Agenda

Return

C. 31

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	David Twa, County Administrator
Date:	June 26, 2018

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Authorizing the County Counsel to Prepare Ordinance Summaries

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 06/26/2018

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Thomas Geiger, Assistant County Counsel (925) 335-1800
cc:	Thomas Geiger, Assistant County Counsel

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: June 26, 2018
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

INTRODUCE Ordinance No. 2018-20, authorizing the County Counsel to prepare ordinance summaries in accordance with Government Code section 25124, WAIVE reading, and FIX July 10, 2018, as the date for adoption.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Staff estimates that publishing an ordinance summary in the newspaper typically costs less than $500, while publishing the full text of a 30-page ordinance can cost up to $10,000.

BACKGROUND:

When the Board of Supervisors adopts an ordinance, Government Code section 25124 requires that it be published in the newspaper. This requirement can be satisfied by either publishing the full ordinance text within 15 days after the ordinance is passed, or publishing a summary of the ordinance at least five days before the ordinance is considered for adoption and publishing the summary again within 15 days after the ordinance is passed. If an ordinance summary is published, the full text of the ordinance must be posted in the Clerk of the Board’s office or on the County’s website at least five days before the ordinance is

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

considered for adoption and within 15 days after the ordinance is passed. If an ordinance summary is published, Government Code section 25124 also requires the Board to designate an official to prepare the summary. The attached ordinance authorizes the County Counsel to prepare to prepare ordinance summaries in accordance with Government Code section 25124 when the County Counsel determines it is appropriate to do so. If this ordinance is adopted, the Board would no longer have to authorize the County Counsel to prepare ordinance summaries on a case-by-case basis.

Publishing an ordinance summary instead of the full text of a lengthy ordinance results in significant cost savings. Staff estimates that publishing an ordinance summary in the newspaper typically costs less than $500. Publishing the full text of a 30-page ordinance can cost up to an estimated $10,000.

The attached ordinance also revises Ordinance Code Chapter 24-12 to make all references to the County Counsel gender neutral.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The Board would continue to have to authorize the County Counsel to prepare ordinance summaries on a case-by-case basis.