BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

JANUARY 22, 2002

The Lassen County Board of Supervisors convenes in Regular Session on Tuesday, January 22, 2002, at 9:30 a.m. Present: Supervisors Robert Pyle, Jim Chapman, Lloyd Keefer, Brian Dahle, and Everd McCain; County Counsel Bill Murano, County Administrative Officer (CAO) Andy Whiteman and County Clerk Theresa Nagel. Supervisor Chapman is not present at the beginning of the meeting. Following the flag salute, the invocation is offered by Supervisor Dahle.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF ITEMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION

Chairman Dahle announces that no closed session was held.

Supervisor Chapman enters at 9:31 a.m.

AGENDA APPROVAL, ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS

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

PUBLIC COMMENT

Chairman Dahle asks for public comment and no comments are received.

UNAGENDIZED BOARD REPORTS

1. Supervisor Chapman reports on the CSAC Executive Meeting in regard to information received on the state budget and how local government was not hit hard this year. It was stated that with pressure off of prison populations the state will not be renewing five CCF Contracts (detention of parole violators in local facilities) and this may impact Lassen County Adult Detention Facility.

2. Supervisor Chapman discusses the installation of Supervisor Dahle as Vice-Chair of RCRC. He also notes that he was able to view the Olympic Torch while in Sacramento last weekend.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mental Health Board (MHB) Vice-Chairman John Brooner informs the board members that the Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) Contract has been reviewed by the MHB and they are supporting it. He also states that he and Mace DeLorme attended the State Mental Health Planning Council meeting in San Diego and received a lot of information on the TBS Program.

UNAGENDIZED BOARD REPORTS CONT.

3. Supervisor McCain states that he attended the RCRC meeting for the first time and was very impressed with the work the group does. He was particularly impressed with: Task Force on Court Facilities; presentation on PG&E Bankruptcy; presentation by Air Resources Board on burn barrel controversy; and presentation on airport grants and loans.

4. Supervisor Keefer attended the first Fire Safe Council meeting which was basically a planning meeting with an organizational meeting planned as the next meeting. He announces that five bids were received to prepare the Fire Safe Plan.

5. Supervisor Dahle thanks Supervisor Chapman and Supervisor McCain for attending the RCRC meeting for his installation. He also announces that he has a full packet of information on the airport grants/loans that he will give to Larry Millar. He notes that RCRC reserved the right to intercede in the PG&E Bankruptcy. He also discusses the information presented by the Court Facilities Task Force.

6. Supervisor Dahle informs the board members that he was contacted by Ryan Hansen from the Wilderness Coalition regarding Senator Boxer's plan to seek legislation for more Wilderness Study Areas. Dahle strongly encouraged Mr. Hansen and the coalition to look at areas that have been designated Wilderness Study Areas (WSA) for twenty years to see the pro and con merits. Supervisor Dahle wants the current WSA's cleaned up before new ones are created.

CONSENT CALENDAR

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

COUNTY CLERK ITEM

Approve Minutes of January 15, 2002.

COUNTY CLERK/RECORDER - ELECTIONS DIVISION ITEM

Adopt Resolution No. 02-005, authorizing and directing the County Clerk

to hold and conduct all elections requested of her office during 2002; determining fees for certain services; determining compensation for persons working at the polls, in central counting, and on the canvass board.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES - PURCHASING ITEM

Award bid for the purchase of three 2002 8-passenger, all wheel drive vans, one for Juvenile Hall and two for the Mental Health Department, to Wittmeier Chevrolet, Chico, the lowest bidder meeting specifications, in the amount of $71,800.51.

COUNTY COUNSEL ITEM

Reject claim of Harold Abbott, in its entirety, and direct County Clerk to send Notice of Rejection.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION ITEM

Approve the application for Project for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) Grant in the amount of $3003 for FY 2001/2002; and authorize the Director of Health and Human Services to sign the application and subsequent agreement.

OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES ITEM

Ratify continuation of Declaration of State of Disaster / Emergency in Lassen

County.

PROBATION DEPARTMENT ITEM

Approve travel authorization request for Joseph Ritz to attend the Standard for Training in Corrections (S.T.C.) mandated Manager/Administrative Course in Sacramento, March 18-22, 2002, and May 6-10, 2002, at the estimated cost of $ 2,488.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT - ROAD DIVISION ITEM

Adopt Resolution No. 02-006, supporting Proposition 42 - Traffic Congestion Improvement Act.

MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE ITEMS

Receive and file the following correspondence:

a. Lassen County Transportation Commission meeting agenda for January 14, 2002.

b. Lassen County Fair Advisory Board meeting minutes of January 8, 2002.

c. Lassen County Air Pollution Control District Governing Board meeting agenda for February 5, 2002, and minutes of November 13, 2001.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES - PERSONNEL DIVISION

It is moved by Supervisor Chapman, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to authorize initiation of recruitment at current salary range; and appoint a screening committee consisting of County Counsel, County Administrative Officer and Personnel Director with top three candidates interviewed by the Board of Supervisors in May.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - LASSENWORKS DIVISION

Welfare Supervisor Peggy Crosby presents information on the need for visitation coordinator services noting she currently has four social workers and should have eight. She answers questions from board members.

It is moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by Supervisor Keefer and carried on a roll call vote, with Supervisor Chapman and Supervisor McCain voting NO, to approve agreement with Mountain Circle, Inc. for Transportation and Visitation Coordinator Services from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002; and authorize the Director of Health and Human Services to sign the agreement.

