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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06231987 - FC.4 TO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM : FINANCE CONMITTEE Contra DATE! June 15 , 1987 Costa County SUBJECT• UPDATE ON BOARD REFERRALS SPECIFIC REQUESTS) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: At the last Finance Committee, an update was received on all items on referral to the Committee. It is recommended that items 1, 2, 4, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16 be cleared as referrals based upon actions taken since the referrals. A discussion of each referral follows. Item 7 contains recommended action on funding. The other issues should remain on referral. BACKGROUND: 1. Memorandum from CAO transmitting City-County financing proposals. This item was referred to the Finance Committee nearly three years ago because of the County' s proposal to charge the cities for animal services. Since that time, agreement has been reached with the cities three years in a row on animal services charges. In addition, other areas of joint financing of services, such as the CAL-ID program, have been accomplished. It is, therefore, recommended that this item be cleared as a referral to this Committee. 2. Fire Protection District Five-Year Plan Operation and Management Review. This item was referred to the Finance Committee two years ago at the early stages of the development of the five-year plans. Since that time a number of the financing recommendations have been implemented by the Board of Supervisors. The County Administrator and fire district staff are continuing to pursue the implementation of other elements of the financing plan. As you know, the Board of Supervisors has received a number of reports on a continuing basis regarding the implementation of the plan and, over the past few weeks, has been involved with the status of the plan on an almost weekly basis. Accordingly, it is recommended that this item be removed as a referral to the Committee. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT; X YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR i, RECOMMENDATION OF O ITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE s : Supervisor Tom powers , �Chair Supe b oder ACTION OF BOARD ON _JunP 23 , 1987 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER ACCEPTED report and recommendations on items on referral to the Finance Committee. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT I, IV AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES'. NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISOR ON THE DATE SHOWN. County Administrator CC: ATTESTED Finance Committee - ---------- Auditor-Controller PHI BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR M382/7-83 BY ,DEPUTY 3 . Court Workload/Double Shift Concept. It was suggested last year by Supervisor Torlakson that the County look into the concept of working the courts double shift to handle caseloads. This idea was based on an experimental project now going on in Los Angeles County. Despite the opposition of judges, Los Angeles County started a night court this fiscal year in order to deal with heavy caseloads and, hopefully, reduce jail overcrowding. The basic reason for going to night court was that there were not sufficient courtrooms for the number of judges. To do this project, Los Angeles County is spending approximately $4 to $5 million this year and has had to add staff in the courts, District Attorney, Public Defender and indigent defense, Sheriff ' s Department and Probation. Staff has discussed this matter recently with staff of the Los Angeles County Administrator' s Office. Their Board of Supervisors plans to continue the project another year as an experiment. It has not, however, reduced jail overcrowding in Los Angeles County ( is now has 5, 000 more inmates than it had a year ago) and the project does not address the underlying problem, which is the management of cases within the justice system. It merely adds extra trial departments in the courts, with all the extra staff costs in various agencies, without addressing underlying problems within the criminal justice system. The County Justice System Executive Council is currently looking at this matter and is exploring various ways of expediting cases through the system without adding staff . It is recommended that this item be referred to the Budget Committee for consideration. . 4. Proposal for Funding Light Rail Alternative. In connection with a possible analysis of potential traffic corridors which could be identified for a light rail system, negotiations are taking place between county staff and Naval Weapon Station personnel on the closure of Port Chicago Highway. Involved in the negotiation is funding for a transit system analysis which incorporates light rail alternatives in the county. Presently, the only means to fund such an analysis appears to be funds generated by any agreement with the Navy. Since this issue has moved beyond the Committee, it is recommended that it be cleared as a referral. 5. Funding for Study on Staffing Requirements for Detention Facility -- Costs of Operating New Facility. A study has been completed on Detention Staffing in the Contra Costa County jails and is currently under review within the County Administrator' s Office. It is anticipated that this report will be submitted to the Board within the next month. When it is received, we recommend that it be referred to the Budget Committee! 6. Mental Health Contractor Liability Insurance Increases. This referral item resulted from the 1986-87 budget hearings and was referred to the Finance Committee at the request of the Budget Committee. Over the past several months, County staff has been meeting with representatives of the Contractor' s Alliance and the A/DA/MH division to gain a better understanding of the liability insurance problem and explore alternative solutions. The Contractor' s Alliance has recently proposed a three-tiered request for additional County funding consisting of increases for liability insurance, a 3 1/2 percent "cost of doing business" increase and a 3 1/2 percent salary equity adjustment to more closely align contractor salaries with salaries of County employees performing similar duties. This proposal should be referred to the Budget Committee and addressed in the 1987-88 Budget Supplemental Document. Although legislation containing a possibility for relief from the insurance crises is currently under consideration (SB 250) , it does not appear that relief will be available for the immediate future. Because of the complexity of the problem, the potential risk involved and the lack of available funding for insurance and other increases, staff will continue to study alternatives with a goal of arriving at a solution that will be satisfactory for both the County and mental health contractors. 7 . , Funding for Silt Removal/Flood Control District Zone 9. The Army Corps of Engineers has written the Public Works Department, requesting that this project be commenced. The project was requested as part of the 1986-87 budget but sufficient funds were not identified by budget hearing time. Those funds now appear to be available through the Special District Augmentation Fund (non-fire share) . Because this is a much needed project, it is recommended that the $50,000 cost be appropriated this fiscal year from the Special District Augmentation Fund. 8. . East County Fire Protection Districts ' Chief ' s Salaries. 