DATE: December 6, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Jean M. Rousseau, County Administrative Officer
SUBJECT: Nomination for San Joaquin River Conservancy Governing Board public member representing environmental organization
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Nominate the following three individuals, recommended by the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, to the Governor for his appointment of a public member representing an environmental organization to the San Joaquin River Conservancy Governing Board:
• Sheri Bohigian
• Paul Gibson
• Jolene Telles
REPORT
The San Joaquin River Conservancy is an agency of the State of California. Selection and membership of the Governing Board is defined in State statute (Public Resources Code section 32515). Based on a rotation, Fresno County and Madera County nominate public members from environmental organizations or San Joaquin River landowners to the Governing Board every four years. The Counties alternate the nominations of environmental organizations and San Joaquin River landowners every four years. For the 2017-2020 term, Fresno County will nominate public members representing environmental organizations which will replace a landowner, nominated by Fresno County four years ago, whose term is expiring. Conversely, Madera County will nominate public members representing landowners which will replace an environmental organization’s representative, nominated by Madera County four years ago, whose term is expiring. The Governor’s office has requested submittal of at least three nominees to allow the Governor options for appointment.
Nominations for your consideration for the 2017-2020 term must be from a list submitted by environmental organizations within Fresno County. County staff solicited nominations directly from local environmental organizations listed in Attachment A. A letter nominating the three persons listed above was received from the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust (Attachment B). All three nominees have filled out applications, which are on file with the Clerk to the Board. No other nominations were received.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
The current 2013-2016 public member term expires December 31, 2016. Your Board has the option of extending the period to solicit additional names from which to select nominations to forward to the Governor. Should this be the case, the seat would remain vacant as of December 31, 2016 until filled.
Your Board also has the option of establishing additional criterion for County nominees, in addition to criteria established by State statute requiring nomination by your Board from a list recommended by environmental organizations within Fresno County. This action would delay appointment of the public member.
However, due to widespread notification of environmental organizations and sufficiency of the nominations recommended by the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, staff does not believe that additional solicitation, or narrowing of criteria, will result in a greater pool of applicants.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Staff activity to solicit nominations has been a Net County Cost. Staff in the Clerk to the Board, the CAO’s office and Public Works and Planning Department have conducted these activities within existing budgets in the regular course of duties.
DISCUSSION:
The San Joaquin River Conservancy is a State agency charged with acquisition and management of lands constituting the San Joaquin River Parkway, from Route 99 to the Friant Dam. The Governing Board is made up of State agency representatives, local elected officials, and public members. Your Board is represented on the Governing Board by Supervisor Andreas Borgeas.
The four-year terms of the current public members representing landowners and environmental groups expire December 31, 2016. In 2012 your Board nominated landowner members, resulting in the appointment of Paul Gibson. Paul Gibson will be replaced upon appointment by the Governor of one of the environmental organization representatives nominated by your Board.
The San Joaquin River Conservancy Executive Director has assisted County staff in the solicitation process and has advised staff that all of the recommended nominees are eligible for appointment to the Governing Board.
Similar to Fresno County, Madera County is nominating new landowner representatives to the Governor. That appointment will replace the current Madera County environmental representative Cynthia Dolph.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Attachment A - Local Environmental Organizations
Attachment B - Nomination Letter from San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck