TranslateDraft Minutes Regular Commission Meeting August 05, 2020
Attendance
Commissioners Present
Ernie Loveless, Chair
Teresa Barrett
Susan Gorin
Rich Holmer
Lynda Hopkins
Steve Herzberg
Pam Stafford
Alternate Commissioners Present
Mark Landman
Rodney Moore
Staff Present
Mark Bramfitt, Executive Officer
Carole Cooper, Assistant Executive Officer
Verne Ball, Legal Counsel
Cynthia Olson, Administrative Analyst
Diana R. Wilson, Clerk
1. Call to Order by the Chair - Action
The meeting was called to order by Chair Loveless at 2:00 p.m. After roll call, the following voting members were in attendance: Loveless, Barret, Stafford, Herzberg, Gorin, Hopkins, and Holmer.
2. Public Comment:
The Chair opened to public comment period.
Susan Moulton, member of the public, wanted to know if the County had any provisions for overseeing emergency rooms and urgency care. She asked if there was an oversight agency or an organization that people can reach out to find out how to access health care when they cannot pay.
The Chair closed to public comment period.3. Consent Calendar- Action
- Meeting Minutes June 24, 2020
- Meeting Minutes July 1, 2020
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Upon motion and second, approved item as recommended by staff.
Roll call Vote.
Ayes: 7 Loveless, Barret, Stafford, Herzberg, Gorin, Hopkins, and Holmer.
Noes: 0
Abstain: 0
4. Public Hearings - Action
- Reorganization of the Palm Drive Health Care District Consisting of Dissolution of the Agency and Assignment of the County of Sonoma as Successor Agency Solely to Wind Up the Affairs off the District.
CEQA Determination: Proposal Exempt from CEQA per Sections 15320 and 15061(b)(3).
Staff provided information regarding the reorganization of the Palm Drive Health Care District (PDHCD) that consists of dissolution of the agency and the assignment of the County of Sonoma as Successor Agency. He outlined the options available for the successor agency and recommended that the commission hold a public hearing and waive the protest proceeding. Staff engaged in dialog with the commission and answered questions.
Commissioner Gorin had questions regarding the letter from Jim Horn about the establishment of the non-profit where funds from the PDHCD were transferred. She also wanted to know if there was something that could be done to stop such a transaction. Staff answered that as an active entity, the district board has every right to take action as they see fit. In addition, staff recommended that the Commission refrain from giving directions to the successor agency.
Commissioner Hopkins asked more about where the funds were going and how to communicate with the public as to what is going on with the debt and what is happening. Staff answered the County as successor agency would be the contact point for members of the public. Commissioner Hopkins stated she wants there to be accountability.
Chair Loveless left meeting at 2:21 p.m.
Alternate Commissioner Landman spoke in regards to his concern about the last moment formation of the Gravenstein Health Action Collation where PDHCD transferred taxpayer money. He asked if they should go on record saying that the transfer of funds seems potentially questionable. He also voiced concern about the records retention for future public records act issues. Staff responded that the healthcare records are being preserved. In addition, Staff stated that the Commission didn’t have the ability to tell the successor agency how to move forward.
Chair Loveless returned to Meeting at 2:23 p.m.
Chair Loveless opened the public hearing.
Richard Power, current board member of the Palm Drive Health Care District (PDHCD), spoke as a citizen of West County. He does not feel that the Board was authorized to transfer the $200,000 to a new entity. He urged the successor agency to pay attention to the entity that holds the $1.2 million and has not opened the urgent care facility.
Susan Moulton, member of the public, commended the Board for the years of effort to keep the hospital open during the various emergency events. She has questions in regards to the $1.2 million for urgent care and outpatient services that are not being provided.
Jim Horn, member of the public, thanked the Commission and staff for the work they have done and urged the Commission to adopt the resolution. He provided correction on the draft resolution. In addition, he suggested several conditions for the successor agency.
Dennis Colthurst, President of Palm Drive Health Care Foundation, recommended that the Commission investigate the negative comments made by several members of the public. He would like Alanna Brogan to speak in regards to the matter of transferring funds to the coalition.