9. Volunteer Fire District Staffing. These two items have been handled on a combined basis since the two are directly related. These two items, in addition to consideration of the need for the provision of additional administrative services to the volunteer districts has been the subject of an extensive study conducted by a team comprised of Harry Cisterman, Personnel Director, and Don Skinner, retired Moraga Fire District Chief . The several elements of the study have been provided to the County Administrator' s Office for review and report to your Committee. The report on these issues will be provided to your Committee at the earliest possible time. However, in view of other current commitments such as the district budgets and increasing activities related to the fire district benefit assessment implementation process, it is estimated that the report will not be available until late June or early July. It will be scheduled for the Finance Committee' s July 20 meeting. 10. Additional Personnel for Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District. This request was for an allocation from the Augmentation Fund to enable the district to hire an additional fire fighter as a backup position to cover vacation and sick leave absences. The County Administrator' s Office and the Chief of the Fire District have agreed upon an arrangement whereby the district will receive an additional $15 ,000 for temporary salaries in the 1987-88 budget which, with the current amount of temporary salaries, -will enable the district to meet , its staffing needs. This arrangement will eliminate the need for the requested new position at an additional cost of $35,000 per year. It is, therefore, recommended that this item be removed as a referral to the Committee. 11. Proposal for a One-Time Developer Fee for Police Services. 16 . JPA with Danville and San Ramon to Create P-District. On June 2, the Board took action to approve the Committees' report on these issues, so they should be cleared as referrals to the Finance Committee. The action directed staff to prepare appropriate language for a ballot measure on November 3, combining a parcel tax measure with an advisory vote on special tax areas for undeveloped land. 12 . Ballot Measure for Infrastructures in Oakley. The ballot measure has taken the form of a Mello-Roos special election. The election is targeted for the spring of 1988 . Discussion is taking place on procedures to establish a petition for the formation of the district in Oakley. Community Development staff are engaged in determining a tax schedule to be collected on the coun- ty' s tax roll. An RFP is being drawn up to designate the special tax and public opinion consultants to be hired for assistance in the district formation proceedings. The district can be formed with a two-thirds approval of the proposed district' s registered voters or if less than 12 such voters; a majority of landowners in the district. Since this issue is proceeding as directed by the full. board; it is recommended to be cleared as a referral to the Committee. 13 . Letter relating to Expenditure of Funds Donated by Shapell. 15 . Shelter Supplement Program. These issues were discussed by the Finance Committee on April 20. No further action was taken by the Committee and none is recommended, so this issue should be cleared as a referral. 14.. ' Allocation of 1987-88 Special District Augmentation Funds for Fire Equipment. This item was referred to the Finance Committee as the result of concerns expressed by Board members about the process for allocating augmentation funds and the amount of funds allocated for fire district equipment. It is proposed that Bob Nyman, the County' s fire district consultant, in conjunction with the County Administrator' s Office, work with the Fire Chiefs' Capital Improvement Committee to develop suggested changes and improvements in the equipment allocation review process for the consideration of your Committee. A recommendation for a revised process will be placed on the Finance Committee agenda of August 17, 1987. 17 . Report from Public Works Director on Fee Schedule. The Public Works Department has completed their review on this item. It is felt that for revenue generation, this has less priority than establishing Areas of Benefit and pursuit of Federal/State grant applications. Therefore the report is still at a stage of discussion among Public Works staff. A report will be completed for scheduling of the Committee in August. 18 . Establishment of a Partnership to Review Parking Needs. This matter is being handled by the Transportation Planning Division of Community Development. It involves preparation of a joint report by the City of Martinez, the County, and the Community College District. A consultant has been retained to do the study which will suggest ways to alleviate the shortage of parking the downtown area. It will be completed in several months. The report will be brought back to the Committee at that time. 19 . Study of Duplicate Emergency Response Program. This issue is scheduled for discussion on June 15 and should remain as a referral, pending receipt of a report from the E.M.C.C. 20. Report from Personnel Director on Standards for Child Care. Several Personnel staff members are involved in this project. It is expected that the Personnel Department will have completed its report to the Finance Committee by the August 1 deadline. 21. Inspection Fees for Child Care Centers. On May 19, 1987 , the Board of Supervisors approved revised fees schedules for Contra Costa County and Riverview Fire Protection Districts with certain modifications regarding inspection fees for child care centers. Inspection fees for certain categories of child care centers and private schools were reduced but certain other fees for these categories were increased as a result of the Board' s adjustment to the proposed fee increases. Although Riverview Fire believed the proposed fees more accurately reflect actual costs, the Board imposed rates are acceptable to the District since the adjusted fees represent minor offsetting increases and decreases. However, Contra Costa County Fire believed the fee increases proposed for these categories of facilities are justified and presented evidence to support the requested rates at the June 15, 1987 meeting of the Finance Committee. A revised recommendation is included in another committee report. 22. Fire District Issues. This item has to do with questions regarding the Special District Augmentation Funds allocated to Contra Costa .County and Riverview Fire Protection Districts for equipment. On June 2, 1987, there was discussion by members of the Board as to how the $1. 6 million should be used. It was suggested that some or all of the money be used for additional fire fighters for Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. The Firefighters ' Union has suggested that the equipment items approved for Contra Costa County Fire this year are not needed. The Finance Committee considered this issue on June 15 and issued a strong recommendation to proceed with the allocation of funds. This recommendation is contained in another Committee report on today' s Board agenda.