COACHELLA VALLEY MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL DISTRICT

Board of Trustees Meeting

 

February 12, 2008

 

Call To Order:

President Duran called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

 

Pledge of Allegiance:

Trustee Baker led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Roll Call:

Those present at roll call: President Duran, Vice President Fuschetti, Secretary/Treasurer Underwood, Trustees Baker, Henderson, Howell, Lock, Macknicki, Nigosian, and Walker. Also present were General Manager Donald Gomsi, Finance Administrator David I’Anson, Administrative Clerk Crystal Garcia, and Information Systems Analyst Edward Prendez, and Legal Counsel Lisa Copeland. Trustee Laflin was absent.

 

A moment of silence was held in remembrance of former Trustee Ronald Perkins who recently passed away.

 

1.       Confirmation of Agenda:

General Manager Gomsi announced that the Agenda was revised to include an additional item under New Business. President Duran added that item 14G, which contains Trustee Underwood’s name, was suggested by the Executive Committee. Trustee Underwood requested that item 3A be moved to 13A. Trustee Underwood made the motion to approve the Revised Agenda. The motion was seconded by Trustee Baker and carried unanimously.

 

2.       Presentations:

A.        Scholarship Awards – Presentation of scholarships to recipients Ana Campos, Palm Springs High School, and Maria Macias, Cathedral City High School.

 

President Duran presented Ana Campos and Maria Macias with scholarship awards. President Duran presented General Manager Gomsi with a plaque commending him and the staff for their work hosting the 76th Annual MVCAC Conference.

 

B.        Presentations by Communication/Public Relations Firms:                                             

                        1.)   Kiner Communications

                        2.)   Kaminsky Productions

                        3.)   Pamela Bieri Marketing & Media Relations

 

A short question and answer period followed.

 

4.         Minutes:

A.                 Approval of Minutes from January 8, 2008, Board Meeting.

 

Trustee Henderson made the motion to approve the minutes of the January 8, 2008, Board Meeting. The motion was seconded by Trustee Walker and carried unanimously.

 

5.         Public Comment:

None.

 

6.         Announcements:

General Manager Gomsi announced that the Legislative Committee for the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California has a budget item coming before the State regarding repealing the vector control certification program. This could potentially halt all treatment performed by the District and require all certified staff to retest through a different departmental program. The State’s vector control districts have offered to pay more for certification as long as they are allowed to continue with the existing program.

 

7.         Correspondence:

As in board packet. Additional correspondence included a letter from Compton Creek Vector Control District thanking the District for our work on the MVCAC conference.

 

8.         Approval of Expenditures for January 9-31, 2008, and February 1-12, 2008:

Trustee Henderson made the motion to approve the expenditures for January 9-31, 2008, and February 1-12, 2008. Trustee Lock questioned one of the expenses labeled Gilliland. Finance Administrator explained that it was a research grant for the Texas A&M RIFA research project. The motion was seconded by Trustee Underwood and carried with nine (9) approved (Duran, Fuschetti, Henderson, Howell, Lock, Macknicki, Nigosian, Underwood, and Walker) and one (1) opposed (Baker).

 

9.         Committee Reports

A.               Finance Committee

Secretary/Treasurer Underwood reported as follows. The December 30th financials show the District had cash disbursements of $876,816, with cash receipts of $1,046,951.  The largest single receipt in December was the current secured property tax revenue from the County of Riverside for $956,641. The Finance Committee meeting held before the Board Meeting discussed and made a recommendation for engaging an auditing firm following interviews with two firms, Charles Z. Fedak & Company and Mayer Hoffman McCann.  (New Business Item 13B) The Finance Committee also received an update on the 2008-2009 Budget. Additionally, Trustee Underwood reported that the January Finance Committee minutes are in the Board Packet on page 47.

 

B.               Executive Committee

President Duran reported that the minutes from the Executive Committee meeting are on page 49 of the Board Packet.