Joan Marlar, member of public, thanked the unpaid Palm Drive Health Care District board members and stated how important it is to have the hospital open during emergency events. She explained that the $1.2 million is designated for the Urgent Care facility.
Richard Power, current Board member of the PDHCD, provided clarification on his earlier comment about his opinion of the legality of the Measure W parcel tax money being used to fund the newly created entity.
Alanna Brogan thanked Dennis Colthurst for his comment. She stated that the new entity has a different board of trustees and it is a new organization. She stated that the District had been running a community health program for five years and that the money given to the new entity will be used for health and mental health issues in the West County.
The Chair closed the public hearing and brought the discussion back to the dais.
Motion was made and seconded to approve the resolution as recommended with the edit to correct the date the hospital was sold. In addition, Staff was directed to write a letter to the successor agency about the concerns raised at the meeting. Those items are the retention of district public records, status of the Urgent Care to ensure it is reopened or a penalty is paid and a statement regarding the appropriateness of the Health Action funding.
Roll call Vote.
Ayes: 7 Loveless, Barret, Stafford, Herzberg, Gorin, Hopkins, and Holmer.
Noes: 0
Abstain: 0
5. Regular Calendar
None
6. Information/Report Items - Informational and/or Direction
- Discussion Regarding Consideration of Fire and Emergency Service Agency Sphere of Influence Amendment Requests
Chair Loveless stated his expectation regarding the item; this is a conversation in regards to the various Sphere of Influence Amendment requests that have come in since March 2020 and the Fire Service Working Group report that has been on hold due to remote meetings. This item will be an exchange of information on upcoming issues and hopefully give direction to staff.
Staff explained they are working on the North County MSR, and that there is a reorganization expected for Forestville and Bodega Bay with Sonoma County Fire. He stated that almost all of the MSRs are completed for all agencies except for the volunteer companies surrounding Petaluma. (Lakeville, San Antonio, Wilmar, and Two Rock). Sphere of Influence amendments cannot be done until those are completed. Staff urged the Commission to hear the Fire Service Working Group’s report. He also stated that due to conflicting proposals from fire protection districts and volunteer companies, the Commission should think about how to respond and to find a way forward.
The Commission discussed the challenges ahead and made requests to see a matrix showing the six criteria points established by the Commission in addition to maps of the proposed areas.
The Chair opened up to public comment.
Paul Barry, Cazadero Community Services District, requested that the Commission delay the sphere of influence realignment of Sonoma County Fire with the West County Fire Districts in order for them to complete the process of making choices for reorganization amongst themselves.
Dan George, Goldridge Fire Protection District, stated his desire to for the various districts to make choices for reorganization amongst themselves.
Dan Fein, Chair of the Monte Rio Fire Protection District, stated his desire for the various districts to make their choices organically.
Steve Genessi, Fort Ross, stated his desire to for the various districts to make choices for reorganization amongst themselves.
Ron Lundardi, Fire Chief from Occidental Fire Department, stated his desire to for the various districts to make choices for reorganization amongst themselves.
The Chair closed the public comment period and brought the discussion back to the dais.
After further discussion, the Commission requested staff come up with the following:
- A matrix with the six criteria points established by the Commission for each of the various districts.
- Maps showing the borders of the various proposals for sphere of influence alignments.
- Complete South County MSRs (Lakeville, San Antonio, Wilmar, and Two Rock)
- Executive Officer’s Report and Legislative Report(Verbal)
Executive Officer’s Report. Items coming before the Commission in the next few months include a draft MSR for Timber Cove Water District, the staff organizational study, the MSR for Windsor and the formation of some type of Septic Service District in Russian River area.
CALAFCO has two board member seats open, one for a county member and the other for a district member. Nominations should be submitted by September 22, 2020.
7. General Announcements - Informational
8. Confirm Meetings - Action
Commission Meeting: September 2, 2020, at 2:00 p.m.