Memorandum
Date: July 22, 2025
To: The Honorable Eddie Crandell, Chair, Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Rachael Dillman Parsons, Social Services Director, AAA Executive Director
Subject: Consideration of (a) Designating One Member of the Lake County Board of Supervisors to Serve as a Member of the AAA Governing Board, and Another Supervisor to Serve as the Alternate; and (b) Appointing Amy Schimansky, Deputy Director of Social Services, as the Second Member Representing Lake County on the AAA Governing Board
Executive Summary:
As you are aware, the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) of Lake and Mendocino Counties is governed by a five-member Governing Board. In accordance with the Joint Powers Agreement between Lake and Mendocino Counties, this Board is composed of two representatives each from the respective Boards of Supervisors (BOS) or their designees-one representing Lake County and one representing Mendocino County-and one “at-large” member.
At the most recent Governing Board meeting held on June 12, 2025, the Board authorized AAA staff to prepare a formal recommendation for the appointment of Amy Schimansky to the Governing Board.
Historically, Lake County’s representation on the AAA Governing Board consisted of the Department of Social Services (DSS) Director or a designee, along with one BOS member, while the second BOS member served as the alternate. This structure provided consistent in-person participation and minimized scheduling conflicts. However, this arrangement shifted when the former DSS Director assumed the role of County Administrative Officer (CAO). Following her retirement, both Lake County seats on the AAA Governing Board were filled by BOS members, eliminating administrative representation.
Since that transition, staff have observed that the current structure has resulted in increased scheduling conflicts and inconsistent participation. Therefore, staff recommend returning to the previous model for Lake County’s representation, aligning it with Mendocino County’s current structure, which includes a Social Services Deputy Director and one BOS member.
Accordingly, we recommend the appointment of Amy Schimansky as one of Lake County’s representatives to the AAA Governing Board, alongside a member of the BOS. The second BOS member would serve as an alternate. This recommendation supports improved participation, continuity, and consistency in representation, while remaining fully consistent with the governance framework outlined in the Joint Powers Agreement.
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Recommended Action: (a) Designate one member of the Lake County Board of Supervisors to serve as a member of the AAA Governing Board, and another Supervisor to serve as the alternate; and (b) Appoint Amy Schimansky, Deputy Director of Social Services, as the second member representing Lake County on the AAA Governing Board.