BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

 

March 27, 2007

 

The Lassen County Board of Supervisors convenes in Regular Session at 9:05 a.m.  Chairman Dahle asks for public comment and no comments are received.  Deputy County Clerk Osgood announces the Closed Session items and the Board recesses to Closed Session at 9:05 a.m. to discuss:  Employee performance evaluation:  Agriculture Commissioner Ken Smith.

 

Present in the Closed Session are Supervisors Brian Dahle, Robert Pyle, and Lloyd Keefer; County Counsel Craig Settlemire, County Administrative Officer John Ketelsen, Agriculture Commissioner Ken Smith, and Deputy County Clerk Susan Osgood.  Supervisors Chapman and Hanson enter at 9:19 a.m.  Closed Session is recessed at 9:23 a.m.

 

The Lassen County Board of Supervisors reconvenes in Regular Session on Tuesday, March 27, 2007, at 9:32 a.m.  Present are Supervisors Brian Dahle, Robert Pyle, Jim Chapman, Lloyd Keefer, and Jack Hanson; County Counsel Craig Settlemire, County Administrative Officer John Ketelsen, and Deputy County Clerk Susan Osgood.  Following the flag salute, the invocation is offered by Supervisor Dahle.

 

ANNOUNCEMENT OF ITEMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION

The Deputy County Clerk announces the Closed Session dealt with discussion on:  Employee performance evaluation:  Agriculture Commissioner Ken Smith.

 

The Supervisors give Agriculture Commissioner Ken Smith an excellent evaluation.

 

AGENDA APPROVAL, ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS

CAO Ketelsen requests that agenda item G4 from Community Social Services / LassenWORKS be removed for explanation and discussion.

 

Deputy County Clerk Osgood requests Item G1, minutes of March 20, 2007 be removed from the agenda.

 

It is moved by Supervisor Hanson, seconded by Supervisor Keefer to approve the agenda with the noted changes.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

1)                 Agriculture Commissioner Ken Smith presents an update on the mosquito situation.  Some birds have tested positive in Santa Clara County for West Nile Virus.  Ken and his staff have treated Barry Reservoir and several ponds with mosquito fish.  Staff treated 219 storm drains in the City of Susanville with 150-day time released biological pellets.  Surveying will be done for more areas to be treated with mosquito fish.  Two dozen fish have been kept with hopes they will multiply and can be distributed at the Children’s Fair or Lassen County Fair.  He reports the state budget for education has been cut but he plans to distribute 36,000 pharmacy bags at pharmacies and retail stores with “Fight the Bite” informational fliers enclosed.  Mosquito fish can be ordered on the internet at http://liveaquaria.com.

2)                 Deputy CAO for Health and Social Services (H&SS) Kevin Mannel presents an update on the option paper being worked on by Family Resource Center Directors, Laura Roberts, staff and others regarding current and future levels of funding. One design being considered is to have multiple partners at one location, such as the one stop in Susanville.   The option paper would show three options:  1) the current level of funding ($75,000 of tobacco control dollars), 2) reduced funding of tobacco control dollars ($35,000 per location), 3) No master control dollars which would leave a gap in current service. 

            Health and Social Services will not be providing an annual report this year.  The Aurora Network, the consumer organization that contracts with H&SS, will be doing a quarterly newsletter beginning within the next month.

3)                 Director of Family & Child Protective Services Terri O’Bryan reports on Child Protective Services and current Safe Measure outcomes.  Statistics and graphs presented were for the month of February.  Time to investigate by referral is the timeframe referrals must be responded to; State standard is 90%, Lassen County is at 93%.  Face to face contacts are required every 30 days; State Standard is 90%; Lassen County is at 91%.

Referral outcomes show some things Emergency Response (ER) social workers deal with: 48% of February referrals were unfounded (highly improbable that event happened); inconclusive findings (can’t be proven or unproven) were at 14%; substantiated referrals (where voluntary or mandated services will be provided) were at 17%.

