BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS
SEPTEMBER
23, 2003
The Lassen County Board of Supervisors convenes in
Regular Session on Tuesday, September 23, 2003, at 9:33 a.m. Present:
Supervisors Robert Pyle, Jim Chapman, Lloyd Keefer, Brian Dahle, and
Jack Hanson (enters at 9:34 a.m.); 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
Chairman Chapman announces that no closed session was
held.
AGENDA APPROVAL, ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS
Supervisor Dahle has an item to add to the agenda
stating he was not aware of the deadline date when the agenda was prepared.
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2 (2) that the
need to take action arose subsequent to the agenda being posted, and cannot
wait for the next meeting, it is moved by Supervisor Dahle, seconded by
Supervisor Hanson and carried unanimously, on a roll call vote, to add to the
agenda a memorandum of understanding among the USDA Forest Service, Region
Five, Modoc National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management, Alturas Resource
Field Office and the County of Modoc and the County of Lassen; and the
designation of Supervisor Dahle as Lassen County's representative on the Big
Valley Sustained Yield Unit.
County Clerk Nagel announces that Item D-2, update on
Lassen Park Visitor's Center, needs to be removed as Ms. Parris is unable to be
present.
It is moved by Supervisor Dahle, seconded by Supervisor
Hanson and carried to approve the agenda with the noted changes.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Sheriff's Commander Steve Warren states that he listened
to Dr. Kalmanoff's report last week, and also received the Public Defender's
report, both of which were critical of the law enforcement system. He states there are some factual statements,
but many distortions and also incorrect statements. The information that individuals sentenced to
state prison spend 20.47 days in jail prior to transfer is not correct - they
are moved out the same day they receive sentencing paperwork. Parole holds are transported immediately;
most misdemeanors are not held more than six hours. They run live scan fingerprinting on
misdemeanors and have caught persons with criminal warrants outstanding. Traffic violation infractions never serve
time in jail. As of this morning there were
116 inmates in the Adult Detention Facility and neither himself nor the Sheriff
has authority to release any of them. Of
the 116 inmates, 99 are in on felony arrests with priors (some of the felony
arrests may have been reduced to misdemeanors at sentencing); 17 misdemeanors -
some failure-to-appear and probation violations. He reviews the crimes the inmates are
incarcerated for and notes there is not one violent felony unsolved in Lassen
County at this time. He states the report is in part correct about aggressive
prosecution, but that it also makes the county a safe place for everyone's kids
to live. He gives an example of a state
inmate whose medical treatment cost the county $48,000 due to nine continuances
requested by the defense attorney which delayed transfer to the state
prison. If the continuances for medical
treatment had not been requested, the cost for exactly the same treatment, in
the same medical facility (Washoe Medical), would have been paid for by the
state rather than the county. He gives
an example of an inmate with a long list of criminal activity and domestic
violence in another county who moved to Lassen County and ultimately killed one
deputy and wounded another during a domestic violence incident. He states apparently the punishment for his
crimes in the other county taught him nothing.
He is proud of the aggressive law enforcement and prosecution in this
county and thinks the board members should be also.
UNAGENDIZED BOARD REPORTS
1. Supervisor
Keefer would like to have a study session since there is conflicting
information relating to the criminal justice system. Supervisor Chapman agrees and states a dialog
needs to occur between all aspects of law enforcement on a regular basis. Supervisor Dahle does not want to spend more
money on a study but feels everyone needs to sit down and review the
system. Chairman Chapman directs the CAO
to set-up a study session.
2. Supervisor
Keefer reports a Forest Service RAC meeting was held last Friday and
arrangements will be made to hold a public informational forum.
3. Supervisor
Keefer met with Community Development staff and CDF representatives relating to
the status of the County Fire Plan. He
is very disappointed that the county has gone through two consultants and
unfortunately there is still lots of work to do. Hopefully it will be finished by the end of
November.
