BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS
AUGUST
19, 2003
The
Lassen County Board of Supervisors convenes in Regular Session on Tuesday,
August 19, 2003, at 9:34 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 Hanson.
ANNOUNCEMENT
OF ITEMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION
Chairman
Chapman announces that no closed session was held.
AGENDA
APPROVAL, ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS
CAO
Whiteman states the Auditor wants Item G-2, bid award, removed. County Clerk Nagel requests the minutes for
August 12, 2003 be removed.
It is
moved by Supervisor Hanson, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to approve
the agenda with the noted deletions.
PUBLIC
COMMENT
1. Dan Douglas attended the State Fair County
Exhibit Award Program and he announces that Lassen County received a gold
award. Chairman Chapman directs staff to
arrange a thank you ceremony for everyone involved in building and transporting
the exhibit.
2. Chairman Chapman reads a Violet Stout poem
entitled "Starving Cry".
UNAGENDIZED
BOARD REPORTS
1. Supervisor Dahle reminds the board members
that RCRC will be meeting in Lassen County in September.
2. Supervisor Keefer announces a RAC meeting was
held last week and they will begin accepting applications for the second round
of projects in October.
3. Supervisor Keefer reports on the Economic
Development Council meeting at which information was received on Dyer Mt. and
on South County development potential.
4. Supervisor Pyle reports a meeting was held at
the Lassen County Visitor's Center for discussions with a design consultant.
5. Supervisor Pyle wants a work session on the
Personnel Department placed on a September agenda that is not real busy.
6. Supervisor Hanson reports on: Mental Health
Board meeting; LAFCO Study Session; and the BLM Scoping Session on the Resource
Management Plan.
7. Supervisor Chapman reports on the CSAC
Executive Committee meeting discussions relating to upcoming initiatives. He states that CSAC will be supporting the
lowering of the percentage to adopt the State budget from 66% to 55%. Also lots of discussion about getting rid of
the car tax. Discussed sales/use tax
imposed at local level.
8. Supervisor Chapman reports that he and
Supervisor Keefer have begun work on the response to the Grand Jury
Report. They want each board member to
summarize their own personal observations for inclusion in the response.
PROCLAMATIONS
It is
moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Hanson and carried to adopt
proclamations recognizing Lowell Harwood upon his retirement from the Lassen
County Sheriff's Department and Chet Streible on his retirement from Lassen
County as the Veterans Service Officer.
RECOGNITION
COMMITTEE - PRESENTATION
Chairman
Chapman makes the following presentations for years of service:
Retirement: Proclamation and plaque to Lowell Harwood,
(Sheriff's Department) and Chet Streible, (Veterans Service Officer).
Twenty-five years: a desk clock/calculator to
Tommy Peterson, (Public Works Department).
Fifteen
years: a two pen desk set to Karen DelCarlo, (Public Works Department) and
Richard Cook, (Assessor's Office).
Ten
years: a brass letter opener to Cheryl Douglas, (Personnel Department).
Recess
10:26 - 10:31 a.m.
LASSEN
COUNTY FAIR
Fair
Manager Claud Neely presents reports on the 2003 Lassen County Fair 4th of July
Celebration and 2003 Lassen County Fair.
LASSEN
COUNTY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COMMISSION
Executive
Director Laura Roberts clarifies the proposal before the board members is not
for children's mental health care but is to address children's behavioral
health. She asks for an allocation of
$50,000 (possibly from Public Health Realignment funds) to match a Prop 10
allocation to hire a full time Children's Behavioral Specialist to work with
children aged birth to five and their families.
Children and families will be identified through child care providers,
home visitors and others. This service
can be associated with the county-wide system of Family Resource Centers thus
making this special service available throughout Lassen County. This service can also provide a level of
technical expertise to the home visiting project that will allow the
participation in targeted case management funding, thus tapping into funds that
will help with sustainability of both the children's mental health initiative
and the home visiting programs. She
notes there are children in child care that are moved from one provider to
another because of behavior they exhibit that cannot be resolved by the care
provider. Their behavior is disruptive
to the child care environment and sometimes dangerous to other children. If allocated, the money would be held in
trust until a detailed proposal is worked out (within two months), by
collaborating with the Office of Education, Family Resource Centers, Home
Visiting, Public Health and Mental Health.
