[I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER *A portion of this video is without audio*]
[00:00:19]
AND FOR RIGHT NOW, COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL IS AN ALTERNATE NON-VOTING, BUT CAN PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSIONS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. NUMBER FOUR, CONSENT CALENDAR.
[IV. CONSENT CALENDAR]
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE JULY 15, 2021 MEETING.IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION.
AYE. OPPOSED. THE MOTION CARRIED.
NUMBER FIVE, CITIZENS COMMUNICATION.
TESTIMONY IS LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES OR LESS PER PERSON.
THIS IS THE PUBLIC'S OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS LAFCO ON ITEMS OF INTEREST OVER WHICH LAFCO HAS JURISDICTION.
IS THERE ANY PUBLIC CITIZEN COMMUNICATION? SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER SEVEN GENERAL BUSINESS.
[VII. A. Consideration of Nomination for California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions (CALAFCO) Board of Directors: One City Member and one Public Member seat are open in the Central Region of CALAFCO (Nominations due by September 30, 2021)]
A CONSIDERATION OF NOMINATION FOR CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSIONS BOARD OF DIRECTORS.ONE CITY MEMBER AND ONE PUBLIC MEMBER SEAT ARE OPEN IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF LAFCO.
JUST TO GIVE A QUICK SUMMARY, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT, THE LAST MEETING.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, CAL LAFCO ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, SPLIT INTO FOUR REGIONS, AND THAT'S HOW THEY CONDUCT THEIR ELECTIONS NOW.
SO THE BOARD ON CAL LAFCO IS MADE UP OF REPRESENTATIVES, CITY, COUNTY, SPECIAL DISTRICT AND PUBLIC, AND THEY GET ELECTED FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE CAUCUSES FOR THE REGION.
SO WE'RE IN THE CENTRAL REGION FROM BAKERSFIELD ALL THE WAY UP TO YOLO.
AND THEY HAVE OPENINGS RIGHT NOW FOR A CITY POSITION AND FOR A PUBLIC MEMBER POSITION.
IF WE HAVE ANY COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BEING NOMINATED AND THE ALTERNATES ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR THAT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO JUST BE A REGULAR MEMBER.
SO SO NOW IT'S REALLY UP TO THE COMMISSIONER IF THERE'S ANYBODY.
USUALLY WE DON'T NOMINATE SOMEBODY LIKE WE'RE GOING TO NOMINATE YOU AND YOU GO DO IT.
YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO COMMIT THE TIME TO WANT TO DO IT.
OK. I GOT MY MIC ON THANK YOU, CHAIR.
SO THE QUESTION IS, IS BOB OR THE CITY MEMBERS, IS ANYBODY INTERESTED IN BEING NOMINATED ? NO? NOT THIS TIME.
I GOT A LOT OF I GOT A LOT OF IRONS IN THE FIRE AND STUFF.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S MY MOTHER'S NINETY SEVEN YEARS OLD AND SHE DOESN'T TAKE ALL OUR TIME, BUT SHE TAKES SOME OF IT AND NEVER KNOW.
SO I CAN'T GO TO THE CONFERENCE THIS YEAR BECAUSE MY WIFE IS WAITING FOR KNEE SURGERY TO GET DONE IN ONE, AND SHE HITS THE CRITERIA SHE'S SUPPOSED TO DO AND THEY'LL DO IT.
SO I, I YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I IF IF I WAS NOMINATED, THEN THEY'D EXPECT ME TO BE THERE AND SAY SOMETHING OR ELSE I PROBABLY WOULDN'T GET ELECTED IF YOU DIDN'T.
AND, YOU KNOW, SO I GOT A PASS THIS TIME.
STILL LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING WITH YOU.
OK, SO WE HAVE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION.
I CAN SAY AS A SITTING MEMBER OF CAL LAFCO, IT'D BE NICE FOR US TO HAVE SOMEBODY WITH A LITTLE MORE QUORUM FOR US TO TO
[00:05:08]
MOVE, MOVE IT ALONG AND MAYBE DON'T GET TOO FAR INTO THE WEEDS IN THE DISCUSSIONS.AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FORWARD FOR, BOB, BECAUSE I KNOW HE'S NOT AFRAID TO STEP UP AND SAY SOMETHING IF IT GOES AROUND.
BUT PAT, I KNOW PAT'S GOOD AT THAT, TOO.
SO CHRIS LOPEZ AND I FROM MONTEREY COUNTY, AND HE AND I, WE GET A LITTLE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE IT JUST GOES OFF AND BEING WE'RE THE YOUNGER GUYS.
WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY IT.
WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T LOOK AT THEY LOOK AT US AS YOUNG PUPS.
AND SO WE DO SPEAK UP AND WE DON'T GET THE ATTENTION.
DO THEY MEET THERE AT THE AT THE STATE BOARD MEETINGS? DO THEY GO OFF WITH AGENDAS LIKE THEY DO AT THE CONFERENCE SOMETIMES ABOUT THINGS THAT PROBABLY DON'T PERTAIN TO ANNEXATIONS AND LAFCO BUSINESS AND LIKE I REMEMBER.
WE HAVE SOME. FEW YEARS AGO, THEY TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF POLITICAL TYPE THINGS THAT THAT REALLY ARE NOT PERTINENT TO WHAT WE'RE DOING.
YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE SUBCOMMITTEES.
AND IF YOU GET ON TO A SUBCOMMITTEE OR SUBCOMMITTEES, KIND OF THEY GO.
YEAH, YEAH. BUT THE MEETINGS THEMSELVES, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF DISCUSSION.
