Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Open Board Meeting- County Supervisor Dawn Rowe, District 3 County of San Bernardino
Norton Regional Event Center
1601 E. Third St., Suite 138
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Minutes
Present: Patti Arlt, Deborah Barmack, Peter Barmack, Carole Beswick, Rachelle Bussell, Ken Coate, Jennifer Cusack, Kevin Dyerly, Sandra Espadas, Adam Eventov, Ashley Gaines, Louis Goodwin, Jay Jimenez, Mark Kaenel, Lowell King, Bill Lemann, P.T. McEwen, John Mirau, Vikki Ostermann, Keven Porter, Thomas Rice, Michael Rivera, Dan Roberts, Elizabeth Romero, Kristine Scott, Paul Shimoff, Phil Southard, David Van Voorhis, and Ray Wolfe.
Guests: Gayle Covey, Michelle Decker, Jacqueline Gonzalez, Lorraine Kindrid, Sheriff McMahon, B.J. Patterson, Catherine Pritchett, Frank Reyes, Arnold San Miguel, Pete Van Helden and Todd Warden.
Announcements: 1) Member Paul Shimoff asked that the group closely review California’s SB 378, a proposed California estate tax. The Inland Action Legislative Committee is reviewing.
M/S/P: Minutes from April 2, 2019.
Kristine Scott introduced San Bernardino County Supervisor Dawn Rowe.
Supervisor Rowe was appointed to complete the final two years for the 3rd District supervisorial seat vacated by James Ramos who was elected to the California Assembly. She plans to run for the seat in the 2020 election.
The Supervisor Rowe, a resident of Yucca Valley, most recently worked as a field representative for Assemblyman and now Congressman Paul Cook since 2009. She has lived in the Morongo Basin since 2003 and served on the Yucca Valley Town Council from 2010 to 2014, including a term as Mayor. She has worked as a substitute teacher within the Morongo Unified School District since 2009 and is active in numerous community organizations.
The Third District seat on the Board of Supervisors became vacant on December 3. Supervisor Rowe was in an applicant pool of 43, all of whom followed the procedures set by the existing Supervisors. The process to appoint a supervisor is addressed in the County Charter. The Charter requires the remaining members of the Board to appoint someone to serve until December of the next even-numbered year. If the board fails to appoint someone within 30 days, the Governor is required to make an appointment. Two legal challenges have been filed in opposition to the process for selection of a candidate to fill the vacated seat.
A great deal of the 3rd District is rural and unincorporated but also includes all or portions of the cities of Barstow, Big Bear Lake, Colton, Grand Terrace, Highland, Loma Linda, Redlands, San Bernardino, Twentynine Palms, Yucaipa, and the Town of Yucca Valley.
The Supervisor indicated she is on a learning curve but has support from a seasoned Chief of Staff and the other Board members. She understands and respects rural areas and knows that development when needed must be thoughtful in order to maintain the rural character of these communities.
Rowe cited her experience dealing with key issues in the district, including the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, water hauling, vacation rentals and off-road recreation in her application for appointment as the Third District Supervisor. She also expressed understanding of countywide issues and committed herself to building a positive working relationship with the other members of the Board of Supervisors.
She is working to meet and build relationships with all the City Managers and City Council members. She expressed appreciation for the economic benefit and activity created by the National Park, but noted there are now traffic problems, unregulated trailers and tents, and an influx of transient people, that all create quality of life issues for the residents.
The Supervisor recognized and praised the progressive actions by the Board of Supervisors in workforce development and education. Creating partnerships with businesses to expose children to many vocational options gives them practical applications for learning and goals for the future.
Supervisor Rowe stated that she comes with no agenda or politics. She just wants to serve.
A Q & A period followed.
Meeting adjourned 8:25 a.m.