If a plan is found to be unworkable the entrusted funds can be released
for other uses.
Public
Health Nurse Patsy Jimenez and Compac Representative Barbara Tiner support the
proposal.
Supervisor
Keefer would like staff to take a look at the proposal to determine if there is
any overlapping of services.
Ms.
Roberts responds that schools and Mental Health have not addressed and do not
intend to address these needs.
Supervisor
Hanson also suggests the proposal be presented to the Mental Health Advisory
Committee.
Supervisor
Dahle states we always fight fires but there is a need to do preventive work to
avoid the fires and he sees this as just such a program. He compliments the staff of the Family
Resource Centers.
Chairman
Chapman continues the decision to the budget sessions.
LOCAL
REUSE AUTHORITY
The
Board of Supervisors recess and convene as the Local Reuse Authority (LRA).
Supervisor
Hanson strongly supports the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Sierra Army
Depot and the Lassen County Local Reuse Authority. He encourages the board members to approve
the MOA and feels action taken today will set the stage for development in the
South County. He thanks people of the
area for their frank opinions relating to the property acquisition.
CAO
Whiteman notes the upkeep and
maintenance of 400 acres is estimated to be $50,000 per year. He feels the county may be able to recover
$30,000 per year from rental of property.
He suggests a loan from prison mitigation funds to cover these costs.
Supervisor
Chapman points out some changes needed in the draft resolution.
Program
Coordinator Regina Rankin goes over the highlights of the MOA which includes
environmental indemnification language to protect the LRA from any potential
environmental responsibility as a result of Army use of the property prior to
transfer. Sierra Army Depot (SIAD) is
still waiting for final Fish and Wildlife Service determination on the Cross
Depot Access Parcel in relation to the Carson Wandering Skipper.
LRA
will receive the properties at no-cost with the provision that the proceeds
from any sale, lease or equivalent use received by the LRA in the first seven
years must be used to support the economic redevelopment of the
properties. The LRA has financial
reporting requirements at the end of five and seven years.
The
electric distribution system Bill of Sale and easement, will immediately be
assigned to Plumas Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative (PSREC). Environmental
cleanup of ordnance and explosives on Northern Cross Depot Access, Northern
East Shore and Western Airfield parcels will occur by separate deeds once
cleanup activities are complete. Deed
restrictions to ensure protection of human health and the environment imposed
by State of California EPA, Department of Toxic Substances Control will run in
perpetuity with the land.
The
anticipated schedule for transfers is as follows: Herlong and 50-acre parcel, September 2003;
Southern East Shore, Southern Cross Depot Access, Eastern Airfield Parcels and
Susanville Road/Green belt, October, 2003; Northern Cross Depot Access,
Northern East Shore Parcel and Western Airfield Parcel, will be accepted when
cleaned.
The
LRA intends to implement marketing and development of the Herlong community as
defined in the Reuse Plan adopted March, 2002; will immediately market existing
buildings for sale to reduce responsibility of maintenance costs; has been
contacted by two interested parties for the development of housing in the
Herlong area.
Water
and wastewater services is responsibility of the Army as long as the systems
remain in Army ownership; HUC is to provide services to Federal Prison; long
term plans for development of new residential and commercial projects will
require hookup to HUC; existing infrastructure will require evaluation and
possible rehabilitation before hookups take place. Ongoing operating expenses for six existing
buildings is estimated at $50,000 per year with an estimated rental revenue of
$30,000 per year from the Credit Union, Post Office, Catholic Church Arch
Diocese. Temporary cash flow could be
addressed with an interfund loan from prison mitigation funds to the
redevelopment agency to be repaid with the sales of excess property. Prior to disposal of any property a
redevelopment agency should be in place.
Presently there is no existing agency with fire suppression
responsibility in place. So long as the
Army is capable, it is likely they will respond as a courtesy, but there is no
formal agreement in place. Before
insurance carriers will insure the property institutional fire protection
services must be arranged. Additional
issues regarding future development will be addressed by Lassen County
Community Development Department (CDD).
