HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.a. Approve minutes of meeting held 09-14-21 Page 1 of 4
Item 2.a.
CENTRALSAN
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CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA SANITARY DISTRICT
October 7, 2021
TO: HONORABLE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FROM: KATIE YOUNG, SECRETARYOF THE DISTRICT
SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 SPECIAL BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Attached are the draft minutes of the above Board meeting.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Draft Minutes of 09-14-21 meeting
October 7, 2021 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 7 of 200
Page 2 of 4
CENTRAL SAN
CONTRACENTRAL • IMHOFF PLACE, MARTINEZ, CA 9A553-4392
MINUTES* BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
TAD J PILECKI
President
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING
DAVID R. WILLIAMS
Virtual Meeting President Pro Tena
Tuesday, September 14, 2021 BARBARA D.HOCKETT
9.00 a.m. MARIAHN LAURITZEN
MICHAEL R.MCGILL
DRAFT
Open Session
(Video recorded)
NOTICE
In accordance with the Governor's Executive Order N-29-20, which suspended certain
requirements of the Brown Act due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all Board Members
participated in this meeting via videoconference. Members of the public were provided
options to participate in the meeting as provided on the agenda.
ROLL CALL
A special meeting of the Board of Directors was called to order by President Pilecki at
9:00 a.m. Secretary of the District Katie Young called roll:
PRESENT. Members: Hockett (joined during Item 2.), McGill (left at 9:30 a.m.),
Williams, Pilecki
ABSENT.• Member Lauritzen
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
No comments.
These summary minutes are supplemented by a corresponding video recording available on the District's
website at centralsan.org.
October 7, 2021 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 8 of 200
Page 3 of 4
CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA SANITARY DISTRICT
September 14, 2021 Special Board Meeting Minutes-Page 2
AGENDA
2. Receive overview of Ranked Choice and Approval Voting Election Methods
At the June 17, 2021 Board meeting, Member Lauritzen requested public education
presentations on ranked choice voting and approval voting election methods. Two
speakers with expertise in ranked choice voting and two additional speakers with
expertise in approval voting provided the Board with balanced information.
Ranked Choice Voting
Co-President of Californians for Electoral Reform (CfER) Steve Chessin, Ph.D., a
proponent of rank choice voting provided the Board with information and
emphasized the need for strong voter education efforts should a change in voting
method take place.
St. Mary's College Interim Provost and Academic Vice President Corey Cook, Ph.D.,
provided the Board with a presentation regarding rank choice voting research he has
conducted. The research highlighted that there are no perfect voting systems and all
systems have significant concerns. Dr. Cook provided answers to several questions
from the Board Members.
In response to a question from President Pilecki, Dr. Cook advised that should cities
or counties switch to rank choice voting, state legislation would need to be drafted,
successfully move through the legislative process, and then be approved by the
Governor, who has previously vetoed similar legislation.
President Pilecki asked if anyone in the Contra Costa County jurisdiction is using the
rank choice voting methodology. Dr. Cook responded no.
President Pilecki asked for Dr. Cook's opinion regarding complications for rank
choice voting for a special district that has low election information with nonpartisan
candidates. Dr. Cook stated he did not recommend rank choice voting for sanitation
districts such as Central San and opined that, depending on the number of
candidates, the election could not produce a majority outcome. Dr. Cook suggested
that, based on research, ranked choice voting was better suited for elections with
extensive understanding of the office and candidates.
Approval Voting
The Center for Election Science's Director of Campaigns and Advocacy Chris
Raleigh provided information favorable to the approval voting method.
Mr. Raleigh opined that approval voting empowers voters and could considerably
diminish election costs. It was noted that the educational barrier is far lower in
approval voting and is more helpful when the public does not have extensive
information on a candidate.
October 7, 2021 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 9 of 200
Page 4 of 4
CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA SANITARY DISTRICT
September 14, 2021 Special Board Meeting Minutes-Page 3
There was a discussion regarding the 2019 Senate Bill (SB) 212 and the need for
legislation to allow for the approval voting method.
Fair Vote Senior Research Analyst Deb Otis provided additional information and
reasons why she is against implementation of approval voting. She stated that voter
education is key to success and it would require significant education in order to cast
an impactful vote. Her belief is that voters who understand approval voting may
attempt to strategically gain advantages when voting, leading to significant concerns
in the method.
President Pilecki thanked all of the speakers for their time and the insightful
education provided.
BOARD ACTION: Received the information.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
No announcements were made.
REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
No requests.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:36 a.m.
Tad J. Pilecki
President of the Board of Directors
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
County of Contra Costa, State of California
COUNTERSIGNED:
Katie Young
Secretary of the District
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
County of Contra Costa, State of California
October 7, 2021 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 10 of 200