COUNTY COUNSEL

It is moved by Supervisor Chapman and seconded by Supervisor Pyle to adopt Resolution No. 02-007, amending Resolution No. 98-038 setting meeting days for the Board of Supervisors.

Supervisor Keefer states he will be voting against this resolution because he feels the Board does not have enough business for the additional meeting.

Supervisor McCain requests a change in the resolution wording to state that regular meetings will not be held on the first Tuesday, election days and holidays. He feels the current wording would prevent special meetings being held on those days.

The maker and second to the motion amend the motion to include the wording change.

The motion carries on a roll call vote with Supervisor Keefer voting NO.

INFORMATION FOR THE BOARD

1. CAO Whiteman informs the board members the Ambulance Committee has requested a joint City/County meeting to discuss their recommendations at 5:30 p.m. on February 19th. Chairman Dahle directs the CAO to make arrangements for the meeting.

2. CAO Whiteman informs the board members that Sierra County wants to hold a Quad Counties Meeting on May 1st or 8th. Board consensus is to suggest the meeting be held on April 30th.

3. CAO Whiteman informs the board members that he will be attending a CSAC meeting in Orange County relating to human relations and labor negotiations.

4. On behalf of the Recognition Committee CAO Whiteman presents a five-years of service coffee cup to Supervisor Dahle.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION

1. Mental Health Project Director Jim Jackson presents information on the Mobile Treatment Facility (MTF) - A Children's System of Care (CSOC) Program. Staff answers questions from board members. Supervisor Chapman makes a lengthy statement relating to the functioning of this proposed program. He wonders how departments other than mental health can be involved because of the confidentiality issues. Mr. Jackson responds recent changes now allow a multi-agency memorandum of understanding to allow agencies to work together on the Children's System of Care Program. Board members discuss the need, in outlying communities, for mental health services to persons that would not fit into this program. The question is asked why this program cannot serve these persons since mental health workers will be in the communities. Mr. Jackson responds that the funding received is for the Children's System of Care Program and there is not adequate funding at this time to serve those totally un-associated with children. Supervisor Keefer sees this as a very positive beginning and he does hope that it will act as a stepping stone to further services to outlying communities.

It is moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by Supervisor Keefer and carried unanimously, on a roll call vote to: 1) approve 2.0 FTE Case Managers and .50 Probation Officer for the Mobile Treatment Facility (MTF); 2) increase the Children's System of Care (CSOC) Budget in the amount of $53,330; and, 3) increase revenue accounts 110-0711-20-107-00 in the amount of $43,988 and 110-0711-20-05205 in the amount of $9,342.

Recess 10:44 - 10:46 a.m.

2. Mental Health Project Director Jim Jackson presents information on Therapeutic Behavioral Services. The proposed contract is a fee for service and will be less expensive than having county staff provide the services. Staff answers questions from board members.

Supervisor Keefer notes the Mental Health Board is strongly supporting the proposed contract. Supervisor McCain feels the MHB support is important although he is not convinced the cost estimates are correct. He would like a review of this new program in six months.

It is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried on a roll call vote, with Supervisor Chapman abstaining, to approve the contract with Lassen Life Skills for Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) from December 3, 2001 through June 30, 2002; approve increase in the Children's System of Care Budget (Fund 110-0711) in the amount of $261,360 reflective of the TBS Program; and authorize the Director of Health and Human Services to sign the contract.

WESTWOOD VISITOR CENTER

Supervisor Pyle initiates discussion of the need for a policy for use of the Westwood Visitor Center.

Westwood Chamber of Commerce representative Sonjia Edwards explains the role the Chamber of Commerce will play in staffing the visitor's center and promoting activities.

Steve Robinson of Mountain Meadows Conservancy states they would like to have a presence at the visitor's center. He explains what they want to provide. He states their group has been associated with the group against the Dyer Mountain Project but they are not. They just want to preserve resources and wildlife in and around Walker Lake.

Board members feel their activities can easily be coordinated with the Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber member Nick Ceaglio thanks the Board for the construction of the visitor's center as it is a great asset for the community. He notes that he is very involved in the community and has no knowledge of what the Mountain Meadows Conservancy actually does, but the bumper stickers on the Robinson's vehicles show their negative stance on Dyer Mt. He notes the chamber wants to promote wildlife viewing in the Westwood/Almanor area and throughout the rest of the county via cooperation with other chambers of commerce.

Supervisor Chapman states that no group should use the center for political agendas. He discusses the ideas for excursion trains to Westwood and surrounding areas.

Chairman Dahle directs County Counsel to prepare an agreement for maintenance and operations of the visitor's center.

CORRESPONDENCE

Notification from Governor's Office of Emergency Services that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has declared the primary county of Lassen and contiguous county of Plumas as a disaster area due to damages caused by drought beginning January 1, 2001 and continuing, is received and filed.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING INITIATIVE

Supervisor Chapman initiates discussion of the CSAC proposal to place an initiative relating to Local Government funding on the November 2002 Ballot. He presents information on two proposed initiatives and asks the board members to provide any comments prior to the CSAC Board of Director's meeting he will be attending on January 31st.

Board consensus is to continue their support for placement of a ballot proposition on the November ballot for funding of local government.

There being no further business, the meeting is adjourned at 11:41 a.m.

__________________________________________

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

ATTEST:

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THERESA NAGEL, CLERK OF THE BOARD