Minutes of the Board of Trustees – Wednesday, February 11, 2009.

 

1.      Roll Call:

Present:      President, Evan Long; Secretary, Belen Gomez; Bette George; Harold Dozier and Bruce Myers.

Staff:                      Manager, Michael Alburn.

 

2.      Approval of January Minutes:

It was moved by Belen Gomez, seconded by Harold Dozier, and unanimously carried that the Minutes of the January meeting be approved as mailed.

 

3.      Approval of January Bills:

Following discussion, it was moved by Bruce Myers, seconded by Bette George, and unanimously carried that the January Bills be approved as mailed.  See:  Board Order to disburse funds No. 15, Exhibit I.

 

4.      Approval of February Payroll:

Following discussion, it was moved by Harold Dozier, seconded by Belen Gomez, and unanimously carried that the February Payroll be approved as mailed.  See:  Board Order to disburse funds No. 16, Exhibit II.

 

5.      Public Forum:

Evan Long, President, thanked the Trustees for their confidence and expressed his appreciation and respect for the Board’s work and oversight.  Mr. Long also thanked Bruce Myers, Past President, for his service.  The President urged the Board to help with the vacancies, as they are able so the District can have a Board that is at full strength.

 

6.      Operational Report:

The Manager reported on the following activities:

·        Advertising for Tech I positions will begin the last week of the month, we will use our web site for application access in addition to walk-in.

·        Annual Report draft is expected to be complete in time for the March Board meeting so we can publish in April.

·        NPDES Permit/ 6th Circuit Court decision – MVCAC has formed an Ad Hoc committee to negotiate a new permit with the State Water Quality Control Board.  The current permit does not include adulticide.  6th Circuit decision is not final since it is being appealed.  Progress will be reported as it becomes available.

·        Red Boxes/ Wild bird trapping will be additional methods employed this season in an effort to better understand West Nile Virus.

·        Flood Control Basins are being addressed with local cities in order to get clean out accomplished in time for better control of larvae this summer.

·        World Ag Expo- employees were allowed to attend at their own expense on district time as part of our effort to educate staff regarding new practices in the ag community and keep an eye out for useful tools that may be brought to our operation.

·        Label Training has been completed for regular staff, additional training dates will occur when seasonal staff is brought on board.

·        State of CA has reached a tentative budget deal, expected to be voted on Friday.

o       Increasing the state sales tax by 1 cent;

o       Increasing gasoline taxes by 12 cents per gallon;

o       Raising the Vehicle License Fee from 0.65% to 1.15%, with 1% going to the state’s general fund and 0.65% going to local law enforcement;

o       An across-the-board increase in the state’s personal income tax, either assessing a surcharge on tax liability or increasing the tax rates.

o       The state also stands to receive billions in federal stimulus money as the package approaches closure in Washington.

 

7.      Tulare/ Delta Sphere of Influence Discussion:

The District has investigated the funding in the approximately 8.5 sq. miles of Tulare MAD that lies within the City of Visalia.  The value of the Tax Rate Area’s in south and west Visalia is approximately $100,000.  We are currently attempting to get LAFCo Executive Officer George Finney to respond to our request for him to encourage Tulare MAD to return to a conversation that solves the boundary issues presented in the Cortese Knox Hertzberg Act.  He was to discuss the concern with that Board on January 13th.  Numerous attempts to get a response about that meeting have gone unanswered.

 

8.      Rawhide Outing:

On May 29, 2009 at Recreation Park in the Toyota Pavilion the District will hold its annual family night.  The cost is $22.50 per person for immediate family & singles, friends and other family members are invited to attend at their own expense.  The Rawhide will play the San Jose Giants with fireworks being presented at the conclusion of the game.  The District will have to cover a 60 person minimum.

 

9.      Redevelopment:

AB 1389 Requires Redevelopment Agencies to audit and report pass through payments to the County Auditor for years 03/04 – 07/08.  The law was established September 30, 2008 and the audits were to be completed by November 1, 2008.

 

·        City of Visalia, not required.

·        City of Exeter, not required.

·        City of Woodlake, $474.33 received this month.

·        Dinuba, $3,522.87 received this month.

·        Farmersville, $4,453 received this month.

 

The District is in the process of acquiring a payment schedule so we can better track payments.  We will also be contacting Farmersville regarding their vacant seat on the Board.

 

10.  Laboratory:

Thom Black was contacted to do a conceptual draft of a scientific laboratory.  Discussions have led to a contract he produced for our review outlining the scope of work he is to perform.  In the mean time, while attending the MVCAC Annual Conference, the Manager visited the laboratory of the San Mateo Vector Control District and the architectural firm of Hayashida in Emeryville.  Hayashida has done laboratories for San Mateo MVCD, Contra Costa MVCD, Alameda MAD and Napa MAD.

 

The Manager suggested that experience is something the Board should consider strongly, asking for direction as to whether or not he should put together an Request For Proposals so that these two architects can respond.  The District is currently under no obligation to Thom Black.  The District could simply say sorry we are using Hayashida.  Whereas, Hayashida Architects knew the type of equipment the labs would be using including microscopes and fume hoods.

 

The Manager explained that we have $2,000 budgeted for a conceptual product and we are more likely to get a usable approximation of costs for such a project with Hayashida.

 

After much thoughtful discussion, it was moved by Bruce Myers, seconded by Bette George and unanimously carried to ask Hayashida to perform a conceptual drawing for the Boards consideration.  The Board also was very interested in meeting with the firms representatives to hear their perspective on the climate, project, etc.  The Manager assured the Board that the principals would be made available for discussion.

 

11.  Adjournment:

The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.