The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) has submitted an invoice for the 2000-01 assessment in the amount of $16,075 (Attachment A). This reflects a dues increase of 2.8 percent per capita approved by the ABAG General Assembly on April 27, 2000. Staff recommends payment of the dues.

The Association of Bay Area Governments is a regional planning agency for the nine counties and nearly 100 member cities in the Bay Area. This organization offers its members either free or discounted technical assistance, such as credit pooling. It also prepares environmental impact reports and general plan elements, as well as detailed information from its regional census center. ABAG prepares special studies of region-wide responsibilities, and serves as the regional review body for Federal grant applications from local governments in the Bay Area. In addition to these standard activities, other benefits of ABAG include:

• ABAG leasing and credit pooling financial services
• The provision of classes/seminars through the "Training Center for Excellence"
• Sponsoring of HAZMACON, a technical training conference for emergency response staff
• Publications on various topics, including census data and projections, earthquake preparedness, economic development, energy, environmental management, hazmat, housing, etc.

General Plan Goal 7.3.C:

Participate in intergovernmental activities, including national, state, and regional groups, in order to represent the City's interest, influence policy and regulations, and enhance awareness.

Council Policy 7.3.12:

Each year the Council will assess the benefit of City membership in the following organizations which have traditionally been identified as providing support and service to local governments:

• National League of Cities
• United States Conference of Mayors
• League of California Cities
• Association of Bay Area Governments

In the past, the City has used ABAG's financial services by participating in a financing pool for the purchase of modular classrooms for child care at several Sunnyvale School District sites. Without the benefits of the ABAG financing pool, the $2.3 million issue would have been impractical to finance.

Since its formation in 1961, ABAG has relied primarily on state and federal funding for its operations. Only one-sixth of it’s budget comes from membership dues. ABAG voluntarily reduced its member dues by 70% following the passage of Proposition 13, recognizing the significant loss of property tax revenue felt by the member cities and counties. After that, dues did not significantly increase until FY 1984-85 when they rose 120%. Per capita dues have increased modestly in the past few years. Sunnyvale's FY 2000-01 dues of $16,075 represents an increase of $574, or 3.7 percent more than last year. This is based on an across-the-board 2.8 percent per capita increase in dues (using the population figures of the California Office of the Controller.)

Council has one member on the General Assembly, the governing body of ABAG. The General Assembly meets twice a year, with meetings held in the Oakland/San Francisco area. Councilmember Miller serves as the City's representative to the ABAG General Assembly and Councilmember Risch serves as the alternate. Councilmember Miller also serves on the ABAG Regional Planning Committee, on the ABAG Executive Committee, and serves as an ABAG alternate on the Regional Airport Planning Committee.

Funds for the 2000-01 dues are included in the 2000-01 Council budget and payment will be made after the beginning of the fiscal year.

Publication in the San Jose Mercury News and posting of the Council Agenda. All reports are available in the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the City of Sunnyvale Internet home page.

Staff recommends Alternative #1.

Prepared by:

Daniel Rich
Assistant to the City Manager

Reviewed by:

Amy Chan
Assistant City Manager

Approved by:

Robert S. LaSala
City Manager