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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 02231988 - 1.56 T6: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: Phil Batchelor Contra County Administrator CoWICI DATE*. February 17 , 1988 @ CO^ SUBJECT: Proposed Blue Ribbon Commission on. the . County-State. Government Relationship SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1 . Endorse the concept of a Blue Ribbon Commission on the County-State Governnment relationship as proposed by Senator Jim Nielsen and indicate the Board' s endorsement to Governor Deukmejian. 2 . Suggest to Governor Deukmejian and Senator Nielsen the need to expand the proposed membership of the Commission by adding County representatives ' from the health care and social services area. - BACKGROUND: The Chairman has received a letter from Senator Jim Nielsen (attached) enclosing a letter to the Governor proposing the formation of a Blue Ribbon Commission on the County-State Government Relationship. Senator. Nielsen suggests that the mandate to such a Commission include the following: 1 . evaluating State fiscal efforts for county government since Proposition 13 ; 2 . evaluating State efforts to reduce state-mandated programs and recommending new approaches if needed; 3 . identifying programs which should be run solely by the state, solely by counties, or jointly by both; 4. identifying key differences between rural and urban county government operations and recommending ways to deal with each; and 5. reporting back to the Governor, by the fall of this year, on a comprehensive approach to resolve the county-state relationship. CONTINUED ON .ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE , APPROVE OTHER NAT 51G URE S ACTION OF BOARD ON _ e ruary . A,'PROVED AS RECCMME7:DED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS (ABSENT �1i� AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. CC: Listed on Page 2 ATTESTED ,___ FEB 23 1988 - .-.--,-..---- PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY ,DEPUTY ► 382/7-83 — Page 2 Senator Nielsen emphasizes that he does not want such a Commission to simply study the problem, but to actively seek solutions to problems in the county-state government relationship. Senator Nielsen suggests including County Supervisors, District Attorneys, Sheriffs and Judges, as well as State representatives, representatives of the business community and citizens. While Senator Nielsen does not limit membership to these county officers, we believe it is essential to include representatives from the two largest program areas that are involved in the state-county relationship: health care and social services. We appreciate Senator Nielsen' s efforts to bring together representatives of the state and counties to arrive at a definition of the problems confronting counties in their relationship with the State, and to propose concrete solutions to these problems. We believe it is appropriate for the Board of Supervisors to endorse this proposal to the Governor - and to indicate Contra Costa County' s willingness to cooperate in any way possible in the work of the Commission. cc: County Administrator District Attorney Sheriff-Coroner Presiding Judge, Superior Court Chairman, Municipal Court Judges Assoc. Health Services Director Social Services Director Larry Naake, Exec. Director, CSAC Senator Jim Nielsen Governor George Deukmejian PLEASE PEPLV TO COMMITTEES: AGRICULTURE AND WATER SACAAMENl O ADDRESS LRESOURCES J STATE CAPITOL 9'1814 Ca1 rornis 6`a`e Gena`e BUDGET AND FISCAL REVIEW 19161 445-3353 NATURAL RESOURCES AND _ DIc7RCT OFFICE ADDRESS: WILDLIFE 1074 EAST AVENUE ,® SE Irr TOXICS AND PUBLIC 5U ITE N SAFETY MANAGEMENT CHICO C4 95926 - (916)343-3546 '�� c ,j SENATE RURAL CAUCUS 9) - ^� VICE CHAIRMAN r 1700 SECOND STREET STATE ALLOCATION BOARD Li SUITE 315 NAPA.CA 94559 SELECT COMMITTEES: (707)253-7212 0 CALIFORNIA'S WINE INDUSTRY �I 50 SANTA ROSA AVENUE FOREST AND RANGE LAND 5U1JIM NIELSEN ISSUES.CHAIRMAN SANTA ROSASA.CA CA 95404 (707)523-1502 PACIFIC RIM Senator PLANNING FOR CALIFORNIA'S 2400 WASHINGTON AVE. GROWTH L.J SUITE 120 Fourth District SIERRA CASCADE REDDWG. Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Napa. Shasta and KLAMATH WATERSHED (916)225-5-2201201 p Tehama Counties and a portion of Sonoma County STATE PROCUREMENT AND EXPENDITURE PRACTICES January 27, 1988 TO: Chairman, County Board of Supervisors FROM: Senator . Jim Nielsen RE: Blue Ribbon Commission on the County-State Government Relationship Earlier this month, I recommended that Governor Deukmejian appoint a Blue Ribbon Commission on the County-State Government Relationship. For your review, I have enclosed a copy of my letter and press release which outline the reasons behind the -proposal . I am requesting that your Board take a position in support of this proposal and communicate this to the Governor. Your direct support will go far in convincing the Governor's Office of the need for such. a commission. I would appreciate receiving copies of your correspondence to the Governor on this issue. Please don't hesitate to contact my office if you have any questions or need additional information. Thank you. RECEIVED JAN 29 1988 SUPERVISOR SCHRODER COMMITTEES: °F a Iiforn1'a Otate *enate A RESOURCES AND WATER -'pP.TC1i- 958_1 BUDGET AND FISCA_REVIEW o LG°- s NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE _ IL-4 EASE AdENL'E _ Jam"- �� TOXICS AND PU BLIC 5UITE N - �,• I ,•. SAFE`.Y MANAGEMENT -.. .JG .p 95926 7. �t6 X43 3546 SENATE RURAL CAUCUS V<CE C-tAIRMAN ;C)%; STREE' Q STATE ALLOCATION BOARC _ SL:7L 3 5 .• ',LCA CA :4°59 SELECT COMMITTEES 2" "7 FOREST AND RANGE LAND _-- S',SA':?