            Current focus is on physical and dental exams.  Previous requirements were for an annual physical exam and dental exam after age two.  The State now requires tracking of all well child exams and dental exams after the child has their first tooth.   Supervisor Chapman suggests working with the Oral Health Task Force.  Access to dental care had been a problem as there is only one MediCal dental provider in Lassen County.  Initial dental exams may now be done by a licensed hygienist if supervised by a dentist.  A Public Health nurse must review all of the physical and dental exams to see if further follow-up is required. 

4)                 Chief Probation Officer Roy Thiels reports on Chief Probation Officers of California  (CPOC) meeting he attended in Sacramento.  Meeting discussion was held on the reforms Governor Schwarzenegger is trying to get local counties to deal with regarding the prison crisis and overcrowding.  There has been talk of having Probation at local counties use youth-type programs to work rehabilitation models at the adult levels.  The State would provide money at the adult level to help reduce some of the commitments to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).   The Youth Authority is looking at only housing violent offenders; counties would be responsible for non-violent offenders.  Discussions have been held between CPOC, the California State Sheriffs’ Association (CSSA) and others on what it would cost to supervise youths, the possibility of supervising them on parole and other matters.  Court records show that in Lassen County the number of 18-25 year olds sent to prison for three years or less was:  14 in 2004, 13 in 2005 and 15 in 2006.   They would be expected to remain in county.  The possible total funding commitment looks like $50 million between the 58 counties, $125,000 initially and maybe $250,000 after the programs are up and running.  These matters will impact the budget for next fiscal year; Mr. Thiels will be preparing the department to meet the expected needs and possibly looking for additional staff for more intensive supervision, maybe a day treatment program; there will be additional impacts to Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug and other programs.

            Discussion is held on possible problems funding             the programs.  Supervisor Hanson states that RCRC is aware of this and looking at it.  CAO Ketelsen states they will be hearing more about this at the CSAC meetings this week.

5)                 Pat Williams introduces himself as the new General Manager at Herlong Utilities.  He states he is undertaking quite a project to get water and wastewater services in that community.  He moved from Southern California about two weeks ago and is trying to get to know the area and the people in the community.  The Supervisors welcome Mr. Williams and wish him good luck.

 

UNAGENDIZED BOARD REPORTS

1.                  Supervisor Keefer reports he will be attending CSAC meetings this week in Sacramento.

2.                  Supervisor Pyle reports he will be attending the CSAC Board of Directors meeting on March 29, 2007.  He announces a town hall meeting to be held April 4, 2007, 6:30 p.m. at Westwood’s Fletcher Walker School.  Deputy CAO for H&SS Kevin Mannel, H&SS staff, representatives from the school and the Westwood Family Resource Center will be presenting information on how to recognize and deal with high risk children.

LASSEN COUNTY FAIR BOARD

(Convene as the Lassen County Fair Board)

INCREASE CHANGE FUND

It is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Hanson and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 07-012 increasing the Admission Gate/Grandstand Ticket Booth Change Fund for the Lassen County Fair Office to the amount of $8,500; and direct that the resolution be filed with the Auditor's Office.   

 

It is moved by Supervisor Hanson, seconded by Supervisor Keefer, and carried unanimously to reappoint Jerry Hitchings (Appointee District 5), Mike Ratkey (Appointee District 5), Dena Wemple (Appointee District 3) and Richard Wilburn (Appointee District 3), each for a four-year term to the Lassen County Fair Advisory Board.

(Adjourn and reconvene as Board of Supervisors)

 

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

DISTRICT ATTORNEY ITEMS
CRIMINAL DIVISION - STATUTORY RAPE VERTICAL PROSECUTION PROGRAM (SRVP)

Adopt Resolution No. 07-013 approving the continuation of the Lassen County District Attorney's Statutory Rape Vertical Prosecution Program to be funded from funds available through the State of California, administered by the Office of Emergency Services.

CRIMINAL DIVISION - VICTIM/WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Adopt Resolution No. 07-014 approving the undertaking of the Lassen County District Attorney's Victim/Witness Assistance Program to be funded from the funds available through the State of California administered by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE ITEMS
Receive and file the following correspondence:

a.   Lassen County Alcohol & Drug Advisory Board meeting agenda for March 29, 2007, and minutes of February 20, 2007.

b.   Susanville City Council meeting agenda for March 21, 2007.

