SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION
MINUTES
MAY 19, 2003
As Amended

Attendees:

Name Title Representing
Arnold, Chuck Director/President Montecito Sanitary District
Azoury, Kamil General Manager Goleta Sanitary District
Barnard, Kevin General Manager Los Alamos CSD
Bernstein, Mitch General Manager S.B. Vector Control District
Blair, Charles Director Vandenberg Village CSD
Braitman, Bob Executive Officer LAFCO
Campbell, Tim Director Cachuma Resource CD
Clark, Candyce Secretary Los Alamos CSD
Clark, Peter Director Montecito Sanitary District
Emerson, George Director Goleta Sanitary District
Evans, Chuck Director Goleta Water District
Fox, John Director Goleta Sanitary District
Gabriel, Diane Principal Engineer Montecito Sanitary District
McKenzie, James Director/Vice-President Montecito Sanitary District
Meyer, Larry Director Goleta West Sanitary District
Nix, Bruce Director Mission Hills CSD
Raggio, Jim CEO, CHD Lompoc Health Care District
Schwartz, S David Director Embarcadero Municipal Improvement District
Torres, Larry Director Los Alamos CSD
Wales, Bruce General Manager Santa Ynez River WCD
Walsh, Kevin General Manager Goleta Water District
Wilson, Larry Director Montecito Water District
Wyckoff, Bob Director Vandenberg Village CSD

Others present:    Resident, EMID    Sue Schwartz

 

Call to Order:
  President John Fox called the meeting to order at 7:15 pm.
Approval of Minutes April 28th meeting:
  Larry Meyer made a motion, seconded Bruce Nix that they be approved as corrected. Unanimous.
Treasurer Report:
  Per Treasurer Chuck Arnold there is $2778.65 in the checking account and $4180.74 in the savings account, for a total of $6959.39.
Program update:
  Vice-President S David Schwartz announced that the June meeting speaker will be Bernice James, who is the new county Treasurer/Tax Collector and Public Guardian. She will discuss how the work of this office affects special districts and what the new state budget will mean to the county Treasury.
Legislative Committee:
  George Emerson said that on May 14th the committee had received an update on the upcoming state budget; it showed a potential deficit of $38.2 billion; an increase in vehicle license fees and an increase of ½ % in the sales tax.

He also reported that State Senator Ortiz of Sacramento will hold a series of workshops to investigate special district fees, but that no Santa Barbara County districts were on the list to be investigated.
CSDA Update:
  John Fox reminded everyone about the CSDA Conference September 16-18 in Lake Tahoe. New Meeting Place:
  Several restaurants in Lompoc/Vandenberg Village and the Santa Ynez Valley have been checked out and so far none has what our group needs. This discussion took approximately 10 minutes. The committee consisting of Mitch Bernstein, Charlie Blair and Kevin Walsh will continue this research.
LAFCO Update:
  Tim Campbell gave a synopsis of the 2 May LAFCO meetings at which, after considerable discussion, an annexation of property into the Carpinteria Valley Water District (CVWD) for purposes of watershed was approved on a 5-2 vote. CVW D indemnified LAFCO in case LAFCO was sued by anti-growth entities CVWD would defend LAFCO. Discussion of this topic took about 20 minutes.
LAFCO ad hoc Budget Committee Update:
  Jim Raggio sent to LAFCO an analysis by the ad hoc LAFCO subcommittee of the new budget with a $29,000-$30,000 difference from LAFCO's own figures. The Committee recommends budget reflecting actual expenses, not inflated figures. Tim Campbell stated that LAFCO's Budget Committee came up with figures that were even lower than the SBCSDA ad hoc Budget Committee's figures.

Jin Raggio made a motion to lower LAFCO's 2003-04 budget and ask special districts all to be willing to increase their contribution in case there is a shortfall, as explained by the Executive Director, and additional money is needed to cover any shortfall if contingency fund is exhausted and the County will not help LAFCO with its expenses.

Larry Meyer seconded the motion.

There was a brief discussion concerning the weighting of this action, with smaller districts out voting larger districts who would be paying more

The motion passed on an 8 to 4 vote.

The budget discussion took about 20 minutes.
Task Force on MSR Update:
  Mitch Bernstein stated to complete the 20-30 page questionnaire required should take each district about a ½ day. Work done by consultants to be approved by LAFCO. Tim Campbell reported on LAFCO & MSRs. The discussion on MSRs took about 20 minutes.
Introduction of Speaker:
  At about 8:20 8:30 pm President John Fox introduced LAFCO Executive Director, Bob Braitman. Due to the lateness of the hour, he responded to questions, rather than make a formal presentation:

1)  He commended Jim Raggio and the SBCSDA ad hoc Budget Committee for the analysis they did.

2)  He noted two differences between the SBSDA ad hoc Budget Committee's recommended budget and the one LAFCO itself suggested:
    In the area of legal services: if money is not spent it will remain in the budget for next year.
    For Professional and Specialized Services: these Services which neither he nor an employee does, such as televising meetings.

3)  The Board of Supervisors may loan money to LAFCO, to be paid back the following year; however, in light of the current financial condition of the county, he doubts they would do this.

4)  LAFCO approved the draft of the MSR questionnaire and will hold workshops to refine the language after their June 5th meeting. After that they will begin mailing them out in batches over the next several months.

5)  MSRs are due because the state legislature said LAFCOs must review the spheres of influence of each agency every 5 years. Also, the Board of Supervisors wants the information from the MSRs and it will be public record.
Adjournment:
  After Mr. Braitman's presentation, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Schwartz
Acting Secretary