Topping this week’s actions in local government, county supervisors consider slashing grand jurors’ compensation, and more cities approve budgets for the new fiscal year.
Following a series of critical grand jury reports taking direct aim at the Orange County Board of Supervisors, supervisors are set Tuesday to consider reducing jurors’ compensation by 70 percent.
The proposal would cut their daily attendance fee from $50 per day to $15 per day. The county’s staff report doesn’t give a reason for the compensation cut.
This year’s grand jury has been particularly critical of county supervisors, with reports such as “CalOptima Burns While Majority of Supervisors Fiddle” and “A Call for Ethical Standards: Corruption in Orange County.”
It comes after supervisors, citing the reports, recently denied the grand jury’s request for an additional $20,000 to finish their work for the year.
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The grand jury is expected this year to issue two more reports on CalOptima, the county-run health care program.
While supervisors continue to express frustration with this year’s grand jury, they’re also set Tuesday to implement one of the grand jury’s recommendations regarding CalOptima.
They are set to vote on appointing another member of the Board of Supervisors to the CalOptima board. The grand jury suggested that more than one supervisor serve on the board. Under the proposal, CalOptima staff would also give regular presentations to supervisors.
And budget approvals are continuing across Orange County this week, with action expected in Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach and Lake Forest.
Costa Mesa council members are also scheduled to vote Tuesday on a $15,400 annual compensation increase for city CEO Tom Hatch, retroactive to February, along with reductions in his sick leave and vacation cap.
His new base salary will be around $218,000 plus a $650 monthly car allowance and $250 monthly technology allowance.
And finally, Anaheim council members are set to appoint residents to serve on the city charter review commission, amid intense debate over whether council members should be elected by council districts.
Here’s a rundown of what’s up for debate this week across Orange County:
Monday, June 17
Santa Ana City Council (5:45 p.m.)
- Notice of intent to levy a business improvement district and setting a public hearing to approve the district.
- A $48,000 agreement with Matchpoint Tennis Academy to manage and operate the Cabrillo Tennis Center for a five-year term.
- Second reading of the city’s two-year budget.
- Setting administrative fines for code enforcement violations.
Mission Viejo City Council (6 p.m.)
- Rejecting a claim made by an unnamed minor against the city for an unspecified amount.
Tuesday, June 18
Orange County Board of Supervisors (9 a.m.)
- Cutting grand juror stipends by 70 percent, from $50 per day to $15 per day.
- Appointing another county supervisor to the CalOptima board, after a grand jury recommendation that more than one supervisor serve on the board.
- Approving a $390,000, one-year agreement with the 32nd District Agricultural Association for the sheriff’s department to police events at the Orange County Fairgrounds at overtime rates.
- Approving a $445,000 agreement with the 32nd District Agricultural Association for the sheriff’s department to police the Orange County Fair.
- Extending an information technology contract with Govplace for sheriff’s department data storage services; no storage size is noted in the county staff report.
- Approving an agreement with Orange County cities, universities and water agencies for using the countywide mass notification system AlertOC.
- Awarding a $313,000 sole-source contract to L-3 Communications Mobile-Vision, Inc. for sheriff’s patrol car video system and storage upgrades.
- Awarding a $106,000 sole-source contract to NEC Corp. of America to convert the county’s fingerprint database from NEC’s proprietary format into a national standardized format.
- Approving the county’s seven-year capital improvement program.
- Allowing the city of Laguna Niguel to construct and maintain a bikeway along a portion of the Oso Creek Channel.
Closed session
- Direction to County Counsel Nick Chrisos about the county’s purchase of property for a year-round homeless shelter at 301 S. State College Blvd., Fullerton.
Special Meeting (2 p.m.)
- Study session on 2013-14 fiscal year budget.
Regular Meeting (5 p.m.)
- Adopting the 2013-14 fiscal year budget.
- Labor agreements with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 47.
- The city’s public records retention schedule.
- Council appointments to the city charter review commission.
Costa Mesa City Council (6 p.m.)
- Adopting a $132-million fiscal year 2014 budget, with $103 million in general fund spending and $19 million in capital improvements.
- Approving a $15,400 annual compensation increase for city CEO Tom Hatch, retroactive to February, along with reductions in sick leave and vacation cap.
Dana Point City Council (5 p.m.)
- Approving a city response to the South Coast Air Quailty Management District to allow cities to keep control and regulation of fire rings within their jurisdictions.
Laguna Beach City Council (6 p.m.)
- Adopting the budgets for fiscal years 2013-14 and 2014-15.
- Purchasing three propane trolleys for $530,000.
- Approving a five-year contract with Turbo Data to process parking citations.
- Approving a city response to the South Coast Air Quailty Management District to allow cities to keep control and regulation of fire rings within their jurisdictions.
Laguna Niguel City Council (7 p.m.)
- Approving the fiscal year 2013-14 contract with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for $9.5 million.
Lake Forest City Council (7 p.m.)
Approving the fiscal year 2013-14 law enforcement services contract with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for $12.7 million.
Adopting the budget for fiscal year 2013-14.
Wednesday, June 19
Aliso Viejo City Council (7 p.m.)
- Approving the appropriations limit for fiscal year 2013-2014 at $29 million.
- Reviewing a year-end activity report prepared by contracted lobbyist services Townsend Public Affairs.
Closed Session
- Appointing a new chief of police
Adam Elmahrek and Brendan Wiles contributed to this report.
You can reach Nick Gerda at ngerda@gmail.com, and follow him on Twitter: @nicholasgerda.