FALL 2017 CCSDA Newsletter - California Special Districts Association
Contra Costa Special Districts Association Email Newsletter Contra Costa Chapter of the California Special Districts Association
EARLY FALL 2017
SEPTEMBER 2017 th
The October 16 Meeting will be about Property Tax Allocation (Prop. 13 - 1% Ad Valorem Tax) and its effects on districts’ ability to provide adequate services
was a general assessment requiring a 2/3 vote (and not a legitimate "special benefit" assessment - which only requires a >50% vote). The District eventually had to settle with the claimants - and terminate the assessment. Many ideas presented to help fix the funding shortfalls have included property tax reallocation, creating Community Facility Districts (CFD) (Only available for NEW housing/business developments).
Why is CCSDA doing this? This issue affects all special districts, not just ECCFPD A potential reallocation (of any type) affects all special districts CCSDA is acting to facilitate an open discussion of this issue. Meeting Goals Education – on this topic Open Discussion A Comprehensive Report of Meeting – to be distributed sometime post-meeting. Please join us for an exclusive look at Property Tax Allocation / Reallocation. Unfortunately Robert R. Campbell Contra Costa County Auditor - Controller will not be able provide an overview of property tax allocation. He will be traveling and away from the area. We have lined up California Special Districts Association Legislative Analyst Christina Lokke to speak; she will provide an overview for us. A potential reallocation (of any type) affects all special districts The program planned will also include information about the East Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) funding shortfalls. ECCFPD has had funding problems for years, some if these might be Prop. 13 allocation related, When the district was formed no one envisioned it becoming as large as it is.
Brian Helmick (Interim Fire Chief – ECCFPD) will be able to provide more information and update us on what they need to do to increase funding. Bob Mankin – he is a Discovery Bay resident and longtime advocate for the Fire District. He is well-versed on the issues, well-acquainted with the Fire Chief, and would essentially speak against re-allocation, as he believes it is not a feasible solution. Re-allocation of Property Tax where do we go now, will have ideas and thoughts expressed by east county voters, scheduled to participate are Hal Brey (East County Voters) & Diane Burgis (District 3 – County Supervisor).
IF YOU WILL BE ATTENDING THE OCTOBER MEETING PLEASE SEND THE NAME OF YOUR SPECIAL DISTRICT AND THE NAMES OF THE REPRESENTATIVE(S) ATTENDING THIS MEETING NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 9, 2017 To: Suzette Crayton, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Email: [email protected] Phone: (925) 229-7300, Fax: (925) 372-0192
ECCFPD tried to pass a Benefit Assessment tax in 2014. The Benefit tax DID PASS (>50%) - BUT, a group of resident challenged it in court (filed suit) claiming it was an unconstitutional assessment - as it Newsletter 1
Park District & County Reach Agreement The Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District, Contra Costa County, and the City of Pleasant Hill are pleased to announce that County-owned land in the City can now potentially be used for park and recreation uses and a new City library. This has been made possible because the District and the County have reached an agreement that will provide land for these potential new uses.
The City and the County can now move forward on an agreement for the transfer of approximately three acres at 1700 Oak Park Boulevard (the vacant property across Monticello Avenue from the current library building) for the new library location. Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, who represents the area at the County, said she was very appreciative that the District agreed to keep the existing library operational while the new one is under construction. “Pleasant Hill needs a new library to keep up with increased demand and new technologies,” Mitchoff said. “This is a great example of three public agencies working together to find a solution where everyone wins.” Concurrent with the City and County discussions, the City can move forward with plans for the design and construction of the new library. The next step for the project is for the City to hire an architectural firm to begin the design of the building and landscaping improvements. The library process will involve extensive community outreach and engagement through workshops and public hearings.
