HomeMy WebLinkAbout19.b.Provide voting direction on how to cast the District's vote for a run-off election of the Contra Costa Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCO)Page 1 of 7
Item 19.b.
LCENTRAL SAN
July 6, 2023
FROM: KATIE YOUNG, SECRETARYOF THE DISTRICT
SUBJECT: PROVIDE VOTING DIRECTION ON HOW TO CASTTHE DISTRICT'S
VOTE FORA RUN-OFF ELECTION OF THE CONTRA COSTA LOCAL AREA
FORMATION COMMISSION (LAFCO)
The election for the Special District (Alternate Member) vacancy on Contra Costa LAFCO scheduled for
May 19, 2023 to fill the seat vacated due to the passing of Stan Caldwell resulted in no candidate receiving
a majority of the total votes cast. I n accordance with the Contra Costa County Special District Procedures
for the Special District Selection Committee a run-off election between the two nominees who received
the greatest number of votes is required. The two nominees who received the greatest number of votes
are Scott Pastor, Diablo Water District and Michelle Lee, San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District.
The runoff election is scheduled for July 10, 2023 and will be conducted by regular and electronic mail.
Ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. on election day. Information from LAFCO as to Special District
voting delegates and the nominees for the Alternate Member Seat up for election are attached.
(Attachment 1)
Central San Voting Delegate Member Pilecki provided the following recommendation: Both runoff
candidates for the Alternate Member seat are qualified to serve on LAFCO and will do a good job if
elected. He recommended Central San cast its ballot for Michelle Lee. Her 36 years of experience as a
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) in the United States Air Force in support of National Agencies, joint operations
and combatant commands, including as a contingency planner with the HQ Pacific Air Forces in addition to
serving as the Board President for the San Ramon Fire Protection District will bring a broader perspective
to the Special District Membership on the Contra Costa LAFCO Board.
The Board is now being asked to provide direction to the voting delegate (Member Pilecki) and alternate
delegate (President Hockett) on how to cast the District's vote for the Alternate Member seat.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 06-02-2023 LAFCO email on run-off election for Special District Alternate seat and Candidate
Statements
July 6, 2023 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 144 of 151
Page 2 of 7
Katie Young
From: Lou Ann Texeira <LouAnn.Texeira@lafco.cccounty.us>
Sent: Friday, June 2, 2023 10:43 AM
Subject: LAFCO Special District Election Update - Run -Off Election
Attachments: Procedures for Special District Selection Committee.pdf; Special District Members
Election - 2023 Run-off Ballot.docx; 2023 Special Districts Selection Committee -
04-14-23.xlsx
Greetings,
Upon further review of the LAFCO statutes and our local procedures for the special district
selection committee, LAFCO will need to conduct a run-off election to fill the vacant Special
District Alternate seat on LAFCO, since no candidate received a majority of votes cast in the
election. We apologize for the inconvenience.
The Contra Costa County Special Districts Procedures for the Special District Selection
Committee (Attachment 1) provides that "The person selected to serve shall have received a
majority of the votes cast in the election. If there are more than two nominees for a single seat
and no individual receives the majority of the total votes cast in the first ballot there shall be a
run-off election between the two nominees who received the greatest number of votes.
The two nominees who received the greatest number of votes are Scott Pastor, Diablo Water
District and Michelle Lee, San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District. In conjunction with our local
procedures, we are conducting a run-off election. Attached please find the official run-off ballot
(Attachment 2).
We are conducting the run-off election by email and postal mail. Your district is receiving
this message and one ballot via email and will also receive the notice and ballot via postal
mail.
Also attached is a list of presiding officers/voting delegates (Attachment 3). If your district
has not yet provided the name of your presiding officer or voting delegate (must
be a board member), please do so as soon as possible.
We ask that each district complete and return its signed run-off ballot to Contra Costa
LAFCO office either by email to LouAnn.Texeira(cblafco.cccounty.us or via postal mail to
Contra Costa LAFCO, 40 Muir Road, First Floor, Martinez, CA 94553.
