COACHELLA VALLEY MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL DISTRICT

Board of Trustees Meeting

 

March 11, 2008

 

Call To Order:

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

 

Pledge of Allegiance:

Trustee Howell led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Roll Call:

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

 

1.       Confirmation of Agenda:

Trustee Nigosian made the motion to approve the Agenda. The motion was seconded by Trustee Underwood and carried unanimously.

 

2.         Minutes:

A.                 Approval of Minutes from February 12, 2008, Board Meeting.

 

Trustee Henderson made the motion to approve the minutes of the February 12, 2008, Board Meeting. The motion was seconded by Trustee Lock and carried unanimously.

 

3.         Public Comment:

Public comments made by Brian Passaro and Laura Lord Passaro.

 

4.         Announcements:

Trustee Nigosian welcomed Trustee Keck to his first meeting. General Manager Gomsi announced that the letter from the County appointing Trustee Keck states that he was appointed for four years, but by law, the initial term has to be for two years.

 

General Manager Gomsi made several announcements related to recent conferences.

 

5.         Correspondence:

As in board packet. Additional correspondence included a letter from Riverside County appointing Trustee Keck to the Board.

 

6.         Approval of Expenditures for February 13-29, 2008, and March 1-11, 2008:

Trustee Underwood made the motion to approve the expenditures for February 13-29, 2008, and March 1-11, 2008. The motion was seconded by Trustee Henderson and carried with ten (10) approved (Duran, Fuschetti, Henderson, Howell, Keck, Lock, Macknicki, Nigosian, Underwood, and Walker) and one (1) opposed (Baker).

 

7.         Committee Reports

A.               Finance Committee

Secretary/Treasurer Underwood reported as follows. The January 31st financials show the District had cash disbursements of $767,995, with cash receipts of $2,515,677.  The largest receipts in January were from a benefit assessment check for $1,276,675 and a property tax check for $1,640,740 from the County of Riverside. At their meeting, the Finance Committee received the first draft of the 2008/2009 budget. They will be developing the budget over the next several months and anticipate presentation at the June meeting for Board approval. Trustee Underwood also thanked Finance Administrator I’Anson for having the budget ready earlier this year. Additionally, Trustee Underwood reported that the February 12th Finance Committee minutes are in the Board Packet on page 35. The next Finance Committee Meetings will be on the 28th of March and the 7th of April.

 

B.               Executive Committee

President Duran reported that the minutes from the Executive Committee meeting are on page 37 of the Board Packet.

 

C.                Strategic Planning Committee

Trustee Lock reported that the Strategic Planning Committee met with representatives from the firm Moreland and Associates to determine how Strategic Planning and budgeting fit together, and that they were given great definitions. The Strategic Planning Committee will be meeting next week to work on tasks that should be addressed by the Finance Committee.

 

D.                Personnel Committee

Trustee Nigosian reported that the items from the Personnel Committee will be discussed during Closed Session.

 

8.         Report of District Activities:      

A.                 General Manager

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

Reports by:

                                                            1.      Admin/Fleet/Facilities – Crystal Garcia

                                                            2.      Laboratory and Biocontrol – Branka Lothrop, PhD

                                                            3.      Operations – Phil Boeing

                                                            4.      Community Outreach – Diane Glanz

 

Short program updates were given by General Manager Gomsi, Administrative Clerk Garcia, Scientific Operation Manager Lothrop, Field Supervisor Boeing, and Assistant to the General Manager Glanz.

 

9.         Informational Items:

A.                 Larvicidal Algae

B.                Team Reports

 

As in board packet. 

 

10.       Consent Calendar:

A.        Approval for Administrative Clerk Crystal Garcia to attend the California Special Districts Association (CSDA) Board Secretary Training, March 27-28, 2008, in Emeryville, CA in an amount not to exceed $1500 from Fund #7600.01.225 Staff Training.

 

B.        Approval for General Manager Gomsi to attend the AMCA Washington Day meeting, May 5-7, 2008 in Arlington, VA in an amount not to exceed $2500 from Fund #6110.1.200 – Conference Expense.

 

Trustee Henderson made the motion to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion was seconded by Trustee Walker and carried with ten (10) approved (Duran, Fuschetti, Henderson, Howell, Keck, Lock, Macknicki, Nigosian, Underwood, and Walker) and one (1) opposed (Baker).

 

11.       Old Business:

A.        Discussion and/or approval of contract to engage Kiner Communications to serve as the District’s communications/public relations firm in an amount not to exceed $33,000 from Fund #6095.01.225 – Miscellaneous Professional Fees and $15,000 from FY 2008/09 Budget Account #6095.01.215 – Community Outreach Professional Fees as discretionary funds to be used as needed by General Manger Gomsi for additional work.

 

Trustee Lock questioned what the wording in the Kiner contract stating “from five hours or $750 an hour”. Mr. Kiner from Kiner responded that the contract is stating that the project is going to take five hours. Trustee Lock requested that Item 11 A  be broken into two separate motions, one for the amount of $33,000 and one for the amount of $15,000. A discussion ensued. Trustee Nigosian made the motion to approve the amount of $33,000 to enter into a contract with Kiner Communications. The motion was seconded by Trustee Lock and carried with ten (10) approved (Duran, Fuschetti, Henderson, Howell, Keck, Lock, Macknicki, Nigosian, Underwood, and Walker) and one (1) opposed (Baker). Trustee Baker requested clarification on the amount of $15,000 requesting to be approved. A discussion ensued. Trustee Howell moved that the amount be reduced to $5,000, the amount currently allowed by policy. The motion was seconded by Trustee Lock and carried with nine (9) approved and two (2) opposed (Henderson and Nigosian).

 

12.       New Business:

A.                 Supplemental Retirement Plan for professional, scientific, and upper management personnel – Receive and File Report from Actuary for Informational Purposes Only – No action required.  Supplemental Retirement Plan to be considered at a future meeting.

 

Trustee Henderson requested to change the wording to change the word “to” to “may” in the second paragraph of the Supplemental Retirement Plan. Trustee Macknicki made the motion to receive and file Item 12A as amended. The motion was seconded by Trustee Baker and carried unanimously.

 

B.        Discussion and/or approval to engage A New Team Adventure, LLC to conduct a team building event for District Staff on April 11, 2008, from 8:30 a.m., to 3:30 p.m., in an amount not to exceed $5800 from Fund #7600.01.225 – Staff Training.  A box lunch, beverages, and a morning snack are included in the not to exceed amount. - #7 Team Leader, Mike Martinez

 

General Manager Gomsi suggested that the District be closed the day of the team building event. A discussion ensued. Trustee Lock made the motion to approve Item 12B. The motion was seconded by Trustee Henderson and carried unanimously.

 

13.       Closed Session:

A. Closed Session - Pursuant to Government Code section 54957 - Public Employment, position General Manager.

 

B. Closed Session - Pursuant to Government Code section 54957.6 - Conference with Labor Negotiators- Don Gomsi and Lisa Copeland - Employee Organization:  CSEA Chapter 2001

 

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

 

 

14.       Trustee Comments:

Trustee Baker commented that in light of the information that was presented earlier in the meeting during Public Comment that he felt that the District was under some obligation to investigate. He requested a Closed Session for review of the specific allegations that were presented and that the Closed Session not include the district’s attorney or the general manager. A discussion ensued. Trustee Lock reported that she went to Los Angeles for the New Board Member Orientation to better gain knowledge on courses she could use as chair of the Strategic Planning Committee and that it was a great course. Trustee Nigosian and Fuschetti commented on the performance of the General Manger over the year’s of their service as Trustees.  President Duran commented that he wanted to thank Trustee Keck for joining the Board of Trustees.

 

15.       Adjournment:

Trustee Lock made the motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Trustee Baker and carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned by President Duran at 8:15 p.m.