March 21, 2023 — Kings County Board of Supervisors
Documented by Josef Sibala
Here’s what you need to know:
- During the March 21 meeting, the Kings County Board of Supervisors authorized the elimination of Kings County Parks Gate Fees as shown in the Kings County Master Fee Schedule. Further, removing the entrance fee will make the parks more accessible to all Kings County citizens.
- The board approved the purchase of a customized bidirectional amplifier for the Kings County Jail. The Jail Bidirectional Amplifier system purchase for $26,500 will be paid out of the Sheriff – Detentions budget unit 223000.
- The board denied the claims for damages filed by Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP, on behalf of Alizea Aurora Molina-Barbara, Emma Isabel Barbara Figueroa, Lilian Flores, Jose Flores, and Jose Miguel Molina Contreras.
- The board approved the first amendment for the intergovernmental agreement between Kings County and the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi-Yokut Tribe.
Follow-up questions:
- What are the next steps of the intergovernmental agreement between Kings County and the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi-Yokut Tribe?
- How will the bidirectional amplifier improve the Kings County Jail?
- How will the waiving of the park fees affect residents?
The Scene
According to its website, Kings County is a “general law” county, meaning the state constitution and general law determine the county’s governmental structure.
The board of supervisors is the governing body for Kings County and many county special districts. Each of the board’s five members is elected non-partisan to a four-year term.
The board sets policies and depends on the county administrator, county officials, and department heads to fulfill its wishes.
The board of supervisors has administrative, legislative, and quasi-judicial duties and responsibilities prescribed by the California State Constitution and Statutes.
On Tuesday, March. 21, 2023, the meeting was held at 9 a.m. in the board chambers at 1400 West Lacey Blvd. in Administration Building No. 1 in Hanford.
Kings County County Board of Supervisors Members present:
- Joe Neves, District 1 (Lemoore & Stratford)
- Richard Valle, District 2 (Avenal, Corcoran, Home Garden & Kettleman City)
- Doug Verboon, District 3 (North Hanford, Island District & North Lemoore)
- Rusty Robinson, District 4 (Armona & Hanford)
- Richard Fagundes, District 5 (Hanford & Burris Park)
Others Present:
- Assistant Fire Chief Josh Cunningham
- Community Development Director Chuck Kinney
- County Administrative Officer Edward Hill
- Assistant County Administrative Officer Kyria Martinez
- Administrative Officer Analyst Domingo Cruz
- Assessor/Clerk/Recorder Kristine Lee
- Public Works Director Dominic Tyburski
- Park and Ground Superintendent Natalie Brinson
- Public Health Director Rose Mary Rahn
- Public Health Assistant Director Heather Silva
- Diane Badasci
- Cassie Bakker
- Jay Wood
- Sarah Harp
- Wendy Osikafo
- Rob Knudson
- John Criscom
- Sheila Grant
- Christine Olvera
- Clarissa Ravelo
- Scott Holwell
- Tyler Pepe
- A. Valenzuela
- Bill Lynch
- Mjewell
- Melissa Kevorkian
- Eldrick W.
- John Bsmajian Criscom
- T. Hommerding
- Kia Vang
- Alexis Rodriguez
- David Long
- John Devlin
- Monique
- Katie Arnst
Discussions/Actions
Katie Arnst urged the board to expand behavioral health screening in schools throughout Kings County.
The board (5-0) approved the following:
A. The board approved the minutes from the regular meeting for March 14, 2023.
B. The board approved the minutes from the special meeting for March 16, 2023.
C. The board approved the minutes from the special meeting for March 17, 2023.
In the consent calendar, the board (5-0) unanimously approved items as follows:
A. Agricultural Department:
1. The board approved purchasing additional bait materials for rodent bait mixing supplies needed to fill vertebrate bait orders.
B. Behavioral Health Department:
1. a. The board approved the revised job specification for Quality Assurance Manager.
b. The board approved the Behavioral Health Quality Assurance Manager position to allocate flexibly to a Clinical Program Manager.
The Behavioral Health Department requested Human Resources to revise the job specification for the Quality Assurance Manager, a single classification position used in the Behavioral Health Department.
The changes to the position have been requested to allow for the flexible allocation of this position to a Quality Assurance Manager or a Clinical Program Manager.
This is consistent with the allocation for the Program Manager, Behavioral Health, or Public Health positions assigned to the department.
2. The board allocated 1.0 Full-Time Equivalent Program Specialist positions in Budget Unit 422100.
Kings County Behavioral Health (KCBH) is seeking approval to allocate a 1.0 Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) Program Specialist position for the clinical services division.
The program specialist will provide program oversight and performance analysis and ensure compliance with new state and federal program requirements.
