To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: M. Christina Rivera 707-565-2431
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Recommended Action:
Title
Approve the Appointment of Jennifer Kuszmar to the Sonoma Resource Conservation District to serve the remainder of an unscheduled vacancy term beginning August 20, 2024, and ending December 4, 2024. (Countywide)
End
Executive Summary:
Rule 50 of the Board Rules of Procedures states that the Clerk of the Board shall put forward appointment recommendations to the Board for countywide positions. The Sonoma Resource Conservation District Board of Directors approved and put forward the current recommendation. The current item recommends the appointment of Jennifer Kuszmar to the Sonoma Resource Conversation District (SRCD).
Discussion:
Resource Conversation Districts (RCD’s) are established under California Public Resource Code Division 9. Resource conservation Districts are locally governed with independent boards of directors. The SRCD is steward of public and private funds and is subject to transparency and accountability laws that require public meetings, open records, annual audits, and financial reporting. The SRCD was formed established in 1946 by local agriculturalists to address critical natural resource concerns in Sonoma County. The SRCD’s 15 District Directors serve approximately 85% of Sonoma County working toward improving the control of runoff, the preservation or control of soil erosion, the development and distribution of water, and the improvement of land capabilities.
Per Article 7. District Directors, section 9314 (b) (1) of the California Public Resource Code Division 9 “As an alternative to the election of directors, the board of directors may, by a resolution presented to the board of supervisors of the principal county, request the board of supervisors to appoint directors, except those first elected. Additionally, per Article 7 District Directors, of the California Public Resource Code Division 9, the Board of Supervisors shall fill a vacancy through an unexpired term.
July 25, 2024, The SRCD Board of Directors approved the recommended appointment of Jennifer Kuszmar to fill the remainder of the current unscheduled vacancy through December 4,2024. The incumbent, Ron Rolleri, passed away in May of 2024 after serving the District since 1998. The seat has remained vacant since May 15, 2024. The SRCD publicly noticed the unscheduled vacancy in the Press Democrat. No additional applications or interest in the vacant position were received.
Jennifer Kuszmar obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from Cal Poly Humbolt before entering the AmeriCorps Watershed Stewardship Program where her work focused on fisheries restoration, forestry, and land conservation. Jennifer previously worked as the Assistant Executive Director for the Sonoma Resource Conservation District and served as a member of the Board of Directors for the SRCD.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
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:
California Public Resource Code Division 9
Proof of Publication Notice of Unscheduled Vacancy
Recommended Appointment Application Redacted
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board: N/A