The County Board of Supervisors voted to approve the agreement. The Recreation and Park District, which is a special district independent of the City of Pleasant Hill, voted to approve the agreement at its last Board of Directors’ meeting on April 13th. The agreement provides an option through the end of 2019 for the Recreation and Park District to purchase a five-acre site (1750 Oak Park Boulevard) from the County for potential future recreational uses. The five-acre site is home to the current Pleasant Hill Library and a vacant administration building. The library will continue to operate in its existing location until a new one is available, at which time the Recreation and Park District will transition the site into new recreational space. The Recreation and Park District believes that this agreement is an important step in addressing a substantial identified need to provide additional recreational field space for children and families to participate in healthy outdoor activities.
“This is wonderful news for our community. Our residents are going to be delighted with their new library and new recreational fields,” said Pleasant Hill Mayor Michael Harris. "When the residents of Pleasant Hill overwhelmingly supported Measure K in the last election, they clearly indicated that they wanted a new community library and better streets. We intend to fulfill our promises to the voters by investing in these improvements for them and their children.”
Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District introduced a new one-stop digital destination website http://www.pleasanthillrec.com/ Completely re-designed, this fresh and fun mobilefriendly website makes it easy for you to quickly find information you need, register for recreation activities, stay informed about District news, receive custom notifications and so much more! The website puts recreation at your fingertips!
“With few vacant parcels left in Pleasant Hill, the District is committed to acquire and develop parkland when opportunities present themselves,” said Zac Shess, chairman of the District’s Board of Directors. “The District is thrilled to add this acreage, and we look forward to working with the community to develop another beautiful recreational facility that serves people of all ages.” Newsletter 2
Governor Brown Eases Requirements on Hiring of Contractors for Small Projects
California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has moved!
Amid the finalization of the state budget, Governor Brown signed revisions to the Department of Industrial Relations’ contractor registration program. The new law, which took effect June 28th, 2017, exempts public works projects under $25,000 and under $15,000 for maintenance projects from the requirements of the registration program. For these small projects public agencies can use contractors that are not registered with the Department. The revisions also allow the Labor Commissioner to fine contractors and agencies for noncompliance. Public agencies could face up to a $10,000 fine for using unregistered contractors when required. Additional revisions to the proposal allow the Labor Commissioner to waive fines for an unintentional first time violation and allow the public agencies to withhold final payment to the contractor for 30 days until the contractor submits all information required to verify registration.
The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) moved from its longtime location at 428 J Street, Suite 620, Sacramento, CA 95814 to new offices at 1102 Q Street, Suite 3000, Sacramento, CA 95811. Please note that Agency emails and phone numbers will remain the same.
Governor Brown Signs State Budget Legislation On June 27th, 2017 he Office of Governor Brown announced that the 2017-18 State Budget and its related acts had been signed. The Governor remarked that “California is taking decisive action by enacting a balanced state budget … This budget provides money to repair our roads and bridges, pay down debt, invest in schools, fund the earned income tax credit and provide Medi-Cal health care for millions of Californians.” CSDA’s Advocacy and Public Affairs Department monitors budget-related legislation, analyzing the language for any impact(s) on special districts and/or local agencies.
Districts No Longer in Danger of Dissolution without Due Process Senator Wieckowski’s SB 448, which provides a streamlined process for the dissolution of inactive districts, passed out of Assembly Local Government Committee with CSDA-requested amendments. The bill originally would have required Local Agency Formation Commissions (LAFCOs) to dissolve districts classified as “inactive” by the Controller’s Office, without any review or verification. Additionally, the bill would have prohibited districts from testifying in a public hearing on their own dissolution. CSDA members were concerned that the lack of due process would have led to the expensive mistake of dissolving districts inadvertently classified as inactive. CSDA worked with the Author and Committee to secure amendments to improve due process and allow districts to clarify their status. The bill now provides LAFCOs with a streamlined process to dissolve clearly inactive districts, without being subject to protest provisions. LAFCOs will be required to verify that the district is actually inactive before approving dissolution. This will save costs for the LAFCOs and get districts that no longer exist off the books. CSDA staff testified in support of the revised bill and thanked the Author and Committee for their efforts.
