BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

MAY 28, 2002

The Lassen County Board of Supervisors convene in Regular Session at 9:01 a.m. Chairman Dahle asks for public comment and no comments are received. County Clerk Nagel announces the Closed Session item and the Board recesses to Closed Session at 9:03 a.m. for a conference with Legal Counsel: significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Subdivision (b) of Government Code section 54956.9: one case.

Present in the Closed Session are Supervisors Robert Pyle, Lloyd Keefer, Brian Dahle, and Everd McCain; County Counsel Bill Murano, County Administrative Officer Andy Whiteman, Deputy County Counsel Craig Settlemire and County Clerk Theresa Nagel. Supervisor Chapman is absent. Closed Session is recessed at 9:28 a.m.

The Lassen County Board of Supervisors reconvenes in Regular Session on Tuesday, May 28, 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. Following the flag salute, the invocation is offered by Supervisor Pyle.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF ITEMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION

The County Clerk announces the Closed Session dealt with a conference with Legal Counsel: significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Subdivision (b) of Government Code section 54956.9: one case - no reportable action taken.

PUBLIC COMMENT

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

AGENDA APPROVAL, ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS

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

LASSEN COUNTY BOARD OF LAW LIBRARY TRUSTEES

It is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to accept the letter from Eugene B. Chittock submitting his resignation from the Lassen County Board of Law Library Trustees; and direct County Clerk to advertise vacancy.

LASSEN COUNTY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COMMISSION

It is moved by Supervisor Chapman, seconded by Supervisor McCain and carried to accept the letter from Yvonne O'Neill submitting her resignation from the Lassen County Children and Families County Commission, to be effective at the close of the June 6, 2002 meeting; and direct County Clerk to advertise vacancy.

It is moved by Supervisor Chapman, seconded by Supervisor McCain and carried to direct County Clerk to advertise for alternate member vacancies from Category Two and Category Three of the Lassen County Children and Families Commission.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Supervisor Dahle requests that Item G-1, Board minutes, be removed from the consent calendar for separate consideration.

It is moved by Supervisor Chapman, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to take the noted action on the following consent calendar items:

OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES ITEM

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

County.

PRISON TRIALS COST REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM ITEMS

Receive and file recap of CCC Prison Trials Cost Reimbursement Billing for the month of April, 2002; and High Desert State Prison Trials Cost Reimbursement Billing for the month of April, 2002.

MISCELLANEOUS CORRESPONDENCE ITEMS

Receive and file the following correspondence:

a. Lassen County Fair Advisory Board minutes of May 14, 2002.

b. Lassen County Mental Health Advisory Board Notice of Adjournment of the May 14, 2002 meeting and Continued Regular Meeting agenda for May 31, 2002.

c. Lassen County Air Pollution Control District Governing Board meeting agenda for May 30, 2002 and minutes of March 28, 2002.

d. Technical Advisory Committee agenda for June 4, 2002.

BOARD OF SUPERVISOR'S MINUTES

It is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried, with Supervisor Dahle abstaining, to approve minutes of May 21, 2002.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES - PERSONNEL DIVISION

It is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor Pyle and carried to approve two Addenda to the Memorandum of Understanding with the Lassen County Peace Officer's Association (POA) and POA Management Associations changing the bargaining unit for sergeants from POA to Commanders, effective July 1, 2002, with salary ranges remaining the same.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES - PURCHASING DIVISION

It is moved by Supervisor Keefer, seconded by Supervisor McCain and carried to approve the purchase of microwave (wireless) hardware through the California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS) for the County-wide Data Network, not to exceed $25,000, contingent upon successful testing.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - PLANNING DIVISION

It is moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by Supervisor Chapman and carried unanimously, on a roll call vote, to:

1) Authorize CAO, or his designee, to execute a contract with Pacific Municipal Consultants for preparation of a Final Environmental Impact Report for the Westwood/Clear Creek Area Plan, not to exceed $5,000.

2) Authorize CAO, or his designee, to execute a contract with Merle Anderson for preparation of the final Westwood/Clear Creek Area Plan for $10,800.

3) Transfer $15,000 from Fund 100/0681/3000100 (Planning Salaries) to 112/0942/2010711 (Westwood Area Plan).

