COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Board of Supervisors

DATE:

January 10, 2007

BOARD MEETING DATE:

January 23, 2007

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Supervisor Jerry Hill

SUBJECT:

Appointment to the Area Board 5 on Developmental Disabilities

Recommendation

Approve the appointment of Jennifer Walsh to the Area Board 5 on Developmental Disabilities representing San Mateo County to a term expiring on January 23, 2010.

Background

The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act established 13 Area Boards to protect and advocate for persons with developmental disabilities. Area Board 5 serves Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties. Each county has two representatives appointed by their respective Board of Supervisors. The Mission of the Area Board 5 on Developmental Disabilities is to ensure that persons with developmental disabilities and their families have the same rights and opportunities as the general

population.

Discussion

Jennifer Walsh is a highly qualified candidate having served on the Area Board 5 when she was a resident of San Francisco. She has since moved her residence to Daly City and is seeking an appointment to the Area Board 5 to represent San Mateo County. She is unanimously recommended for this appointment by the San Mateo County Commission on Disabilities. There has been a vacancy for a representative from San Mateo County for many years.

Vision Alignment

Shared Vision 2010 goal 2, “Civic engagement-including voting, public service, charitable giving, volunteerism and participation in public discussions of important issues – is uniformly high among the diverse population” is especially applicable.