In order to complete the 2023 election process, we must receive completed run-off ballots
from a majority of the districts (at least 21 completed ballots) no later than 5:00 pm on
July 10th. If a majority of ballots is not received by July 10th, a further extension of this
election may be required.
This is a time sensitive matter, and we ask that you forward this information
including the attachments to your presiding officer or voting delegate at your
earliest convenience.
1
July 6, 2023 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 145 of 151
Page 3 of 7
Please contact the LAFCO office if you have questions or need additional information. Thank
you for your attention to this matter.
Lou Ann Texeira, Executive Officer
Contra Costa LAFCO
40 Muir Road, 15f Floor
Martinez, CA 94553
925-313-7133
LouAn n.Texeira(Mlafco.cccounty. us
July 6, 2023 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 146 of 151
Page 4 of 7
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY SPECIAL DISTRICTS
Procedures for the Special District Selection Committee
(Revised January 2010)
The California Government Code, specifically Section 56332, sets forth requirements for the
Independent Special Districts Selection Committee ("Selection Committee"). The procedures contained
herein are intended to supplement the code and provide local rules relating to the selection of special
district members to the Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO).
Selection Committee Purpose
The purpose of the Selection Committee shall be to appoint the regular and/or alternate special district
members to the Contra Costa LAFCO whenever a term expires or a vacancy exists for the regular or
alternate special district member seats. The term of office of each LAFCO member shall be four years
and until the appointment and qualification of his or her successor (Gov. Code §56334).
Selection Committee Membership
The Selection Committee shall be comprised of the presiding officer of the legislative body of each
independent special district. If the presiding officer is unable to attend a Committee meeting, the district
may appoint one of its other members to attend the meeting (Gov. Code §56332).
Selection Committee Meetings
The LAFCO Executive Officer shall notify all independent special districts of a vacancy or impending
vacancy in the position of regular or alternate special district member and shall schedule a meeting of
the Selection Committee.
To the extent possible, Selection Committee meetings shall be scheduled in conjunction with meetings
of the Contra Costa Special Districts Association as a convenience to members and for efficiency.
The Executive Officer shall provide a schedule to submit nominations to all independent special districts
prior to the Selection Committee meeting.
All meetings of the Selection Committee shall be open meetings and comply with all applicable
provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act.
uorum
Each presiding officer (or appointed alternate board member) attending the Selection Committee
meeting shall be required to register their attendance. Members representing a majority of the eligible
districts shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of the Selection Committee business. No meeting
shall be convened prior to establishing a quorum. The Committee shall act by majority vote of the
quorum, or if more than a quorum is present at the meeting, by majority vote of those members present.
Nomination Procedures
Members of governing boards of independent special districts may be nominated to serve as a regular or
alternate special district member of the Contra Costa LAFCO (Gov. Code §56332).
Each independent special district shall be entitled to nominate a maximum of one board member per
vacancy (i.e., for each regular and each alternate seat) from any district. Districts are required to make
nominations by adoption of a Board resolution.
Attachment 1
July 6, 2023 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 147 of 151
Page 5 of 7
Upon selection of a nominee, the presiding officer of the district shall provide written notification of the
nomination, including a copy of the Board resolution, to the LAFCO Executive Officer.
All nominations received in sufficient time prior to a Selection Committee meeting will be copied and
distributed to the presiding officer of each independent special district.
Nominations may be made from the floor at the Selection Committee meeting, but only if no prior
nominations by resolution were submitted by any of the independent special districts.
Balloting Process
Each nominee will be afforded an opportunity to make a brief statement (maximum of five minutes) at
the Selection Committee meeting. Following these presentations, members of the Selection Committee
may discuss the appointment prior to the vote being taken.
