VCSDA
February 5, 2008
Ventura County Special Districts AssociationVCSDA
403 W. Hillcrest Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
805 495-6471 Fax: 805 497-3199
MINUTES
VENTURA COUNTY SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL DINNER MEETING
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
The annual dinner meeting of the Ventura County Special Districts Association was held at the Tower Club, 300 Esplanade Drive, Oxnard, CA.
- Call to Order – President George Lange
- Flag Salute – Vice President Judy Cofer
Lange called the meeting to order at 6:58 p.m. and Cofer led the flag salute.
Attendance
Representatives from the following districts and agencies:
Calleguas Municipal Water District
Camrosa Water District
Camarillo Health Care
Casitas
Conejo Recreation and Park District
Ojai Valley Sanitary District
Meiners Oaks
Montalvo Municipal Improvement District
Oxnard Harbor District
Pleasant Valley
Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District
United Water
LAFCO
Ventura River County Water District
County of Ventura
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority
Total Members and Guest attending was 68.
2.Welcome – President George Lange
Lange welcomed and thanked everyone for their support throughout the first year of his term. He said the goal is to continue to strive to improve VCSDA and increase its visibility within Ventura County. He introduced Treasurer Jack Curtis, and Shirley Ohren, Executive Assistant of the Conejo Recreation & Park District and Secretary of VCSDA.
3.Dinner
Lange recessed the meeting at 7 p.m. for dinner. The meeting was reconvened at 8:15 p.m.
Lange spoke of the importance of special districts, highlighted recent events including another informational presentation requested by the Ventura County Grand Jury.
He welcomed special guests Christine Cohen, Auditor, Ventura County; Kim Uhlich and Kai Luoma of LAFCO; and Guest Speaker Joe Edmiston, Executive Director Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority.
4.Approval of Minutes – Regular Meeting of December 4, 2007
It was moved by Camrosa Water District, seconded by Montalvo Municipal Improvement District, and carried to approve the minutes of December 4, 2007 as presented.
5.Treasurer’s Report – Jack Curtis
Curtis provided a Treasurer’s Report on the Association’s funds for the period of October 31, 2007 to December 31, 2007. The balance on hand as of the last report (December 4, 2007) totaled $8,120.76; interest earned, deposits, total additions were $8,751.42; expenditures through December 2007 totaled $7,888.59; and the balance on hand as of December 31 equaled $7,888.59
It was moved by United Water District, seconded by Oxnard Harbor District, and carried to accept the Treasurer’s Report for the period of December 4, 2007 to January 31, 2008.
Lange expressed his appreciation of Curtis’ efforts.
- CSDA Update – Jim Acosta, President, California Special Districts Association and VCSDA Member
Acosta presented a CSDA update, highlighting events and legislation relevant to special districts at the State level, including the budgetary crisis and Ralph Heim, special districts lobbyist. He said that the annual conference will be held in September in Irvine, and urged all to attend.
Lange thanked Acosta for his report.
- California Legislative Report – Elaine Freeman, VCSDA Representative
Elaine Freeman presented a legislative update relative to special districts. She discussed bills that were deleted from review, bills on “watch”, bills to support (including AB1756, infrastructure development public-private partnerships), and bills to oppose, (including SB940 – temporary employee – shift in burden for worker’s comp support.) She noted that a position paper on Prop 1A is being finalized.
Lange thanked Freeman for her report.
8.Guest Speak – Joseph T. Edmiston, FAICP, Hon. ASLA, Executive Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) and the Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority (MRCA)
Lange noted that, including himself, three of the people present at the evening’s meeting are members of the Board of Directors of MRCA; the others are Mike Berger and Ed Haydek.
Edmistonthanked the Association for the opportunity to speak and stated his appreciation of the work of special districts. His cited numerous examples of the unique ability of special districts to acquire, maintain and care for land sites, such as the Paramount Ranch property and land formerly owned by Bob Hope. He discussed the ranger training program.
8.Presentation of Awards – Judy Cofer
Cofer announced the award recipients. The presenters were Judy Cofer, Carrie Mattingly and Jack Curtis. Each recipient’s professional and academic achievements were highlighted.
Director of the Year – Mark Jacobsen, Conejo Recreation and Park District;
General Manager of the Year – Dana Wisehart, United Water District
Shirley Turner Award - Jim Acosta, Saticoy Sanitary District
Recipients thanked the Association for the honor.
9.Comments
Lange announced that the April 8 meeting would be held at the Conejo Recreation and Park District. He encouraged everyone to attend.
10.Adjournment (Next meeting April 8, 2008)
Lange declared the meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
______
Shirley Ohren, Secretary
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