TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Neha Hoskins, Clerk of the Board
REPORT BY: Paulette Cooper, Deputy Clerk of the Board II
SUBJECT: Appointments and Reappointments to the Napa County Resource Conservation District Board of Directors
RECOMMENDATION
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Appoint four Directors from the following seven applicants to serve on the Napa County Resource Conservation District (RCD) Board of Directors in lieu of holding an election, for positions whose terms of office to commence immediately and expire on November 27, 2028. (No Fiscal Impact)
Paul Asmuth
Karen J. Bower Turjanis
Allison Day
Patrick Gorman
Rainer Hoenicke
Jim Lincoln
Jennifer Putnam
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BACKGROUND
The Napa County Resource Conservation District (RCD) is an independent special district managed by a Board of Directors who serve specified terms of office. Applicants for appointment to the governing board of the RCD should demonstrate an interest in soil and water conservation pursuant to the requirements of Public Resources Code section 9314. Such applicants must also be registered voters in the State, reside within or own real property within the Resource Conservation District or, alternatively, have either served pursuant to the RCD's rules for two years or more as an Associate Director providing advisory or other assistance to the Board of Directors, or be a designated agent of a resident landowner within the Resource Conservation District. Public Resources Code section 9314 recommends that the Board of Supervisors select applicants who have demonstrated interest in soil and water conservation issues.
Four of the seven Director positions on the Napa County Resource Conservation District Board expired at noon on November 27, 2024 and are up for election.
The County Executive Office advertised the openings and submitted a letter to the Solano County Board of Supervisors on December 23, 2024, (which is comprised of a small portion of the District) regarding the open positions and appointment process.
During the recruitment, the Napa County Executive Office received seven applications from Paul Asmuth, Karen J. Bower Turjanis, Allision Day, Patrick Gorman, Rainer Hoenicke, Jim Lincoln, and Jennifer Putnam,. The RCD's Board of Directors, lacking funds to pay for a public election, adopted Resolution 2025-01 on March 13, 2025, which requests the Board of Supervisors reappoint Karen Bower Turjanis and Paul Asmuth, and appoint Jennifer Putnam and Allison Day, in lieu of an election, permitted by Public Resources Code Section 9314 and 9316.
REQUESTED ACTION:
Accept the recommendation of the Napa County Resource Conservation District Board of Directors and reappoint Karen J. Bower Turjanis and Paul Asmuth and appoint Jennifer Putnam and Allison Day to serve on the Napa County Resource Conservation District Board of Directors with the terms commencing immediately and expiring on November 27, 2028.
PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS:
1. Staff report.
2. Public comments.
3. Motion, second, discussion, and vote on the item.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.