SO KERN COUNTY HAS A SHORTFALL IN THEIR BUDGET AND FOR THE NEW DUES FOR US TO GIVE THEM A PASS ON THEIR DUES THIS YEAR WAS LIKE A FOUR HOUR DISCUSSION.
AND THEN THEY TOLD THEM AT THE END, THEY'RE LIKE, NO, YOU GOT TO PAY YOUR DUES OR DROP OUT. YOU'RE NOT SELLING IT.
SO WE'RE NOT IN PERSON AT THIS POINT.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS I COULD USE SOME HELP.
WELL, IF THEY THINK YOU'RE A YOUNG PUP, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO THINK ABOUT? MR. WET BEHIND THE EARS OVER HERE? HEY PAT YOU AND I ARE PROBABLY THE SAME AGE.
NO. I JUST YEAH, I HAVE A REAL JOB AND TOO MANY OTHER COMMITMENTS RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING. THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN.
[INAUDIBLE] BUT AS YOU SPEAK UP.
I'LL BE RIGHT THERE WITH YOU. I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT THIS MORNING, YOU KNOW, BUT I GOT A PASS. I'M SORRY. ALL RIGHT.
SO DOES THAT LACK DIE FOR LACK OF A NOMINATION? YEAH. ALL RIGHT, DID YOU MENTION SOMEBODY MENTIONED AT THE LAST MEETING THAT SINCE WE HAVE A THEIR ON AS A MERCED COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE ALREADY, THAT THAT MAYBE IT WOULDN'T BE AS EASY TO GET ELECTED SINCE THEY WANT MORE THEY WANT TO SPREAD IT OUT.
TO MORE THE MORE REPS ALSO OR.
AN EXAMPLE WAS MONTEREY LAFCO, WHO HAS COMMISSIONER LOPEZ ON ALREADY.
THEY THEY HAVE AGREED LIKE, WELL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT OTHER CANDIDATE, NOT THAT THEY WOULDN'T GET ELECTED, BUT THAT THEIR COUNTY AND THEIR OR THEIR LAFCO IS REPRESENTATIVE.
AND IT MAY BE COUNTY, BUT, YOU KNOW, LOPEZ IS A SUPERVISOR, BUT YOU COULD BE A CITY MEMBER OR A SPECIAL DISTRICT MEMBER.
BUT THEY FELT, WELL, MONTEREY'S ALREADY GOT SOMEONE ON THE BOARD.
SO THAT LET REPRESENTATION COME FROM ALL OVER.
DON'T TRY TO GET ONE COUNTY TO HAVE MULTIPLE REPS.
I COULD SEE IN THE NORMAL THING, LOS ANGELES OR SACRAMENTO TRYING TO GET MULTIPLE PEOPLE ON TO INFLUENCE MORE.
SO THEY THEY VOLUNTARILY SAID, LET'S NOT HAVE ANYBODY TRY TO RUN.
AND SEE, THAT'S WHERE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE MORE REPRESENTATION THAN THEY DO, THE BIGGER ENTITIES.
IF THE RURAL ONES CAN STEP UP AND GET MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED.
YEAH. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CONCERNS WHEN THEY WENT TO THIS REGIONAL FORMAT WAS BECAUSE 58 COUNTIES, THE VAST MAJORITY OF RURAL AND SO ON, LAFCO LAFCO HAD A RURAL FLAVOR.
AND THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LAFCO WAS ALL OF THEM THAT, YOU KNOW, FROM ORANGE COUNTY, SAN BERNARDINO, SAN DIEGO, THEY WOULD HAVE THEIR OWN MEETINGS AND TALK ABOUT THINGS AND GO TO THE YOU KNOW, TOGETHER THEY WOULD GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT THEIR URBAN ISSUES.
AND THEN YOU COME TO THE CONFERENCE, YOU WOULD BE A LOT OF AG WATER ISSUES OR OTHER THINGS THAT THEY WEREN'T IMPORTANT TO THEM.
AND SO THEY FELT LIKE THEY WERE BEING LEFT OUT.
WERE GETTING TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO DROP OUT OF LAFCO.
IT'S NOT SERVING US. CAL LAFCO.
AND SO CAL LAFCO SAID, NO, WE NEED TO HAVE EVERY YOU KNOW THE WHOLE STATE TOGETHER.
AND THE CONCERN WE HAD WAS THAT THE CAL LAFCO BOARD THEN WOULD BE DOMINATED BY THE URBAN LAFCO VERSUS RURAL.
AND FOR FOR SEVERAL YEARS, IT DIDN'T REALLY HAPPEN.
[00:10:01]
BUT IS IT IS THAT THE SENSE YOU GET NOW THAT THERE THAT THE BIG COUNTIES DOMINATE OR I KNOW YOU TALK ABOUT SPECIAL DISTRICTS, THEY GET ON A TANGENT, AND SO THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT ISSUES THAT AREN'T EVEN URBAN OR RURAL.THEY'RE THEIR OWN SPECIAL DISTRICT ISSUE.
IS THAT WHAT HAPPENS YEAH? OK.
YEAH, OK. I WAS JUST I WAS WONDERING HOW THAT WORKED OUT, BECAUSE WE WERE CONCERNED TO LOSE INFLUENCE OF SIMILAR RURAL ISSUES TO OTHER SUBURBAN WE'RE REALLY IN LAFCO WORLD WE'RE A SUBURBAN COUNTY.
BUT THAT THE IF THE BIG CITIES DOMINATE LIKE THEY DO IN SACRAMENTO, THEN THERE'S ANOTHER HIT TO A COUNTY LIKE MERCED, BUT IT'S NOT HAPPENING THAT WAY.
