February 10, 2004

SUBJECT: Ratification of Council IGR Appointments

REPORT IN BRIEF

Traditionally, in January of each year, the City Council fills a number of positions for intergovernmental (IGR) committee assignments. Periodically during the year, Councilmembers receive additional committee appointments. After the January 13, 2004 RTC on IGR assignments, Mayor John Howe was appointed to the Recycling & Waste Reduction Commission of Santa Clara County and  Councilmember Julia Miller was appointed to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Administrative Committee, the National League of Cities (NLC) Human Development Policy & Advocacy Committee, and the NLC Human Development Steering Committee. Because these intergovernmental appointments were made by outside agencies, Council must ratify them. Attachment A is an updated list of the Council IGR assignments, which includes Mayor Howe's and Councilmember Miller’s new appointments.

BACKGROUND

The City Council annually appoints members to a variety of intergovernmental agencies in order to represent the City's interests and to influence policies and regulations of other agencies. There are some intergovernmental agencies on which Councilmembers serve, but are appointed by other agencies (i.e. National League of Cities' Policy and Steering Committees.) Council must ratify these appointments. 

EXISTING POLICY

GOAL 7.3C: 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.

Policy 7.3C.1 Represent adopted City policy in intergovernmental activities.

Legislative Policy 7.3.15 – City Council Assignments

DISCUSSION

Since Council's approval of IGR Assignments on January 13, 2004, the Santa Clara County Cities Selection Committee appointed Mayor Howe to serve on the Recycling & Waste Reduction Commission of Santa Clara County as the  SMaRT Station Cities Representative.  The Commission serves as the principal advisory body to city and town councils and the Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara County on countywide solid waste planning issues. 

Also since the January approval of IGR Assignments, Councilmember Miller has been newly appointed to the ABAG Administrative Committee.  ABAG is the official comprehensive planning agency for the San Francisco Bay Area whose mission is to strengthen cooperation and coordination among local governments.  Councilmember Miller's appointment to ABAG's Administrative Committee was by virtue of her recently being elected as Chair of the ABAG Finance & Personnel Committee.  The Administrative Committee meets on an "on-call" basis in the absence of the Executive Board.

Councilmember Miller has also been re-appointed to the NLC Human Development Policy & Advocacy Committee and the NLC Human Development Steering Committee. The NLC is the oldest and largest national organization representing municipal governments throughout the country. Its mission is to strengthen and promote cities as centers of opportunity, leadership, and governance.  The Human Development Policy & Advocacy Committee and the Human Development Steering Committee help the NLC shape policy on employment and job training, immigration and refugees, health and education, equal opportunity, and social security, among other issues. 

By City policy, Council is required to review and ratify all appointments that are made by outside agencies. In reviewing the new appointments, Council should consider the City's overall intergovernmental priorities and the particular interests and backgrounds of individual Councilmembers. Council ratifies appointments by other agencies only when first made if they have set terms, and annually if they do not have set terms.

FISCAL IMPACT

There is no fiscal impact for this report.

PUBLIC CONTACT

Public contact was made through posting of the Council agenda on the City's official notice bulletin board, posting of the agenda and report on the City's web page, publication of the Council agenda in the San Jose Mercury News, and the availability of the report in the Library and the City Clerk's Office. 

ALTERNATIVES

1. Council ratify Mayor Howe's appointment to the Recycling & Waste Reduction Commission of Santa Clara County, Councilmember Miller's appointment to the ABAG Administrative Committee, and Councilmember Miller's re-appointments to the NLC Human Development Policy & Advocacy Committee, and the NLC Human Development Steering Committee.

2. Council ratifies one or more but not all appointments.

3. Council takes no action at this time.

4. Other action as directed by Council.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends alternative 1.

Prepared by:

Coryn Campbell
IGR Manager

Reviewed by:

Amy Chan
Acting City Manager

Attachments

A. 2004 Council IGR Committee Assignments