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January 9, 2001 BOS Meeting (No meeting on January 16.) County Administrator Mike Crystal led the packed chambers in the Pledge of Allegiance. The swearing in process and the first part of the meeting was conducted by Chair Mike Reilly. The room was full and people were standing around the three sides. Supervisor Cale: Don Smithin passed away during the holidays. I'd like to adjourn in his memory. This is the 82nd anniversary of my mother's birthday. She's here with my wife. Happy Birthday, Mommy! Chair Reilly: Eeve Lewis is here to make the elections official. County Clerk Lewis: It's been 10 months since three members of the board were reelected in the primary last year. They take the oath of office as the final qualification. State law requires public officials to take the oath before assuming office. The order of taking the oath is driven by the district's number. Supervisor Cale was originally appointed to fill Janet Nicholas' term in the early 90s. He is beginning his third four-year term. His wife Jeannie Cale has consented to administer the oath to him. She did and Supervisor Cale signed the papers and thanked his constituents, county staff and colleagues. Eeve Lewis: The next supervisor to be sworn in is senior in terms of length of service on the board. Tim Smith is entering into his 4th four-year term. Justice Joseph Rattigan has consented to administer the oath. He has served as a state senator and as an appellate court justice. Supervisor Smith: I want to point out why I ask Joe to administer the oath each time. Governor Jerry Brown appointed him to the Court of Appeals in 1966 after he served 8 years in the state senate. He's been a mentor to me and a lot of young folks involved in political life. Joe reminds me of why we're all here and I appreciate his taking the time to come here and administer the oath. Justice Rattigan: This is the fourth consecutive time! Raise your right hand. [Justice Rattigan administers the oath without notes.] Supervisor Smith thanked the people of his district for voting for him and having confidence in his ability to do the job for the people here in Sonoma County. He thanked "the staff who really makes this place work. We have the best and the brightest. I look forward to the next four years." Eeve Lewis: The last supervisor to be sworn in is Mike Reilly of the 5th District, an interesting district. He is entering into his second four-year term. He was fortunate only to have a write-in campaign against him. [Eeve administered the oath.] Chairman Reilly: I just wanted to reiterate some of the comments made by Supervisors Cale and Smith. Dealing with a myriad of county services, this is one of the last true Renaissance positions we have in our culture. No one could do it without the tremendous support of our professional staff. Carol Mills and Heidi Gillen deal with hundreds of constituent issues. I want to acknowledge my wife and my partner Judy Reilly for all the evenings and weekend events and for traveling along with me on this. Thank you. Chair: Special Districts Consent Calendar Items 1 and 2, questions, comments? Record 5-0. Items 3 and 4, Sonoma Valley. Mayor Ken Brown here today? Perhaps he's not here. Record 2-0-1. That brings us to Consent. A couple of items on consent: Item 20, is Mr. Parkinson here? Supervisor Smith? Supervisor Smith: The appellant on Sears Point has sent a letter asking for approval to provide the mitigation on their site. What do we need to do to take advantage of that opportunity? Pete Parkinson, PRMD: I'd recommend that you hold this item for a couple of weeks so we can work out a new resolution and work with Sears Point on timing of installing that additional noise monitoring. Supervisor Smith: We did take a straw vote on that. We thought it was important to have the mitigation located on the site the Willeys own. I would support an effort to take back that resolution, bring it back and take advantage of it, and thank them for agreeing to provide that location. It would be important to gather the data and make whatever changes if that's ok with Supervisor Cale. S. Cale: I certainly concur. Our intent was always to collect the most information we could so we could find the appropriate mitigation. Without their assistance we could not do that. I support giving staff two weeks to prepare the resolution for doing that. Chair: We'll continue Item 20 for two weeks. Also I'm informed there are some people here who want to speak on Item 21, the bed and breakfast ordinance. Can I see the hands of people who wish to speak? Are you really the only person who wants to speak? Why don't you come forward? Supervisor Smith: Mr. Chairman, while we're waiting, I noticed my daughters Emily and Katie just arrived. I want to assure people, Yes, in fact the gene pool does work. We're notorious to arrive at the 11th hour of the board meeting. Anyway, please say hello to my girls. [Applause] Chairman Reilly: If you could limit your