IT'S MORE THE SPECIAL DISTRICT [INAUDIBLE] YEAH. OKAY.
MOVING ON TO B A POINT APPOINTMENT OF VOTING DELEGATE, AND ALTERNATE FOR CAL LAFCO BOARD
[VII. B. Appointment of Voting Delegate and Alternate for the CALAFCO Board Elections and Related Business at the October 6 – 8, 2021 CALAFCO Conference in Newport Beach.]
ELECTIONS AND RELATED BUSINESS AT THE OCTOBER SIX THROUGH 8TH CAL LAFCO CONFERENCE.YEAH. SO THIS IS REALLY DEPENDENT ON WHO'S GOING WHICH COMMISSIONERS KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO GO. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU MENTIONED THAT, THEN YOU CAN VOL, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY VOLUNTEERING. YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSION HAS TO APPOINT YOU, BUT WE'D HAVE A REGULAR AND A VOTING. I MEAN, AND AN ALTERNATE IN CASE THE REGULAR DIDN'T MAKE THE MEETING FOR SOME REASON.
OK, DOES THAT NEED A VOTE? YEAH, IT SHOULD [INAUDIBLE].
OK. HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ALL IN FAVOR BY SAYING AYE.
THE MOTION CARRIED. I CAN ALSO.
I'LL BE YOUR ALTERNATIVE IN CASE FOR SOMETHING HAPPENS BECAUSE I'LL BE THERE.
OK. YEAH. SO I'LL I'LL MAKE THAT A MOTION THAT I'LL BE THE ALTERNATE UNLESS YOU WANT IT DARON. HAVE A MOTION AND THE SECOND FOR SILVEIRA TO BE THE ALTERNATE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR BY SAYING AYE.
QUICK MEETING. NUMBER EIGHT, THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER REPORTS.
[VIII. EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS]
OK, YEAH, THE FIRST ONE OF THE, LET'S SAY, UPDATE, AND ALTHOUGH THE YEAR STARTED WITH A LOT OF JUST TONS OF BILLS BEING PROMOTED AND OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PAMELA MILLER, GOING CRAZY AND THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE GOING CRAZY AND CREATING A LOT OF SUBCOMMITTEES TO FOCUS ON DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF IT, MOST EVERYTHING GOT MIRED DOWN OR WAS CARRIED OVER TO BE A TWO YEAR BILL AND SO ON THE POSITIVE SIDE.CAL LAFCO ALWAYS SPONSORS AN OMNIBUS BILL TO CLEAN UP THE THE LAWS GOVERNING LAFCO THE [INAUDIBLE] ACT, WHICH IS OUR OUR BIBLE, SO TO SPEAK.
AND SO THEY THEY DID GET THAT APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR.
AND MERCED LAFCO HAD SUBMITTED A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE LEGISLATURE, AND THEN THEY PASSED IT. SO IT CLEANS UP SOME THINGS, SOME AREAS THAT WERE IMPORTANT THAT DIDN'T GET CLEANED UP, WHICH IS AN ONGOING EFFORT.
BUT WE THOUGHT WE COULD GET A LITTLE WIN, WAS ON THE PROTEST PROCESS AND BEGIN IT'S LAFCO WITH MANY ACTIONS THAT THE COMMISSION CAN TAKE.
AND IS YOU'RE SITTING SUPERVISOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL DOES SOMETHING, YOU'RE DONE.
YOU'RE APPROVING A SUBDIVISION MAP OR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT OR CHANGING THE GENERAL PLAN. THERE'S NO VOTE OF THE PEOPLE, BUT ON LAFCO SO MANY THINGS WE DO.
THE PEOPLE WITHIN THE AREA ARE EITHER REGISTERED VOTERS OR LANDOWNERS GET TO WEIGH IN AND THEY CAN PROTEST OR THEY CAN WE CAN ACTUALLY BE REQUIRED TO HAVE AN ELECTION, ESPECIALLY THAT KIND OF FORMATION. SO THE LAW, THIS LAW AND DIFFERENT BILLS ARE I'M SORRY, DIFFERENT LEGISLATION FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF DISTRICT.
MAYBE IT'S A DRAINAGE DISTRICT OR AN IRRIGATION DISTRICT OR A PEST CONTROL DISTRICT.
THERE'S ALL THESE LITTLE PROVISIONS THAT THEY HAVE.
AND THEN THIS ACT HAS SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROVISIONS.
SO YOU MIGHT HAVE A PROTEST THAT TAKES 10 PERCENT.
YOU MIGHT TAKE ONE THAT TAKES 40 PERCENT.
YOU MIGHT TAKE ONE THAT THAT HAS TO BE A MAJORITY LIKE 51 PERCENT TO CAUSE AN ELECTION, LET'S SAY. SO THEY'RE TRYING TO CLEAN IT UP AND STANDARDIZE IT.
AND THEY'RE WORKING ON A COMMITTEE IN THE MAIN PARTY THAT THAT WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH, WITH THE CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION, CSDA, AND THEY THEY ARE THERE TO REPRESENT SPECIAL DISTRICTS.
AND THE EDITORIAL, MY VIEW, THEY THEY ACT LIKE A UNION SHOP WHERE YOU GOT AN EMPLOYEE WHO'S BAD AND THEIR JOB IS TO CHECK THAT EMPLOYEE AND HIS JOB NO MATTER WHAT, YOU KNOW.