20th Anniversary of Household Hazardous Waste Collection At both Central San and Mt. View Sanitary District, our core mission is to protect public health and the environment. While collecting and cleaning wastewater is a significant part of achieving our core missions, we also know that pollution prevention starts at the source - in customers' homes and businesses. That is why, 20 years ago, Central San and Mt. View Sanitary District partnered and established the first Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility (HHWCF). The HHWCF provides a safe, cost- effective, reliable and convenient method of disposing of common household items - batteries, cleaners, paint - that are toxic to the environment. Since opening in 1997, the facility has collected more than 36 million pounds of household hazardous waste, more than 90 of which (30.7 million pounds) was recycled, recovered as resource conserving fuel, or reused. The HHWCF is a great community resource for central Contra Costa County residents and businesses
Newsletter 3
Academy as the core special district governance training in California.
CSDA Board Members / Election Results The CSDA Board elections ballots have been counted and below are the individuals with the most votes in each network. Congratulations to all! Northern Network (Seat C: Term = 2018-2020) Fred Ryness, Director, Burney Water District* Sierra Network (Seat C: Term = 2018-2020) Peter Kampa, General Manager, Saddle Creek Community Services District* Bay Area Network (Seat C: Term = 2018-2020 and Seat A: Term = 2016-2018) Stanley Caldwell, Director, Mt. View Sanitary District* Seat C Robert Silano, Director, Menlo Park Fire Protection District - Seat A Central Network (Seat C: Term = 2018-2020) Sandi Miller, General Manager, Selma Cemetery District* Coastal Network (Seat C: Term = 2018-2020) Vincent Ferrante, Commissioner, Moss Landing Harbor District* Southern Network (Seat C: Term = 2018-2020) Arlene Schafer, Director, Costa Mesa Sanitary District* *incumbents New board member Robert Silano takes office immediately filling the vacant, remaining term for the Seat A vacancy (previously held by Shane McAffee). Per CSDA Bylaws, election results were ratified by the Board at the Aug. 25 Board meeting.
SDLF Recognition in Special District Governance The Recognition in Special District Governance was designed to honor special district board members and trustees, and is comprised of two distinct parts: the completion of the Special District Leadership Academy and 10 hours of continuing education. The Special District Leadership Academy is comprised of four courses: Governance Foundations, Setting Direction/Community Leadership, Board’s Role in Human Resources and Board’s Role in Finance and Fiscal Accountability. The four courses are unique from any other courses on special district governance in that they are curriculum that has been created by special districts and agreed upon as what governing officials of special districts should know. SDLF has endorsed the
The application is fairly simple and has only two parts to receive recognition: 1. Completion of the Special District Leadership Academy four courses: Governance Foundations, Setting Direction/Community Leadership, Board’s Role in Human Resources and Board’s Role in Finance and Fiscal Accountability. 2. Ten additional hours of continuing education completed within 2 years and received from the California Special Districts Association (CSDA) or any other state-wide association specializing in local government.
Highly-Anticipated Report on Special Districts Released by Little Hoover Commission On August 30th the Little Hoover Commission publicly released a 76 page report on special districts following 12 months of review. In the report’s cover letter to Governor Jerry Brown and legislative leaders, Commission Chair Pedro Nava acknowledged, “During its study process, the Commission discussed some rather extreme solutions that generated intense interest. Through a very robust public process, however, the Commission ultimately concluded that local institutions are best served by local decision-making.” Responding to the release of the report, CSDA CEO Neil McCormick stated, “CSDA agrees with the Little Hoover Commission's ultimate conclusion that local agencies are best served by local decision-making and we are honored to be recognized along with the Special District Leadership Foundation for our work in promoting good governance.” McCormick continued, “We look forward to reviewing the Commission's recommendations with local special district leaders and continuing our efforts to help support our members in delivering essential local services and infrastructure to California's communities.” Among the report’s 20 recommendations, the Commission calls upon Governor Brown and the State Legislature to require that all special districts have websites. CSDA announced the unanimous approval of these recommendations at the August 24 Little Hoover Commission business meeting via the CSDA Blog, and provided an overview of the Commission’s report in the August 29 CSDA eNews.
