DATE: June 18, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Bernice E. Seidel, Clerk of the Board
SUBJECT: Appointment of a Director to the James Irrigation District in accordance with Water Code ?21265
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Appoint Andrew Groppetti to the James Irrigation District Board of Directors, for the term expiring December 6, 2024, to fill a vacancy.
REPORT
As permitted by California Water Code section 21265, approval of the recommended action will allow the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to appoint a new director on the James Irrigation District (District) Board without the District incurring the expense of an election. This item pertains to District 1.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is not approved, the District Board of Directors may call a special election to fill the vacancy.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action.
DISCUSSION:
There are five (5) seats on the District Board. A vacancy occurred due to the resignation of former Director Micah Combs, effective April 9, 2024. The District Board adopted Resolution 2024-04 at their meeting on May 14, 2024, to appoint Andrew Groppetti to succeed Mr. Combs.
On June 5, 2024, the District submitted their adopted resolution and an application for appointment from Mr. Groppetti to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. In their submission to the Clerk, the District included a request for your Board to "give positive consideration to Mr. Groppetti's appointment as Director of the James Irrigation District at their next regularly scheduled meeting."
Effective January 1, 2001, pursuant to Water Code section 20527.12, "the [James Irrigation District] landowners elected to convert to at-large elections." Water Code section 21265 governs irrigation district boards that conduct "at large" elections (rather than "by division" elections), whose vacancies are filled by the Board of Supervisors.
The District has provided d...
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