comments to about two minutes, I'd appreciate it. My name is Roger Farrell. I'm a resident of the city of Sonoma for some 38 years and on the Planning Commission there and a variety of services. I am concerned with the bed and breakfast proposal. I think having been a small business man, it reads of an adverse effect on small business. I think 10 units is just too large a unit capacity and I ask for this being reconsidered. It came to my attention because bed and breakfasts have been a concern of Sonoma. It asked the board to think twice about 10 units. They're hard to control. Napa County went through this. They had 3 units. They broadened it for 14 to 20 units. They closed it back down to 3 units. Maybe we could have an ad hoc committee look at this so we don't find in 5 years that the bed and breakfasts have become part of the hotel industry. I guess my time is up. Chair: The B&B ordinance was subject to about a year and a half of staff work. We had a full hearing here before the board. Supervisor Cale: I think there's still a lot of misunderstanding in terms of what we approved. Everything is subject to a use permit. There's no guarantee that an applicant's going to get what he submits. In fact the situation now is going to be more demanding than it was before. I support the position we've taken. Chair: Any other questions about the Consent Calendar? I also want to announce that we're holding Item 41. That's setting the time for that hearing subject to closed session discussion. [BW Note: Item 41. Setting time/date for hearing: UP 91-790, Rabbit Ridge Winery, February 27, 2001, at 2:15 p.m. as time and date for hearing to revoke or modify the use for the winery located at 3291 Westside Road, Healdsburg, District 4, and if the use permit is modified, consider an appeal of the design review approval of the winery's landscape and parking circulation plan.] Supervisor Kelley: On Item 37, the 2001 county legislative guidelines and program, I'd just like to mention at the time we sit down and meet with our lobbyists, we also talk to them about the Clover water contamination area. Find some timelines as it relates to grant. Also thanks to the Parks staff on Item 21, the completion of Phase I of the Cloverdale River Park. Please record a no vote on Item Number 7. [BW Note: 7. Clean needle exchange program requires emergency declaration due to use of HIV and Hepatitis C contaminated needles.] Chair: With one no vote on Item 7, the consent calendar is approved. We adopted a couple of resolutions. Item 16. Supervisor Kerns: Yes, we have a resolution declaring January Eligibility Worker and Training Specialist Recognition Month. Dianne Edwards, Director Human Services: We have 190 on the eligibility staff. They do a lot of outreach to make people aware of programs like MediCal and food stamps. They have to be familiar with 40 programs. I and a lot of our staff started our careers as eligibility workers. These workers' names were called. Supervisor Kerns presented the certificates. Chairman Reilly recognized Greg Abel, Court Administrator, who introduced Judge Hardcastle who introduced the outgoing judges: Judges Lloyd van der Mehden, Frank J. Passalacqua and Patricia Gray. They were recognized for their outstanding contributions to justice and the community. Judge Passalacqua was absent. Cheryl Dean represented Lynn Woolsey and Mike Thompson who sent their respects to the outgoing judges whose accomplishments appeared in the *Congressional Record.* They were given copies. Supervisor Kelley, current liaison to the criminal justice area, presented resolutions honoring the judges and asked them to come up for a picture with the supervisors. Chairman Reilly: That brings us to our Special Districts Regular Calendar, Item 42. Sonoma County Water Agency. Mark Wolter, Deputy Chief Engineer, Water Agency: The item is for a change order for approximately $254,000 for a storage reservoir for an airport treatment plant. It serves the Airport- Larkfield-Wikiup area, primarily the airport business area. We can only store 600,000 gallons of treated wastewater. We need 900,000 gallons storage. The airport business center is experiencing an explosion of growth out there currently. The reason for a change order is that we cannot get a Corps permit for the wetlands area encroaching on this storage pond area. We've been working with the Corps. They've been promising a permit since October. Due to delays in that permit we've been incurring about $10,000 a working day. We've shut that portion down for the winter time because we can't keep incurring these kinds of costs. They keep promising but they still can't deliver. We've incurred a cost of $250,000 beyond the regular contract. Supervisor Kelley asked for the board's help: We've worked with the Corps for a year and not gotten them to sign on the dotted line. The potential cost to the ratepayers is very frustrating. Chair: Record 5-0. Thank you Mr. Wolter. That brings us to Item 43, our annual selection of officers of the board. Supervisor Cale: I'm honored to put forth the name of Tim Smith as chairman for 2001. Mike Kerns for the 2nd District vice chair and for pro tem, Supervisor Paul Kelley. Supervisor Kelley had nominations for Sonoma Valley Sanitation District board of directors: Supervisor Cale and now Chairman Smith. Supervisor Kerns is alternate. Chair Reilly: By acclamation these nominations are adopted. This is Supervisor Smith's fourth time as chairman. Supervisor Smith thanked Chairman Reilly for taking us through the year 2000. You conducted our many public hearings in a high quality manner. The chair does pick up a lot of extra duties and with a busy district. The 5th District is regarded as the most intense place in the county to represent. I'd like to present you with a gift. Chairman Reilly's closing comments: I appreciate the support of my colleagues in getting through some tough issues. I particularly want to acknowledge the support of Laney Gerber, clerk of the board in getting me through my responsibilities as chair. Before every board meeting she tells me the seven things I have to do. We've seen increasing tension between agriculture and residential uses in some of our rural areas. Both are key to preserving the quality of our life here in Sonoma County. Transportation, water issues, cost of housing, all tremendously challenging issues before us. I'm happy that this year we had the dollars to put some services back into the budget. What this board did on campaign finance reform is laudable.We'll remember the year 2000 for the loss of Tom Shoplin. I want to acknowledge Mike Crystal and all the people in the county who got us through the tough issues last year. Thank you very much for allowing me to be here. Chairman Smith: We're going to take a short break here. The county family, the remarks about Tom Shoplin and the professionalism are so significant. 2001 won't be less challenging. We've got some enormous issues to deal with in this next year. From housing issues, general plans, water issues, a continued frustration with transportation, the conflicts with rural and ag. I'm looking forward to 2001 being a great year. Supervisor Reilly, we have a gift here for you. It's a tradition. It's a mantel clock. Supervisor Reilly: It has the chair and the names of the supervisors on it. I'll put it on my mantel to look at. Thank you. We'll be back in about 10 minutes. Chairman Smith: Items 4, 5, and 9 on the Closed Session Calendar will be held until January 23rd. [BW: Those are these: 4. Friends of Frederick Sieg Grove #94 v. Occidental CSD, et al 5. RWQCB v. Occidental County Sanitation. Directors and SCWA directors will consider the WQCB order to cease and desist from threatening to discharge waste in violation of requirements. 9. Conference with real property negotiator concerning 12 +/- lots for civic renewal and lease of office space for Human Services] Item 6 will be held indefinitely. [It is the following: Conference with legal counsel-existing litigation: Russian River Watershed Protection Committee v. Russian River County Sanitation District, et al.] On the Regular Calendar, Item 50 will be held until January 23rd as well. [The item is appointment of Human Resources Director.] Chairman Smith: We'll move to Item 44, assignment of board members. I expect 2001 to bring some unique challenges. There will be some holdovers so we can accomplish some of these complicated goals. General Administrative Services, Chairman Tim Smith Fiscal and Consumer Protection Services, Supervisor Kelley Development Services, Supervisor Cale to stay on Criminal Justice, Supervisor Kerns Health and Social Service, Supervisor Reilly Madam Clerk, you can adopt that 5-0. I would like to go on and do Special Assignments: Association of Bay Area Governments, S. Kerns; S. Kelley, alt. Bay Area Air Quality District, S. Smith will continue; Bay Conservation Development Commission, S.Cale; S.Smith, alt. CSAC Board of Dir., Supervisor Smith will continue Eel Russian River Commission, S. Kelley; S. Smith, appointee & alt. FishNet 4C, S. Reilly; S. Smith, Golden Gate Bridge District, S. Cale High Tech Ad Hoc Committee, S. Kelley; S. Reilly Jail Subcommittee, Supervisors Kerns and Kelley; S. Cale, alt. Joint Roseland Subcommittee, S. Smith; S. Reilly LAFCO, Supervisors Cale, Smith; S. Kelley, alt. North Coast Air Pollution, S. Kelley; S. Reilly, alt. North Coast Supervisors Association, S. Kelley; S. Reilly, alt. Public Policy Facilitating Committee, Supervisors Kelley, Smith, Reilly Redwood Empire Association, S. Kelley; S. Reilly, alt. Russian River Watershed Council, S. Reilly; S. Kelley, alt. Sonoma County Jail Industry Commission, S. Kerns SC Transportation Authority, Supervisors Smith, Kerns, and Kelley Tourism and Investors Committee, Supervisors Cale and Kelley Vote: 5-0 REGIONAL PARKS/WATER AGENCY 45. Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Dam Structural Repair Jim Angelo and Randy Poole: -Permission from Fish and Game to delay construction of Fishway so that structural repairs may be completed concurrently -Approve funding agreement between county and agency for $50,000; county will perform CEQA and ESA compliance and permitting services for structural repair -Agency's General Manager to contract with a standard consulting services; contract not to exceed $60,000 -Concurrent resolution of BOS/Directors for budgetary adjustments to 00-01 final budget for Regional Parks $65,000 and Water Agency $50,000 (4/5th vote) Supervisor Kelley said that we had a structural study done last year. The structure is sound but needs repairs to improve. Possibly raise dam to 10'. There will be a cost savings and convenience to the public if we can do the Fishway and the structural repairs concurrently. Vote: 5-0 46. In-home supportive services (IHSS) Program Provider Rate Increase The supervisors voted to increase In-Home Supportive Services $188,043 to increase the wage rate from $6.04 to $6.56 an hour effective January 1, 2001. Vote: 5-0 47. Child Welfare Program Position Request. Resolution authorizing $405,904 to Human Services. Resolution to amend department allocation list to add 4.5 positions Social Services Worker IV, 2.5 Clerk Typist III, and 1.0 Supervising Clerk I positions for Child Welfare Services Program Carol Bower said that they wanted to extend one position to the county sheriff to be associated with the sexual assault and family violence unit. We want to add 2 and 1/2 positions to our family maintenance services to keep children in the home. Co-locate a social worker with the training staff. We would like to add a 1/2 time clerk to the Valley of the Moon Children's Home. We want to add a supervising clerk for 8 clerks for our general families and children, mileage, claims, telephone issues, court reports. Supervisor Reilly: Our director Dianne Edwards, one of only 7 county welfare directors, has been chosen for the stakeholders group to redesign and retool the child welfare system state wide. Public Comment: Bill Pisenti: How much are you paying these new employees? I'm asking because on your last item you're asking people to work for $6.56 an hour. How many people would work for that? I'd be ashamed to hire somebody at that kind of salary. How much money are those new employees going to get? Diane Edwards: A Social Worker IV which requires a master's degree earns roughly $50,000 a year. Chair: Questions? Objections? Record a 5-0. Congratulations, Diane, on your appointment to the stakeholders' group. HUMAN RESOURCES 48. Human Resources Report on Recruiting, Selection, and Request for Funding, Contingencies $30,000 Director Gearhart and Darlene Howe gave the report. The department is working to reduce backlog, doing internet advertising. They want to advertise the positions one year in advance. They recruit locally and out of the area. Most of the workers come from Sonoma, Marin and Mendocino Counties. The turnover rate is good. Deputy sheriffs are low. Eligibility workers are higher. Supervisor Cale asked why they leave. He was told there were no exit interviews so the department doesn't know. The county workforce continues to grow. Vote: 5-0 49. Recruiting and Retention Committee Report Adopt recommendations of Recruiting and Retention Committee Resolution for budgetary adjustments $44,500. There is a shortage of skilled workers in the community. We need to retain current employees and upgrade their skills. The local economy is still hot so even unskilled workers are in demand. Ideas on recruiting workers: booth display at job fairs, polo shirts to look spiffy, glossy classy brochures, bus ads, on site job fair. Identify department staff to answer recruiting questions. Streamline the process. Evaluate with simple questions: what worked, what didn't? For retention: career development planning; where to go to advance. Make sure salaries are competitive. Are we attracting people? Benefits? Improve the workplace in terms of maintenance and layout. Improve the atmosphere. Jazz band from Montgomery. New employee orientation program; make it more comprehensive and current. Exit interview process. Try to look at it from the corporate standpoint. Why are employees leaving? Reach out and understand what the quality of the worklife is. Supervisor Kerns asked what region we were drawing workers from. The answer was Bay Area, Sacramento, LA, Fresno, Bakersfield. This is an attractive area. The one disadvantage is housing. Supervisor Smith said that 85% were already from the North Bay. Vote: 5-0 50. Held over. 51. Request for refund of $432 for encroachment permit fees paid by the Russian Chamber for "Parade of Lights." Vote: 5-0 ______________Adjourned 10:20 for Morning Session [BW Note on Justice Rattigan: I used to spend a lot of time in the county law library for my paralegal program. Justice Rattigan spent a lot of time there also. He did his own legal research. We all commented on it, for he was the only judge we ever saw in the law library. He is indeed extra special. We all admired him.] |