Newsletter 4
Four Major Construction Projects in the works at DSRSD Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD), a community services special district that provides services in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, has four major construction projects in the works: $18 million expansion and improvement of the Jeffrey G. Hansen Water Recycling Plant, this project will boost water recycling capacity from 9.7 million to 16.2 million gallons per day. Construction began in January 2017 and will be completed in 2018. $6.7 million rehabilitation of the Dublin sewer main by curing in place a new liner that extends the life of the pipe another 50 years. Project finished in October. $1.95 million to relocate the sewer lift station so Dublin Blvd can be widened. The construction will begin in September with most of the work in the Murco Center parking lot. Any work that requires lane closures will be scheduled on Sunday through Thursday nights, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. $13.1 million digester added at the Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility to enable the District to continue providing reliable wastewater service and a receiving station for waste kitchen grease added to generate more electricity from the biogas.
CSDA Sponsored Legislation signed into Law On September 1st, 2017, Governor Jerry Brown signed CSDA’s sponsored bill, AB 979 (Lackey), into law. AB 979, co-sponsored by CSDA and the California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions (CALAFCO), improves the process for special districts seeking representation on a Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). Under AB 979, special districts can take a simple majority vote on LAFCO representation as part of the LAFCO’s Independent Special District Selection Committee. Previous law required a majority of special districts in the county to pass a board resolution within a one-year period to gain special district representation on the LAFCO. The new provisions take effect on January 1, 2018. CSDA thanks all who sent letters of support to the Legislature and the Governor requesting passage of the bill. Grassroots support was invaluable in the passage of AB 979.
New Updates Coming to CSDA.net CSDA is happy to announce some exciting updates coming soon to www.csda.net. CSDA is rolling out an improved user interface with many new features designed to help you thrive in your role with your special district. In order for you and the others at your district to fully access these features, we are requesting a unique email address for each public official and staff member on your roster. The new user interface will no longer allow duplicate email addresses to be entered in our database. Your unique email address will allow you to: • Register online for workshops, webinars, and conferences • Track trainings attended and print certificates of completion • Make peer-to-peer connections with other districts through online communities • Download free publications and other resources • Post open jobs (and resumes) in the Career Center • Customize your communication preferences • And more! CSDA's main contact at your district should have received a copy of your current roster and email addresses.
Understanding the Brown Act Training available 11/1/2017 at East Bay Municipal Utility Presenter: Kris Kokotaylo, Meyers Nave The Ralph M. Brown Act, California's open meetings law, provides legal requirements to help ensure the right of access to information and transparency in local government decision making. This workshop will guide attendees through the ins and outs of the Brown Act, including: - What constitutes a meeting - including committees, advisory boards, and serial meetings; - Information on different types and manner of conducting meetings - including special meetings, emergency meetings, and closed sessions; - Agenda requirements, notice requirements, and public participation at meetings; and - Potential penalties for violating the Brown Act. $25 CSDA Member $40 Non Member
Newsletter 5
Please send your district news releases to Stan Caldwell at [email protected] and keep us informed on all of the exciting things your special district is up to. We welcome your news contributions to our newsletter! ____________________________________________________________________________________
Send your District News and Press Releases!
Mark your calendars with our future Chapter Meeting Dates: ~ October 16, 2017 ~ January 22, 2018 ~ April 16, 2018 ~ Come at 9:30 AM for a meet and greet opportunity to network, refreshments available.
~ Meeting begins at 10:00 AM ~ ____________________________________________________________________________________
We meet at Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, 5019 Imhoff Place, Martinez, CA.
