Back

REPORT:

Legislative Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Legislative Committee held its regular meeting on Friday, January 23, 1998. The next regularly scheduled Legislative Committee meeting is Friday, February 20, 1998, at 8:30 a.m., in Conference Room CC8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file this report.

James W. Silva, Vice-Chairman
Legislative Committee

Attendance

Richard Alarcón, Chairman of the Legislative Committee, was in attendance but abstained from participation. Jim Silva, Vice-Chair, chaired the meeting, with Committee members Nell Soto and Roy Wilson present. Pursuant to the Procedures for Standing Committees of the Governing Board, adopted March 8, 1996, Vice-Chair Silva appointed Board Chairman William Burke, and Board Member Wayne Nastri as ad hoc members of the Legislative Committee for the January 23, 1998, meeting only. (Attachment 1)

Update on Clean Fuels Reauthorization

Staff is currently working to secure an author to carry the Clean Fuels Reauthorization bill. Staff will report progress in this effort at next Legislative Committee meeting. Wayne Nastri stated that there is some confusion between AB 2766 and clean fuel funds and directed staff to develop talking points specific to clean fuels. Dr. Barry Wallerstein, Acting Executive Officer, responded that staff is currently developing fact sheets on these and other AQMD issues for the Board and will forward them to the Board immediately.

Matrix on Interactions Regarding Federal Policies

Lupe Valdez, DEO/Public Affairs and Local Government Assistance, provided an updated matrix on staff interactions regarding federal policies (Attachment 2). Staff added a column to reflect recent and ongoing activities (per Legislative Committee at November Committee meeting). Staff will continually update this matrix and provide it, bimonthly, to the Governing Board in the Legislative Committee report.

Interviews for Legislative Consulting Services in Sacramento, CA

The Governing Board, at their January 9, 1998, meeting, directed staff to conduct interviews with the proposing firms for Legislative Consulting Services in Sacramento, CA, and Washington, D.C. (Attachment 3) The Legislative Committee interviewed firms for Sacramento, CA. Interviews with proposing firms for Washington, D.C., will be held at a later date.

Interviews were held with three of the five firms evaluated: Brady & Berliner, Allan Lind and Associates, and Torres and Torres. Due to a schedule conflict, Capital Representation Group was unable to participate in the interview process but still received consideration in the award process. The firm of Rose and Kindel withdrew from consideration.

After interviews were conducted, Dr. Burke asked how staff arrived at the budget for legislative consulting services. Dr. Wallerstein responded that staff looked at the salary of the past Legislative Director and previous amount paid for legislative consulting services. Dr. Burke also asked if the Sacramento office would be closed. Dr. Wallerstein responded that the Board made a decision at their November meeting to conduct a recruitment for the vacant Legislative Analyst position in Sacramento, at which time a Secretary was still in that office. Staff is currently recruiting for the Legislative Analyst position. Dr. Burke suggested consideration that, to maximize funding for outside legislative consulting services, the office in Sacramento be closed.

Mr. Nastri reviewed his impressions following the interviews. He commented that no firm expressed great knowledge on AQMD issues and there may be confusion on
AB 2766 and clean fuel funding by one of the firms. Councilwoman Soto added that she felt that Torres and Torres understood the issues very well. Supervisor Wilson commented that he liked Torres and Torres but they lacked experience with a large agency and that Allan Lind has compiled a good consortium. Dr. Burke added that he was impressed by Torres and Torres because they were motivated by principle and suggested that both Allan Lind and Associates and Torres and Torres be hired. Supervisor Wilson expressed concern with hiring two individual firms and suggested a single team approach. This concept was acceptable to the two parties involved. Dr. Burke made a motion to execute a contract with Allan Lind and Associates, with Torres and Torres as a subcontractor under Allan Lind, for an amount not to exceed $150,000. The motion was approved, with Councilmember Alarcón abstaining.

A Special Meeting of the Governing Board was held immediately following the Legislative Committee meeting to discuss and decide on Legislative Consulting Services in Sacramento, CA. The minutes of this meeting are before the Governing Board at their February 13, 1998, meeting, under Board Agenda Item #1.

Other Business/Public Comments

There were no public comments.

Ethnic Community Advisory Group

Attached for your information are the Ethnic Community Advisory Group minutes for the November 12, 1997, and December 10, 1997, meetings. (Attachments 4 & 5)

Attachments

1. Attendance Record

2. Matrix on Interactions Regarding Federal Policies

3. Evaluation of Proposals for RFP #9798-12 on Legislative Consulting Services

4. Ethnic Community Advisory Group minutes (November 12, 1997, meeting)

5. Ethnic Community Advisory Group minutes (December 10, 1997, meeting)

/ / /