BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

JULY 8, 2003

The Lassen County Board of Supervisors convene in Regular Session at 9:07 a.m. Chairman Chapman 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 9:08 a.m. for: 1) Conference with Labor Negotiator Andy Whiteman: Lassen County Road Workers Assn. (LCRWA); and 2) Employee performance evaluation: Agriculture Commissioner Ken Smith.

Present in the Closed Session are Supervisors Robert Pyle, Jim Chapman, Lloyd Keefer and Jack Hanson; County Counsel John Ketelsen, County Administrative Officer Andy Whiteman, Agriculture Commissioner Ken Smith and County Clerk Theresa Nagel. Brian Dahle enters at 9:17 a.m. Ken Smith departs at 9:25 a.m. Closed Session is recessed at 9:40 a.m.

The Lassen County Board of Supervisors reconvenes in Regular Session on Tuesday, July 8, 2003, at 9:45 a.m. Present: Supervisors Robert Pyle, Jim Chapman, Lloyd Keefer, Brian Dahle, and Jack Hanson; County Counsel John Ketelsen, County Administrative Officer (CAO) Andy Whiteman and County Clerk Theresa Nagel. Following the flag salute, the invocation is offered by Supervisor Chapman.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF ITEMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION

The County Clerk announces the Closed Session dealt with: 1) Employee performance evaluation: Agriculture Commissioner Ken Smith - directed County Counsel to prepare confidential guidance to the Board of Supervisors regarding their powers with respect to County Agriculture Commissioner;

2) Conference with Labor Negotiator Andy Whiteman: Lassen County Road Workers Assn. (LCRWA) - moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Hanson and carried to accept the final agreement between the Road Workers and negotiator for a three year contract with a 13.63% overall cost.

AGENDA APPROVAL, ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS

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

PUBLIC COMMENT

1. Emergency Services Chief Chip Jackson provides an update on the homeland security program. The truck they acquired for the program will be released soon following work being done by the conservation crews. The truck can be used for search and rescue and as a regional asset with neighboring counties

as well as the main purpose. He states they just received a $138,000 grant to purchase additional tools for the truck. He notes they have received all of the funding they have applied for and he is working with federal government representatives to apply for additional funding. He reviews the operations of the two decontamination shelters that can treat 300 persons per hour in each unit.

2. County Fire Warden Don Posten provides a briefing on the A-3 Fire. When the fire started there were 20 mile per hour winds with 11% humidity. The fire burned very hot consuming everything in its path. He reviews the equipment used on the fire and states it is unfortunate the fire occurred but it was a very good learning experience for new personnel.

He notes that MOU's have been worked out with the BLM and Forest Service to staff three lookouts that had to be closed down due to State budget cuts. The lookouts to be staffed were chosen because they give the best coverage for lookouts that are still not manned.

UNAGENDIZED BOARD REPORTS

1. Supervisor Hanson compliments all those involved in fighting the A-3 Fire.

2. Supervisor Keefer introduces Boy Scout Jonathan Edholm who is observing the meeting today as a part of his project.

3. Supervisor Keefer attended the Fuels Reduction Task Force meeting last week and provides a report. He was encouraged to observe some common sense approaches from environmental representatives on the task force. Keefer brought to the table discussion on the need to include administrative reimbursement for local agencies in the grants for fuels reduction.

4. Supervisor Dahle attended the Sustained Yield Unit Tour to view Wildland Urban Interface and provides information on a public tour that will be conducted on July 28th.

5. Supervisor Dahle will be attending the NACO meeting in Milwaukee with RCRC - July 11 - 15, 2003.

6. Supervisor Chapman reports on the PSA II meeting and notes he participated in interviews for the executive director position. Barbara Swanson was chosen.

7. Supervisor Chapman wants to share and bring to the attention of the Board that a constituent called his attention to some websites that are being maintained by members of the group of critics who have been criticizing LMUD and the County Clerk. He is amazed at the garbage on the sites and notes one site is attacking the virtues of all Lassen County's elected officials by stating they "wake up every morning and represent the worst in human virtues". He states they are peddling poison and he has seen nothing positive that they have done for the community. None of these individuals ever show up in any group that do good things for the community. He notes another individual maintains a website that goes head to head with the critics pointing out the fallacies in their statements and conclusions. Chapman states that he is very offended by the garbage being peddled.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Supervisor Hanson requests that Item G-3 & G-4, prison trials reimbursements reports, be pulled for separate consideration.

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 June 24, 2003.

AUDITOR AND TREASURER DEPARTMENTS ITEMS

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

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ITEM

Authorize the Chairman to sign the 2002/2003 Optional RSTP Federal Apportionment Exchange Program and State Match Program, Agreement No. X03-5907(039) with the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans).

TREASURER ITEM

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

MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE ITEMS

Receive and file the following correspondence:

a. Lassen County Planning Commission agenda for July 2, 2003.

b. In-Home Supportive Services Advisory Board special meeting agenda for July 9, 2003.

c. Lassen County Technical Advisory Committee meeting agenda for July 1, 2003.

d. Lassen County Fair Advisory Board meeting agenda for July 8, 2003.

e. Lassen County Mental Health Advisory Board meeting agenda for July 8, 2003, and unapproved minutes of June 10, 2003.

PRISON TRIALS COST REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM ITEM

Supervisor Hanson asks how long the county waits to receive the prison prosecution reimbursements from the State. Supervisor Chapman states the delay in reimbursements has always been a concern and he recently asked the CAO what steps the county is taking to limit the county's liability. CAO Whiteman states that outside prosecutors and public defenders have been told they cannot be paid until the State makes payments. They are trying to keep county staff working by using the funds that are on-hand.

