SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION

MINUTES

MARCH 27, 2006, at the Meadows Restaurant, Solvang

 

Attendees:

Attendees:

Position

Representing:

Arnold, Chuck

Director

Montecito Sanitary District

Azoury, Kamil

General Manager

Goleta Sanitary District

Barget, Joe

General Manager

Vandenberg Village CSD

Bernstein, Mitch

General Manager

Mosquito & Vector Mgmt Dist of S B Co

Blair, Charles

Trustee

Mosquito & Vector Mgmt Dist of S B Co

Bower, Rick

Manager

Goleta Cemetery District

Bowman, John

Director

Embarcadero Muni. Improvement Dist

Conn, Diane

Director

Isla Vista Recreation & Park District

Cunningham, Jack

Director

Goleta Water District

Emerson, George

Director

Goleta Sanitary District

Geyer, Rick & Guest

Trustee

Goleta Cemetery District

Gibbons, Thomas

Director

Santa Maria Valley Water Conser District

Maler, Carl

Director

Santa Ynez CSD

Moorhouse, Jeff

Director

Carpinteria Sanitary District

Nation, Mark

General Manager

Goleta West Sanitary District

Rice, Gary

General Manager

Santa Maria Public Airport District

Rowland, Don

Director

Vandenberg Village CSD

Schlottmann, Cathy

Director

Mission Hills CSD

Souza, Daryl

Director

Santa Maria Valley Water Conser District

Warnstrom, Susan

Director

Mission Hills CSD

Wilson, Larry

Director

Montecito Water District

Wyckoff, Robert, & Guest

Director

Vandenberg Village CSD

Yolles, Jeff

General Manager

Isla Vista Recreation & Park District

 

 

 

 

President Susan Warnstrom called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. The attendees were introduced. All present participated in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States.

Approval of Minutes: Motion, second, unanimous, to approve the Minutes of February 27, 2006.

Treasurer’s Report: Chuck Arnold reported the checking account has $5,257.44 and the savings account has $3,380.66 for a total of $8,638.10.

LAFCo Report: Cathy Schlottmann said the MSRs for the Solvang, Buellton, Santa Ynez, and New Cuyama areas will be before LAFCo at the meeting on April 6th. The public workshop on the area between the cities of Santa Barbara and Goleta will be held in September or October 2006.

Guest Speaker: Bernice James, Santa Barbara County Treasurer/Tax Collector: Ms. James has worked for 26 years in public finance, for the counties of Ventura and Santa Barbara. She is running unopposed in this June’s election. The Tax Collector collects $550 million annually is property taxes. Her office is also the County’s debt collector. She is the Public Administrator for those who die without an estate executor. As the County’s Public Guardian her office serves 170 people, mainly the elderly or those who are mentally ill. Her office provides veteran services programs through offices in Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Lompoc.

As the County Treasurer, Ms. James is the treasury not only for the County but also for public schools and some special districts. Currently there is $850 million invested, and it is expected to exceed $1 billion this year. The investments have the requirements of safety, liquidity, and then yield. Their primary goal is protection of capital, followed by reducing credit risk. She said that all local governments need an investment policy because their funds are public funds. A district board can not delegate their fiduciary responsibility.

Ms. James is one of the nine members of the County’s retirement board. Mitch Bernstein also serves on the retirement board. The retirement system has $1.6 billion in funds, its board manages its investments. The County’s retirement system is 86% funded and there is no debt against it. A special district can participate in the County’s retirement system. It is a defined benefits program. Oscar Peters is the retirement system administrator.

Legislative Report: George Emerson noted that Sacramento has been focused on the infrastructure measures.

Next Meeting: Susan Warnstrom said the speaker at our April meeting will be Jeanette Hahn, of the FCS Group. She will speak on district finances and reserve policies.

New Business: None.

Old Business: None.

Adjournment President Warnstrom adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m. The next meeting will be Monday, April 24, 2006 at this location.

s/ Cathy Schlottmann

Cathy Schlottmann

Secretary, SBCSDA