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CC - Item 7A - Request for a Voluntary Assessment by the Los Angeles Division of the League of California CitiesROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: JEFF ALLRED, CITY MANAGER DATE: JUNE 26, 2012 SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR VOLUNTARY ASSESSMENT BY LOS ANGELES DIVISION OF THE L EAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES SUMMARY The City Council will consider a request by the League of California Cities for a voluntary assessment of $500 to fund water policy consulting services to assist the municipal representative on the Regional Water Quality Control Board. Staff Recommendation: That the City Council provide direction. BACKGROUND /ANALYSIS The current nine - member Regional Water Quality Control Board includes a "municipal seat' reserved for a local elected official. Due to the complexity of the issues considered by the Regional Water Quality Control Board, the League of California Cities Los Angeles Division has funded a part-time consultant position to provide assistance to the municipal seat on the Regional Water Quality Control Board. This water consulting position has been funded by the L.A. Division of the League since 2007. Due to budget constraints, the L.A. Division of the League has determined that it can no longer afford to fund the water consultant position. Therefore, the L.A. Division is requesting that member cities approve a $500 voluntary assessment to in order to continue to provide the existing water consulting services. The attached two -page letter from the L.A. Division of the League provides details on the need for the requested voluntary assessment as well as the scope of services and benefits of the consultant position. Attachment MNO. -2.b� �.. Los Aiigreles County Division Longue of C:Jifnrnia Cities ll - n n June 14, 2012 TO: Los Angeles County Division City Officials FROM: Los Angeles Division, League of California Cities Board of Directors SUBJECT: Los Angeles County Division Voluntary Dues Assessment As part of its regular dues collection for FY 2012, the Los Angeles Division, at the direction of its Board of Directors and membership, is issuing a voluntary assessment of $500 to fund water policy consulting services. Background: The Regional Water Quality Control Board consists of nine members appointed by the Governor. The nine seats on the Board are divided into various categories of expertise, including a seat reserved for a local mayor or city council member. The municipal seat has been filled by the City of Monrovia's Mayor /Council Member Mary Ann Lutz since 2007. In the fall of 2007, the Los Angeles Division of the League of California Cities Board of Directors approved a request to provide budgetary support for a consultant to assist Ms. Lutz in the review of increasingly complex permits and regulations governing water quality. After interviewing several candidates, Wynesta Dale of Science, Synergy and Solutions was selected, and served as the Division's technical consultant through December 2011. For Ms. Dale's services the Division had budgeted an annual amount of $30,000. In fall of 2011 the Los Angeles Division's Board of Directors resolved that, due to budgetary constraints, they could no longer fund the water consultant position. At the Division's May 3, 2012 Business Meeting, Division Members approved a voluntary assessment of $500 to be issued to all Los Angeles and Ventura County cities with the aim of re- funding these services. Benefits of the Consultant The following is a brief listing of the type of benefits that have accrued to cities and municipalities as a result of consultant support to the municipal appointee: 1. Additional studies requested by Board staff but not required by regulation have been eliminated or at least delayed; 2. Additional monitoring requested by Board staff but not required by regulation has been eliminated or at least delayed until studies are conducted to verify the need for the monitoring; 3. Calculation procedures have been modified to incorporate federal methodologies which are less stringent; and 4. Differences between the monitoring requirements for industry and municipalities have been highlighted for the Board staff. Each of these actions results in a reduction in the cost to cities and municipalities of implementing water quality regulations. When studies are delayed, the cities and municipalities can use the time to better define the scope of the study and eliminate redundant or unnecessary aspects, thus reducing the overall cost of the study. When monitoring is delayed, the cities and municipalities can use the time to evaluate the available data and potentially determine the source of constituents so that money is not spent monitoring for constituents for which they are not responsible, again reducing their overall costs. Contract Summary for Water Policy Consulting, Los Angeles County Division • Contract executed between the League of California Cities and Science, Synergy & Solutions. • Contract is for the remainder of the 2012 calendar year, commencing July 1, 2012 — funds permitting. • Either party can cancel contract with 30 days notice. i • Funds permitting, contract amount is $15,000 for a period of six months, to be paid in monthly installments. I • If, the contract is terminated or not renewed, unused funds will be divided and refunded to participating cities. FULL SCOPE OF SERVICES A. Stay abreast of actions taken by the State Water Resources Board and the US Environmental Protection Agency; I ' B. Evaluate the evidence in the Regional Board's record but avoid furnishing, augmenting, diminishing, or modifying the evidence in the Regional Board's recl rd; C. Analyze and review the monthly board agendas, prepare written assessment of the information, and meet with the Municipal Board Member to verbally communicate the assessment; and D. Act as a confidential assistant to the Municipal Board Member for purposes of this Agreement and not divulge the substance of communications between the Consultant and Board Member unless authorized by Board Member or unless compelled to do so by an administrative tribunal or a court; E. Attend Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board meetings when requested by the Municipal Board Member; F. Provide the Municipal Board Member not only with background information and understanding, but also with alternative possible directions for addressing the impacts on those affected. G. For adjudicative proceedings before the Regional Boal d, abide by requirements of the California Government and act as an assistant consistent with Government Code section 11430.30, subdivision (a), to prevent ex parte communications (i.e., a communication about a pending adjudicative matter before the Regional Board with persons interested in the matter) and to avoid serving as a conduit for an ex parte communications to Board Member; Requested Action The Los Angeles Division respectfully requests your city contribute $500 to support the above outlined services. This is a voluntary assessment of all cities covered by the municipal representative to the Los Angeles Regional Water Control Board. All collected funds will be applied to funding a contract with attached Scope of Services. If insufficient funds are collected to initiate the contract, any contributed funds will be refunded to participating cities. For additional information, please contact Robb Korinke, Executive Director at robbCaDlacities.org or 562.912.3483.