 

C.                Strategic Planning Committee

Trustee Lock reported that there was nothing to report at this time.

 

D.                Personnel Committee

Legal Counsel Copeland reported that the items from the Personnel Committee will be discussed during Closed Session.

 

10.       Report of District Activities:      

A.                 General Manager

B.                District Programs; progress and events since last Board meeting. 

Reports by:

                                                            1.      Fleet/Facilities – John Schroeder

                                                            2.      Administration – Crystal Garcia

                                                            3.      Laboratory and Biocontrol – Branka Lothrop, PhD

                                                            4.      Operations – Jim Saulnier

 

Short program updates were given by General Manager Gomsi, Fleet/Facilities Supervisor Schroeder, Administrative Clerk Garcia, Scientific Operation Manager Lothrop, and Operations Manager Saulnier. General Manager Gomsi announced that the Community Outreach report would not be given as Assistant to the General Manager Glanz is out sick and Community Educator Kylis is on maternity leave.

 

11.       Informational Items:

A.                 Murine Typhus

B.                Form 700 Statement of Economic Interests Reference Pamphlet

C.                Team Reports

D.                Current Organizational Chart

 

As in board packet.  Trustee Baker inquired as to why he was not allowed to be on the Strategic Planning committees he requested. President Duran responded that Trustee Baker was placed on two different committees because his expertise was better suited for those specific committees.

 

12.       Consent Calendar:

A.               Approval for all CDPH vector certified staff to attend continuing education seminar to be held in Anaheim on February 26, 27, and 28, 2008 in an amount not to exceed $15,000.00 from Fund # 7600.1.225 – Staff Training

 

B.               Approval for Trustees desiring so to attend the Special District and Local Government Institute Administration Seminar June 26-27, 2008, in San Diego in an amount not to exceed $3,000.00 from Fund #6120.01.250 – Trustee Support

 

Trustee Henderson made the motion to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion was seconded by Trustee Walker and carried unanimously.

 

13.       Old Business:

A.                 Discussion and/or approval to hire a communications/public relations firm in an amount not to exceed $20,000 from Fund #6095.01.225 – Misc. Professional Fees and $60,000 from FY 2008/09 Budget Account #6095.01.215 Community Outreach Professional Fees – Assistant to the General Manager Glanz

 

Trustee Baker commented that if the District hires a communications/public relations firm that it should be on a fixed price contract. A discussion ensued. Trustee Henderson made the motion to hire Kiner Communications with the stipulation that a formal contract be brought before the Board at the March Board Meeting for their review and approval. The motion was seconded by Trustee Macknicki and carried with six (6) approved (Duran, Fuschetti, Henderson, Macknicki, Nigosian, and Walker) and four (4) opposed (Baker Howell, Lock, and Underwood).

 

B.                Discussion and/or approval for appointment of Annual Auditor – Secretary/Treasurer Underwood

 

Trustee Underwood made the motion to approve the Finance Committee’s recommendation to enter into a three year agreement with Mayer Hoffman McCann to perform the District’s annual auditing services. The motion was seconded by Trustee Baker and carried unanimously.

 

C.                Approval of resolutions required by CalPERS to formalize the Vesting Schedul. – Finance Administrator I’Anson

 

Trustee Baker made the motion to approve Item 13C. The motion was seconded by Trustee Walker and carried unanimously.

 

14.       New Business:

A.        Approval of Resolution 2008-01 revising “line item” expenditures for the annual budget for fiscal year 2007/2008 – Finance Administrator I’Anson

 

Trustee Baker made the motion to approve Item 14A. The motion was seconded by Trustee Underwood and carried unanimously.