Community
Development Director Robert Sorvaag reads a statement setting forth the
recommended Plan of Actions for the Local Reuse Authority. He understands the LRA functions will be
transferred from the CAO to the CDD in October.
He notes a new employee will be needed for his department to take on
this responsibility. The Plan of Actions
covers the following: strategies for
providing fire protection, addressing sewer and water infrastructure,
preparation of a Herlong town center zoning plan, rezoning and general plan
amendments, formation of a redevelopment agency (county-wide), marketing
efforts, interim funding, and office space for LRA & ED staff.
Supervisor
Dahle wants to know what the costs to the County are going to be. He also notes prior discussions indicated
there was going to be great interest in the area for a business park and the
County would realize revenue from the sale of property. He supports the concept but cost is a big
issue.
Supervisor
Chapman asks the CAO how much this is going to cost and CAO Whiteman responds
with an estimate of $200,000 - $300,000 commitment which the County would
hopefully recover via the sale of property.
Supervisor Pyle supports the concept but is afraid of what it will
cost. Supervisor Chapman believes it
will mean a cost of $500,000 or more.
Supervisor Pyle is concerned about the load it will place on the
CDD.
Supervisor
Hanson states there may be some other funds available besides prison mitigation
funds and he feels the CDD is understaffed.
He states the action taken today will be a referendum on growth in the
South County.
Supervisor
Chapman states the board members have always been promised, over the past six
years, that staff would bring basic dollar estimates for what needed to be set
aside as seed money and also how it would be paid back. Supervisor Pyle does not want the County to
be in trouble by any action taken today.
Supervisor Keefer feels there is a lot riding on this decision and it is
unfortunate the board members do not have information on costs. He notes that SIAD Information Officer Larry
Rogers recently made a statement that
employment at the depot could double, and Keefer feels that down the
road there will be demand for property.
He acknowledges the maintenance costs cannot be overlooked but this is a
business venture so we have to get a handle on what the costs will be. Supervisor Dahle agrees this is a business
venture and there is a need for a business plan which the Board has been asking
for over the past six years.
It is
moved by Supervisor Hanson, seconded by Supervisor Keefer and carried on a roll
call vote, with Supervisor Dahle voting NO, to:
a) adopt Resolution No. 03-001 LRA,
approving the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the transfer of portions of the
Sierra Army Depot and specified personal property located in Herlong,
California, to the Lassen County Local Reuse Authority; b) authorize County
Administrative Officer to sign the MOA, Quitclaim Deed for the Herlong Parcel,
including subsequent deeds for the remaining properties, and the Electric
Distribution System Agreement; c) budget
for $500,000 from the Prison Mitigation Fund as a loan to the Redevelopment
Authority to be used as seed money; and d)
direct staff to return with a budget for the $500,000.
Supervisor
Dahle states that he could not support this action because it is an incomplete
plan.
The
Local Reuse Authority adjourns and the Board of Supervisors reconvene.
Supervisor
Hanson departs at 11:50 a.m.
BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS
BLM
Assistant Field Manager Don Holmstrom discusses the process for the County to
become (Supervisor Hanson returns at 11:52 a.m.) a cooperating
agency
in relation to the Resources Management Plan update.
It is
moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by Supervisor Dahle and carried unanimously,
on a roll call vote, to authorize the Chairman to sign a formal application for
cooperating agency status during National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Decision Making and Land Use Planning.
Chairman
Chapman wants Supervisor Hanson and Supervisor Keefer to work together to draft
the response document.
CONSENT
CALENDAR
It is
moved by Supervisor Dahle, seconded by Supervisor Hanson and carried to take
the noted action on the following Consent Calendar items:
COUNTY
CLERK ITEM
Approve
Minutes of July 8 and 9, 2003.
PROBATION
DEPARTMENT ITEM
Approve
the FY 2003/2004 Space Available Agreement with Fouts Springs Youth Facility
for placement of youths with a juvenile court commitment to a camp, at a rate
of $2,990 per month per ward; and authorize the Chairman to sign the agreement.