SO THE EVERY DISTRICT, NO MATTER HOW POORLY THEY FUNCTION, LET'S PROTECT THEM.
SO EVEN IF THE PROTEST PROVISION DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE IT HARDER TO PROTEST SOMETHING THAT LAFCO APPROVES.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACTIONS THAT LAFCO HAD APPROVED.
[00:15:01]
SO [INAUDIBLE] STANDARDIZED THAT THEY COULDN'T REACH AGREEMENT ON, AND THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON IT. BUT IT'S A IT'S A FRUSTRATING PROCESS WHEN YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF LAFCO'S ROLE IS TO IMPROVE GOVERNMENTAL EFFICIENCY.AND SO THE PROCEDURES AND THE PROCESSES ARE ALL PART OF THAT.
IT'S NOT JUST THIS ONE PROJECT IN MERCED.
IT'S IT'S THE WHOLE SET OF LAWS SO THAT THEY THEY HAD THE SPECIAL TEAM THAT CAL LAFCO PUT TOGETHER ON LEDGE COMMITTEE TO DEAL WITH THAT CAME UP WITH SOME GOOD PROPOSALS, AND THEY JUST KEPT GETTING SHOT DOWN IN THEIR MEETINGS WITH CSDA.
BUT THERE WAS SOME REAL SIMPLE SOLUTIONS THAT DIED.
AND WHAT THE CSDA, THERE USED TO BE A LOCAL GUY THAT WAS THE REP IS HE'S HE'S NOT ON THERE ANYMORE. OK. YEAH.
THEY'VE TURNED OVER LIKE TWICE SINCE THEN.
YEAH. AND HE WORKED FOR THE PORTUGUESE SCHOLARSHIP FUND TOO.
YEAH, HE MOVED FROM HERE OVER TO THE COASTAL REGION.
OK. AND THEY HAVE A NEW A NEW PERSON OVER THERE.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME EITHER. SO WORK FOR DENNIS CARDOZA.
OKAY. YEAH. SO SO THAT REALLY THERE'S NOTHING TO REPORT EXCEPT THAT THE ONE BILL THAT WE SUPPORTED DID PASS.
AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR LAFCO AND OTHER OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR US HAVE TO DO A LOT MORE WITH WATER PROBLEMS AND WATER DISTRICTS AND CONSOLIDATIONS.
AND AGAIN, CAL LAFCO'S PUSH IS TO BE SURE THAT WE HAVE A SAY IN THAT THAT THE STATE DOESN'T THE STATE WATER BOARD DOESN'T GO AND DEAL WITH DISTRICTS LOCALLY AND THEN MERCED LAFCO IS OUT OF THE LOOP ON IT, THAT THEY THEY COORDINATE WITH US.
AND SO WE, SO CAL LAFCO THAT'S ONE OF THEIR MAIN PURPOSES IS TO HELP PROMOTE THE LAFCO'IS IMPORTANT. AND AGAIN, OUR STATURE IN THE LEGISLATURE HAS JUST IT'S GROWN SUBSTANTIALLY.
SO THEY ASK THEY THEY CONTACT MS. MILLER ABOUT WHAT'S CAL LAFCO'S POSITION ON BILLS RATHER THAN JUST MARCHING THROUGH, WHEN IT HAS TO DO WITH DISTRICTS OR CITIES OR COUNTIES.
SO WE'RE MUCH MORE PROMINENT AND VALUABLE IN THAT DISCUSSION AND OUR CREDIBILITY IS STRONG. SO IT'S VERY, VERY POSITIVE.
POSITIVE THAT THAT'S GOING TO GO FORWARD TO LET US HAVE MORE, MORE SAY.
THEY'RE SEEING BECAUSE OF THE THE CLOUT OF LAFCO NOW REPRESENTING CITIES, COUNTIES AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS, WE ALWAYS HAVE.
BUT THERE'S VERY IT'S VERY PROFESSIONAL AND WELL RESPECTED IN THE INPUT AS INTELLIGENT INPUT THAT THEY GET. AND THEY WANT THINGS TO WORK.
SO IT COULD BE THAT LAFCO, IT MAY NOT EVEN BE NEGATIVE TO LAFCO, BUT THEY WANT LAFCO'S INPUT. SO IT'S IT'S YEAH IT'S VERY POSITIVE FOR OUR OUR PROFESSION.
DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS? COMMISSIONER ESPINOZA? YEAH, I JUST WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE REGARDING THE ACCIDENT [INAUDIBLE].
I SPOKE WITH HIM LAST FRIDAY AND MONDAY AND HE SAID IT SEEMS TO BE A LOT BETTER.
AND I THINK IT'S DOING A LOT BETTER AND SPLEEN AND A COLLAPSED LUNG.
BUT I THINK HE SAYS 90 PERCENT OF HIS, YOU KNOW, OXYGEN IS IS DOING BETTER.
SO EVERY DAY HE'S GETTING BETTER AND HAD SURGERY IN HIS FACE.
THERE MIGHT BE AN IMPROVEMENT, BUT [LAUGHTER] BUT I WAS JUST KIDDING WITH HIM.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE SEND HIS BEST STILL HOPEFULLY GETS BETTER SOON.
YOU KNOW, FORTUNATELY, HE LIKE I SAID.
JUST A MIRACLE THE WAY HIS CAR ENDED UP ALL SMASHED IN ALMOST TO THE RIGHT.
AND, YOU KNOW, THANK GOD HE MADE IT OUT, YOU KNOW, SO.
FOR TWO AND A HALF HOURS, I THINK THEY WORKED ON THE CAR TRYING TO GET HIM OUT, SO.