4. Supervisor
Dahle thanks the board members for coming to the RCRC meeting and thanks
Virginia Lemke and Bob Sorvaag's Office for the work they did. He feels it was a very productive meeting.
5. Supervisor
Hanson announces there will be a planning meeting in Herlong on September 25th
to begin drafting a Town Center Plan.
6. Supervisor
Hanson announces the Honey Lake Conservation Team will be here on September
30th and October 1st to meet with various agencies.
7. Supervisor
Hanson has received inquiries from residents in the Karlo Road area regarding
the desire to obtain electrical service.
8. Supervisor
Chapman reports on the progress being made on the response to the Grand Jury
report.
9. Supervisor
Chapman will be attending CSAC and states there will be discussions relating to
a constitutional amendment to provide a mechanism to protect local government
from the whims of the State.
IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PUBLIC AUTHORITY
The Board of Supervisors recess and convene as the
In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority.
It is moved by Supervisor Dahle, seconded by Supervisor
Pyle and carried to remove Patti A. Meadows and Bill Young as In-Home
Supportive Services advisory board members per bylaws for not attending
meetings; and appoint Rebecca "Sam" Evans.
The In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority adjourn
and the Board of Supervisors reconvene.
MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD
It is moved by Supervisor Dahle, seconded by Supervisor
Hanson and carried to appoint Mary McNinch to fill a vacancy on the Mental
Health Advisory Board due to the resignation of Thomas Gauthier.
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 September 16, 2003.
MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE ITEMS
Receive and file the following correspondence:
a. Lassen County Technical Advisory Committee
special meeting agenda for September 16, 2003.
AUDITOR
It is moved by Supervisor Dahle and seconded by
Supervisor Keefer to award contract to Public Resource Management Group (PRM)
to provide 2002/2003 A87 Cost Plan, State Mandate SB90 Claims, Property Tax
Administration Fees and Jail Booking Fees, in the amount of $18,500; and
authorize CAO to sign the contract.
Supervisor Chapman would like to see the Auditor staff,
which had their salaries beefed up last year, perform this work.
Auditor Fouch states to develop the software in order to
produce the extensive cost plan and the staff time requirements would not be
cost effective at this time. The first
couple of years to take these functions in-house would be extremely labor
intensive. It may be doable in the
future and she feels it could be.
Supervisor Chapman feels we should look "out-of-the-box" and
would like the Auditor to take a look at this.
The motion carries on a roll call vote with Supervisor
Chapman voting NO.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION
CAO Whiteman presents a report on statistics relating to
mental health clients and discussions are held.
It is moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by Supervisor
Hanson and carried to
approve State Department of Mental Health Agreement No.
03-73028-000 in the amount of $326,215 for July 1, 2003 - June 30, 2004 and the
Contractor Certification Clause forms; and authorize the County Administrative
Officer to sign the documents.
It is moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by Supervisor
Hanson and carried to
approve the standard agreement with the State Department
of Mental Health for the provision of local mental health services and state
hospital services for FY 2003/2004; and authorize the County Administrative
Officer to sign the agreement.
INFORMATION FOR THE BOARD
1. CAO Whiteman
announces the first meeting will be held this week to discuss Prop 10 funding
in relation to establishing a Behavioral Specialist Position.
2. CAO Whiteman
states the Health Fair held last week was a success.
3. CAO Whiteman
announces he will be at a redevelopment seminar next week for a couple of days.
4. CAO Whiteman
and Supervisor Chapman note that September 20th was Supervisor Dahle's 38th
birthday.
BIG VALLEY SUSTAINED YIELD UNIT
It is moved by Supervisor Dahle, seconded by Supervisor
Hanson and carried to approve a memorandum of understanding among the USDA
Forest Service, Region Five, Modoc National Forest and the Bureau of Land
Management, Alturas Resource Field Office and the County of Modoc and the
County of Lassen; and to designate Supervisor Dahle as Lassen County's
representative on the Big Valley Sustained Yield Unit.
