Update from day two of Tulare County Supervisors meetings in Washington, D.C.

 Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Tulare County Administrative Officer Jean Rousseau provided the following update on Tulare County's meetings with federal officials.

Supervisors Ennis, Ishida, Vander Poel and Worthley and CAO Jean Rousseau, along with a representative from Congressman Nunes office, participated in a meeting with Benjamin Tucker, Deputy Director, and several members of his staff, in the Office of National Drug Control Policy Wednesday morning.  Supervisors advocated for several items related to marijuana eradication.  Supervisor Ishida requested a larger focus on technology to identify all potential grow sites.  Supervisors Worthley and Ennis encouraged ONDCP to work with other federal agencies to establish a holistic approach to all public lands related issues.  Board members strongly emphasized that too often federal agencies do not communicate, and if the agencies could get together and combine resources for a common goal, more progress will be made.  Mr. Tucker indicated that a high level public lands meeting will take place in the near future. The Supervisors also requested flexibility with existing funding to allow the Sheriff’s department to use funds for year round efforts.

As a result of yesterday’s meeting with Deputy Under Secretary Jay Jensen, all four Supervisors and CAO Rousseau met with David Ferrell, Director and Tracy Perry, Deputy Director of Law Enforcement for the United States Forest Service.  Supervisors discussed many of the above ideas in addition to the need for sustained staffing.  The Director committed to having USFS Regional staff responsible for CA to contact Tulare County for a follow up meeting to see how they can assist with marijuana eradication operations this year.

Supervisors Ennis, Worthley, Porterville Mayor Ron Irish and CAO Jean Rousseau met with Sanator Boxer’s legislative staff.  During that meeting the Supervisors discussed the funding need for Lake Success and the White River/Deer Creek and Frazier/Strathmore Creek studies.  Staff was positive about the potential to retain Success funding this year and expressed Senator Boxer’s support for the project.  The Supervisors requested the ability to initiate new starts under a specific Army Corps of Engineers program that would allow for continued work on the creek studies in FY 2013.

Supervisors Ennis, Worthley and CAO Jean Rousseau met with House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee staff to discuss Lake Success and specifically what funding would be required to acquire properties below the dam.  The staff was interested in the project and particularly the ability to alleviate some of the public safety issues associated with the current dam.

Lastly, Supervisors Ennis, Vander Poel, Worthley and CAO Jean Rousseau met with staff from the House Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee.  They were very interested in Tulare County’s ideas relating to forest management and how that would accomplish several goals.  As a result of the meeting, she requested the Board send specific questions that she could enter into the record during hearings.  She was pleased to hear that Supervisors had met with USFS and ONDCP and appreciated the approach of coming in with positive suggestions.