Minutes of the Board of Trustees – Wednesday, April 14, 2010.
1. Roll Call:
Present: President, Evan Long; Secretary, Belen Gomez; Bette George; Bruce Myers; Richard Phillips, Bruce Myers and Harold Dozier.
Staff: Manager, Michael Alburn.
Administrative Assistant, Sheri Davis.
Counsel: Jeffery Kuhn.
Consultant; John Bliss, Maria Garcia-Adarve.
2. Approval of March Minutes:
It was moved by Richard Phillips, seconded by Belen Gomez, and unanimously carried that the Minutes of the March meeting be approved as mailed.
3. Approval of March Bills:
Following discussion, it was moved by Harold Dozier, seconded by Bruce Myers, and unanimously carried that the March Bills be approved as submitted. See: Board Order to disburse funds No. 19, Exhibit I.
4. Approval of April Payroll:
Following discussion, it was moved by Bruce Myers, seconded by Harold Dozier, and unanimously carried that the April Payroll be approved as submitted. See: Board Order to disburse funds No. 20, Exhibit II.
5. Public Forum:
Don Nuckols, 2349 E. Paradise, Visalia – asked about being able to report mosquito sources anonymously and still be receive information regarding the action the District had taken to solve the reported problem. Manager Alburn detailed the District’s effort to solve problems without bringing the reporting party to the attention of the producer.
Don Aamodt, 1537 N. Asciano Ct., Visalia – asked about the number of service requests the District is currently experiencing in comparison to previous years. Administrative Assistant, Davis described the volume of calls she is experiencing as similar to past years.
6. Public Hearing:
Proposed Delta Vector Control District Improved Mosquito, Vector and Disease Testing and Control Assessment.
Board President Evan Long welcomed all in attendance and provided the following information:
The public hearing is the conclusion of the ballot proceeding that allows property owners in the Delta Vector Control District to decide if an assessment should be approved to provide funding for the proposed Improved Mosquito, Vector and Disease Testing and Control Assessment.
This public hearing gives property owners and residents another opportunity to obtain additional information about the proposed assessment and services, and to provide any additional input or comments to the District. After the end of the public input portion of this hearing, the balloting period will close.
The procedure for today’s public hearing will be as follows:
1. First, we will hear reports from District staff and consultants about the District, the proposed services and the ballot proceeding.
2. Next, we will open the public hearing so that the public can speak about this measure and ask questions.
3. After the close of the public hearing portion of this hearing, staff, consultants, and legal counsel will answer the questions raised.
4. After the questions are answered, there will be a final call for ballots to be submitted.
5. After the final call for ballots, the public input portion of the hearing will be closed, and this public hearing will be continued on May 12, 2010 at the District’s Board room in order to allow enough time for the tabulation of ballots.
[Important note:]
All ballots must be submitted prior to the close of the public input portion of today’s meeting. The ballot box is located in the back of the room. Please drop your ballot in this box if you wish to submit your ballot.
If you misplaced your ballot or need a new ballot, you can request and receive a replacement ballot here today. You must provide some form of identification and proof of ownership for the parcels you claim ownership. Please see Maria Garcia-Adarve, the person with her hand raised, to receive a replacement ballot.
The Manager made the following recommendation:
1. That the Board hold a public hearing for the proposed Improved Mosquito, Vector and Disease Testing and Control Assessment for the Delta Vector Control District.
2. After the conclusion of the public input portion of the public hearing, the Board should close the balloting period, continue the public hearing until May 12, 2010, and direct the County Registrar of Voters, the tabulator, to tabulate all ballots received.
Background:
On December 9, 2009, this Board directed SCI Consulting Group, the Assessment Engineer for this project, to proceed with assessment engineering for a new proposed assessment for the improved services to be provided by the District. The Assessment Engineer subsequently prepared an Engineer’s Report detailing the benefits from the proposed assessments, the method of assessment, an estimate of cost and budget for the assessments, and justification of the proposed assessments.
The Engineer’s Report was made available to the Board and was adopted by Resolution No.10-02 at the February 10, 2010 Board meeting. At that meeting, the Board also directed the mailing of notices and ballots to property owners within the boundaries of the proposed Assessment and set April 14, 2010 as the date for the public hearing on the proposed assessments.
The purpose of this Public Hearing is to give all interested parties the opportunity to hear, and have heard, comments regarding the proposed assessments and assessment ballot proceeding and for the District Board of Trustees to accept any additional ballots. In addition, the balloting period officially closes at the conclusion of the public input portion of today’s Public Hearing.
Following the close of the public input portion of the public hearing, the Board may continue the public hearing until May 12, 2010 to allow sufficient time for the tabulation of ballots received and may direct the County Registrar of Voters, the tabulator, to commence tabulation of all valid ballots that were received prior to the close of the public input portion of the public hearing.
The tabulation of ballots is expected to be completed by the Board meeting scheduled for May 12, 2010. At the May 12 meeting, the Board may consider — provided a majority protest does not exist — a resolution to levy the assessments for fiscal year 2010-11.
