COACHELLA VALLEY MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL DISTRICT

Board of Trustees’ Meeting

 

October 9, 2007

 

Call To Order:

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

 

Pledge of Allegiance:

Trustee Underwood led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Roll Call:

Those present at roll call: President Duran, Vice President Fuschetti, Secretary/Treasurer Underwood, Trustees Baker, Henderson, Howell, Laflin, Lock, Macknicki, Nigosian, and Walker.  Also present were General Manager Donald Gomsi, Assistant to the General Manager Diane Glanz, Administrative Assistant Anita Jones, Scientific Operation Manager Branka Lothrop, Operations Manager James Saulnier, Finance Administrator David I’Anson, and Legal Counsel Lisa Copeland.

 

1.                  Confirmation of Agenda:

General Manager Gomsi explained the reason for the placement of an item of New Business to earlier in the agenda was to allow for an early presentation from the auditors. Trustee Lock questioned why the Robert Mann matter was not on the Agenda. President Duran responded that the item was before the Personnel Committee. A discussion ensued. Trustee Walker questioned if there was a need to have the upcoming Strategic Planning meeting on the agenda or would the board be receiving information separately. President Duran responded that the Strategic Planning sub-committee meeting will be on October 11th. A discussion ensued. General Manager Gomsi announced that the date for the Strategic Planning Meeting of the full Board of Trustees will be on October 19th and 20th at Indian Palms Country Club. Trustee Nigosian made the motion to confirm the Agenda. The motion was seconded by Trustee Underwood and carried unanimously.

 

2.                  Minutes

A.                 Approval of Minutes for September 11, 2007, Board Meeting.

 

Trustee Howell made the motion to approve the minutes for the September 11, 2007, Board Meeting. The motion was seconded by Trustee Underwood and carried unanimously.

 

3.                  Public Comment:

Public comment made by Laura Lord.

 

4.                  Announcements:

General Manger Gomsi announced that the District is hosting students from Serbia and Croatia and that they would be giving presentations later in the meeting.

 

5.         New Business:

A.       Audit presentation of Fiscal Year 2006/2007 by Greg Fankhanel, CPA, partner of Teaman, Ramirez & Smith, Inc.

 

Presentation given by Greg Fankhanel, CPA, partner of Teaman, Ramirez & Smith, Inc.

Trustee Henderson asked how, if the figures appear to be the same as this year’s audit, they are better than last year. Mr. Fankhanel explained that the audit went better than last year based on the District’s preparation and how quickly the audit was done. Trustee Howell questioned why 17% was considered moderate when it appeared significant and if the comments listed on page VII of the audit were the auditors or District management. Mr. Fankhanel responded that they were management’s discussion and analysis and are not audited. A discussion ensued. Trustee Lock inquired what the percentage of purchases found that did not have back-up bid documentation. Mr. Fankhanel could not provide the percentage, but from what he could recall, he believed that there were two items. A discussion ensued. Trustee Henderson made the motion to receive and file the audit as presented. The motion was seconded by Trustee Howell and carried unanimously.

 

6.         Correspondence:

As in board packet. Additional correspondence included the Orange County Vector Control District Board Packet.

 

7.         Approval of Expenditures for September 12-30, 2007, and October 1-9, 2007:

Trustee Henderson made the motion to approve the expenditures for September 12-30, 2007, and October 1-9, 2007. The motion was seconded by Trustee Underwood and carried unanimously.

 

8.         Committee Reports

A.        Finance Committee:

 

Trustee Underwood reported that the Finance Committee met earlier that day and the committee discussed and would be addressing all areas of concern. For the month of June, the district had cash disbursements totaling approximately $1.2 million with receipts of $176,263. The largest receipt in August was the final 2006-2007 benefit assessment disbursement from the County of Riverside for $106,347.05. Additionally he added that the next Finance Committee meeting is scheduled for November 13th, 4:30.

 

B.        Executive Committee:

 

            President Duran reported on the Executive Committee meeting. He requested that Trustees email Anita Jones, the Clerk of the Board, with any items they would like discussed or considered as agenda items.

 

C.        Personnel Committee:

 

Trustee Nigosian reported the Personnel Committee met, and at this time, there is no reportable action. Trustee Lock stated that she thought the report was going to be a Closed Session report so that questions could be asked. Legal Counsel Copeland responded that there can be a Closed Session added to the next Board Meeting. A discussion ensued.

 

9.         Report of District Activities:

A.        General Manager Gomsi

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

                                                            1.      Admin/Fleet/Facilities – Brian Passaro

                                                            2.      Laboratory and Biocontrol – Branka Lothrop, PhD

                                                            3.      Operations – Jim Saulnier

                                                            4.      Community Outreach – Diane Glanz

 

Short program updates given by General Manager Gomsi, Administrative Assistant Jones, Scientific Operation Manager Lothrop, Operations Manager Saulnier, and Assistant to the General Manager Glanz. During General Manager Gomsi’s report, Trustee Baker inquired regarding the widely reported West Nile virus death in Desert Hot Springs and if there was an update regarding it. General Manager Gomsi responded that Scientific Operations Manager Lothrop would be discussing that in her report; which she did.