COMMISSIONER SERRATTO. NOTHING FOR ME MAYOR.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MCDANIEL.
I'M SORRY. OH, YOU'RE ASKING FOR COMMENTS ON THIS.
I DID SKIP THE REMINDER, DIDN'T I? YEAH. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER SILVEIRA? NO. NO. OK, WELL, LET'S GO TO REMINDING EVERYBODY OF THE ANNUAL CAL LAFCO CONFERENCE OCTOBER SIXTH THROUGH EIGHTH IN NEWPORT BEACH.
THE EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION IS COMING TO A CLOSE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
[00:20:01]
REQUEST CONSIDER PROVIDING REIMBURSEMENT OF AIRFARE COST IN ADDITION TO MILEAGE.YEAH, SO NEIL COVERED THAT SECOND TOPIC FIRST.
MANY YEARS AGO, WE ALLOWED TRAVEL BY FLIGHT, BY AIR TO CONFERENCES, AND WE'D BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. AND WE HAVE A COMMISSIONER OUT AT THE LAST MINUTE, AND WE IT WAS TOO LATE TO CANCEL THE AIR FLIGHT AND GET REFUND.
SO WE ENDED UP PAYING FOR THAT.
AND THE COMMISSION GOT UPSET AND SAID, OKAY, WELL NO MORE FLIGHTS, YOU WANT TO FLY.
THAT'S ON YOUR OWN. AND IT'S BEEN OVER 10 YEARS.
AND I HAD A DISCUSSION WITH COMMISSIONER SILVEIRA, WHICH HE CAN SPEAK FOR HIMSELF ABOUT, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CASE, THE CONFERENCES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, THE HOTEL RIGHT NEXT TO THE AIRPORT IN ORANGE COUNTY STRATEGICALLY PUT THERE.
AND THEN SO MANY LAFCO CAN FLY THERE.
AND THEN WE YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, YOU'VE GOT TO DRIVE THROUGH L.A.
AND ORANGE COUNTY TO GET THERE.
SO MAYBE THE IDEA OF CONSIDERING LETTING AIR FARE AS AN ALTERNATE AND IF A COMMISSIONER WANTS TO DO THAT, THAT YOU WOULD PAY FOR IT ON YOUR CREDIT CARD BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CREDIT CARD TO MAKE IT A RESERVATION.
AND WE DON'T HAVE ONE AS LAFCO.
SO YOU'D YOU'D HAVE TO MAKE YOUR OWN RESERVATION NOW ANYWAY.
AND THEN IF YOU DIDN'T END UP GOING AND YOU JUST YOU LET THE COUNCIL, THEN IT'S ON YOU, IT'S NOT LAFCO WOULDN'T REIMBURSE YOU FOR THAT MISTAKE.
MANY TIMES FOR LAFCO, IT'S IT'S YOU'RE SITTING AS A SUPERVISOR.
YOU USE THE BOARD STAFF TO MAKE YOUR ARRANGEMENTS BECAUSE YOU TRAVEL ALL THE TIME.
AND THEN LAFCO WOULD WOULD BE REIMBURSING THE BOARD BUDGET.
SO THAT'S HOW WE GOT NELL IN THAT AIRCRAFT WHEN IT WAS ALL THE BOARD BUDGET THAT WAS FOR LAFCO. THAT WASN'T FOR US. SO WE'RE NOT EATING IT.
AND MAYBE WITH CITIES YOU CAN USE THE CITY OFFICE TO DO THE RESERVATIONS FOR YOU AND THEN LAFCO REIMBURSES THEM.
SO SO THAT WAS A CONSIDERATION THAT WE'D WANT TO HAVE AN ACTION ON THAT.
AND I ALSO, AGAIN, WANT TO HAVE A GOOD HEAD COUNT OF WHO WHO'S EXPECTING TO GO.
SO, YEAH, SO THAT'S THAT'S THE REPORT.
YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING IF WE'RE DOING LAFCO BUSINESS AND, YOU KNOW, IF FOR SOME REASON A CONFERENCE ENDED UP IN SAN DIEGO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, AT THAT POINT, IT IS CHEAPER TO FLY THAN IT IS TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY WITH FUEL PRICES.
I THINK THAT IT'S LAFCO RESPONSIBILITY TO TO COVER THOSE EXPENSES.
RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO A CONFERENCE, YOU'RE YOU'RE GAINING VALUABLE INSIGHT. YOU'RE TALKING WITH OTHER COMMISSIONERS UP AND DOWN THE STATE.
SO YOU'RE BRINGING VALUE BACK TO THIS LAFCO BY GOING TO THESE CONFERENCES.
AND BUT I AM IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT THAT IF IF YOU IF YOU CANCEL OUT, THEN THAT'S ON YOU, YOU SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.
I MEAN, STUFF HAPPENS, BUT BUT ULTIMATELY, THAT SHOULDN'T BE, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT ALL GETS DISTRIBUTED BACK TO THE COUNTIES IN THE CITIES THROUGH OUR BUDGET.
RIGHT. SO I JUST DON'T THINK THAT YOU SHOULD BE WE SHOULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR SOMEBODY, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S ONE THING IF AN EMERGENCY CAME UP, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING CAME UP THAT WAS BETTER AND THEY DIDN'T GO.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT TO PUT THAT ON THE TAXPAYERS EITHER.
SO THAT'S THAT'S MY I SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, BEING REIMBURSED FOR YOUR AIRFARE.
IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? YEAH. CHAIR I, I DON'T KNOW I THINK THIS WAS BEFORE THAT THAT REIMBURSEMENT CONTROVERSY.
