1 BEFORE THE CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION 2 450 N STREET 3 SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA 4 5 6 7 REPORTER'S TRANSCRIPT 8 MARCH 21, 2012 9 10 11 12 RETIREMENT RESOLUTION 13 KENNETH W. TOPPER 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Reported by: Juli Price Jackson 21 No. CSR 5214 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 1 P R E S E N T 2 3 For the Board Jerome E. Horton of Equalization: Chairman 4 5 Michelle Steel Vice-Chairwoman 6 7 Betty T. Yee Member 8 9 George Runner Member 10 11 Marcy Jo Mandel Appearing for John 12 Chiang, State Controller (per 13 Government Code Section 7.9) 14 15 Diane G. Olson Chief, Board 16 Proceedings Division 17 18 19 ---oOo--- 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 2 1 450 N STREET 2 SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA 3 MARCH 21, 2012 4 ---oOo--- 5 MR. HORTON: Let's reconvene the meeting of the 6 Board of Equalization. 7 Ms. Olson, what is our next -- the first item 8 of business? 9 MS. OLSON: Our first item of business is a 10 special presentation for our man of the hour, Kenneth 11 Topper. 12 MR. HORTON: Oh, fabulous, fabulous. 13 How about a round of applause for Kenneth? 14 Well, as some TV host says, come on down. 15 Members, Ms. Yee is going to present to 16 Mr. Topper a resolution that exemplifies our 17 appreciation for all the work that he's done, our 18 admiration for how he did his work and the fact that he 19 has been there for the Board of Equalization and the 20 people of California. 21 He made a significant impact on all of us, and 22 not only from a professional perspective, but also from 23 a personal perspective. He encourages us in a number of 24 ways. 25 Member Yee. 26 And we want to take a picture too. So, after 27 you finish, can we come down? 28 MR. TOPPER: I'll get my agent. 3 1 MR. HORTON: Okay. 2 MS. YEE: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. 3 It is really my distinct pleasure and honor -- 4 and I'm going to try to get through this without 5 shedding a tear, it will be very, very difficult. 6 I've known Mr. Topper for 25 years now and this 7 is really very bittersweet for me. And I think it's a 8 tribute to him that all of you here to honor him today. 9 I have to say, we do a lot of retirement resolutions for 10 the very, very stellar group of employees that we have 11 here at the Board of Equalization. I will say that what 12 really makes Ken stand out is I can't think of a better 13 ambassador for this agency than Ken Topper. 14 And I think when the Board as really been 15 criticized, when we've had our challenges, when we have 16 been tested -- whether by the legislature, by the 17 public, other critics of us -- this is the man that's 18 always had a smile on his face when he's represented 19 this organization. And, more importantly, I'm just 20 very, very proud of the work that he's done with respect 21 to the leading this organization into the future with 22 his participation in developing our strategic plans over 23 the last couple of cycles. 24 So -- but on a personal note -- and I don't 25 really read solutions most of the time because it's 26 generally a bio, but I don't think many of you know 27 about his prior accomplishment and, so, I am going to 28 read it. 4 1 But I want to just offer up my own personal 2 thoughts about this and that is this a man that's 3 devoted his life to public service. And because of his 4 personality -- I think he's just -- really everywhere 5 that he's been, it really has been about being the best 6 ambassador for the principals that he represents. 7 And, more importantly, I just want to wish him 8 well in his retirement, well deserved. 9 I think all of us who have been touched by Ken 10 in this organization realize the positive nature that 11 he's brought to all of the work that we've done here at 12 the Board and especially during this really, really 13 challenging times -- and I've had them. 14 He's served as a member of my staff, as a 15 member of the staff of prior Members of the First 16 Equalization District. And I don't know that I could 17 have I really gotten the footing that I have had in this 18 organization without the great assistance and support 19 and love of Ken Topper. 20 So, please give him a round of applause. 