 

10.       Informational Items:

A.                 Mosquito Hawk

B.                Too much water here? Whoda thunk?

C.                Report from Assistant to the General Manager Glanz regarding Special Districts Seminar in Seaside, CA, on Special District Finance, September 6-8, 2007.  

D.                Presentation by Mirta Sudaric, PhD Candidate from Croatia, Josip Juraj Strossmayer - University of Osijek, Department of Biology, Osijek.

E.               Presentation by Ivana Dragicevic and Ana Stefanovic, students from Serbia,                                                     ;University of Novi Sad, Department of Biology, Center for Biodiversity of the ;Balkan Peninsula.

 

As in Board Packet.

 

Trustee Henderson inquired what the District’s involvement is in hosting the students. Scientific Operations Manager Lothrop responded that she is a former employee of the University of Novi Sad, and when she went back to give a presentation, she was asked if they could use the facility for research. The students are here at no cost to the District.

 

11.       Consent Calendar:

A.                 Approval for Administrative Assistant Anita Jones to attend the Annual California Public Employers Labor Relations Association (CALPELRA) Training Conference, November 14-16, 2007, in Monterey, in an amount not to exceed $1,500.00 from Fund #7600.01.225 – Staff Training.

 

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

 

12.       Old Business:

           A.         Update/Discussion regarding Riverside Local Agency Commission’s final draft regarding Mosquito and Vector Services Study for Riverside. – General Manager Gomsi

 

Trustee Underwood made the recommendation that the Executive Committee accompany the General Manager to the upcoming LAFCO meeting. Trustee Walker made the motion to approve reimbursement of Board Members who attend the LAFCO meeting on October 25th. The motion was seconded by Trustee Underwood and carried unanimously.        

 

13.       New Business:

B.        Discussion and/or approval to conduct aerial reconnaissance of the urban areas of the Coachella Valley for backyard green pools and water features in an amount not to exceed the entire remaining budget of $159,000.00 from Fund # 7850.1.500 (Aerial Application). – Operations Manager Saulnier

 

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

 

Trustee Underwood requested that Agenda Items C, D, and F under New Business be considered for approval as a whole.

 

C.        Approval of Resolution 2007-14 for Finance Administrator, with authorization from the Treasurer or designee, to transfer funds by wire between the District’s Desert Commercial Bank Market Rate Account and its Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF). – Finance Administrator I’Anson

 

D.        Approval of Resolution 2007-15 to appoint and authorize the Board of Trustees to be the system administrator for Desert Commercial Online Banking and to authorize the Finance Administrator to transfer funds between the District’s Desert Commercial Bank accounts. – Finance Administrator I’Anson

 

F.              Approval of Resolution 2007-16 to authorize General Manager Gomsi, Assistant to  the General Manager Glanz, and Administrative Services Manager Passaro to approve transfers of funds between the District’s Desert Commercial Bank accounts. – Finance Administrator I’Anson

 

Trustee Henderson made the motion to approve New Business Items C, D, and F. The motion was seconded by Trustee Underwood and carried unanimously.

 

 

 

E.       Approval of funding for the 2007 Annual Board President’s Luncheon in an amount not to exceed $7,000.00 from Fund #6120.01.250 – Trustee Support. – President Duran

 

Trustee Underwood inquired as to the date of the President’s Luncheon. General Manager Gomsi responded that the date had not yet been set, but suggested December 13. Trustee Nigosian made the motion to approve Item E. The motion was seconded by Trustee Underwood and carried unanimously.

 

Trustee Baker requested to add a statement for the record before going into Closed Session. Trustee Baker stated that he objects to his exclusion from the Closed Session since he is not a named litigant in the action and therefore whatever the District does, does not have a bearing on him.

 

Five Minute Break.

 

13.       Closed Session:

A.        CLOSED SESSION – Closed Session Conference with Legal Counsel Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9 (a), Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District v. Desert Hot Springs pending in Riverside County Superior Court as Case No. INC 068335.

 

B.        CLOSED SESSION – Closed Session Conference with Legal Counsel Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9 (a): Association to Prevent Environmental Damage et al. v. State of California Resources Agency et al. pending in Riverside County Superior Court as Case No. INC 068977.

 

Legal Counsel Copeland reported that the reportable actions resulting from Closed Session were 1.) that the Board voted unanimously to direct counsel to seek to intervene or appear in the case listed as Item B in Closed Session, and 2.) the Board voted unanimously to appeal the decision of the court in the Desert Hot Springs case in Riverside County Superior Court.

 

14.       Trustee Comments:

            None.

 

15.       Adjournment:

Trustee Macknicki made the motion to adjourn. Trustee Lock seconded the motion and was carried unanimously. President Duran adjourned the meeting at 9:15 p.m.