FROM: James D. Herberg, General Manager
Originator: Kelly A. Lore, Clerk of the Board
SUBJECT:
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LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
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GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
A. Approve the sunsetting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee, and move the consideration of legislative and public affairs matters to the Steering Committee; and
B. Adopt Resolution No. OC SAN 22-37 entitled, “A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Orange County Sanitation District establishing Rules of the Procedure for the Conduct of Business of the Orange County Sanitation District; and repealing Resolution No. OC SAN 21-04”.
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BACKGROUND
The Legislative and Public Affairs Committee (LaPA) began in September 2013 as a Special Committee. In January 2015, Board leadership directed staff to establish LaPA as a Standing Committee. The Committee meets seven times per year to provide updates and make recommendations on matters related to the legislative and public affairs programs of the Orange County Sanitation District (OC San).
Significant progress has been made in the legislative and public affairs programs and the programs are sustainable by staff under the direction of the Public Affairs Strategic Plan and the Legislative Platform approved each year by the Board of Directors.
Prior to becoming a Standing Committee, legislative and public affairs items were brought to the Steering Committee for consideration.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
• Ensure the public’s money is wisely spent
• Maintain a culture of improving efficiency to reduce the cost to provide the current service level or standard
• Maintain influential legislative advocacy and a public outreach program
PROBLEM
At the direction of the Board Chairman, the General Manager requested reevaluation of the cost and effectiveness of the Committee. A review of the past year shows that the LaPA Committee met seven times. Monthly reports from Federal and State lobbyists, as well as Public Affairs Outreach and other reports, were heard by the Committee and recommended to the Board to be received and filed. One item was brought to the Committee for action, and there were three information items provided. Five months were scheduled dark.
As mentioned, the programs are currently self-sustaining under the direction of the Board, through the adoption of the Public Affairs Strategic Plan and Legislative Platform.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Sunset the LaPA Committee and return this area of purview to the Steering Committee’s authority, provide a monthly update to the Steering Committee, and possibly extend the current meeting time for Steering Committee meetings to allow the additional time for consideration of legislative and public affairs matters.
(All costs associated with holding a separate LaPA Committee meeting, estimated at $5,225 per month, are eliminated and absorbed into the Steering Committee.)
Staff will continue to keep the Board informed of legislative and public affairs activities by moving the items to the Board for approval or as receive and file. This solution requires that the Board of Directors Rules of Procedure Resolution be modified. The proposed Resolution is attached.
TIMING CONCERNS
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RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
N/A
PRIOR COMMITTEE/BOARD ACTIONS
February 2021 - Adopted Resolution No. OC SAN 21-04 entitled, “A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Orange County Sanitation District establishing Rules of the Procedure for the Conduct of Business of the Orange County Sanitation District; and repealing Resolution No. OC SAN 21-01”.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
This request complies with authority levels of OC San’s Purchasing Ordinance. This item has been budgeted. The annual cost savings would be approximately $36,575.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s) may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov) with the complete agenda package:
• Resolution No. OC SAN 22-37 - Redline
• Resolution No. OC SAN 22-37 - Clean