____________________________________________________________________________________ Contra Costa Special Districts Association C/o Central Contra Costa Sanitary District 5019 Imhoff Place Martinez, CA 94553 Central Contra Costa Sanitary District contact Suzette Crayton Email: [email protected] Bette Boatmun, President & Chair - Email: [email protected] Stanley Caldwell, Vice President - Email: [email protected] Edward Duarte Member at Large – Email: [email protected] Bert Michalczyk Treasurer – Email: [email protected] California Special Districts Association 1112 “I” Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95814 877.924.2732 www.csda.net/contra-costa-special-districts-association Newsletter 6
EARLY FALL 2017
SEPTEMBER 2017 th
The October 16 Meeting will be about Property Tax Allocation (Prop. 13 - 1% Ad Valorem Tax) and its effects on districts’ ability to provide adequate services
was a general assessment requiring a 2/3 vote (and not a legitimate "special benefit" assessment - which only requires a >50% vote). The District eventually had to settle with the claimants - and terminate the assessment. Many ideas presented to help fix the funding shortfalls have included property tax reallocation, creating Community Facility Districts (CFD) (Only available for NEW housing/business developments).
Why is CCSDA doing this? This issue affects all special districts, not just ECCFPD A potential reallocation (of any type) affects all special districts CCSDA is acting to facilitate an open discussion of this issue. Meeting Goals Education – on this topic Open Discussion A Comprehensive Report of Meeting – to be distributed sometime post-meeting. Please join us for an exclusive look at Property Tax Allocation / Reallocation. Unfortunately Robert R. Campbell Contra Costa County Auditor - Controller will not be able provide an overview of property tax allocation. He will be traveling and away from the area. We have lined up California Special Districts Association Legislative Analyst Christina Lokke to speak; she will provide an overview for us. A potential reallocation (of any type) affects all special districts The program planned will also include information about the East Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) funding shortfalls. ECCFPD has had funding problems for years, some if these might be Prop. 13 allocation related, When the district was formed no one envisioned it becoming as large as it is.
Brian Helmick (Interim Fire Chief – ECCFPD) will be able to provide more information and update us on what they need to do to increase funding. Bob Mankin – he is a Discovery Bay resident and longtime advocate for the Fire District. He is well-versed on the issues, well-acquainted with the Fire Chief, and would essentially speak against re-allocation, as he believes it is not a feasible solution. Re-allocation of Property Tax where do we go now, will have ideas and thoughts expressed by east county voters, scheduled to participate are Hal Brey (East County Voters) & Diane Burgis (District 3 – County Supervisor).
IF YOU WILL BE ATTENDING THE OCTOBER MEETING PLEASE SEND THE NAME OF YOUR SPECIAL DISTRICT AND THE NAMES OF THE REPRESENTATIVE(S) ATTENDING THIS MEETING NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 9, 2017 To: Suzette Crayton, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Email: [email protected] Phone: (925) 229-7300, Fax: (925) 372-0192
ECCFPD tried to pass a Benefit Assessment tax in 2014. The Benefit tax DID PASS (>50%) - BUT, a group of resident challenged it in court (filed suit) claiming it was an unconstitutional assessment - as it Newsletter 1
Park District & County Reach Agreement The Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District, Contra Costa County, and the City of Pleasant Hill are pleased to announce that County-owned land in the City can now potentially be used for park and recreation uses and a new City library. This has been made possible because the District and the County have reached an agreement that will provide land for these potential new uses.
The City and the County can now move forward on an agreement for the transfer of approximately three acres at 1700 Oak Park Boulevard (the vacant property across Monticello Avenue from the current library building) for the new library location. Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, who represents the area at the County, said she was very appreciative that the District agreed to keep the existing library operational while the new one is under construction. “Pleasant Hill needs a new library to keep up with increased demand and new technologies,” Mitchoff said. “This is a great example of three public agencies working together to find a solution where everyone wins.” Concurrent with the City and County discussions, the City can move forward with plans for the design and construction of the new library. The next step for the project is for the City to hire an architectural firm to begin the design of the building and landscaping improvements. The library process will involve extensive community outreach and engagement through workshops and public hearings.
The County Board of Supervisors voted to approve the agreement. The Recreation and Park District, which is a special district independent of the City of Pleasant Hill, voted to approve the agreement at its last Board of Directors’ meeting on April 13th. The agreement provides an option through the end of 2019 for the Recreation and Park District to purchase a five-acre site (1750 Oak Park Boulevard) from the County for potential future recreational uses. The five-acre site is home to the current Pleasant Hill Library and a vacant administration building. The library will continue to operate in its existing location until a new one is available, at which time the Recreation and Park District will transition the site into new recreational space. The Recreation and Park District believes that this agreement is an important step in addressing a substantial identified need to provide additional recreational field space for children and families to participate in healthy outdoor activities.