PUBLIC
WORKS DEPARTMENT ITEMS
Approve
agreement for Right of Way Appraisal Services with Ryan and Murphy Group, Inc.
of Redding, in an amount "not to exceed" $23,750. for Skyline Road
East and Extension Construction Project; and authorize the Director of Public
Works to sign the agreement.
Approve
agreement for Professional Services with Fehr & Peers of Roseville to
re-evaluate and re-design the traffic signal plans which were completed in
1999-2000, in an amount "not to exceed" $14,800. for Skyline Road
East and Extension Construction Project; and authorize the Director of Public
Works to sign the agreement.
Approve
the rental agreement of the Susanville Veterans Memorial Building by Lassen
High School for use of the basement west assembly area and occasional use of
the main auditorium for the purpose of classroom instruction during the period
of August 25, 2003 through June 10, 2004, in the total amount of $4,488.75; and
authorize the Director of Public Works to sign the agreement.
ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES - PERSONNEL ITEM
Receive
and file Personnel Movement report for July, 2003.
MISCELLANEOUS
CORRESPONDENCE ITEMS
Receive
and file the following correspondence:
a. Lassen County Fair Advisory Board meeting
agenda for August 12, 2003.
b. Lassen
County Alcohol & Drug Advisory Board meeting agenda for August 28, 2003,
and minutes of June 26, 2003.
c. Lassen County Air Pollution Control District
Governing Board meeting agenda for August 19, 2003 and minutes of July 22,
2003.
MENTAL
HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD
It is
moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by Supervisor Dahle and carried to
accept
the letter from Tom Gauthier resigning from the Mental Health Advisory Board,
and direct Clerk to advertise vacancy.
Noon
recess 12:01 - 1:35 p.m.
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - ECONOMIC DEVELOPING HOUSING
It is
moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to adopt
Resolution No. 03-062, declaring intention to sell or lease property located at 169 Gay Street, Chester (Parcel
Number 100-155-014) by sealed bid for a minimum price of $15,000.
Community
Development Director Robert Sorvaag enters the meeting and requests the action
on this item be rescinded because he wants to look closer at the numbers. Chairman Chapman states that he should have
notified either the CAO or the Chairman if he wanted a change to the action
requested.
It is
moved by Supervisor Hanson, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to
rescind
the action adopting Resolution No. 03-062.
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - PLANNING
1. Assistant Community Development Director
Bertotti provides information on sub-management groundwater study areas for use
with geographic information systems (as related to the Local Groundwater
Assistance Fund - AB 303 grant).
2. It is moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by
Supervisor Hanson and carried on a roll call vote, with Supervisor Dahle voting
NO, to accept the old dairy house known as the "Goodrich house" as a
donation by W. M. Beaty and Associates, Inc., to potentially be relocated near
the Westwood Visitor Center and utilized for economic development purposes,
with direction to staff to come back with a plan prior to moving forward.
Supervisor
Dahle states that his no vote was because he wanted a cost analysis prior to
making a decision.
3. Chairman Chapman turns the gavel over to the
Vice-Chairman Hanson and leaves the room.
Planner
Rick Simon reviews a draft letter with comments on the Environmental Assessment
for the proposed trust acquisition of land by the Susanville Indian Rancheria.
It is
moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Dahle and carried, with
Supervisor Chapman absent, to authorize the Chairman to sign the letter.
INFORMATION
FOR THE BOARD
CAO
Whiteman informs the board members that he received information the County
State Fair Exhibit also won the best craftsmanship award.
CORRESPONDENCE
Letter
from California Office of Homeland Security (OHS) Director George V. Vinson
notifying of Grant Application Approval with Conditions in the amount of
$128,345, is received and filed.
BUDGET
WORKSHOP
CAO
Whiteman states this workshop is to provide board members with information on
his ideas for general fund budgets and to present options for them to
consider. His goal with this methodology
has been to avoid layoffs.
Assistant
to the CAO Chris Beard shows projected general fund balances for fiscal years
03/04, 04/05 and 05/06. There is
currently a general fund reserve of $3.46 million and the proposal to close the
revenue gap is to use $800,000 of the reserve each year for the next three
years, which would leave a projected $1.06 million reserve to begin 06/07. This method uses a modest projection of 3%
expenditure increase and 2% revenue increase.