-R<� A AVrNU�_ JIM NIELSEN ISSUES CHAIRMAN SJ TE30c PLANNING FOR CALIFORNIA"S A 95404 Senator GROWTH _:22.'502 SACRAMENTO VALLEY FLOODS 2-.'G '.A5.11•.'C_�N Ay'E - Fourth District SIERRA CASCADE Butte. Colusa. Glenn, Lake, Napa. Shasta and KLAMATH WATERSHED A 9600 9'E a�- __c Tehama Counties and a portion of Sonoma Caunt� STATE PROCUREMENT AND EXPENDITURE PRACTICES January 15 , 1988 Honorable George Deukmejian Governor of California State Capitol Sacramento, California Dear George: Your administration has taken a number of positive steps to help California' s counties during your five years in office. Indeed, the establishment of the Commission on State Mandates, the creation of the Rural Renaissance Program, and the signing into law of numerous local government measures , including "Stabilization" and Trial Court Funding, are but a few of your efforts at assisting counties. However, in spite of these and other efforts , there are still fundamental problems facing counties . In recent years, we have needed to enact a number of "distressed counties" measures, the burdens of state-mandated programs have increased, and county government has basically become an agency of the state with little real local authority, particularly on fiscal matters . I would like to suggest an approach to this problem similar to the successful manner we have used in recent years to deal with concerns about our educational systems. The legislative creation of the Commission for the Review of the Master Plan for Higher Education and more recently, your California Commission on Educational Quality are good examples of how we can best address the fundamental problems in the county-state government relationship. Honorable George Deukmejian_ January 15, 1988 Page 2 Specifically, I am requesting that you appoint a Blue Ribbon Commission on the County-State Government Relationship. Yesterday, I kicked this idea around with a number of County Supervisors from my district and it was greeted with much interest and enthusiasm. The goals of this commission should include, but__.not—be-- limited t_o: 1) evaluating state fisca-1-effot--f-s for county government since Proposition 13; 2) evaluating state efforts to reduce state-mandated programs and recommending new approaches if needed; 3) identifying programs which should be run solely by the state, solely by counties , or jointly by both; 4) identifying key differences between rural and urban county government operations and recommending ways to deal with each; and 5) reporting back to the Governor, by the fall of this year, ona comprehensive approach to resolve the county-state relationship.----------------- % --- The membership of this commission should include, but not be limited to: County Supervisors; County District Attorneys; County Sheriffs; County Judges ; representatives of state agencies such as Health & Welfare, Youth & Adult Corrections, Department of Finance, Treasurer' s Office and Controller' s Office; representatives of the business community; and average citizens. Members should be selected so that the commission contains representation from rural and urban areas of the state. In past years , there have been other groups which have looked at local government operations, most notably the Local Government Reform Task Force (convened by then-Governor Ronald Reagan in 1973) and the Commission on Government Reform (convened by then-Governor Jerry Brown in 1978) . Many valuable conclusions and recommendations were brought forth by . both groups. I am proposing, however, that a new commission narrow its focus to specifically look at the county-state government relationship, which is indeed unique and distinctive. Let me assure you though, I do not want this commission to simply study the problem. I envision this commission actively seeking solutions to, not questions about, problems in the county-state government relationship. Additionally, I do not want this commission to simply recommend throwing more money at the problem. That would obviously be unrealistic and counter-productive. Rather, I envision this commission pursuing the goals of increasing authority, control and efficiency at the local level. This correctly parallels states ' efforts at strengthening their position in the state-federal government relationship. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - CONTACT: Jim Rjol sth January 15, 1988 (916) 445-3353 NIELSEN MEETS WITH COUNTY SUPERVISORS; �� ¢• ASKS GOVERNOR TO APPOINT A STATE/LOCAL GOV T CONXISSION Sacramento -- State Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Rohnert Park) STATE CAPITOL convened a meeting of county supervisors from his district R—rn :056 Sairamenw.CA 95813 Thursday and after a wide-ranging discussion about continuing (916.-W-3353 county fiscal problems, today sent a letter to Governor George CHICO Deukmejian, asking him to appoint a Blue Ribbon Commission on 1073 Ea-s' Avc,Suite N Chio-CA 45926 the County-State Government Relationship. M6,343.15-46 ". . .There are still fundamental problems facing counties," NAPANielsen .wrote. ". . .I would like to suggest 17(10 Second St. an approach to this Suite 315 Napa,CA 93559 problem similar to the successful manner we have used in recent ,071253-7212 . years to deal with concerns about our educational systems. REDDING The. . .Commission for the Review of the Master Plan for Higher 3(0)N-hinglnn Ave. Suite )20 Education and more recently, your California Commission on Redding.CA 96001 191f,1225-220I Educational Quality are good examples of how we can best S.ANTAROSA address the fundamental problems in the county-state government SOSarna -"05 Aye. Suile 30relationship." Sa nia R,,.5?3-3-1502 95304 70'i 5Nielsen introduced his idea at the meeting with i . 1 supervisors and received a favorable response. He included suggested goals and membership for the commission in his letter and urged the appointed group to look closely at increasing authority, control and efficiency at the local level. The Representing North state lawmaker envisions a report to the Governor on a BUTTE comprehensive approach to resolve the county-state government COLUSA relationship by the fall of this year. GLENN "We made. some progress last year, and as a result, I don't LAKE see much interest in local government finance this year," NAPA Nielsen said. "This is not a commission to study county fiscal SHASTA problems to death. It is a way to bring the focus of the SONOMA Legislature and the Governor back to local government. By TEHAMA asking the Governor to appoint the commission, we can Counties accomplish more in a shorter period of time. Frankly, it's also my hope that this approach will help get the Governor's support for the commission's recommendations." Nielsen plans to meet with the Governor soon to further discuss his request. 4;`#4k#### Attachment