Maria Garcia-Adarve, SCI, reported that over 54,000 ballots were mailed, the District had allowed 47 days for the public to turn in ballots, over 20% of the ballots were returned, and 4.8% were undeliverable.
President Long then opened the public hearing for the proposed Improved Mosquito, Vector and Disease Testing and Control Assessment.
Those who wished to speak were asked to fill out a speaker card and give it to the Board’s Clerk as you go to the lectern. Please state your name and address for the record and direct your remarks to the Board.
Please be ready to speak as soon as the person before you has finished. You may speak only once during this hearing. All comments are limited to three (3) minutes per speaker.
Board Members and staff will not respond immediately to your remarks. All questions raised will be answered after all public comment has been received.
Mr. Allen A. Costa, 4471 E. Springfield, Fresno, CA 93725 – spoke against the proposal. Mr. Costa questioned the assessment rate for his property, asking for a review.
Kevil Quinley, 841 S. Whitney Ln., Visalia, CA 93277 – asked for a presentation to inform the public of the reason and details for the assessment. Square foot costs? District Budget?
President Long asked:
· “Are there any other people who would like to speak on this issue?”
· “Are there any written communications to be read into the record?”
· “Are there any other communications the public wishes to make?”
· “Thank you. I now ask staff, consultants, and counsel to prepare responses to the questions raised by the public.”
Following a 10 minute recess President Long directed:
“Staff will now answer all questions asked during public input.”
John Bliss, SCI agreed to the request of Mr. Costa for a review of the assessment his property was to be charged if approved. Mr. Bliss had the ability to conduct the review on site this evening.
Manager Alburn reported on the square footage, the District Budget, gave a brief description of the reason and details concerning the assessment. It was noted that the District has gone to the unusual length to provide an Information Guide with each ballot so the public could have the information available when making their decision.
President Long announced:
At this time, I am issuing the last call for ballot submission for the proposed Improved Mosquito, Vector and Disease Testing and Control Assessment. Please turn in any ballots that you wish to have counted. Ballots received after the close of the public input portion of this hearing will not be counted.
President Long followed with the announcement that the public input portion of the hearing is now closed.
President Long asked if there were any Board comments on the matter before us?”
Hearing none President Long declared:
On behalf of the Delta Vector Control District, I hereby direct the Tulare County Registrar of Voters, the tabulator, to begin the tabulation of the ballots in this matter.
Ladies and gentlemen, please be advised that this public hearing will be continued on May 12, when the ballot tabulation is projected to be completed and announced.
If the tabulation is completed by May 12, 2010, and if the tabulation finds that a weighted majority of ballots submitted are in support of the proposed assessment this Board may consider a resolution to levy the assessments commencing in fiscal year 2010-11.”
7. Operational Report:
The Manager reported:
The aerial swimming pool surveillance will occur in the next week or two, dependant upon weather. Cost is approximately $3,500 per flight, we will conduct two, one now and one in June.
Field work has begun eleven seasonal employees are on board. Up to 5 more will be joining on 6/14.
Sentinel chicken and New Jersey light trap surveillance has started.
Radio/ Newspaper advertising is being developed (meeting with clear channel Friday).
Purchased two :30 second video productions for $317.50 (($150 & $167.50) at the County Center Rotary Auction.
8. Quarterly Expense Report:
The District revenue continues to indicate collections will significantly be in our favor. We estimated $1,979,569 in total revenue for the fiscal year. We will reach this and still not have received 6% of current secured revenue due to lose of Teeter plan. These monies will trickle in over the course of the next five years.
Expenses for wages and benefits are within budgeted amounts. We have a small surplus in VCT I so we anticipate hiring 2 additional in June.
Services and supplies show a surplus in fuel, professional services, and public relations.
Capital is in order with budget.
Contingencies will not need to be used barring unforeseen events.
Overall, the District will finish 2010 securely in the black for revenue and the budget will have a carry over.
9. OPEB Trust Actuarial Valuation:
The Manager reported:
The Other post-employment benefit actuarial valuation assessing the liabilities and providing disclosure information required by statement 45 of the governmental accounting standards board (GASB 45) has been completed. The results are as of January 1, 2010.
The actuarial accrued liability is $154,369. The District reports assets of $170,659. Therefore, the assets exceed liabilities on Jan. 1, by $16,290.
The District will amortize gains and losses over an open 10 year period with payments determined as a level percent of assumed payroll.
Summary of Results:
Annual Required Contribution is $6,052. The District had a credit of $2,383 to start the year. Therefore, contributions for fiscal year ending June 30, 2001 are $3,794. It is expected that the District will pay retiree premiums during the period ($1,828) and contribute the balance ($1,966) to the Trust.
The next OPEB actuarial valuation will be required as of June 30, 2011 with results of that valuation to be applied for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012.
It was moved by Bette George, seconded by Harold Dozier and unanimously carried to accept the OPEB Trust Actuarial Valuation as presented.
10. Adjournment:
The meeting adjourned at 8:56 p.m.
Board Minutes Approved on May 12, 2010.
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Michael W. Alburn, Recording Secretary