It also requires all funds dependent on the general fund to hold their
expenditure increases at 3%. There are
still lots of unknowns but projections have been developed as worst case.
Supervisor
Keefer would like to take a more prudent approach because we don't know what
will happen in future years. Supervisor
Pyle and Supervisor Hanson express similar concerns about continued
hemorrhaging of revenues. Extensive
discussion is held on what possibilities are out there that could have a major
impact on future revenues.
Safety
Fund:
It is
noted the safety employees increased retirement benefit (3% at 50) will have an
estimated cost of $250,000. The Safety
Fund budgets are $611,000 over last years budgets and the gap between revenues
and expenses is $724,113. The Safety
Fund includes: Public Defender, Public Defender - Conflict, District Attorney,
Sheriff, Dispatch, Sheriff-CCF, Sheriff-Jail, Jail Physician, and Jail
Hospital.
Probation
Fund:
This
fund is doing very well with a projected 4% revenue increase.
Probation/Juvenile
Hall:
Chief
Probation Officer Snerp Whipple along with staff members Jackie Stovall and Roy
Thiels are present to provide information on projected costs for operating the
juvenile hall versus transporting juveniles out-of-county.
The
estimated costs of closing the hall and detaining, housing and transporting
minors out of county is $633,956. The
general fund amount requested was $506,026 if the hall were kept open. If the hall is closed the minors must still
be housed, therefore, transportation causes expenditure increases and all
revenue generated from the hall housing other counties' minors is lost. With additional revenues they have been able
to trim the general fund need down to $374,935.
Information is provided on the daily rate for other facilities and based
on that information and cost of operation, they would like to raise the rate to
$110 per day. Mrs. Stovall notes they
have a carryover this year but next year they will be "cut to the
bone".
Following
discussion she states the rate increase and a request to transfer TANF dollars
will be placed on the next agenda. Mr.
Thiels notes this budget will result in some juvenile hall layoffs.
Budget
Proposals:
CAO
Whiteman reviews his proposals for transferring revenue and expenditures;
proposed reductions; revenue and fund transfers; and revenue enhancements
through increased fees.
Supervisor
Chapman sees the need to tighten our belts as much as possible this year to
help with future years (i.e. travel, phone savings, etc.). Supervisor Dahle would still like to talk
about the Safety Fund. He points out the
$360,000 increase for 3% at 50 retirement for safety employees and thinks this
needs to be looked at because it was represented to only mean an increase of
$167,000.
District
Attorney Burns states the increases to his budget are mostly due to insurance
and A87 costs. He discusses the
information he has received in regard to possible large cuts to grants his
office relies on. He will be in a
position of having to redefine their direction and will have to pick and choose
what prosecutions to pursue.
CAO
Whiteman notes the Public Safety fund has not spent all that was budgeted last
year.
Supervisor
Keefer feels the need to look for reductions based on prior year savings
(restructuring). He is not in favor of
allocating $800,000 each year from reserves.
Supervisor Chapman wants to see restructuring in Health and Human
Services (HHS) and holding tight with the Public Safety Fund. Supervisor Keefer
and Supervisor Dahle question what real savings would be realized to the
general fund from HHS reorganization.
Supervisor Dahle feels the amount over and above the estimated cost for
3% at 50 retirement should be a decrease to the Sheriff's Department budget. Supervisor Keefer agrees. Supervisor Chapman feels every department
that has safety personnel needs to have an adjustment.
Chairman
Chapman would like the budget ready for adoption on September 23rd.
Supervisor
Hanson really does not want to dip into reserves in 2006/2007. He can accept using reserves this year. Supervisor Chapman does not think it is
prudent to hang on to too much reserve and feels a $1 million reserve in
2006/2007 is adequate for a rainy day fund - a 3% reserve is probably a minimum
needed. Supervisor Pyle asks what is
wrong with having a 5% reserve.
There
being no further business, the meeting is adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
__________________________________________
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
ATTEST:
_______________________________________
THERESA
NAGEL, CLERK OF THE BOARD