It is moved by Supervisor Dahle, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to receive and file Recap of CCC Prison Trials Cost Reimbursement Billing for the month of June, 2003; and High Desert State Prison Trials Cost Reimbursement Billing for the month of June, 2003.

TAX COLLECTOR / TREASURER

CAO Whiteman is absent 10:28 - 10:29 a.m.

It is moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by Supervisor Hanson and carried to approve claims for excess proceeds from the June 4, 5, and 6, 2003 Tax Sale, filed with the Lassen County Tax Collector pursuant to Revenue and Tax Code §4675 as follows:

APN CLAIMANT CLAIM AMOUNT RECOMMENDED

APPROVAL

037-065-1011 Lassen County

Community Development $ 223.53 $ 223.53

037-076-0511 Lassen County

Tax Collector $ 3,714.18 $ 180.43

APN CLAIMANT CLAIM AMOUNT RECOMMENDED

APPROVAL

037-076-0511 Lassen County Child

Support $ 3,714.18 $ 3,533.75

043-160-0811 Karen West & Janet West $ 534.27 $ 534.27

043-160-0811 Karen West & Janet West $ (50.63) $ .00

045-140-2711 DB Craig, Jr. Successor

Admin Estate of Archibald

M. Mull, Jr. $ 938.76 $ 938.76

047-060-3511 Zelaya, Pablo and Juanita $ 1,671.72 $ 1,671.72

116-300-1311 Grunsky, Ebey, Farrar

& Howell $ 5,422.61 $ 5,422.61

119-440-0411 Luptak, Andrew L. $ 242.69 $ 242.69

139-270-5911 Public Administrator San

Bernardino County $ 421.83 $ 421.83

It is moved by Supervisor Hanson, seconded by Supervisor Keefer and carried to receive and file Treasurer/Tax Collector's Report of Tax Sale held May 14 and 15, 2003 (Delinquent Tax Sale Trust 307 0071 7603028).

CRISIS LINE FUNDING

Linda McAndrews representing Lassen Family Services, Inc. is present to request the continuation of funding for the Crisis Line. She reviews the training received by the volunteers working on the crisis line (60 hours). She notes when she received notification from Health and Human Services Director Tom Keeffer that the $35,000 funding for the crisis line would not continue because of the State budget cutbacks it was indicated that Mental Health would develop alternative methods for provision of emergency mental health services. She notes the services that mental health will provide do not cover all the persons that are currently served by the crisis line. The crisis line screens, and refers to appropriate agencies, calls from suicidal people, persons suffering from abuse, drug and alcohol problems, etc.

Mr. Keeffer states the $35,000 for the crisis line have come from Mental Health Realignment Funds and the obligations for that funding exceed the available funds.

Supervisor Chapman has a hard time understanding how we can afford a $200,000 psychiatrist but cannot find $35,000 to fund the crisis line. He wants to know what mental health will be doing to provide the needed services, what the costs will be and how the community is being informed of the change.

CAO Whiteman notes the allocation of realignment funds can be discussed during the budget session tomorrow.

Mr. Keeffer states there may be some funding available from public health but not at the same level as in the past.

Recess 10:53 - 11:00 a.m.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

Superior Court MOU:

It is moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by Supervisor Keefer and carried to authorize CAO to execute the Memorandums of Understanding (MOU's) between the County of Lassen and the Lassen County Superior Courts.

Abandoned Vehicle Program:

CAO Whiteman reviews the procedures that need to be put in place to address abandoned vehicles and what steps would have to be taken to impose a $1 fee on all vehicles registered in Lassen County to fund removal of such vehicles.

It is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Hanson and carried to direct staff to follow the plan submitted to implement an abandoned vehicle program that complies with the State of California's authorized program which will impose a $1.00 fee on all vehicles registered in the county.

BUDGET UPDATE

CAO Whiteman states there is still no State Budget.

INFORMATION FOR THE BOARD

CAO Whiteman reports that Health and Human Services Director Tom Keeffer will be retiring on August 8th and recruitment will begin. The CAO will be acting director until a new person is hired.

CORRESPONDENCE

1. City of Susanville 2002 Consumer Confidence Report showing results of city drinking water quality monitoring for January 1 - December 31, 2002, is received and filed.

2. California Department of Mental Health reports of "Onsite Review Findings" and "Plan of Correction" regarding on-site review of Lassen County's Mental Health Plan (MHP) (Review date: April 8 to May 2, 2003), is received and filed.

NORCAL INVOICE

Supervisor Keefer expresses his feelings that NORCAL has become ineffective and he questions the advisability of continuing to pay the invoice from the Northern California County Supervisors Association for association dues for fiscal 2003/2004.

It is moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by Supervisor Keefer and carried to withdraw active participation in the Northern California County Supervisors Association for the coming fiscal year.

HONEY LAKE TRANSFER

Assistant Community Development Director Bertotti presents a second draft of comments on Environmental Assessment Transfer of Honey Lake, Sierra Army Depot, Herlong. Extensive discussion is held between board members and staff with suggestions for changes to the comments.

It is moved by Supervisor Hanson, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to

approve the second draft and authorize the Chairman to sign the comment letter.

There being no further regular business, the meeting is recessed at 11:56 a.m. with budget sessions to begin at 1:30 p.m.

__________________________________________

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

ATTEST:

_______________________________________

THERESA NAGEL, CLERK OF THE BOARD