To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Report Title: Recognizing Lesa McIntosh for 26 years of service on the East Bay Municipal Utilities District Board
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT Resolution recognizing Lesa McIntosh for 26 years of service on the East Bay Municipal Utilities District Board
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
BACKGROUND:
See Resolution.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
N/A
The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County, California
body
IN THE MATTER OF Recognizing Lesa McIntosh for 26 years of service on the EBMUD Board
WHEREAS, Lesa McIntosh grew up in Richmond, attended local public schools and earned a B.S. in Political Science from UC Berkeley and a Juris Doctorate from John F. Kennedy School of Law; and
WHEREAS, Lesa McIntosh was appointed to the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) in 1999 to fill the unexpired term of Director John Gioia after his election to the Board of Supervisors and is the first African American Woman to serve on EBMUD’s Board of Directors; and
WHEREAS, 2024 marks Lesa’s fifth term as President of the Board having previously led the board in 2007- 2008, 2008-2009, 2012-2013, 2018-2019; and
WHEREAS, Lesa led the Board through the launch of the Water Supply Management Plan, setting out the strategy for providing the East Bay with reliable water supplies through the year 2040. This year, Lesa led the Board through a Climate Action Plan Update that will ensure the District is prepared to meet the challenges of climate change; and
WHEREAS, Lesa has been an ardent supporter of equity in all aspects of EBMUD’s work and was instrumental in working with staff to apply the same strategic thinking to the subject of diversity, equity, and inclusion and the result was the implementation of a DEI Cultural Audit; and
WHEREAS, Lesa’s commitment to the community is reflected in her dedication to ensuring that water service is affordable to all East Bay residents and businesses, and in her continuing advocacy for creating job training programs; and
WHEREAS, Lesa’s commitment to affordability was demonstrated during her 2017-2019 Presidency when the District expanded the Customer Assistance Program’s range and visibility to reach the most disadvantaged customers; and
WHEREAS, In addition to her service on the EBMUD Board, Lesa has a long history of public service as a Richmond City Councilmember, member of Black Women Organized for Political Action, Boardmember of the East Bay Community Foundation, League of Women Voters and Contra Costa Bar Association, and Instructor in Criminal Justice at Contra Costa College.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: that the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County does hereby recognize in gratitude Lesa McIntosh and her dedication to representing the communities in West County and her positive impact to the larger Bay Area region for 26 years of service on the EBMUD Board of Directors and for her long history of public service.
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