FINANCE COMMITTEE

  October 7, 2019
9:00 A.M.
651 Pine Street, Room 101, Martinez
 
Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, Chair
Supervisor John Gioia, 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  
  John Gioia, Vice Chair  
Staff Present: Lisa Driscoll, Finance Director
Brice Bins, Chief, Treasurer-Tax Collector
Timothy Ewell, CAO
Pat Frost, EMS
Tom Geiger, Deputy County Counsel
Annie O, BOS District IV
 
               
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).
 
  There were no comments from the Public.
 
3. Staff recommends approval of the Record of Action for the July 29, 2019 meeting.   
 
  The Record of Action for the July 29, 2019 meeting was approved as recommended.
 
 
AYE: Chair Karen Mitchoff, Vice Chair John Gioia
Passed
4. Report on bank card service fees from the Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office.   
 
  Brice Bins presented the five year review of both taxing and non-taxing departments' credit card services fees.  The Committee discussed the pros and cons of passing service fees onto users and the barriers that would impact a uniform countywide practice.  At the conclusion of the discussion, the Committee accepted the report and directed staff to return with an update in five years, or sooner should a dramatic change in process or law take place.
 
 
AYE: Chair Karen Mitchoff, Vice Chair John Gioia
Passed
5. Consider the attached information, begin the discussion of the issues involved in a sales tax measure, and provide staff direction on next steps.   
 
  Tim Ewell presented a report related to a proposed sales tax measure and provided staff recommendations on next steps.  The Committee heard the report and asked questions,  After discussion, the Committee:

  1. Determined that a sales tax should be pursued over a parcel tax for the entire County (unincorporated and cities)
  2. An expenditure plan should be developed prior to the ballot measure being listed, but acknowledged that a general tax is not bound to be spent on specific services
    1. Create an ad hoc committee by Sups. Gioia and Mitchoff to work on development of the expenditure plan
    2. Ad hoc committee will work with a workgroup composed of (Labor, CBO, East Bay Leadership Council and County Administrator)
    3. Meetings shall be open meetings governed by the Brown Act
  3. Staff authorized to work with the CDTFA on logistics of listing a ballot measure and set up and collection contracts, if approved
  4. Staff authorized to begin discussions with Nielsen Merksamer regarding special legislation needed to list measure on the ballot, but shall not begin drafting language or engaging legislators.
  5. The Committee acknowledged that the Governor would need to sign special legislation by May/June timeframe for the ballot measure to be feasible.
 
 
AYE: Chair Karen Mitchoff, Vice Chair John Gioia
Passed
6.
The next meeting is currently scheduled for Monday, November 4, 2019.
 
7. Adjourn
 
 
The Finance Committee will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities planning to attend Finance 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 Finance 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:

Lisa Driscoll, Committee Staff
Phone (925) 335-1021, Fax (925) 646-1353
lisa.driscoll@cao.cccounty.us