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

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Supervisors Ennis, Ishida, and Worthley and CAO Jean Rousseau met with Roger Cockrell, Senate Appropriations to urge that the appropriations committee retain the $18 million for Lake Success projects included in the President’s budget.  Board members explained the intended use of the $18 million ($15 million for property acquisition and $3 million for design) and highlighted the necessity of purchasing the properties below the dam in order to alleviate the potential risks to residents.  Supervisors also discussed the December flood damage and advocated for funding to move forward on the Deer Creek/White River and Frazier Creek flood feasibility studies.  As a result of this discussion, potential new funding sources were identified and the Board was able to schedule an impromptu meeting with Acting Director for the USDA’s Watershed Landscape and Planning Division to discuss project funding options.

“Protecting funding for Lake Success projects is one of the top priorities for the Board of Supervisors, which we emphasized during our meeting” said Tulare County Administrative Officer Jean Rousseau.  “New USDA funding sources were also identified during the meeting, which County staff will further research upon our return.  We would not have known about this funding if we had not met with Mr. Cockrell,” Rousseau said.

Supervisors Ennis and Worthley, CAO Jean Rousseau, and Paul Boyer, Farmersville City Councilmember and Self-Help Enterprises, met with the USDA’s Rural Development Division to encourage flexibility in Rural Development grant funding to support design and engineering for local disadvantaged community water systems, expressed support for modifying the population cap definition of “rural”, and suggested collaboration with other government water agencies to consolidate environmental certifications.  After hearing Supervisors concerns, USDA staff recommended a targeted program for disadvantaged communities that may be available in FY 2012 and also directed California USDA staff to assist with working on a technical assistance program to help local water systems.  Staff also indicated that they will discuss environmental consolidation at their next inter-agency meeting.

“Most of our local disadvantaged community water systems do not have funding to support design and engineering to improve their systems,” said Tulare County Administrative Officer Jean Rousseau.  “This meeting with high ranking USDA officials was very important in relaying the importance of making this funding available to disadvantaged communities,” Rousseau said.

All Supervisors and CAO Jean Rousseau met with the Deputy Under Secretary of the Natural Resources & Environment to present ideas relating to Forest Management and how those ideas could assist with managing forest lands, both in terms of combating marijuana cultivation and in terms of overall forest management.  Supervisors also advocated for a review of the restrictions currently placed on law enforcement in terms of how marijuana eradication funds can be utilized and invited staff to visit Tulare County with other drug enforcement agencies for a stakeholder meeting to discuss mutual goals and potential solutions.

 “The Deputy Under Secretary  was very receptive to the Supervisors’ suggestions on Forest Management and combating illegal marijuana cultivation,” said Tulare County Administrative Officer Jean Rousseau. “The Deputy Under Secretary  expressed an interest in having staff visit Tulare County to further discuss possible solutions.  We intend to aggressively follow up on the tour of the area and are very grateful for Deputy Under Secretary Jensen’s support” Rousseau said.