May 4, 2004

SUBJECT: Ratification of Council Intergovernmental Committee Appointments

In January of each year, City Council fills a number of positions for intergovernmental assignments. Throughout the year, Councilmembers may be appointed to additional intergovernmental assignment positions. On April 8, 2004, the Santa Clara County Cities Selection Committee appointed Mayor John Howe to the Santa Clara County LAFCO (Attachment A). Mayor Howe had previously served as the LAFCO Alternate. Also on April 8, 2004, the Cities Selection Committee re-appointed Councilmember Julia Miller to the Executive Board of the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) (Attachment B). Also included in this report are staff support designations for each of these new committee appointments. Attachment C is a list of the 2004 IGR assignments, including these new assignments.

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. Specific intergovernmental appointments are sometimes made by other agencies. Council ratifies these appointments. Santa Clara County LAFCO and the SCCCA Executive Board are examples of such appointments.

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

LAFCO
The Santa Clara County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) is a state mandated local agency set up to oversee the boundaries of cities and special districts. The key goals of LAFCO are:

• To encourage orderly formation of local agencies
• To discourage urban sprawl
• To preserve agricultural and open space resources

LAFCO considers the effect that any development proposal will produce on existing agricultural lands. By guiding development toward vacant urban land and away from agricultural preserves, LAFCO assists with the preservation of valuable agricultural resources.

Staff support to Mayor Howe for this appointment will be provided by Fred Bell, Principal Planner, Community Development Department.

ABAG
The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) is the official comprehensive planning agency for the San Francisco Bay region. ABAG's mission is to strengthen cooperation and coordination among local governments. In doing so, ABAG addresses social, environmental, and economic issues that transcend local borders. The 38-member Executive Board, assembling locally elected officials based on regional population, meets bimonthly to make operating decisions, appoint committee members, authorize expenditures, and recommend policy.

Staff support to Councilmember Miller for this appointment will be provided by Coryn Campbell, Intergovernmental Relations Manager, Office of the City Manager.

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 the individual Councilmember. Council ratifies appointments by other agencies only when first made if they have set terms, but annually if they do not have set terms.

There is no fiscal impact to this report.

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.

1. Council ratifies both Mayor Howe's and Councilmember Miller's IGR appointments.
2. Council ratifies either Mayor Howe's or Councilmember Miller's IGR appointment, but not both.
3. Council does not ratify either appointment.
4. Council takes no action at this time.
5. Other action as directed by Council

Staff recommends Alternative 1.

Prepared by:
Coryn Campbell
Manager, Intergovernmental Relations

Approved by:
Amy Chan
City Manager

1. Email from Gillian Moran, Executive Director of the SCCCA, regarding Mayor Howe's LAFCO appointment

2. Email from Gillian Moran, Executive Director of the SCCCA, regarding Councilmember Miller's ABAG Executive Board appointment

3. 2004 Sunnyvale Council IGR Assignments