 

B.        Discussion regarding Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) suggestion from Indio City Manager Glenn Southard, Assistant City Manager Bridget Healy, and Council Members Gilbert and Fesmire to advise and to make recommendations to the Board of Trustees of the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District. – President Mike Duran

 

Trustee Baker questioned if the City of Indio had made a written communication requesting a Technical Advisory Committee. President Duran responded that they had verbally suggested a TAC. A discussion ensued. Trustee Henderson made the motion to continue discussions with the City of Indio and continue to explain to them that the Board does not approve the formation of a TAC. The motion was seconded by Trustee Macknicki and with nine (9) approved (Duran, Fuschetti, Henderson, Howell, Lock, Macknicki, Nigosian, Underwood, and Walker) and one (1) opposed (Baker).

 

C.        Discussion and/or approval to hold an 80th Anniversary Open House celebration on Thursday, April 24, 2008, between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., in an amount not to exceed $6000.00 from Fund #6130.01.215 – Special Events. – Assistant to the General Manager Glanz

 

H.        Discussion and recommendation of District dedication for Ben Laflin in recognition of his 54 years as a Trustee. – President Duran

 

Trustee Nigosian requested Item 14H and Item 14C be considered together.  A discussion ensued. Trustee Macknicki made the motion to send Items 14C and 14H to an ad hoc committee to determine what would be appropriate to dedicate on behalf of Trustee Laflin’s service to the District, to recognize Trustee Laflin at the March Board Meeting, to recognize Trustee Laflin at the 80th anniversary celebration, and to hold the 80th anniversary celebration on April 25th. The motion was seconded by Trustee Baker and carried unanimously. Trustee Baker suggested that President Duran, Trustee Fuschetti, and Trustee Nigosian serve on the ad hoc committee.

 

D.        Discussion and/or approval to fund a $20,000.00 research proposal from Dr. Basitaan M. Drees, The Texas A&M University System/The Agricultural Program, to evaluate the RIFA program in the Coachella Valley from Fund #8510.1.600 – Research Projects – Scientific Operations Manager Lothrop

 

Trustee Underwood made the motion to approve Item 14D. The motion was seconded by Trustee Henderson and carried unanimously.

 

E.        Approval to solicit bids for and to purchase from the lowest, responsible bidder one two-hour fire rated temperature controlled flammable storage module in an amount not to exceed $80,000.00.  The funding required to be provided from the capital budget line 8487.01.800 – Miscellaneous Improvements. – Operations Manager Saulnier

 

Trustee Baker made the motion to approve Item 14E. The motion was seconded by Trustee Underwood and carried unanimously.

 

F.        Discussion and/or approval to purchase mosquito control products from lowest responsible bidder in am amount not to exceed $120,000.00 from Fund #7800.01.500 – Control Products. – Operations Manager Saulnier

 

Trustee Baker made the motion to approve Item 14F. The motion was seconded by Trustee Nigosian and carried unanimously.

 

G.        Discussion and direction to Staff regarding determining legality of providing additional Trustee benefits. – Executive Committee

 

Trustee Walker made the motion to have staff and legal counsel look into Item 14G and report to the Board on their findings. The motion was seconded by Trustee Henderson and carried unanimously.

 

15.       Closed Session:

A.        Closed Session Pursuant to Government Code section 54957 – Public Employee Performance Evaluation – General Manager

 

B.        Closed Session Conference with Legal Counsel, pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9 (a), Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District v. City of Desert Hot Springs pending in the Fourth Appellate District, Division II as Case number E-044384

 

Returning from Closed Session Legal Counsel Copeland stated that there was no reportable action.

 

16.       Trustee Comments:

Trustee Underwood asked for clarification regarding whether or not the General Manager was going to meet with Kiner and limit the expense to $33,000 for the year. Trustee Henderson repeated the motion that was made and stated that the contract would be brought to the Board at the next meeting. Trustee Underwood additionally asked could the District go about publishing the whole board packet online. General Manager Gomsi responded that all of the documents are on the website on 4:30 the Friday before the Board Meeting. A discussion ensued.

 

17.       Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned by President Duran at 10:00 p.m.