BOARD MEETING DATE: June 13, 1997 AGENDA NO. 37
Proposal:
Public Hearing to Consider Compensation Package for Designated Deputies
Synopsis:
The recruitment and selection process for Director of Planning & Policy has been completed. In addition, the current contracts of the Executive Officer, Deputy Executive Officer/Planning, Transportation & Information Management, Deputy Executive Officer/Stationary Source Compliance, Intergovernmental Affairs Officer, and Director of Small Business Assistance expire July 31, 1997. This action is for the Board to approve the compensation packages for the Director of Planning & Policy, and several other Designated Deputies, and to renew the contract with the Executive Officer.
Committee:
Administrative, April 18, 1997, Recommended for Approval
Administrative, May 23, 1997, Recommended Public Hearing
Recommended Action:
Authorize the Executive Officer to execute Executive Management Agreements with Dr. Elaine Chang, Dr. Barry Wallerstein, Ms. Patricia Leyden, Larry Rhinehart, and Lee Lockie, and authorize the Chairman of the Board to execute an Executive Management Agreement with Dr. James M. Lents.
Jon D. Mikels James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Chairman of the Board Executive Officer
The recruitment for Director of Planning & Policy in the office of Planning, Transportation, and Information Management has been completed and Dr. Elaine Chang has been selected to fill that position. Dr. Chang holds a Doctoral degree in Public Health from Columbia University and has over fifteen years of experience in air pollution control. Since joining the AQMD in 1987, Dr. Chang has managed several planning programs, including emission data development, control strategy development, air quality-related energy policy development, and VOC rulemaking. She has been leading the AQMD’s effort on developing the Intercredit Trading Program and the Air Quality Investment Program. In addition, she played a major role in the development of the 1989, 1991, and 1997 AQMPs, specifically in the areas of emission inventory and control strategies. The Executive Officer recommends an annual salary of $92,820 [ Includes the initial 2% adjustment granted by the Governing Board May 9, 1997 to non-contract Management, Confidential, and Attorney employees.] effective May 9, 1997.
In addition, the Executive Management Agreements with the following Designated Deputies are due for renewal.
Dr. Barry Wallerstein, Deputy Executive Officer/Planning, Transportation & Information Management, is responsible for air quality planning, including modeling and transportation-related control measures, and the AQMD’s Information Management operation. Dr. Wallerstein has been doing an outstanding job of managing these three elements of the organization. Examples of project/program accomplishments during the term of his current contract include: the 1994 and 1997 AQMPs, new Rules 2202 and 1186, privatization of the emission fee billing system, and installation of a new business computer and consolidation of agency-wide information into a single database. Dr. Wallerstein provided support to the PM10 Task Force, the AQMP Working Groups, the REACH Task Force, and the Mobile Source Committee. The Executive Officer recommends renewal of Dr. Wallerstein’s contract, an equity adjustment of 2.5%, and an increase in coverage to three-fourths of the cost of the Section 457 deferred compensation plan.
Patricia Leyden, Deputy Executive Officer, has done an outstanding job as the administrator of the Office of Stationary Source Compliance. Ms. Leyden has successfully directed the implementation of the nation's first and largest multi-industry emission's trading program. Her expertise in this area has brought national and international recognition to the District. She has excelled in improving the efficiency and quality control of permitting and compliance programs for all of the stationary sources in the basin. Notable rule accomplishments include: Title V, Solvent Degreasing, New Source Review and Area Source Credits. Ms. Leyden supports the Board's Stationary Source Committee and the Home Rule Working Group. Her leadership in streamlining the implementation of Title V and Title III will be especially important for the District during the next few years. The Executive Officer recommends renewal of Ms. Leyden’s contract and an increase in coverage to three-fourths of the cost of the Section 457 deferred compensation plan.
Larry Rhinehart, Intergovernmental Affairs Officer, has been doing an excellent job providing liaison with the local elected officials. During the past year he has met or exceeded all of the goals of his workplan. He increased the receptivity of City Councilmembers to his presentations on air quality issues by creating personalized informational packets for the Councilmembers. He put together a briefing on the AQMD for local elected officials - an extra assignment with a short turnaround time - which brought out approximately 35 participants and which resulted in better communication between the AQMD and its customers. He also monitored concerns in the Big Bear area, meeting with affected parties to help identify and resolve issues, and kept executive management and governing board members appropriately informed. The Executive Officer recommends renewal of Mr. Rhinehart’s contract, an equity adjustment of 2.5%, and an increase in coverage to three-fourths of the cost of the Section 457 deferred compensation plan.
Lee Lockie, Director of Small Business Assistance & Special Projects, has been doing an excellent job in the small business assistance area. Over the past year, Ms. Lockie significantly enhanced our assistance to small businesses, including the design and initiation of effective tools for communication with minority-owned businesses. She improved the efficiency of her program’s operation by records automation and by implementing an effective field-oriented business assistance and local government outreach program. She developed new ways to directly market the loan guaranty program to eligible businesses and has just completed an initial evaluation of more effective alternatives for providing financial and technical assistance to the business community. She was directly involved in the daily administration of the successful permit amnesty program - one of the 12 points in the Board’s Business Clean Air Partnership and, primarily as an outgrowth of the amnesty program, she developed a number of recommendations for exempting insignificant emitters from the permitting system and improving the administration of our fee system. The Executive Officer recommends renewal of Ms. Lockie’s contract and an increase in coverage to three-fourths of the cost of the Section 457 deferred compensation plan.
James M. Lents, has demonstrated outstanding leadership and integrity as the Executive Officer. During the last three years, he has successfully implemented all the Board's initiatives to streamline operations and reform the District's working relationships with its clients. As a result of his vision and administration, the South Coast AQMD has become the world leader in using market incentive programs to lower the cost of cleaning the air and the region has made significant progress in obtaining clean air. Dr. Lents is a well respected scientist and has demonstrated repeatedly his ability to effectively manage the agency and engender consensus among the regulated and environmental communities we serve. He understands and very capably implements the Board’s directives to balance environmental and economic interests. He has sustained excellence in staff performance, in spite of increasing federal mandates and decreasing resources. The Chairman of the Board and the Administrative Committee recommended renewal of the Executive Officer’s contract at the April 18, 1997 Administrative Committee meeting.
At the May 23, 1997 Administrative Committee meeting it was recommended that this item be set for public hearing June 13, 1997.
Proposal
Fiscal Impacts
Sufficient funds are budgeted in FY 1996-97 budget and will be included in future budgets.
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