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Who is on County Fair Board?, By Jondi Gumz
COMMUNITY NEWS
Who is on County Fair Board?
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By Jondi Gumz
Who is on the District 14 Santa Cruz County Fair board, which will make a decision July 19 on whether to tear down the 1955 livestock barns deemed unsafe by the state and how to move forward?
Directors are appointed by the governor. There is no compensation.
Dana McRae, Santa Cruz County counsel for 22 years before retiring, was appointed in November 2021 by Gov. Gavin Newsom, replacing MariaElena De la Garza, who resigned her October 2017 appointment.
Seven directors were appointed or reappointed in March or April 2017 by Gov. Jerry Brown. Their terms have expired, according to the state Registry of appointments. A 2014 appointment also expired.
As listed by the governor, they are:
Loretta Estrada, Watsonville, food service manager for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District from 1974 to 2000 and owner of Estrada Ranch. A director since 1989, she was reappointed by Gov. Schwarzenegger in July 2010. Her term expired in January 2021.
Jody Belgard, Corralitos. She was an account specialist for the Santa Cruz County Office of Education since 1985 when she was first appointed in 2006. She was reappointed in 2010 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and in again April 2017. Her term expired in January 2018.
Don Dietrich, Scotts Valley, business representative of Operating Engineers Local Union 3 from 1999 to 2010. He is board president. First appointed in 2012, his term expired in January 2019.
Stephanie Fontana, Watsonville, 4-H program representative for the University of California Cooperative Extension Services for San Benito County since 2010. First appointed in 2012, her term expired in January 2020.
William “Bill” Barton, Aptos, chief compliance officer, chief financial officer and senior vice president. Granite Construction Inc. from 1980 to 2008. He was appointed in June 2014 and reappointed in 2017. His term expired in January 2018.
Tony Campos, Watsonville, a member of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors from 1999 to 2011. He was appointed in 2014 and reappointed in 2017. His term expired in January 2019.
Michael Pruger, Santa Cruz, deputy sheriff in the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office since 2006. Appointed in 2017, his term expired in January 2021.
Lupe Flores, Watsonville, a salon owner since 1975. Appointed in 2017, her term expired in January 2018.
Aptos Times asked the governor’s office via phone and email about the expired appointments and whether those directors would have authority to cast votes and approve contracts.
A spokesperson for the Governor’s Office provided this statement via email: “Appointees serving in expired terms can continue to serve at the pleasure of the Governor until a successor has been appointed.”
The California Department of Food and Agriculture has oversight of county fairs. Its handbook says, “A director whose term has expired also may serve until replaced or reappointed by the Governor.” n
Fair Future on KSCO Radio July 14
The proposed demolition of livestock barns at the county fairgrounds and the ramifications for sheltering animals of people evacuated in times of flood, fire and earthquake will be addressed during KSCO’s Good Morning Monterey Bay with Rosemary Chalmers Thursday, July 14, from 8:35 to 8:45 a.m. with county resident Becky Steinbruner, and from 8:46 to 9 a.m. with Santa Cruz County Fair CEO David Kegebein.
If you miss it, look for the recording at http://ksco.com/shows/39580-goodmorning-monterey-bay
“Fair Barns” from page 6
Bingo brings a crowd, for one.
In the spring, the fairgrounds hosted Burning Man Santa Cruz, attracting a reported 3,000 attendees for laser light shows, art, music and camping.
No trace of that event could be seen last week when the 14th District fair board livestock committee heard Kegebein’s presentation.
Alternatively to temporary quarters for county fair participants, Kegebein said he had approved plans for an engineered foundation that could be installed before the September 2023 county fair.
Safety
Among the livestock committee members, there was consensus to go with “option one,” temporary livestock facilities this year, which means youths showing pigs must bring their own water, and pursue the multipurpose building for the future.
“Safety is the top priority,” said Kyle Middleton, noting a microphone system would be needed to communicate with the 4-H youth. “I think we can figure out something.”
Kyle Plaskett said, “The sheep barn is maxed out on power,” and he’s seen “a lot of extension cords running around on the grass.”
Loretta Estrada asked about shade for the animals, and Stephanie Fontana observed, “On the lawn, pigs can root out. I’m really concerned about that.”
Danny Naranjo said, “Let’s start with new barns. We’ve got to move with the times.”
Fair volunteers Yvonne Sowersby and Jodi Corkner supported option one.
Corkner said it’s “really exciting, moving toward a new multipurpose building.”
The task seems “daunting,” Sowersby said, “but take it one step at a time.”
Critics
Not everyone supported Kegebein.
Philip Ayala, whose daughter raised 300 chickens in Aromas for the fair, said the scale to weigh animals sold for market has to be calibrated on a steady surface, which the barns provided.
Aptos resident Becky Steinbruner emailed Kegebein her safety concerns three times since October. She contended the barns were declared unsafe because Kegebein demolished the permanent wooden livestock pens, which she said damaged the integrity of in-ground concrete post pilings.
She said the work was funded by the fairgrounds foundation, a nonprofit run by Jeannie Kegebein. Dave Kegebein is her son.
Steinbruner said that last year, Dave Kegebein had volunteers remove and replace all the posts and add large timbers to the roof beams, without approval of the fair board or the California Construction Authority, the joint powers authority organized in 1988 to provide finance, design and construction services for health and safety and other projects at fairgrounds throughout California.
Steinbruner believes this agency, which evaluates risks and potential issues before the project begins, should be involved.
She has asked the fair board to have a public discussion on proposed agreements between the fair and the county Board of Supervisors on a 38.5- acre property at 188 Whiting Road, next to the fairgrounds where the County intends to create equitable access to athletic fields, hiking, and healthy recreation. The price is $2.31 million, with a 12-month purchase option ending Nov. 12, 2022.
Steinbruner visited a few CZU fire victims people who were living in 12 to 15 trailers at the fairgrounds, as per the county agreement, in November 2020, learning they paid $900 a month for an RV site. Some got rental assistance from FEMA while others did not know how they would make the payment.
During a severe storm in January 2021 where people were urged to evacuate due to expected “debris flow,” the fair was not prepared to accept evacuated animals, so some were sent to Quail Hollow County Park and some to Animal Services.
If the barns do not exist, Steinbruner asks: How could the fairgrounds provide emergency housing in the future?
In May, Randy Crabtree Jr., executive director of the California Construction Authority emailed Steinbruner to say “CCA is actively working with the Fair, the design team, the State, and our inspectors to ensure the work is completed correctly to safely operate the barns for its many uses.”
He added, “Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds and the State of California are ultimately responsible for construction scheduling and facility planning. CCA remains ready to assist when requested by any of these bodies.”
