Topping this week’s decisions in local government, Orange County approves a massive increase to an IT contract and Laguna Hills considers advertising on Facebook.
After a two-week break, the county Boards of Supervisors face a full agenda Tuesday, making major decisions on such issues as harbor renovations and body transport services.
The most expensive item by far is a planned $127-million extension of an information technology contract with a Hewlett-Packard subsidiary.
The two-year contract extension is for a system called CalWIN, which assists Social Services Agency staff with issuing welfare and other benefits to 480,000 county residents.
If the extension is approved, the revised contract, which dates back to 1999, would be worth more than $800 million. The extension is 93 percent funded by the state and federal governments, according to county staff.
Supervisors are also set to approve an agreement to have new county managers pay more toward their retirement benefits, covering the “reverse pick-up” for the 2.7% @ 55 retirement formula.
Also on Tuesday, Laguna Hills City Council members will decide whether to use a 21st-century medium to advertise city events: Facebook.
The staff is recommending that the city spend about $500 per special event to blast invites out to the 14,000 city residents who use Facebook. The city’s total population is about 31,000.
The plan also calls for the city to delete any comments that are posted, citing First Amendment and Brown Act concerns.
Laguna Hills is also set to receive a report estimating that forming a Planning Commission would cost between $159,000 and $187,000.
And finally, the government agency that oversees the boundaries of cities and special districts is set to approve a new budget on Wednesday.
Orange County’s Local Agency Formation Commission or LAFCO plans to spend about $1 million in fiscal year 2014 – of which $25,000 is for travel expenses and another $75,000 for unspecified “other” contract services.
Under state law, LAFCO must approve its budgets by May 1 of each year.
Here’s a rundown of what’s up for debate this week across Orange County:
Orange County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday, April 9, at 9:30 a.m.
- Approving $127 million in contract increases to HP Enterprise Services for information technology services for a new total of $806 million.
- Approving an agreement with the Orange County Managers Association requiring new management employees to pay the “reverse pick-up” for the incremental cost of the 2.7% @ 55 retirement formula.
- Approving an agreement to pay $8.3 million in Measure M2 public funds to Rancho Mission Viejo Inc. for constructing a road connecting Antonio Parkway with the future extension of the Foothill Transportation Corridor.
- Increasing a contract with LSA Associates for environmental review documentation for the La Pata Avenue Project by $280,000 for a new total of $920,000.
- Approving a $300,000 one-year contract with Traditional Funeral Services for on-call body transport services at a rate of $155 per case. The company was the sole bidder.
- Approving a $380,000 contract with RedRock Security and Cabling to install a portable radio amplifier for security officers in Terminal C at John Wayne Airport.
- Approving a two-month, $63,000 extension of the $2.5-million emergency public communication contract (AlertOC) with Blackboard Connect.
- Approving a $4.4-million, five-year contract extension for Project Dimensions Inc. (PDI) to continue providing project management services for the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Plan.
Santa Ana City Council Special Meeting, Monday, April 8, at 5 p.m.
- Wide-ranging discussion of unspecified council “practices, policies and protocols.” No further specifics are provided on the agenda.
Irvine City Council Special Meeting, Tuesday, April 9, at 3 p.m.
- Planning a fifth city high school and potential sharing of athletic facilities with the Great Park.
- Forming a council ad hoc committee to select a permanent city attorney.
- Approving a $500,000 budget adjustment for the rehabilitation and expansion of the community center and Northwood Community Park.
Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors, Monday, April 8, at 9 a.m.
- Agreement for on-call transportation planning consultant services.
- Measure M2 performance assessment report.
- OCTA sales tax update.
Laguna Beach City Council, Tuesday, April 9, at 5 p.m.
- Approving $202,000 in improvements to the Festival of the Arts and Pageant of the Masters facilities.
Laguna Hills City Council, Tuesday, April 9, at 7 p.m.
- Directing city staff to develop a mobile app for the city and Facebook pages for special events. The staff recommends a Facebook advertising budget of $500 per event.
- Receiving a report estimating the cost of forming a Planning Commission to be between $159,000 and $187,000.
Rancho Santa Margarita City Council, Wednesday, April 10, at 7 p.m.
- Approving the detachment of 1.25 acres of land to be annexed by Mission Viejo for the completion of the Mission Viejo Dog Park project.
OC Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), Wednesday, April 10, at 8:30 a.m.
- Approving a 2014 fiscal year budget of $1 million.
Closed Session
- Discussion of appointing a new executive officer.
Adam Elmahrek and Brendan Wiles contributed to this report.
You can reach Nick Gerda at ngerda@gmail.com, and follow him on Twitter: @nicholasgerda.