To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Executive’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: David Guhin 707-565-2431
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Recommended Action:
Title
Approve the Appointment of Michael Thompson to the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District Board to fill the County At Large seat as a representative of the County of Sonoma for a term of four years beginning January 4, 2027, and ending January 5, 2031. (Countywide)
End
Executive Summary:
The Board of Supervisors are responsible for appointments to over 75 Boards, Commissions, Committees, and Task Forces. Vacancies and upcoming expiring appointments are publicly noticed on the County’s online list of Boards, Commissions, Committees, and Task Forces website available here: <https://sonoma-county.granicus.com/boards/w/808bd6e42edf8e0f>.
Per Rule 50 of the Board Rules of Procedures, the County Executive makes recommendations for select Countywide appointments including seats among the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District Board. This item recommends the appointment of Michael Thompson to fill the current County of Sonoma At Large seat vacancy on the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District Board.
Discussion:
The Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District (MSMVCD), founded in 1915 as the Marin Mosquito Abatement District following passage of California’s Mosquito Abatement Act, is a special district established to protect public health through mosquito control. The district expanded into Sonoma County beginning in 1976 and adopted its current name in 1995 to reflect its broader vector control responsibilities. Its services are supported through a district assessment structure that enables regional service delivery across Marin and Sonoma counties.
The district protects the health and welfare of the communities it serves from mosquitoes and vector-borne diseases by utilizing cost-effective, environmentally responsible integrated vector management practices. Its duties include monitoring, preventing, and controlling mosquitoes and other vectors that may transmit disease or pose public health concerns; providing public education; and responding to service requests from residents. Today, the District serves approximately 763,000 residents across nearly 2,300 square miles in Marin and Sonoma counties and responds to more than 4,500 service requests annually.
The Marin/Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control District is governed by a Board of Trustees. Each member represents his or her city of residence or a county at large. Trustees are appointed by their city council or county board of supervisors to serve terms of two or four years at the discretion of the appointing authority.
Michael Thompson retired in 2023 as Assistant General Manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency, where he led long-range financial and strategic planning efforts and contributed to numerous regional water resource, environmental restoration, and monitoring initiatives. During his tenure, he helped establish the Sonoma County Youth Ecology Corps and advanced environmental education and research partnerships with Sonoma State University. Prior to joining Sonoma Water in 1995, Mr. Thompson worked as an environmental engineer, geotechnical engineer, and offshore oil exploration design engineer; he holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, master’s degrees in civil engineering and business administration from UC Davis and is a California-registered professional civil engineer. A Santa Rosa native and longtime Rohnert Park area resident, Mr. Thompson has served on the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District Board of Directors and the City of Rohnert Park’s Park and Recreation Commission.
Strategic Plan:
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Prior Board Actions:
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Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
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Attachments:
Application Recommended for Appointment
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board: