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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 11152005 - C38 TO: 3 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM: John Sweeten, County Administrator Costa A� DATE: November 15, 2005 �. = jqi ucovesCo nt SUBJECT. Proposed Bay Area Counties Coalition y SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS,: 1. AGREE that Contra Costa County will not pursue the creation of a Bay Area Counties Coalition at this time. 2. AUTHORIZE the Chair, Board of Supervisors, to execute a letter to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors communicating this position BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION On October 26, 2005 Liz Kniss, Chair, Board of Supervisors, Santa Clara County, sent a letter to Supervisor Gayle Uilkema, Chair, Board of Supervisors, Contra Costa County, and John Sweeten, County Administrator, asking the County if it would be interested in the creation of a Bay Area Counties Coalition (letter attached). The proposed coalition would advocate on regional issues with both the State Legislature and Administration. According to the letter, the coalition is envisioned to have one full-time staff member whose office would be located in the Bay Area. Dues would be estimated at between $12,500 and $30,000 per year, assessed on aper-capita basis. The inquiry from Santa Clara County indicates a desire to create a structure, but does not address what issues would be of common interest among the Bay Area counties. A better approach may be to agree that when there are issues of common interest, then the Bay Area counties should poll one another and create coalitions behind that particular issue. The issue could then be represented before the Legislature or Administration by one of the counties' existing state representatives, either augmented by financial contributions from the interested counties or within the scope of existing duties. Alternately, a separate contract for representation could be executed for that issue. Contra Costa County's legislative program is currently very modest. Staff believes that any additional financial resources for lobbying would be best devoted to the County's own legislative agenda, rather than a coalition effort over which we would have little control. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - --- - - --------------------- 400�COMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COM EE &-P"0VE OTHER SIGNATURE(S). � -------------------------------------------------------- -- ACTION OF B RD N I``1 5� APPROVE ARECOMMENDED OTHER ~~ Seeo� aoc(c" a&&PZLL" VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN UNANIMOUS(ABSENT-LhP9:::L ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE AYES: NOES: SHOWN. ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTED CONTACT: Sara Hoffman 335-1090 JOHN SWEETEN,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CC: Alk BY ,DEPUTY ADDENDUM TO ITEM C.38 November 15, 2005 C.38 was REMOVED from the Consent Calendar for Short Discussion by Supervisor DeSaulnier. Supervisor DeSaulnier noted that he would prefer to send a letter to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in support of further discussion of the creation of a Bay Area Counties Coalition,,rather than sending a letter to indicate that Contra Costa will not pursue the creation of such a committee. Supervisor Gioia said that he would support the development of a voice for Bay Area counties, both urban and suburban. Supervisor Uilkema said she would not want to leap into a commitment that would create a staffing obligation. Supervisor Glover suggested Sara Hoffinan, Assistant County Administrator, could work on pursuing this topic concurrent to the November 2005 CSAC Conference. Supervisor DeSaulnier made a motion that was seconded by Supervisor Uilkema. By unanimous vote with none absent,the Board of Supervisors took the following action: AUTHORIZED the Chair, Board of Supervisors to send a letter to the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors indicating Contra Costa's interest in finding a forum to discuss a Bay Area Counties Coalition,noting the potential for a meeting to further discuss this issue that could be arranged concurrent to the CSAC meeting at the end of November, 2005; and DIRECTED staff to bring future items of this nature to the Board as Short Discussion items rather than listing them on the Consent Calendar.. 10/27/05 09:39 FAX 4082951613 IRG-CEO ADMIN 10002 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ��5�-�`��v' COUNTY OF SANTA CL,ARA 46 L12 KNISS, CHAIR 1�7',�,,-;•.��'" �' FIFTH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR October 26,2005 John Sweeten County Administrative Officer, County of Contra Costa 651 Pine Street Martinez, CA 94553 Dear Imo. Sweeten: the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors is considering the creation of a Bay Area Counties Coalition I am writing today to assess your county's interest in such an organization. The California State Association of Counties (CSAQ acts on behalf of such a wide array of interests that occasionally the issues of greatest importance to the Bay Area are not fully represented. The Bay Area Counties Coalition would advocate on regional issues with both the Legislature and Administration. Once established,members would evaluate the issues that would most benefit U'rorn coordinated efforts and develop the Coal'tion's advocacy agenda. t The Coalition is envisioned to have one full-time staff member whose office would be located here in the Bay Area. To sustain the organization, dues are estimated to be between$12,500 to 530,000 annually, depending on the number of staff and location. It has been proposed that dues be assessed on aper capita basis. Please let us know if your county would be interested in participating in this proposed Coalition. In order to report back to our Board,we respectfully request your response by Wednesday,November 2"d. please direct your correspondence to CSO staff member,Katie Brown, at Katie.brown@ceo.scc_Rov.=or by fax at 408/295-1613. You may also contact Katie with any additional questions at 4081299,m5132. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, • Liz Yo-Liss Chairperson, hoard of Supervisors c: Chair,Board of Supcivisors COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER 70 WiSY HeDDiN6 STREET.SAN Jos a,CALIFORNIA 95110 TleL(409)299-5050 oR(630)865-6737 a FAX:(409)290-0418 TDD 993-8272 The Board of Supervisors Contra John Sweeten County Administration Building �0�� Clerk of the Board 651 Pine Street,Room 106 and Martinez,California 94553-1293County County administrator John Gioia,l st District Bayle B.Uilkema,2nd District Mary N.Piepho,3rd District Mark DeSaulnier,4th District Federal D.Glover,5th District November 15,2005 Liz Kniss,Chair Board of Supervisors County of Santa.Clara. 70 West Hedding St. J San Jose,CA 95110 De on Ss: ' Thank you for your letter concerning the cre, on of a Bay Area Counties Coalition.At this point in time, Contra Costa County would.-not be interested in pursuing creation of such an organization.However,we would be interested in working collaboratively and cooperatively with Santa.Clara.County and other counties on specific issues as they arise. A targeted focus of this type would be consistent with,#ie County's need to maximize its resources,given its current financial constraints. .P r Thank you for thinking of Contra Costa County,and we look forward to working with you in the future. �r Sincerely, r *--*U/ ;r ayle B. a a, Chair Board of Srrvisors cc: Boa d of Supervisors Members J Sweeten, County Administrator