BUT COMMISSIONER O'BANION AND I FLEW TO SAN DIEGO ONE YEAR TO A CONFERENCE DOWN THERE.
I DON'T KNOW. BUT I DON'T REMEMBER WHETHER WE PAID OR THE LAFCO PAID OR WHAT.
BUT I MEAN, I DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT NOW. GOOD.
BECAUSE THE MILEAGE ADDS UP TOO, YOU KNOW, AND USUALLY WHEN PEOPLE BUY AIR FARE, THEY TRY TO GET THE BEST THE BEST ONES THEY CAN WITHOUT WITHOUT BEING TOO HARSH ON.
AND IF YOU WANT TO PAY MORE JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT TO THEN PAY OUT OF YOUR POCKET, THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT IT. SO, YEAH, IT'S FINE WITH ME.
IS THIS AN ACTION ITEM OR? YEAH. YEAH, THAT PART SHOULD BE AN ACTION ITEM.
OK, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT LAFCO REIMBURSES THE ATTENDEES FOR AIRFARE IF THEY SO DESIRE TO FLY. OK, I HAVE A MOTION BY BERTAO A SECOND BY ESPINOZA ALL IN FAVOR BY SAYING AYE.
MOTION CARRIED. CAN WE THEN WE WANT TO FIND OUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE PLANNING TO GO.
AND I THINK WE HAVE COMMISSIONERS MCDANIEL, SILVEIRA, MYSELF.
[00:25:04]
OK, WE HAVE THREE OF US ATTENDING.OK. YEAH, AND ONLY ON THAT IS IF YOU HAVE THE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION, IF YOU WANT LAFCO TO REG, YOU OUR STAFF TO REGISTER FOR YOU.
THEN THERE IS A FORM YOU GOT TO FILL OUT.
AND DESIREE COULD GET THAT IN FOR US BY THE END OF THIS MONTH IS OUR DEADLINE TO GET THE CHEAPER CONFERENCE RATE OF FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY DOLLARS.
SO UNLESS YOU'RE USING THE BOARD OFFICE TO DO EVERYTHING AND WE CAN REIMBURSE YOU FROM LAFCO, WE CAN DO IT.
GET OUR HOTEL AND? YOU GOT TO DO YOUR OWN HOTEL SO.
YOU GOT YOUR OWN HOTEL AND THEN AIRFARE.
I BELIEVE THAT TAMARA DID THE AIR FARE AND THE HOTEL FOR US, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE DID THE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION.
I'D PREFER THAT YOU GUYS DID IT.
OK, BUT I WILL DOUBLE CHECK AFTER THE MEETING, [INAUDIBLE].
OK, THEN WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
AND YOU AS WELL PAT, OK TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
CUZ WE CAN WE HAVE TIME TO GET A CHECK CUT.
SO. OK. THEN I DO HAVE [INAUDIBLE], AND WE HAVE EXECUTIVE OFFICER UPDATE ON UPCOMING APPLICATIONS AND OTHER BUSINESS.
OK. YEAH, I HAVE A CALL IN A HALF AN HOUR WITH THE ATTORNEYS FROM THE SANTA NELLA WATER DISTRICT OR SOME OF THE RELATED PARTIES TO SANTA NELLA.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER AN APPLICATION CALLED THE SANTA NELLA, ST.
LOUIS WATER DISTRICT REORGANIZATION, WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO DETACH LAND FROM ST.
LOUIS AND ANNEX TO SANTA NELLA.
WE'VE HAD 12 EXTENSIONS OVER MORE THAN 12 YEARS, ACTUALLY, BECAUSE WE DID A COUPLE TWO YEARS EXTENSIONS AND IT'S JUST DRAGGED ON.
THE BIGGEST ISSUE BEING THE BUREAU CONTRACT.
IT'S A REASSIGNMENT OF THE WATER RIGHTS THAT ST.
LOUIS GETS AND REASSIGNED TO SANTA NELLA.
AND IT'S BEEN A BIG MESS, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY HAVE A DRAFT CONTRACT AND THEY'RE GOING TO MEET ON IT LATER THIS MONTH.
SO I HAVE A CALL TO TALK ABOUT OUR PROCESS, LIKE WHAT'S THE LAST TIME THEY COULD GET US THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE CAN RECORD AND WE DON'T NEED TO EXTEND IT OR ARE THEY GOING TO OVERLAP? BUT THIS IS A BIG STEP THAT'S TAKEN THEM YEARS AND WE'RE GETTING MUCH CLOSER.
[INAUDIBLE] YEAH IF I COULD MAKE A COMMENT ON THAT.
IS I [INAUDIBLE] IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN HERE THAT LONG.
BUT I KNOW RODRIGO'S BEEN HERE.
BOB, YOU'VE BEEN ON THE EXTENSIONS ON THIS.
AND IN THE BEGINNING, I WAS ONE THAT WAS SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP EXTENDING THIS DEAL. YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LAFCO'S TIME, YOU KNOW, THE RESOURCES THAT IT'S TAKING US TO HAVE TO DO THIS THING.
AND THEN FAST FORWARD, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS WHEN I WAS A CITY REP AND THEN NOW BEING THE COUNTY REP AND BEING A LOT MORE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THEY GOT GOING.
IT'S TYPICAL OF, YOU KNOW, THE BUREAU.
THEY'VE BEEN SO CLOSE SO MANY TIMES.
AND I KNOW THAT THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, [INAUDIBLE] COME HERE AND IT JUST HATES TO HAVE TO ASK FOR THESE EXTENSIONS.