 

HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
Director of Community Social Services / LassenWORKS Melody Brawley presents information on the Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) Waiver for 2007-2008.  She explains that the law requires ABAWD to work 20 hours per week while receiving foods stamps or to have significant work history showing that they have worked in the past.  The law also says that those who do not have the significant work history or who are not working or participating in some kind of work experience for that 20 hours a week are eligible for food stamps for three months out of three years.  Last year Melody informed the Board that the state determined Lassen County was one of several counties eligible to participate in the waiver of these rules because they qualify as a surplus labor area and we have a higher unemployment rate than some other counties.  This year the state would require the Board pass a resolution if they choose to decline to participate in the waiver. 

 

It is moved by Supervisor Keefer to do this by resolution.  County Counsel Settlemire explains that if the resolution is adopted then the Board is electing not to participate, which means that people will not get the additional food stamps.  If the county wants to participate then you do nothing.  Ms. Brawley states if the Board decides to participate, they can just say they want to participate; if they do not want to participate and want to continue the program as has been they have to vote to decline to participate in the waiver.  Supervisor Keefer withdraws his motion.  Chairman Dahle states the County does want to participate.  Further discussion is held with Supervisor Chapman stating that although the state doesn’t require the Board to do anything, he would like to have a minute order on record stating that the Board chose to do nothing in terms of adopting the resolution, and by doing so, the Board was affirmatively saying they want to participate.

 

County Counsel states that if the motion were changed to elect to accept the eligibility under the waiver then the county would be participating and that would be an affirmative record.

It is moved by Supervisor Keefer not to opt out.  The motion is seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried unanimously.

COUNTY CLERK
It is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Hanson, and carried, with Supervisor Dahle abstaining, to approve minutes of March 13, 2007.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS - SUPERVISOR HANSON

Supervisor Hanson presents a letter of support for the Susanville Rancheria Application for Funding for Herlong Water Project; acknowledges Regina Schaap and John Ketelsen in getting the letter ready.  He requests the letter be addressed to Congressman John Doolittle, with copies sent to Senators Boxer and Feinstein and a copy also to Tim Keesey of the Susanville Indian Rancheria.

 

It is moved by Supervisor Hanson, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried unanimously to approve letter with noted changes, and authorize the Chairman to sign. 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT / HOUSING

Chief of Economic Development Monica Cochran presents information regarding the renovations completed on the Westwood Warehouse Building and thanks Public Works for the work.

 

It is moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by Supervisor Hanson, and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 07-015 accepting the project funded by USDA Rural Development for renovations to the Westwood Warehouse Building as complete.

LASSEN LIBRARY DISTRICT

It is moved by Supervisor Chapman, seconded by Supervisor Keefer, and carried unanimously to adopt a Proclamation declaring April 15-21, 2007 as "National Library Week 2007" in Lassen County, encouraging all residents to visit the Lassen Library, to take advantage of the library resources available and thank their librarian and library workers.

 

Supervisor Chapman presents Lassen Library District President Amy Owens with a $1,000 check from his discretionary fund to support children’s technology this year.   The following donations are also made to the Lassen Library District:  Supervisor Dahle donates $500 and Supervisor Keefer donates $500.  Supervisor Pyle states he believes that he has $600 left in his discretionary fund and donates $300 to the Lassen Library District and $300 to Westwood Library.  Supervisor Hanson donates $300 of his discretionary funds to the Lassen Library District for the South County efforts.

 

Administrative Assistant to the Library Director Jeff Hawkins assures the Board that their donations will be spent for library issues in other parts of the county as requested.  They want to get computers and phones lines to areas outside the city so the computer system can be accessed. 

 

Mrs. Owens reports the State Librarian does not understand that the Lassen Library District does not receive financial backing from the county.   She will probably be back soon to request the Board adopt a resolution or send a letter to the State Librarian informing them the Lassen Library District is a special district and not a county library.