C. Public Works Department:
1. a. The board adopted a resolution stating there are no unmet transit needs in Kings County;
b. The board authorized the public works director to sign the claim form.
The California Legislature enacted the Mills-Alquist-Deddeh Act (SB 325) to improve public transportation services and encourage regional coordination.
Known as the Transportation Development Act (TDA) of 1971, this law provides funding for transit and nontransit-related purposes that comply with regional transportation plans.
The TDA established two funding sources: the LTF and the State Transit Assistance (STA) fund.
To meet certain conditions, counties under 500,000 (according to the 1970 federal census) may use the LTF for local streets and roads to conduct construction and maintenance-related projects.
The state funding can only be used for transportation planning and mass transportation.
The LTF is derived from a ¼ cent of the general sales tax collected statewide. The state Board of Equalization, based on sales tax collected in each county, returns the general sales tax revenues to each county’s LTF.
Each county then apportions the LTF funds to each qualifying agency within the county based on population.
The Kings County Area Public Transit Agency must hold at least one annual public hearing to solicit comments on the unmet transit needs within the jurisdiction, which might result in establishing or contracting for new public transportation or specialized transportation services or expanding existing services.
KCAPTA has also adopted a definition of “reasonable to meet” by resolution, which contains eight criteria to consider.
The fact that an identified transit need cannot be fully met based on available resources shall not be the sole reason for finding that a transit need is not reasonable.
Comparing unmet transit needs with the needs for streets and roads is not allowable in determining transit needs that are reasonable to meet.
The funding distributed to the county ($958,127) will go to the road fund and be available for road maintenance and construction.
D. Sheriff’s Office:
1. The board retroactively accepted the donation of $38,718 from the Kings County Board of Realtors.
The Kings County Board of Realtors recently held a golf tournament fundraiser to benefit law enforcement programs.
The Sheriff’s Office and the Kings County Board of Realtors together decided to donate $13,000 to the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) Fund a Hero program.
The Fund a Hero program was established after the line of duty death of Selma Police Officer Gonzalo Carrasco, Jr.
The remaining donation amount will be used for Sheriff’s Office programs, including the Sheriff’s Canine and Jail Canine units.
2. The board retroactively approved the purchase of a customized bidirectional amplifier for the Kings County Jail.
The Jail Bidirectional Amplifier system purchase for $26,500 will be paid out of the Sheriff – Detentions budget unit 223000.
On Feb. 10, radio communication technicians Jim Phelan and Kris Zuniga were dispatched to the jail, where the radio system malfunctioned.
One of the bidirectional amplifiers (BDAs) went down, and replacement parts for the BDA were no longer available.
The original manufacturer, GPD Telecomm, no longer manufactures BDA systems. They then reached out to Bird Communications, who said they also did not have parts for the BDA, but there was a possibility they could repair the part.
Repair would take more than three months, and it was not guaranteed. Removing this part from the BDA would bring down the entire radio system, meaning there would be no jail communications in Housing Pod-C and none for the jail transport deputies in the tunnel.
This would create a deputy safety issue and an inmate safety issue for the 139 inmates housed in C-Pod and for the detentions deputies transporting violent criminals to and from the courthouse.
Emergency Responder Radio Coverage Systems was the only vendor in the area that had an available compatible BDA system and was able to expedite the repair. They would only order the BDA system with an immediate 25% deposit. The remaining portion will be due within 30 days of the completed repair.
This repair fell into the emergency category and was needed as soon as possible to ensure that the inmates-deputies could communicate for medical emergencies, critical incidents and day-to-day communications throughout Housing Pod-C and the inmate transport tunnel area.
Consent calendar items continued to consist of the following:
E. Administration:
1. The board (5-0) denied the claim for damages filed by Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP, on behalf of Emma Isabel Barbara Figueroa and Jose Miguel Molina Contreras.
On Jan. 26, 2023, a claim for damages was filed by Scott A. Ritsema with Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP on behalf of Emma Isabel Barbara Figueroa and Jose Miguel Molina Contreras, heirs of Jose Molina-Barbara, Jr.
After investigating the claim, County Counsel’s office found it is not a proper charge against the County.
“Under government code section 912.6, staff recommends your Board find that the claim is without merit and deny the claim,” it said.
2. The board (5-0) denied the claim for damages filed by Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP, on behalf of Adeliza Jazzebelle Ayala-Barbara.
On Jan. 26, 2023, a claim for damages was filed by Scott A. Ritsema with Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP, on behalf of Adeliza Jazzebelle Ayala-Barbara.
After investigating the claim, the County Counsel’s office found it is not a proper charge against the county.
“Under government code section 912.6, staff recommends your Board find that the claim is without merit and deny the claim,” it said.
3. The board (5-0) denied the claim for damages filed by Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP, on behalf of Emma Isabel Barbara Figueroa and Jaime Ayala.