“This is wonderful news for our community. Our residents are going to be delighted with their new library and new recreational fields,” said Pleasant Hill Mayor Michael Harris. "When the residents of Pleasant Hill overwhelmingly supported Measure K in the last election, they clearly indicated that they wanted a new community library and better streets. We intend to fulfill our promises to the voters by investing in these improvements for them and their children.”
Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District introduced a new one-stop digital destination website http://www.pleasanthillrec.com/ Completely re-designed, this fresh and fun mobilefriendly website makes it easy for you to quickly find information you need, register for recreation activities, stay informed about District news, receive custom notifications and so much more! The website puts recreation at your fingertips!
“With few vacant parcels left in Pleasant Hill, the District is committed to acquire and develop parkland when opportunities present themselves,” said Zac Shess, chairman of the District’s Board of Directors. “The District is thrilled to add this acreage, and we look forward to working with the community to develop another beautiful recreational facility that serves people of all ages.” Newsletter 2
Governor Brown Eases Requirements on Hiring of Contractors for Small Projects
California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has moved!
Amid the finalization of the state budget, Governor Brown signed revisions to the Department of Industrial Relations’ contractor registration program. The new law, which took effect June 28th, 2017, exempts public works projects under $25,000 and under $15,000 for maintenance projects from the requirements of the registration program. For these small projects public agencies can use contractors that are not registered with the Department. The revisions also allow the Labor Commissioner to fine contractors and agencies for noncompliance. Public agencies could face up to a $10,000 fine for using unregistered contractors when required. Additional revisions to the proposal allow the Labor Commissioner to waive fines for an unintentional first time violation and allow the public agencies to withhold final payment to the contractor for 30 days until the contractor submits all information required to verify registration.
The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) moved from its longtime location at 428 J Street, Suite 620, Sacramento, CA 95814 to new offices at 1102 Q Street, Suite 3000, Sacramento, CA 95811. Please note that Agency emails and phone numbers will remain the same.
Governor Brown Signs State Budget Legislation On June 27th, 2017 he Office of Governor Brown announced that the 2017-18 State Budget and its related acts had been signed. The Governor remarked that “California is taking decisive action by enacting a balanced state budget … This budget provides money to repair our roads and bridges, pay down debt, invest in schools, fund the earned income tax credit and provide Medi-Cal health care for millions of Californians.” CSDA’s Advocacy and Public Affairs Department monitors budget-related legislation, analyzing the language for any impact(s) on special districts and/or local agencies.
Districts No Longer in Danger of Dissolution without Due Process Senator Wieckowski’s SB 448, which provides a streamlined process for the dissolution of inactive districts, passed out of Assembly Local Government Committee with CSDA-requested amendments. The bill originally would have required Local Agency Formation Commissions (LAFCOs) to dissolve districts classified as “inactive” by the Controller’s Office, without any review or verification. Additionally, the bill would have prohibited districts from testifying in a public hearing on their own dissolution. CSDA members were concerned that the lack of due process would have led to the expensive mistake of dissolving districts inadvertently classified as inactive. CSDA worked with the Author and Committee to secure amendments to improve due process and allow districts to clarify their status. The bill now provides LAFCOs with a streamlined process to dissolve clearly inactive districts, without being subject to protest provisions. LAFCOs will be required to verify that the district is actually inactive before approving dissolution. This will save costs for the LAFCOs and get districts that no longer exist off the books. CSDA staff testified in support of the revised bill and thanked the Author and Committee for their efforts.
20th Anniversary of Household Hazardous Waste Collection At both Central San and Mt. View Sanitary District, our core mission is to protect public health and the environment. While collecting and cleaning wastewater is a significant part of achieving our core missions, we also know that pollution prevention starts at the source - in customers' homes and businesses. That is why, 20 years ago, Central San and Mt. View Sanitary District partnered and established the first Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility (HHWCF). The HHWCF provides a safe, cost- effective, reliable and convenient method of disposing of common household items - batteries, cleaners, paint - that are toxic to the environment. Since opening in 1997, the facility has collected more than 36 million pounds of household hazardous waste, more than 90 of which (30.7 million pounds) was recycled, recovered as resource conserving fuel, or reused. The HHWCF is a great community resource for central Contra Costa County residents and businesses
Newsletter 3
Academy as the core special district governance training in California.
CSDA Board Members / Election Results The CSDA Board elections ballots have been counted and below are the individuals with the most votes in each network. Congratulations to all! Northern Network (Seat C: Term = 2018-2020) Fred Ryness, Director, Burney Water District* Sierra Network (Seat C: Term = 2018-2020) Peter Kampa, General Manager, Saddle Creek Community Services District* Bay Area Network (Seat C: Term = 2018-2020 and Seat A: Term = 2016-2018) Stanley Caldwell, Director, Mt. View Sanitary District* Seat C Robert Silano, Director, Menlo Park Fire Protection District - Seat A Central Network (Seat C: Term = 2018-2020) Sandi Miller, General Manager, Selma Cemetery District* Coastal Network (Seat C: Term = 2018-2020) Vincent Ferrante, Commissioner, Moss Landing Harbor District* Southern Network (Seat C: Term = 2018-2020) Arlene Schafer, Director, Costa Mesa Sanitary District* *incumbents New board member Robert Silano takes office immediately filling the vacant, remaining term for the Seat A vacancy (previously held by Shane McAffee). Per CSDA Bylaws, election results were ratified by the Board at the Aug. 25 Board meeting.
SDLF Recognition in Special District Governance The Recognition in Special District Governance was designed to honor special district board members and trustees, and is comprised of two distinct parts: the completion of the Special District Leadership Academy and 10 hours of continuing education. The Special District Leadership Academy is comprised of four courses: Governance Foundations, Setting Direction/Community Leadership, Board’s Role in Human Resources and Board’s Role in Finance and Fiscal Accountability. The four courses are unique from any other courses on special district governance in that they are curriculum that has been created by special districts and agreed upon as what governing officials of special districts should know. SDLF has endorsed the
The application is fairly simple and has only two parts to receive recognition: 1. Completion of the Special District Leadership Academy four courses: Governance Foundations, Setting Direction/Community Leadership, Board’s Role in Human Resources and Board’s Role in Finance and Fiscal Accountability. 2. Ten additional hours of continuing education completed within 2 years and received from the California Special Districts Association (CSDA) or any other state-wide association specializing in local government.
Highly-Anticipated Report on Special Districts Released by Little Hoover Commission On August 30th the Little Hoover Commission publicly released a 76 page report on special districts following 12 months of review. In the report’s cover letter to Governor Jerry Brown and legislative leaders, Commission Chair Pedro Nava acknowledged, “During its study process, the Commission discussed some rather extreme solutions that generated intense interest. Through a very robust public process, however, the Commission ultimately concluded that local institutions are best served by local decision-making.” Responding to the release of the report, CSDA CEO Neil McCormick stated, “CSDA agrees with the Little Hoover Commission's ultimate conclusion that local agencies are best served by local decision-making and we are honored to be recognized along with the Special District Leadership Foundation for our work in promoting good governance.” McCormick continued, “We look forward to reviewing the Commission's recommendations with local special district leaders and continuing our efforts to help support our members in delivering essential local services and infrastructure to California's communities.” Among the report’s 20 recommendations, the Commission calls upon Governor Brown and the State Legislature to require that all special districts have websites. CSDA announced the unanimous approval of these recommendations at the August 24 Little Hoover Commission business meeting via the CSDA Blog, and provided an overview of the Commission’s report in the August 29 CSDA eNews.