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT - LASSEN RURAL BUS

Public Works Director Larry Millar distributes and discusses a spreadsheet on proposals from four companies to operate and manage the Lassen Rural Bus System.

It is moved by Supervisor Chapman, seconded by Supervisor Keefer and carried to approve the agreement for operation and management of the Lassen Rural Bus System (LRB Services Agreement) to MV Transportation, Inc.; and authorize the County Administrative Officer to sign the agreement following final approval by County Counsel.

UNAGENDIZED BOARD REPORTS

1. Supervisor McCain designates the remainder of his discretionary funds for the Standish-Litchfield Fire Protection District.

2. Supervisor Keefer attended the Norcal Conference last week. Assemblyman Sam Aanestad attended to discuss the State Budget, and he feels the Republican Caucus will stick with trying to have cuts made to state programs rather than local programs. He also stated that CSAC is not working for rural counties. Supervisor Keefer distributes two documents relating to the State Budget. He notes the CSAC representative spent most of her time defending CSAC, and making one statement that even Los Angeles County will be hurt by ending the Williamson Act Program, in the amount of $40,000 (Lassen County will lose 1/2 million dollars).

3. Supervisor Chapman further discusses the rural versus urban aspects of CSAC.

4. Supervisor Chapman discusses the plans for a visit to Lassen County by a representative from Senator Feinstein's Office. There is interest in the Carson Wandering Skipper, Sierra Army Depot, Big Valley Sustained Yield Unit and other issues. The meeting was scheduled for this week but has been delayed. He will let everyone know when this visit will occur.

5. Supervisor Chapman discusses the federal government fine against the State of California for not getting a Child Support Computer System operational. The State is passing this fine onto the counties and Lassen County's share will be $57,000 and cannot come from Child Support funds. It will be a direct expense to the County General Fund.

6. Supervisor Dahle reports on his attendance at the NACO Conference in Billings, Montana. He met with Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth and discussed the National Fire Plan and also biomass usage. He also met with the BLM and Forest Service on the issue of uncontrollable weeds - a national strategy is being put together.

7. Supervisor Dahle will meet with Regional Forester Jack Blackwell and Congressman Wally Herger this week to discuss the Big Valley Sustained Yield Unit.

LASSEN COUNTY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COMMISSION

Executive Director Laura Roberts is present to provide an update on the Lassen County Children & Families Commission. The four primary goals are improved systems, improved family functioning, improved child development and improved child health. The reason for focusing efforts on the youngest sector of the population is the knowledge that a child's brain develops very rapidly in the first three years of life. Experience plays a significant role in brain structure and function. The commission has been focused on their goals for approximately two years and have developed and implemented an ongoing mini grant program, one full grant round of funding, oral health projects, the CARES project, a new parent kit project, a family resource center/school readiness project and an AmeriCorps/VISTA Home Visiting Project. The total investment has been $842,865. COMPAC is performing a feasibility study on county-wide system of Family Resource Centers (FRC). Target communities are Big Valley Area, Herlong/Doyle Area, Susanville & surrounding areas and Westwood Area. The Westwood FRC is the first center established and will be opening this month. Westwood was eligible due to the poor test scores at Fletcher Walker Elementary School. Superintendent Henry Bietz informs the board members the test scores have improved tremendously over the past year. He discusses how difficult it is for parents to travel to Susanville for services especially during the winter. They are hoping to make the Westwood FRC a model for other counties.

Supervisor Dahle has concerns relating to on-going operational funding of these programs. Ms. Roberts discusses the manners in which funding and

in-kind services can contribute to the operational needs. Services have been pledged by: Fletcher Walker Elementary School, Lassen County Mental Health and Public Health, Office of Education, LassenWORKS and Social Services, Child Protective Services, Westwood Family Practice, Far Northern Regional Center, Lassen Community College and Lassen Indian Health Center.

Ms. Roberts asks if the Board of Supervisors will invest in the FRCs. She states that each year the County receives approximately $430,000 from the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) as a result of lawsuits against the tobacco industry for the destruction of health. She explains what the MSA funds would mean for the establishment and operation of the community FRCs.