Nominees shall be selected based on the following process:
• A ballot listing all known nominees shall be prepared and copied for the meeting. Each ballet shall
have opposite the nominee's name a box to record the vote. In the event that no prior nominations
by resolution are submitted, a ballot containing blank lines to vote for nominees who are put forth
from the floor at the Selection Committee meeting shall be distributed at the meeting.
• Each ballot shall have a line for the name of the special district that is casting the vote and a line for
the name of the voting delegate. The ballot will not be counted if the name of the special district
and voting delegate are not included.
• After votes are tallied, each delegate's vote will be announced during the meeting.
Selection of LAFCO Members
The person selected to serve shall have received a majority of the votes cast in the election.
If there are more than two nominees for a single seat and no individual receives the majority of the total
votes cast in the first ballot there shall be a run-off election between the two nominees who received the
greatest number of votes.
If there are only two nominees for a single seat and each receives an equal number of votes, the
selection to serve on LAFCO shall be done by a "straw draw" unless one of the two candidates chooses
to relinquish the position.
If, as a result of an election, the Alternate Special District member on LAFCO is chosen as a Regular
Special District Member, another election shall be held at a subsequent Selection Committee meeting to
fill the new vacancy in the Alternate Member position.
Alternate Nominating and Balloting Process
In the event that the LAFCO Executive Officer determines that securing a quorum of Selection
Committee members for a meeting is not feasible, the Executive Officer may conduct the business of the
Selection Committee in writing (Gov. Code §56332).
July 6, 2023 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 148 of 151
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Candidate Statement
Scott Pastor, Vice President, Diablo Water District
RE: Alternate Position Contra Costa County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO)
I am pleased to announce my candidacy for the special district representative alternate seat on
the Contra Costa County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). I respectfully request
your vote to this commission.
Reelected to the Diablo Water District in 2022, I am the immediate Vice President, and
previously served as Vice President in 2021, 2022.
I am retired from public service after serving 31 years in emergency services.
Special districts provide a unique, tailored, and critical service to the community that we serve.
As a segment of local government, we must have a strong voice in our county, orderly growth,
and operation. Both my professional career and elected government experience provided me with
the unique ability to voice the concerns of our communities, make fair and equitable decisions,
and ensure proper oversight of local government boundaries in operations.
I look forward to working with you now, and in the future, as we collectively support the future
of the Contra Costa County. Please feel free to contact me directly at sMastorAdiablowater.org.
Thank you for your support.
July 6, 2023 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 149 of 151
Page 7 of 7
San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District
1500 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon, CA 94583
Phone (925) 838-6600 1 Fax (925) 838-6629
www.firedepartment.org I info@firedepartment.org
I am pleased to introduce myself, Michelle Lee, and respectfully
request your vote to serve as a Special District (Alternate) Member on
Contra Costa LAFCO.
Currently, I serve as President of the Board of Directors of the San Ramon
Valley Fire Protection District which keeps me actively responsive to local
needs
Veter
dedica
and accountable to residents served. Further, as a retired military
an serving 36 years and life-long community volunteer, I have
ted my life to public service and what I believe has made an
impactful difference in my community. I possess broad experience with
national agency formation, provisioning services, resource brokerage,
zero -based reviews, and organizational structuring, restructuring and
dissolution.
I remain passionate about government efficiency and effectiveness. I support common sense,
balanced representation, well -organized boundaries enabling essential services fulfillment and
enhancing orderly growth and resource protection. I understand the importance of developing
consistency in SOI operations/activities and facilitating robust, comprehensive service reviews. I
am fully committed to integrity and transparency in governance.
Finally, as a long-time resident of Contra Costa County for over twenty years, I understand the
local needs and conditions of our County. I am eager for the opportunity to collaborate with you
and would appreciate your vote.
Best,
Michelle R. Lee
President
San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District
MichelleLee(c�r�, srvfire. ca. gov
(925) 553-9269
www.firedepartment.org
July 6, 2023 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 150 of 151