Newsletter 4
Four Major Construction Projects in the works at DSRSD Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD), a community services special district that provides services in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, has four major construction projects in the works: $18 million expansion and improvement of the Jeffrey G. Hansen Water Recycling Plant, this project will boost water recycling capacity from 9.7 million to 16.2 million gallons per day. Construction began in January 2017 and will be completed in 2018. $6.7 million rehabilitation of the Dublin sewer main by curing in place a new liner that extends the life of the pipe another 50 years. Project finished in October. $1.95 million to relocate the sewer lift station so Dublin Blvd can be widened. The construction will begin in September with most of the work in the Murco Center parking lot. Any work that requires lane closures will be scheduled on Sunday through Thursday nights, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. $13.1 million digester added at the Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility to enable the District to continue providing reliable wastewater service and a receiving station for waste kitchen grease added to generate more electricity from the biogas.
CSDA Sponsored Legislation signed into Law On September 1st, 2017, Governor Jerry Brown signed CSDA’s sponsored bill, AB 979 (Lackey), into law. AB 979, co-sponsored by CSDA and the California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions (CALAFCO), improves the process for special districts seeking representation on a Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). Under AB 979, special districts can take a simple majority vote on LAFCO representation as part of the LAFCO’s Independent Special District Selection Committee. Previous law required a majority of special districts in the county to pass a board resolution within a one-year period to gain special district representation on the LAFCO. The new provisions take effect on January 1, 2018. CSDA thanks all who sent letters of support to the Legislature and the Governor requesting passage of the bill. Grassroots support was invaluable in the passage of AB 979.
New Updates Coming to CSDA.net CSDA is happy to announce some exciting updates coming soon to www.csda.net. CSDA is rolling out an improved user interface with many new features designed to help you thrive in your role with your special district. In order for you and the others at your district to fully access these features, we are requesting a unique email address for each public official and staff member on your roster. The new user interface will no longer allow duplicate email addresses to be entered in our database. Your unique email address will allow you to: • Register online for workshops, webinars, and conferences • Track trainings attended and print certificates of completion • Make peer-to-peer connections with other districts through online communities • Download free publications and other resources • Post open jobs (and resumes) in the Career Center • Customize your communication preferences • And more! CSDA's main contact at your district should have received a copy of your current roster and email addresses.
Understanding the Brown Act Training available 11/1/2017 at East Bay Municipal Utility Presenter: Kris Kokotaylo, Meyers Nave The Ralph M. Brown Act, California's open meetings law, provides legal requirements to help ensure the right of access to information and transparency in local government decision making. This workshop will guide attendees through the ins and outs of the Brown Act, including: - What constitutes a meeting - including committees, advisory boards, and serial meetings; - Information on different types and manner of conducting meetings - including special meetings, emergency meetings, and closed sessions; - Agenda requirements, notice requirements, and public participation at meetings; and - Potential penalties for violating the Brown Act. $25 CSDA Member $40 Non Member
Newsletter 5
Please send your district news releases to Stan Caldwell at [email protected] and keep us informed on all of the exciting things your special district is up to. We welcome your news contributions to our newsletter! ____________________________________________________________________________________
Send your District News and Press Releases!
Mark your calendars with our future Chapter Meeting Dates: ~ October 16, 2017 ~ January 22, 2018 ~ April 16, 2018 ~ Come at 9:30 AM for a meet and greet opportunity to network, refreshments available.
~ Meeting begins at 10:00 AM ~ ____________________________________________________________________________________
We meet at Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, 5019 Imhoff Place, Martinez, CA.
____________________________________________________________________________________ Contra Costa Special Districts Association C/o Central Contra Costa Sanitary District 5019 Imhoff Place Martinez, CA 94553 Central Contra Costa Sanitary District contact Suzette Crayton Email: [email protected] Bette Boatmun, President & Chair - Email: [email protected] Stanley Caldwell, Vice President - Email: [email protected] Edward Duarte Member at Large – Email: [email protected] Bert Michalczyk Treasurer – Email: [email protected] California Special Districts Association 1112 “I” Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95814 877.924.2732 www.csda.net/contra-costa-special-districts-association Newsletter 6
