REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 23, 2025
FROM
DAWN ROWE, Chair and Third District Supervisor, Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
Mojave Desert Resource Conservation District Appointment in Lieu of Election
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Find that pursuant to the provisions of Public Resources Code Section 9314(b)(1), the Mojave Desert Resource Conservation District’s Board of Directors, by Resolution, has requested that the Board of Supervisors appoint Directors to their District Board as an alternative to the election of said Directors.
2. Approve appointment of Earl Graham, in lieu of election, to the vacant position of Director for the Mojave Desert Resource Conservation District’s Board of Directors.
(Presenter: Dawn Rowe, Chair and Third District Supervisor, 387-4855)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as this action is non-financial in nature.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This item will provide for the appointment of Earl Graham as Director on the Mojave Desert Resource Conservation District’s Board of Directors, effective September 23, 2025, ending at 12:00 PM on November 24, 2028, to serve the unexpired term of Eldert Van Dam. Mr. Van Dam was appointed pursuant to Section 9314 of the Public Resources Code on December 3, 2024. As provided in Section 9316 of the Public Resources Code, in the case of a vacancy in the office of Director appointed pursuant to Section 9314, the vacancy shall be filled, as provided in Section 9314, by appointment for the unexpired term by the Board of Supervisors of the principal county.
An applicant recommended for appointment as a Director of a Resource Conservation District must be a registered voter in the State of California, and (1) reside within the district and either own real property in the district or have served for two years or more as an Associate Director providing advisory or other assistance to the District Directors, or (2) be a designated agent of a resident landowner within the district. On August 21, 2025, the Registrar of Voters verified Mr. Graham is a registered voter within the State of California. Mr. Graham has served as an Associate Director for over two years.
On August 5, 2025, (Item No. 7), the Board of Supervisors directed the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to post a Notice of Vacancy for this position and invited applications from interested and qualified individuals. During the application period, two applications were received and reviewed by representatives of the Resource Conservation District.
As a result of this process, Earl Graham is hereby recommended for appointment to the Board of Directors of the Mojave Desert Resource Conservation District.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Clerk of the Board of Supervisors (Lynna Monell, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 387-3848) on August 26, 2025; County Counsel (Jolena Grider, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 26, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Penelope Chang, Principal Administrative Analyst, 387-4886) on August 26, 2025.