LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
RECORD OF ACTION
  February 5, 2015
10:30 A.M.
651 Pine Street, Room 101, Martinez
 

Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, Chair
Supervisor Federal D. Glover, Vice Chair
Agenda Items: Items may be taken out of order based on the business of the day and preference of the Committee
 
Present: Karen Mitchoff, Chair  
  Federal D. Glover, Vice Chair  
Staff Present: Lara DeLaney, Senior Deputy County Administrator
Paul Buddenhagen, Assistant Director, Employment & Human Services
Stephen Kowalewski, Deputy Director, Public Works
Mitch Avalon, Flood Control District Consultant
Phil Kader, Chief Probation Officer
William Walker, M.D., Director, Health Services
Vana Tran, Analyst, County Administrator's Office
 
               
1. Introductions
 
2. Public comment on any item under the jurisdiction of the Committee and not on this agenda (speakers may be limited to three minutes).

No public comment.
 
3. 1.  CONSIDER the County's current range of advocacy efforts by staff, advocates, and Supervisors and determine whether to add various other advocacy efforts or mechanisms to increase Contra Costa County's engagement and leadership position.These efforts could include such things as:

a.  Establishing a regular (weekly, monthly, or quarterly) check-in call with our legislative delegation;
b.  Increasing Supervisors and/or Department Head engagement at the Capitol in various Committee hearings;
c.  Increasing the Supervisors and/or Department Head engagement with policies committees for NACo and/or CSAC;
d.  The development and distribution of a "Hot Bill" list that would focus the County's advocacy efforts on particular bills of interest;

2.  CONSIDER the County's current policies and practices on advocacy efforts (Attachments A and B) and direct staff to update and revise the policies as needed.
   
 
  The Committee directed staff to prepare amendments to the County’s policies on advocacy efforts with respect to advisory bodies of the Board of Supervisors and bring back those amendments for the Committee’s consideration at the next Legislation Committee meeting.
 
 
AYE: Chair Karen Mitchoff, Vice Chair Federal D. Glover
Passed
4. CONSIDER accepting the report on the status of the State Budget and legislation of interest to Contra Costa County, and provide direction to staff.   
 
  The Committee accepted the report and provided direction to Staff.
 
5. RECOMMEND to the Board of Supervisors a position of "Support" on the local government officials letter to the Federal Communications Commission regarding the corporate consolidation of Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications with recommendations to extend high-speed Internet access to all low-income households, set performance goals, collaborate with states to close the Digital Divide, establish a national advisory oversight committee and offer stand-alone Internet service.   
 
  The Item is continued to the next Legislation Committee meeting.
 
6. RECOMMEND to the Board of Supervisors a position of "Support" on the efforts of California State Association of Counties (CSAC) and the coalition of statewide agencies working to provide Contra Costa County with the authority to establish funding for stormwater services.   
 
  The Committee accepted the report from Public Works and referred the item to the Board of Supervisors.
 
 
AYE: Chair Karen Mitchoff, Vice Chair Federal D. Glover
Passed
7. DIRECT staff and the County's federal advocate, Paul Schlesinger, to set meetings with the County's congressional delegation and key administration staff and prepare any needed material, in order for the Supervisors to advocate on behalf of the County's policies, programs, and projects.   
 
  The Committee provided direction to Staff.
 
 
AYE: Chair Karen Mitchoff, Vice Chair Federal D. Glover
Passed
8. The next meeting is currently scheduled for March 5, 2015.
 
  The Committee directed staff to set meetings with the County’s newest Assembly Members, Catharine Baker and Tony Thurmond, so they can get acquainted with the County’s priorities and develop relationships with the Board Members and key staff.
 
9. Adjourn
 
 
The Legislation Committee will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities planning to attend Legislation Committee meetings. Contact the staff person listed below at least 72 hours before the meeting.
Any disclosable public records related to an open session item on a regular meeting agenda and distributed by the County to a majority of members of the Legislation Committee less than 96 hours prior to that meeting are available for public inspection at 651 Pine Street, 10th floor, during normal business hours.
Public comment may be submitted via electronic mail on agenda items at least one full work day prior to the published meeting time.


For Additional Information Contact:

Lara DeLaney, Committee Staff
Phone (925) 335-1097, Fax (925) 646-1353
lara.delaney@cao.cccounty.us