REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Eric G. Parra, Interim City Manager
VIA: Chau Vu, Director of Public Works
PREPARED BY: Chris Davis, Senior Management Analyst
Subject:
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Approve Sixth Amendment to the West Orange County Water Board Joint Powers Agreement to adjust Director stipends to $200 per meeting
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Statement of Issue:
Submitted for City Council approval is the Sixth Amendment to the West Orange County Water Board Joint Powers Agreement to adjust Director stipends to $200 per meeting.
Financial Impact:
If approved, the annual WOCWB stipend expenses would increase from $2,500 to $5,000. Huntington Beach’s proportional share is 56.1% and would increase from $1,402.50 to $2,805 annually. Water Fund (506) covers the City’s share of WOCWB operational expenses, and the changes are already included in the proposed FY 2024-25 budget.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Approve the Sixth Amendment to the JPA and authorize the Mayor to sign the amendment.
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve the Sixth Amendment. If the amendment is not approved by the majority of member agencies, Director stipends will remain at $100 per meeting and not more than $300 per month.
Analysis:
The City is a member of the West Orange County Water Board (WOCWB) Joint Powers Authority, along with the cities of Garden Grove, Seal Beach, and Westminster. The WOCWB was created to operate and maintain large diameter water pipelines shared between the member agencies.
The WOCWB consists of five (5) Directors and meets quarterly. Section 6 of the original Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) set Director stipends at $50 per meeting and not more than $150 per month. Stipends were later increased to $100 per meeting and not more than $300 per month via an amendment in 2005.
On October 18, 2023, the Board requested an adjustment to the Director stipend and asked staff to bring an agenda item to the next meeting. Staff researched the stipends provided by other Orange County Joint Powers Agencies and found that they ranged from $100 to $212.50 per meeting, except for the Santa Ana River Flood Protection Agency which offered no stipend.
On January 17, 2024, the WOCWB directed Board legal counsel to draft an amendment to the JPA adjusting the stipend to $200 per meeting, based on staff recommendation. To facilitate ratification of the amendment, each member agency must approve the amendment with their governing body prior to the next scheduled WOCWB meeting on April 17, 2024, where it will be voted on by the Board.
Environmental Status:
This action is covered by the General Rule that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment (Section 15061.b.3 of the State CEQA Guidelines). It can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that this activity will have a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, this activity is not subject to CEQA.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Non Applicable - Administrative Item
For details, visit www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/strategicplan <http://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/strategicplan>.
Attachment(s):
1. Amendment #6 to WOCWB JPA
2. WOCWB JPA
3. 2005 Amendment to WOCWB JPA
4. Presentation Slides