Superintendent of Schools Bob Owens offers support of the FRC concept.

Henry Bietz states they have received additional State dollars to try to improve test scores and have received Federal funding for school services. These funds will help with the FRC.

Janice Irvin works for Headstart and states they also have funding that can help. She is an advocate for families who have difficulty accessing services.

Dave Jones from Mt. Valleys Health Centers, Inc. discusses the lack of services in Big Valley. He states a FRC is badly needed in the outlying areas. Their health center will also provide help if a FRC is established in the area.

Supervisor Dahle notes they do not have Headstart or any facilities for working mothers to take their children to. He would like to have help with grant writing so the Big Valley area can receive some of the grant funding from Lassen County Children & Families Commission.

Extensive discussion is held on the extreme needs relating to childrens' oral health.

Recess 11:08 - 11:10 a.m.

PUBLIC HEARING - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

The public hearing is opened at 11:10 a.m. to solicit comments regarding submittal of a grant application for $35,000 to be funded by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (CD) through the Community Development Block Grant Program, to be used by the Spalding Community Services District for continuing assistance with environmental planning, compliance documentation and conducting an income survey in support of applying for grant funding.

Community Development Director Robert Sorvaag presents the staff report. No one speaks against or in favor of the grant application and the hearing is closed at 11:13 a.m.

It is moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by Supervisor Keefer and carried to adopt Resolution No. 02-039, approving an application and authorizing execution of a grant agreement and any amendment thereto; and authorizing the County Administrative Officer or designee to sign all documents pertaining to the grant application.

COMMITTEE TO RESTORE THE NIGHT SKIES

Phil Finkel presents a request for a Lassen County Lighting Ordinance. He notes the initial issue was the obnoxious glare from High Desert State Prison. The activities of the Committee to Restore the Night Skies has accomplished a decrease in that lighting. They are concerned about the new federal prison and the Dyer Mountain development and the impact on the night skies. He notes that Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric is offering a $200 bounty for removal of outdoor area lights.

It is moved by Supervisor Chapman and seconded by Supervisor Keefer to direct the Community Development Department to organize a working group to investigate the development of an appropriate document/best approach for a lighting standard and to make arrangements for public hearings.

Supervisor Keefer has concerns about how far-reaching such an ordinance would be, particularly relating to homes and businesses.

Supervisor McCain states the County cannot regulate the state and federal government and he is very hesitant about this proposal because there are so many technicalities and he is hesitant to get into forcing the public to get permits for lighting.

Bruce Rhymes lends his voice to the cause of protecting the night skies but he also agrees with not having too much government regulation.

Phil Nemir feels that having various people work together will produce a reasonable standard for lighting.

The motion carries.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT - ROAD DIVISION

It is moved by Supervisor Pyle, seconded by Supervisor Keefer and carried to authorize the Chairman to sign the Federal Apportionment Exchange Program and State Match Program with the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans).

It is moved by Supervisor Chapman, seconded by Supervisor McCain and carried to adopt Resolution No. 02-037, Certifying the 2002 County Maintained Mileage, and Resolution No. 02-038, Certifying Changes in 2002 County Maintained Mileage.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT - TRANSPORTATION DIVISION

Supervisor McCain feels the scope of the Joint Powers Agreement creating the Lassen Transportation Agency is too broad. It should be narrowed down to either Lassen Rural Bus or public transportation matters.

Supervisor Chapman wants this discussed at the Lassen County Transportation Commission or at a joint City/County meeting prior to approval.

Chairman Dahle directs this agreement be continued so it can be rewritten by County Counsel, CAO, Auditor and the Public Works Director.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT - ROAD DIVISION

It is moved by Supervisor McCain, seconded by Supervisor Keefer and carried to approve the "Lease of Property" with Union Pacific Railroad Company, in the amount of $5,600, for twenty years beginning May 1, 2002, and expiring on April 30, 2022; and authorize the Public Works Director to sign the Agreement.

INFORMATION FOR THE BOARD

CAO Whiteman reminds the board members about the County picnic this Friday.

There being no further business, the meeting is adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

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CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

ATTEST:

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THERESA NAGEL, CLERK OF THE BOARD