

 

ATTEST:

 

_______________________________________

THERESA NAGEL, CLERK OF THE BOARD