On Jan. 26, 2023, a claim for damages was filed by Scott A. Ritsema with Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP, on behalf of Emma Isabel Barbara Figueroa and Jaime Ayala, heirs of Aleida Marie Ayala Barbara.
After investigating the claim, County Counsel’s office came to the same recommendation to deny the claim.
4. The board (5-0) denied the claim for damages filed by Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP, on behalf of Alizea Aurora Molina-Barbara.
On Jan. 26, 2023, a claim for damages was filed by Scott A. Ritsema with Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP, on behalf of Alizea Aurora Molina-Barbara.
After investigating the claim, the County Counsel’s office also recommended denying the claim.
5. The board (5-0) denied the claim for damages filed by Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP, on behalf of Emma Barbara-Figueroa.
On Jan. 26, 2023, a claim for damages was filed by Scott A. Ritsema with Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP, on behalf of Emma Barbara-Figueroa.
After investigating the claim, the County Counsel’s recommended denying the claim,
6. The board (5-0) denied the claim for damages filed by Lilian Flores.
On March 10, 2023, a claim for damages was filed by Lilian Flores.After investigating the claim, the County Counsel’s found the claim was without merit and recommended denying it.
7. The board (5-0) denied the claim for damages filed by Jose Flores.
Jose Flores filed a claim for damages on March 10, 2023. After investigating the claim, the County Counsel’s office also recommended denying the claim.
Regular agenda items are as follows:
A. Public Health Department (presented by Public Health Director Rose Mary Rahn and Heather Silva
1. The board adopted a resolution proclaiming March 24, 2023, World Tuberculosis Day in Kings County.
B. Public Works Department (presented by Park and Ground Superintendent Natalie Brinson)
1. a. The board authorized the elimination of Kings County Parks Gate Fees as shown in the Kings County Master Fee Schedule.
b. The board authorized staff to reinstate all other fees.
Kings County parks were closed from March 2020 through mid-April 2021 due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Parks reopened in June 2021 with the board’s approval to waive entrance and special event fees.
During this time, it was noted that a full-time employee regularly scheduled to operate the entrance gate could be used more effectively for labor inside the park.
Waiving park gate fees will result in an estimated $22,000 loss of revenue. However, this cost will be offset by the addition of the designated full-time employee being freed up to work elsewhere.
Creating a new full-time position for the same benefit would cost the county approximately $72,000.
Further, removing the entrance fee will make the parks more accessible to all Kings County citizens.
The Board of Supervisors reserves the right to establish fees for use of the parks as authorized by law.
C. Administration (presented by County Administrative Officer Edward Hill and Assistant County Administrative Officer Kyria Martinez
1. The board approved the first amendment for the intergovernmental agreement between Kings County and the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi-Yokut Tribe.
The Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi-Yokut Tribe (Tribe) operates the Palace Indian Gaming Facility in Kings County.
In 2020 the County worked with the Tribal Council and their attorneys to develop an Inter-Governmental Agreement to compensate Kings County for providing mitigation measures for any potentially significant effect on the off-reservation environment.
The intergovernmental agreement has been effective since its ratification; however, an amendment has been proposed since there has been a delay in the construction of the Kings County Fire Department Tachi-Yokut Fire Station (Fire Station).
The tribe will make a one-time good faith payment to the County of $1.4 million as soon as the amendment is signed for the fiscal year 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.
The amount is included in the current adopted budget.
The tribe will continue to make good-faith payments to the county of $645,000 each July 1 after that if the fire station is not completed and operational.
Closed session includes the following:
- Significant exposure to litigation: (1 Case) In Re: Mary Fogg; EEOC Nos. 485-2021-00262 and 485-2022-0086 [Govt. Code Section 54956.9 (d)(2)(e)(2)]
- Threat to Public Services or Facilities – Consultation with: David Robinson, Sheriff Diane Freeman, County Counsel [Govt. Code Section 54957(a)]
- Workers Compensation: (1 Case) [Govt. Code Section 54956.95]
- Personnel Matter: [Govt Code Section 54957] Public Employee Appointment: County Administrative Officer
- Conference with Labor Negotiator/Meet and Confer: [Govt. Code Section 54957.6] Negotiators: Edward Hill, Kyria Martinez, Carolyn Leist, Che Johnson of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
- General Unit – California League of Cities Employees Association (CLOCEA)
- Supervisor’s Unit – CLOCEA
- Blue Collar – Service Employees International Union (SEIU0
- Detention Deputies Association
- Firefighter’s Association
- Deputy Sheriff’s Association
- Probation Officers Association
- Prosecutor’s Association
- Unrepresented Management
The meeting ended at 1 p.m. The next board meeting will be on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at 9 a.m.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at fresnodocs@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.