BELIEVE ME, IN SANTA NELLA COUNTY WATER DISTRICT IS DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.
IT'S JUST AS IF WHEN AN ADMINISTRATION CHANGES, THE PEOPLE CHANGE IT.
YOU'RE REEDUCATING AND GETTING THE [INAUDIBLE] AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BASICALLY THEY'VE KIND OF THEIR WATER. THEY GET IT THROUGH SAN LUIS WATER DISTRICT, THEIR WATER RIGHTS NOW KIND OF THEY'RE BASICALLY BECOMING THEIR OWN ENTITY AND THEY GET THE DIRECT OUT.
I'M KIND OF SIMPLIFYING IT HERE, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO GET A DIRECT ALLOCATION FROM FROM THE BUREAU AND NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THROUGH ST.
LOUIS WATER DISTRICT AND THE WATER DISTRICTS IN AGREEMENT WITH IT OR WHATEVER.
BUT IT'S JUST TRYING TO GET THE FEDS TO LIKE ACTUALLY PEN TO PAPER.
SO I THINK IF THEY DO NEED AN EXTENSION, I'M WILLING TO GIVE THEM THE EXTENSION BECAUSE THEY ARE SO CLOSE. I KNOW THAT LITERALLY.
AMY MONTGOMERY'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE SHE TOOK OVER AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THERE, AND SHE'S BEEN THERE FOR A LOT OF YEARS.
SO JUST WANT TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE.
AND A RELATED OR NOT A RELATED, BUT ANOTHER PROJECT FOR SANTA NELLA IS THIS CONSOLIDATION WITH VOLTA THAT WE'VE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHERE THE BOTH DISTRICTS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WATER QUALITY AND SUPPLY AND THE QUALITY OF THE BIGGER ISSUE FOR VOLTA AND SO SANTA NELLA HAS BAD WATER QUALITY FROM THEIR WELL.
AND WITH THE DROUGHT, THEY GET LESS SURFACE WATER AND THEY BLEND THEIR WELL WATER WITH THE SURFACE WATER. AND WHEN THEY'RE MAINLY USING WELL WATER, THEIR TREATMENT SYSTEM BUSINESS IS IS CAPABLE OF TREATING THE MINERALS AND THINGS IN THE WELL WATER.
SO GETTING BETTER WATER AND VOLTA BY GOING DEEPER AND BUILDING A CONNECTION LINE BETWEEN THE TWO COMMUNITIES. IS THERE THEIR SOLUTION AND THE STATE WATER BOARD TALKING ABOUT THIS CONSOLIDATION LAW THAT THE STATE PASSED? THEY CAN GO AROUND LAFCO, BUT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH US AND THEY'VE PUT AN APPLICATION
[00:30:02]
TOGETHER. IT WASN'T THEY GAVE IT TO ME AS A DRAFT.THEY HAVEN'T FORMALLY SUBMITTED IT, BUT I GAVE A MARKUP ON IT, AND I'M WAITING FOR THEM TO GIVE ME THE REVISIONS BACK.
BUT THEN WE'LL BE PROCESSING THIS CONSOLIDATION.
SO VOLTA WOULD GO AWAY AND IT WOULD BECOME PART OF SANTA NELLA, AND THEN THEY WOULD EACH EACH USE THE SAME WATER SYSTEM.
THE PIPELINE WOULD GO BOTH WAYS, DEPENDING ON WHICH WAY THE WATER NEEDED TO FLOW, WHERE THE IF THEY GET MORE SURFACE SUPPLY.
BUT I'M NOT SURE WHERE THEY'RE AT ON THAT.
THEY MAY BE MORE FOCUS IN THE BUREAU CONTRACT RIGHT NOW.
I HAVEN'T SEEN COMMENTS COME BACK.
BUT ANYWAY, IT'S GOOD THAT THE STATE AGREED TO GO THROUGH LAFCO, NOT JUST DO IT ON THE SIDE. SO WE WE KEEP ENGAGED AND THERE'S REALLY NO IT'S IT'S FOR MAKE SURE THE PROCESS IF RIGHT. WE NOTIFY EVERYBODY AND DO THE SAME PROCESS FOR THE PEOPLE IN VOLTA.
AND SANTA NELLA WOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTEST IF THEY DIDN'T LIKE IT.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY THE LAW IS.
BUT IT'S IT'S A COOPERATIVE EFFORT, REALLY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT ONE.
I GOT A QUESTION FOR COMMISSIONER SILVEIRA WITH WITH THE LOS BANOS CITY EXPANDING FURTHER WEST, YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS, ISN'T THE CLOSER FOR VOLTA TO TRY TO GET WATER FROM THEM FROM THE CITY OF LOS BANOS THAN IT IS FROM SANTA NELLA, DEAL WITH THE FEDS AND SO? SO TECHNICALLY, NO, NOT RIGHT NOW.
LIKE WHERE THE CITY'S WATER SUPPLY IS AND WHERE THE SANTA NELLA'S WATER SUPPLY IS, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY CLOSER FOR THEM TO GET IT ACTUALLY FROM SANTA NELLA.
YEAH. AND THEN THE OTHER PIECES IS THAT IT'S IT'S SOLVING A PROBLEM FOR SANTA NELLA, TOO, RIGHT? IS THAT THAT WELL, THAT THEY'RE PUTTING OUT THERE IN VOLTA.
UNDERSTAND THAT, VOLTA, RIGHT NOW, LIKE IF YOU DRIVE OUT THERE, THEY GOT ONE LITTLE WELL WITH LIKE A, YOU KNOW, A TANK THERE THAT RUNS ALL OF VOLTA.
AND IF IF THAT GOES DOWN, THEY'RE ALL OUT OF WATER.
RIGHT. AND AND THEN THE THAT WELL DOESN'T MEET DRINKING WATER STANDARDS.
SO I THINK THAT'S WHY BECAUSE THEY EVEN GOT FUNDING THROUGH STATE WATER BOARD FOR THE ACTUAL TEST WELL, AND TO BE ABLE TO GET GRANT FUNDING AND THEN PLUS THEY GOT THEY'RE GOING TO COME IN AND DO IS PART OF IT IS CLEAN UP VOLTA AS FAR AS THEIR CONNECTION OR YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT ON METERS THERE.
THEY GOT DOUBLE THEY GOT ALL KINDS OF GREAT, INTERESTING STUFF GOING ON OUT THERE IN VOLTA. AND SO PART OF THAT GRANT FUNDING, IT COMES IN AND IT THEY THEY CLEAN UP ALL THAT STUFF FOR VOLTA. SO MAYBE THE WAY THE CROW FLIES, IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE EASIER TO GET.
SO THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT I THOUGHT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S PROBABLY HALFWAY IN BETWEEN THE TWO. YEAH. REALLY. I MEAN, THAT'S WHERE THE OLD TRAIN STATIONS OR THE THE STEAM STATIONS I COULDN'T TELL YOU.
[INAUDIBLE] THE EXACT LOCATION. I, I THINK THEY HAVE THEY KNOW WHERE IT'S AT, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S AT. CURIOUS.
THANK YOU. BUT SANTA NELLA NEEDS A NEW WELL AND THEY CAN'T DRILL ONE IN SANTA NELLA, THE WATER OVER THERE IS ALL BAD.
IN SANTA NELLA? IN SANTA NELLA YEAH, THE WEST.
[INAUDIBLE] THE WATER IS BAD FOR EVERY EVERY DEVELOPMENT OUT THERE HAS GOT THE SAN LOUIS WATER DISTRICT AREA, IT'S BAD, BAD WATER.
SO. I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN AT IT A LONG TIME.
IT'D BE NICE FOR THE FEDS TO GET ON THE BALL.
YEAH. SO YOU MENTIONED LOS BANOS AND THEY'RE GROWING WEST.
AND SO ONE OF THE EFFORTS THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THE GENERAL PLAN UPDATE AND POTENTIAL.
WELL, NOT POTENTIAL. AT SOME POINT, THEY'LL IDENTIFY WHERE THEY WANT THEIR SPHERE TO BE MOVED AND THEN THEY'LL SUBMIT IT TO LAFCO.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'LL TAKE SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR OR WHATEVER, BUT THEY HAVE ONGOING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT.
AND I DID GIVE A LITTLE LAFCO 101 PRESENTATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL OVER ZOOM A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND TALK ABOUT THEIR SPHERE.
I DIDN'T TALK WITH CITY COUNCIL, BUT JUST HAD A DISCUSSION WITH THEIR STAFF ABOUT THEM WORKING ON A GENERAL PLAN UPDATE AND TALKING ABOUT MOVING THEIR SPHERE AROUND.
AND I KNOW THE LAST MEETING, COMMISSIONER ESPINOZA, WE TALKED ABOUT LIVINGSTON MAYBE DOING THE SAME THING. I HAVEN'T TALKED TO THEM YET, BUT THERE'S KIND OF A LOT OF THE SMALLER CITIES WORKING ON THOSE ISSUES.
AND WITH MERCED THE BIGGEST ISSUE NOW IS TRYING TO WORK ON WHERE THEY CAN ANNEX WITH THE SEWER CAPACITY THAT THEY HAVE REMAINING IN NORTH MERCED, WHICH IS A MUCH BIGGER NUMBER THAN THEY THOUGHT PREVIOUSLY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER IS YET, BUT THEY'RE STARTING TO GET APP, PRE-APPLICATIONS IN AND AND SCRUTINIZE THOSE.
AND THEY'RE INCLUDING AT LEAST I WAS SITTING ON ONE MEETING WHERE THEY HAD AN APPLICATION AND JUST HEAR THE PROPOSAL AND GAVE FEEDBACK FROM A LAFCO PERSPECTIVE ANYWAY.
SO IT'S IT'S BEEN VERY POSITIVE IN ALL THESE FRONTS WHERE THE CITIES KEEP LAFCO STAFF INVOLVED EARLY RATHER THAN SUBMITTING A BIG EIR.
AND, YOU KNOW, HERE'S A DONE DEAL.
AND WE HAVE ALL THESE ISSUES THAT THEY THEY INVOLVE US EARLIER.
[00:35:01]
AND IT'S REALLY EDUCATION, WHAT OUR RULES ARE.AND IF THEY CAN MAKE THE PROJECT FIT, IT'S BETTER FOR EVERYBODY THAN HAVING TO PUT A ROUND PEG IN A SQUARE HOLE.
SO THAT SO THAT COMPLETES MY UPDATE.
I JUST ALSO WE [INAUDIBLE] HAS A POTENTIAL ANNEXATION INTEREST ALSO TO THE WEST OF TOWN THAT WE'VE BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT.
SO THAT'LL PROBABLY BE COMING TO LAFCO IN THE NEXT WHO KNOWS WHEN.
THAT THAT'S THAT'S SUPPOSEDLY ON THE HORIZON.
OK. ANY OTHER BUSINESS OR COMMENTS, GENTLEMEN? HEARING NONE I'LL ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 10:39.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.