21 (Applause) 22 MS. YEE: Yes, I'm going to ask you to be a 23 staff person one more time and hold this as this Member 24 now has very bad eyes. 25 But I want to just say this about Ken, 26 everywhere he's gone, he just really serves with 27 excellence. And so much of the time it's not about how 28 you -- what you accomplish, it's about how you 5 1 accomplish it. 2 And I think this positive attitude that he's 3 had, the smile is certainly contagious -- I see all of 4 you smiling right now, it's really great, it's 5 beautiful. And this is really, I think, the best face 6 that we could have on this agency. And, frankly, it's 7 made a difference. The public that we serve, the 8 taxpaying community that we serve, I hear time and time 9 again about the wonderful experience they have when they 10 interface with this organization. We're not the IRS and 11 we're not the Franchise Tax Board is what they tell us 12 because we actually serve with a smile. And we do try 13 to be helpful to our taxpayers because we know the 14 importance of their role in contributing to the economy 15 of this great State of California. 16 So, let me just give you a little bit of 17 background about Ken that we'll be able to certainly add 18 to his accolades that I'm going to tell you about in 19 this resolution. 20 So, we're honoring Ken Topper on this occasion 21 of his retirement, whereas Kenneth W. Topper joined the 22 Deputy Director of the Administration Department staff 23 as Special Advisor in September 19 -- 2005, sorry, 24 didn't mean to date you. His primary responsibility was 25 in the development and implementation of program 26 efficiencies and identifying cost savings for the 27 agency. 28 He was later appointed Chief over the 6 1 Administration Department Planning and Training Division 2 and then accepted the current position as the Chief, 3 Acquisitions Branch, which is responsible for the 4 coordination and oversight of all contracts and 5 purchasing activities for the Board of Equalization. 6 He's told me no many time in terms of what I can buy. 7 Whereas Kenneth served First District Board 8 Members Johan Klehs, Carole Migden and Betty Yee as 9 their professional advisor, his primary responsibilities 10 were in the areas of communication, constituent 11 relations and program efficiencies -- areas in which we 12 all know and agree are Mr. Topper's strong suit. 13 In addition, he provided counsel for the Board 14 Members regarding tax issues, agency operations, 15 preparation of summaries and worked with legislators, 16 their staff, other State agencies, leaders in the 17 private industry, state and national tax authorities and 18 the media. 19 And whereas Kenneth spent twelve years at the 20 State Capitol as a consultant to both Senators David 21 Roberti and Bill Lockyer during their terms as President 22 Pro Tem of the California State Senate; Mr. Topper 23 joined the State Board of Equalization in 1998 as a 24 Management Analyst in the Agency Planning and Research 25 Division, then was promoted to Staff Services Manager I, 26 Agency Planning leader of the Strategic Planning 27 Section. 28 And whereas Kenneth is the recipient of many 7 1 awards honoring his strong commitment to the community, 2 including the Pastoral Care Services Award by the 3 California Medical Facility, Outstanding Community 4 Services Award for KOVR, Channel 13, documentary, an 5 Honorary Services Award from the United Cerebral Palsy, 6 an Outstanding Public Service Award from KOVR, 7 Channel 13, the Jefferson Award from KOVR, Channel 13, 8 an Honorary Services Award from the California Congress 9 of PTAs, Outstanding Achievement and Enhancing Community 10 Services for People Living with HIV AIDS, Honorary 11 Service from the California Hemophilia Council, named 12 Man of the Year from MGW Newspaper Triumphs Award -- 13 that's a, "Mom, guess what" -- and last, but certainly 14 not least, Mr. Topper has been recognized by the Board 15 of Equalization receiving both the Superior 16 Accomplishment Award and the Sustained Achievement 17 Awards. 18 And whereas Kenneth, when not working or 19 receiving awards, escapes to his mountain retreat 20 located in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of Asheville, 21 North Carolina, hiking with his dog, Buddy, watching his 22 favorite DVDs, listening to music and sharing his 23 contagious laughter with family and friends. 