 

Further discussion is held and Supervisor Chapman suggests the matter be brought back to the Board for discussion as an agenda item.   

 

HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES - MENTAL HEALTH 

Health and Social Services Fiscal Officer Diana Wemple states that, for a change, she has good news for the Board.   The State Department of Mental Health sent notice that Lassen County has been awarded Mental Health Services Act money for the County Community Services and Supports (CSS) Three Year Plan.  The plan was originally to go into effect 2005/2006.  The total funding being received this year is $674,960.  Funding is split into three different pots:  $318,935 represents seven months of operating expenses for the program; $193,325 is for one time funding for startup costs (includes training and materials, purchasing vehicles to do outreach activity, office set up for new staff and consumer support services), the third pot of funding of $162,700 is for one time Information Technology (includes a new clinical module; support and training staff).   

 

It is moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by Supervisor Hanson and carried unanimously on a roll call vote, to approve the increase appropriations by $674,960 to fund the Mental Health Service Act fund. 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - PUBLIC HEARING - FILE #530.02.06 DOYLE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
The public hearing is opened at
10:30 a.m. to consider the adoption of a resolution, on behalf of the Doyle Fire Protection District, establishing a fire capital improvement fee for all development within the district boundaries.

Assistant Community Development Director Joe Bertotti presents the staff report.  No one speaks in favor of or in opposition to the request.  The public hearing is closed at 10:33 a.m.

It is moved by Supervisor Hanson and seconded by Supervisor Keefer to adopt Resolution No. 07-016, on behalf of the Doyle Fire Protection District, establishing a fire capital improvement fee for all development within the district boundaries. 

Supervisor Chapman asks who determines if something is residential or non-residential and is there consistency from district to district.  Mr. Bertotti replies that it is the district collecting the fee that makes the determination.  When someone presents plans to county staff, staff reviews the plans and informs what fees are due, and a form stating whether the application is for residential or non-residential is completed.  If staff is not comfortable making the decision, it is referred to the fire district.

Susan River Fire Department member Jim McCarthy states their department has worked with county staff and recently decided to have their Chief check plans every week and take responsibility for the decision themselves.  The fire district makes the determination whether something is residential, commercial or light commercial, which is charged out at a residential rate.   Mr. Bertotti states the districts contract with a local business to be agent for collecting the fees.   Supervisor Chapman requests a report from staff on how each fire district determines their fees, do they contract with someone for fee collection, how is the fee implemented and are the districts getting what they should.  He would like to know what consistencies and inconsistencies are among districts; and he feels the rates can be different but the process should be the same.   CAO Ketelsen states a report will be brought back to the Board.  Mr. Bertotti states that the Board has occasionally talked about considering whether or not the county would like to retain some jurisdiction in the administration of fire and/or school fees.  He asks if the Board would like information about administration of those fees when the report is presented.  Supervisors agree they would like to review that information.

The motion carries unanimously on a roll call vote. 

INFORMATION FOR THE BOARD
CAO
Ketelsen presents two letters written under his signature dealing with legislative items previously discussed by the Board.  One letter is directed to U.S. Senators Feinstein and Boxer in support of a newly proposed settlement of the PILT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) issue.  It is a compromise that has been worked out among various Senators and will re-fund the program through 2011 at a diminished percentage to the western states over time.

The second letter is in support of SB604 with a letter from Senator Cox and addresses the issue of the state lapse in funding of the prison prosecution program for many months at a time.  This bill would impose a 10% late fee on the state if they delay in payment of claims. 

The Board is asked to approve the letters being sent, or the items could be agendized for future discussion.  The Board directs the CAO to send the letters.

CORRESPONDENCE
TIME WARNER CABLE

Receive and file Correspondence from Time Warner Cable reporting on possible expiration of some channels.

 

 

There being no further business, the meeting is adjourned at 10:53 a.m.

 

 

                                                                 _____________________________________

                                                                  CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

 

ATTEST:

 

____________________________________

JULIE BUSTAMANTE, CLERK OF THE BOARD