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League of Women Voters of Butte County Board Meeting Minutes December 14, 2021 5:30 pm Via ZOOM |
Members Present: Mahalley Allen, Roxanne Ferry, Sandra Flake, Patty Haley, Janet Rechtman, Toni Reid, and Satsie Veith
Guest Present: Debra Barger
- 1. Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 5:30 pm.
2. Approve Meeting Minutes
The minutes for the November board meeting and special board meeting were approved.
3. Financial Report
The LWVBC taxes have been filed and are available for board review if anyone would like to see them. Sandra will review membership renewals and share that information with the board.
4. Week of Giving Results
Sandra shared the report from the North Valley Community Foundation on the Week of Giving results.
During the Week of Giving, there were 13 individual donors who made a total of 17 donations totaling $1,073.75 to the LWVBC Education Fund. In addition, other people donated a total of $375 directly to LWVBC, for a total of $1,448.75 in donations.
5. Update on County Contract
The last meeting with the county about the contract was cancelled and has yet to be re-scheduled. Madison Wyman, Butte County clerk-recorder assistant, emailed Satsie that schools have not been interested in the high school education week program. Board members brainstormed other ideas for the future, such as videos explaining the voting process. Satsie hopes to have a response from Madison soon about signing the contract. William Tefteller has worked with high school civics projects in the past and might have ideas.
6. Survey Results – Releasing to Members/Response
A total of 55 respondents participated in the survey. The survey was through Survey Monkey, which cost money. In the future, perhaps LWVBC could use Qualtrics for these types of surveys. Janet shared the survey data with the board, and board members reviewed the results. According to the survey, “voting rights/protecting election results” is the issue with the largest amount of interest from survey respondents. According to the survey results, the majority of respondents are 65 or older. Board members reviewed results for the questions, “What opportunities would encourage you to become more active in LWVBC?” and “What activities might make LWVBC more welcoming to all residents of Butte County including young people?” Board members brainstormed ideas to get more people, and young people in particular, involved, including connecting with Chico State and Butte College and hosting a movie night with OLLI. Debra will connect with the Associated Students Legislative Affairs Committee at Chico State in the spring semester. Satsie and Janet will coordinate to send the survey results to LWVBC members.
7. Update on Water/Housing-Homelessness Programs
Toni updated board members about the upcoming water programs. Suellen Rowlison and Sunday Cummins are helping to organize the presentation. Toni is meeting with local experts on water issues, and the Natural Resources Committee is developing a plan for the program.
Janet reported that Social Policy Committee plans to host three sessions focused on housing/homelessness, coordinate with OLLI, and produce a printed piece, possibly for publication in the Chico Enterprise Record. Professor Susan Roll from Chico State has agreed to assist the committee. There will be an educational forum before the election.
8. Report on Tuscan Water District Research
Debra shared research on the proposed formation of the Tuscan Water District in Butte County. Please see the Appendix for a copy of her report. The state league’s water committee was not advocating taking a position of the proposed formation and recommended becoming more involved with LAFCO (local agency formation commission). The proposed district would have property-based voting with the number of votes assessed by property value.
According to LAFCO, the commission can decide how the board of the proposed district will be elected and can monitor districts to make sure they are fulfilling their duties and purposes for which they were established. In January, LAFCO will have another public hearing on the proposed district.
Thank you to Debra for research and information on this issue. Do board members want to have an additional meeting to discuss whether the LWVBC will communicate with LAFCO on this issue?
9. Other Plans for 2022: Membership Mtng/Programs/Fundraising etc.
Tabled to next meeting.
10. You Tube Channel; Plastics Speaker Ideas
LWVBC has a new You Tube channel with many of the league’s videos.
The Redding League is still interested in partnering with the LWVBC in the spring to host a program on Plastics and the Environment. Toni and Debra shared speaker suggestions for the program.
Debra was contacted recently by the “Chico Voters” group regarding the rejection of their recall paperwork. The group is seeking to have a recall election for some Chico City Council members. At this point, the LWVBC does not have enough information on this issue to respond or make a statement.
11. Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 7:02 pm.