Local Agency Formation Commission › Meetings & Agendas › Draft Commission Meeting Minutes for December 4 2019
Meetings & Agendas

Draft Commission Meeting Minutes for December 4 2019

Attendance

Commissioners Present
Ernie Loveless, Chair
Teresa Barrett
Susan Gorin
Rich Holmer
Lynda Hopkins
Jean Kapolchok
Pam Stafford

Alternate Commissioners Present
Steve Herzberg
Mark Landman

Staff Present
Mark Bramfitt Executive Officer
Carole Cooper, Assistant Executive Officer
Verne Ball, Legal Counsel
Cynthia Olson, Administrative Analyst
Diana R. Wilson, Clerk

Approved Regular Commission Meeting Minutes for December 4, 2019

1. Call to Order by the Chair

The meeting was called to order by Chair at 2:00 p.m. The following voting members were seated at the dais: Commissioners Loveless, Barrett, Holmer, Hopkins, Kapolchok, and Stafford. Commission Gorin participated in the meeting by telephone.

Chari Loveless announced that all votes would be taken by roll call.

2. Public Comment:

The Chair opened the public comment period.

Duane De Witt, resident of Roseland, thanked Commissioners Hopkins and Gorin for watching after Roseland when LAFCO dissolved the Roseland Fire District in regard to funding for Roseland projects including a new fire station.

Dan Smith, founding member of the Palm Drive Health Care District, requested dissolution of the Palm Drive Health Care District.

Richard Power, board member of the Palm Drive Health Care District, requested dissolution of the Palm Drive Health Care District.

Jim Horn, former director of the Palm Drive Health Care District, requested dissolution of the Palm Drive Health Care District.

Michele McDonell, property owner in Monte Rio and Guerneville, requested public discussion about how every parcel will be affected financially by any consolidation and adoption of special taxes.

3. Consent Calendar

Items on the Consent Calendar will be taken in one motion without discussion

  1. Approval of Meeting Minutes: November 6, 2019
    Upon motion and second, approved items on the Consent Calendar as recommended by staff.
    Ayes:                   6 Loveless, Stafford, Kapolchok, Holmer, Barrett, and Hopkins
    Noes:                   0
    Abstain:                0

4. Public Hearing Protest Hearings

    1. File No. 2019-18: Sphere of Influence Study and Amendments to Spheres of Influence for Sonoma County Fire District and West County Fire and Emergency Medical Service Agencies
      Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act, pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines

    Staff explained the Sphere of Influence Study and Amendments to the Spheres of Influence for Sonoma County Fire District and West County Fire and Emergency Medical Service Agencies.

    Commissioners asked questions of staff, engaged in discussion regarding staff’s recommendation, and discussed the various letters provided by the Board of Supervisors and the fire services working group.

    The Chair opened the public hearing.

    Chief Mark Heine, Sonoma County Fire District, thanked Mark Bramfitt and LAFCO for the work done on the staff report. He provided information regarding plans for the reorganization efforts.

    Jason Clopton, President of Russian River Professional Fire Fighters, expressed his support for the sphere amendment.

    Michael Nicholls, President of Cazadero Community Services District board, shared his support for what he stated was Commissioner Hopkins’s plan to postpone until April 2020 determination of options for spheres of influence.

    Paul Barry, Director of Cazadero Community Services District, shared his support for what he referred to as Supervisor Hopkins’s plan to postpone until April 2020 before moving with the Sphere of Influence implementation.

    Terri Wright, County Administrator’s Office, referred to a letter from the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, which the Commissioners received just prior to the start of the meeting. The letter requested that any amendment to agency spheres that involved County Service Area No. 40 (Fire Services) agencies be postponed until 2020, to allow the County and other stakeholders to review impacts of sphere amendments on the provision of emergency medical services.

    Jim Horne, resident of the Gold Ridge Fire District, asked about parcel tax for existing districts.

    Staff provided information.

    Mike Mickelson Wilmar Fire Department and President of North Bay Fire, shared his support for Hopkins’s plan to postpone for three to four months to research best options.

    Jed Peterson, Board of Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District, commented about wanting to expand the sphere of influence into Integrated Response Plan areas.

    Lee Erikson, President of Valley Ford Volunteer Fire Company Board, shared his support for Commissioner Hopkins’s plan to postpone for three to four months to consider alternatives.

    Bill Adams, general counsel for various fire service agencies, noted that the Commission had adopted criteria for determining spheres; had applied the criteria in determining sphere amendments for the Sonoma Valley area recently; and recommended that the Commission follow the adopted criteria for this item also.

    The Chair closed the public hearing and brought discussion back to the dais.

    Commissioners continued discussion regarding the benefits of having the additional 90 - 120 days and what would happen in that time to provide information. Staff provided answers and clarification.

    Motion made by Commissioner Barrett to support the resolution as recommended by staff, Seconded by Commissioner Stafford.

    Ayes: 3 Loveless, Barrett, and Kapolchok,
    Noes: 4 Gorin, Holmer, Hopkins, and Stafford
    Abstain: 0

    Item did not pass.

    Motion made by Commissioner Hopkins to amend and revise staff’s proposed resolution to: amend the sphere of influence of the Sonoma County Fire District to include the Russian River FPD, Bodega Bay FPD, and Forestville FPD and to establish zero spheres of influence for those districts. In addition, to leave Monte Rio FPD,  Cazadero Community Services District, and West County areas served by CSA 40-associated agencies as is and direct staff and fire services working group to return on April 1, 2020, with a set of proposals to be reviewed by the Commission. Seconded by Commissioner Holmer.

    Ayes: 6 Barrett, Gorin, Holmer, Hopkins, Kapolchok, and Stafford
    Noes: 1 Loveless
    Abstain: 0

5. Regular Calendar

  1. LAFCO Staffing and Facilities: Memorandum of Understanding for Fiscal Years 2019-2024

    Staff explained the Staffing and Facilities: Memorandum of Understanding for Fiscal Years 2019-2024 item.

    The Chair opened the public comment period and, seeing no one rise, closed the public comment.

    Upon motion and second, approved the item as recommended by staff.

    Ayes: 6 Loveless, Stafford, Kapolchok, Holmer, Barrett, and Hopkins
    Noes: 0
    Abstain: 0

6. Information/Report Items - Informational and/or Direction

  1. Legislative Report 

    2. Staff provided details regarding the status of pertinent bills of interest.

  2. Executive Officer’s Report (Verbal)

    3. The Executive Officer reported that he had attended the Kenwood Fire Protection District board meeting the previous week.

    The Assistant Executive Officer stated that the Commission’s strategic planning workshop meeting would be scheduled for  January 15, 2020, and would include lunch. The Commission requested a poll to find a new date for the workshop to accommodate the schedules of more Commission members.

7. General Announcements

    Commissioner Barrett asked about the status of Palm Drive Healthcare District. Staff responded that the Palm Drive Healthcare District is discussing continuation of the District with its counsel. Commissioners commented on the direction of the District.

8. Confirm Meetings

    Commission Meeting: Study Session: TBD based on survey results.

    Commission Meeting:             February 5, 2020, at 2:00 p.m.

9. Adjournment

    The meeting was adjourned at 4:06 p.m.