24 Therefore, be it resolved that we, the Members 25 of the Board, do hereby extend to Kenneth W. Topper our 26 sincere and grateful appreciation for his dedicated 27 service to the Board of Equalization, to the people of 28 the State of California. 8 1 And our congratulations on his well deserved 2 retirement and we wish you happiness and good health in 3 the years to come. 4 Thank you. 5 (Applause) 6 MR. HORTON: Further discussion, Members. 7 MR. RUNNER: Yes. 8 MR. HORTON: Mr. Runner. 9 MR. RUNNER: Ken, I want -- I want to say thank 10 you. As the newest Board Member coming on, what, almost 11 year and a half ago or so, let me tell you, you were -- 12 you were so professional and so helpful in making that 13 transition. 14 And I know you helped -- that transition helped 15 us in that process, helped my staff in that process. 16 So, you're going to be -- I think you're going to be 17 missed, but we appreciate so much the way that you did, 18 the effectiveness you did as carried out your job. 19 Thanks. 20 MR. TOPPER: Thank you. 21 MR. HORTON: Member Mandel. 22 MS. MANDEL: Oh, sure -- I never get to go 23 second. I'm always the cleanup batter. 24 Well, you know, Ken -- Ken knows that it was 25 about a year ago that I finally made it to the Biltmore 26 in Asheville for the first time and I was only there for 27 like day and a half and my office had me on conference 28 calls for about 75 percent of it. So, I am coming back 9 1 and I'm going to miss you. 2 And, as Betty said, you are always -- you're -- 3 I feel like he's my own personal pick me up, but I think 4 everybody in the room feels that way -- even if you just 5 pass him in the hall. 6 So, you brighten my day every time I see you. 7 Thank you very, very much. 8 MR. TOPPER: Thank you. 9 MR. HORTON: Member Steel. 10 MS. STEEL: You know, only thing I see here Ken 11 equals to positive -- positive behavior, positive 12 attitude, positive spirit. 13 And every time I saw you -- 14 MR. TOPPER: That's very nice. 15 MS. STEEL: -- just so much energy out there. 16 And thank you very much, we going to miss you so much. 17 MR. TOPPER: Thank you. 18 MR. HORTON: Okay. Ken, can we join you, take 19 a picture? 20 MR. TOPPER: Oh, please, thank you. 21 (Whereupon photographs were taken.) 22 (Applause) 23 MR. TOPPER: Wow. For those of you that know 24 me, you could put this down in your books, I'm actually 25 speechless. 26 I'm overwhelmed. And I appreciate the 27 incredible acknowledgements. 28 MR. HORTON: Good. 10 1 MR. TOPPER: And the overwhelming statements. 2 Just very shortly I just want to say that the 3 accomplishments, while be many, I didn't do it alone. 4 It comes from collaboration. It comes from working 5 with incredible skilled expert and talented individuals 6 like yourselves here at the Board and in the legislature 7 and the willingness to make a difference in the State 8 and the communities in which we live. 9 That was the passion. I think we all share a 10 common passion for that, that's why we're civil 11 servants. 12 So, I want to thank all of you for that 13 wonderful opportunity to have the pleasure of working 14 with you, meeting you and understanding and appreciating 15 what you do. I've had an incredible experience. And 16 I've worked for some incredible people. 17 Thank you very, very much all of you. And 18 Betty, 25 years -- thank you for that. 19 Thank you. So, to the next journey and I 20 really encourage all of you give, it everything you 21 have. You can make a difference. You really do. 22 And you do touch the lives in a positive way. 23 Smile, it makes you feel better. 24 Thank you everyone, thank you so much. 25 (Applause). 26 ---o0o--- 27 28 11 1 REPORTER'S CERTIFICATE. 2 3 State of California ) 4 ) ss 5 County of Sacramento ) 6 7 I, JULI PRICE JACKSON, Hearing Reporter for the 8 California State Board of Equalization certify that on 9 MARCH 21, 2012 I recorded verbatim, in shorthand, to the 10 best of my ability, the proceedings in the 11 above-entitled hearing; that I transcribed the shorthand 12 writing into typewriting; and that the preceding pages 1 13 through 11 constitute a complete and accurate 14 transcription of the shorthand writing. 15 16 Dated: May 10, 2012 17 18 ____________________________ 19 JULI PRICE JACKSON 20 Hearing Reporter 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 12