Recess 10:34 - 10:44 a.m.
PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT
Personnel Director Lynne Margolies provides a power
point presentation as an overview of Personnel and Risk Management
responsibilities and functions.
Discussion is held throughout the presentation. Supervisor Chapman emphasizes there is not
only a need to evaluate employees job performance, but to evaluate the job
description to determine if the job duties are still covered by the description
or if duties are exceeding the description and therefore a need for enhanced
compensation.
Supervisor Chapman suggests the pages from this
presentation be included with the response to the Grand Jury as an addendum.
BUDGET ADOPTION
Extensive discussion is held regarding the proposal to
restructure the Health and Human Services Department.
CAO Whiteman states the request for an additional
building inspector is based on the premise that building fee revenues will
continue to come in as projected, and if not, the position will be
deleted. It is also noted that proposed
new positions, such as grant writer under Administration, will have to be
approved by the Board prior to hiring.
Assistant to the CAO Chris Beard reviews the funds
designated for transfer from the Prison Mitigation Fund - $340,000 for the
telephone system; $500,000 as a set-aside for the Redevelopment Agency; $30,000
as a set-aside for the Bieber Memorial Hall kitchen remodel. This will leave $554,000 remaining in the
Prison Mitigation Fund. Some savings and
reimbursements are expected for repaying this fund.
Supervisor Dahle wants it noted that the budget the
Board will be considering for adoption today will maintain the current staffing
in the District Attorney's Office and states the Board has continued to fund
the previously grant funded positions, has funded the increased salaries from
employee MOU's, and has funded the increased insurance costs. This budget will also be supporting the
Sheriff's request to transfer supplemental law enforcement funding to help
maintain positions this year and is funding the additional costs generated by
the 3% at 50 retirement for safety employees.
He states the point is, the Board is using reserves to "step up to
the plate" to fund the departments even though this means deficit
spending. The message he wants sent to
the departments is the county will be looking at a worse budget situation next
year and he wants the departments to look at addressing this through attrition
and not come to the Board next year with the message that many employees will
need to be laid off.
Supervisor Chapman expresses his appreciation to Chris
Beard, Andy Whiteman and all other staff and department heads for the extreme
efforts that have been put forth on this budget.
It is moved by Supervisor Dahle, seconded by Supervisor
Hanson and carried unanimously, on a roll call vote, to adopt Resolution No.
03-067, establishing the appropriations limit in the amount of $20,845,274.,
for Fiscal Year 2003/2004, pursuant to California Constitution Article XIII-B
and Government Code Section 7910.
It is moved by Supervisor Dahle, seconded by Supervisor
Hanson and carried unanimously, on a roll call vote, to adopt Resolution No.
03-068, establishing the Bieber Lighting District appropriations limit in the
amount of $13,080. and approving the 2003/2004 Bieber Lighting District Budget
in the amount of $12,000.
It is moved by Supervisor Dahle, seconded by Supervisor
Pyle and carried unanimously, on a roll call vote, to adopt the 2003/2004 Final
Budget in the amount of $73,737,647.00; and authorize the CAO and Auditor to
make appropriate changes prior to publication.
It is moved by Supervisor Dahle, seconded by Supervisor
Pyle and carried unanimously, on a roll call vote, to adopt the Lassen-Modoc
Flood Control Budget in the amount of $236,600.
It is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor
Hanson and carried on a roll call vote, with Supervisor Dahle and Supervisor
Chapman voting NO, to adopt the County Service Area #1 (Honey Lake TV) budget
in the amount of $168,680; and adopt 2003/2004 TV User Fee in the amount of
$25.
UNAGENDIZED BOARD REPORTS CONT.
10. Supervisor
Pyle wants the CAO to look into AB 1093, relating to increasing the minimum
wage, and report back to the Board.
There being no further business, the meeting is
adjourned at 12:17 p.m.
__________________________________________
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
ATTEST:
_______________________________________
THERESA NAGEL, CLERK OF THE BOARD