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Committee advances LAFCO staffing resolution after debate over term length and funding
Summary
The committee forwarded a resolution to consolidate executive director duties into a senior community development specialist position at LAFCO, authorize use of LAFCO carryforward funds, and extend the position’s potential term (discussed in relation to June 30, 2016); supervisors debated changing the extension to two years but the committee proceeded to forward the resolution.
Frances Shea, representing Supervisor Don Avalos' office, presented a resolution asking the committee to expand the scope of a senior community development specialist position at the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), allow the position to carry out executive‑director duties, use existing LAFCO carryforward funds to cover the work and extend the term for the position by up to three fiscal years.
Shea said LAFCO currently contracts with Miller & Owen for general counsel, and that the cost allocation between general counsel and executive director services has been inefficient. She summarized recent billing figures: roughly $2,145 for limited general counsel work in the prior year and about $64,000 for executive‑director services; more recently LAFCO had paid roughly $5,000 for general counsel and nearly $28,000 for executive‑director work. Shea said consolidating duties into the senior specialist role and billing at the lower hourly rate would result in savings; she cited a lower in‑house rate of about $52.86 per hour compared with the outside rate of $275 per hour and said carryforward funds of roughly $375,000 are available.
Supervisors discussed whether the proposed extension should be two years or three years and whether the dates referenced were calendar or fiscal. Supervisor Katie Tang moved to amend the term to two years; Deputy City Attorney John Givner noted the last authorization had ended June 2013 and that extending to June 30, 2016 would be a three‑year span from that date. Supervisors David Campos and Tang both spoke in favor of giving LAFCO flexibility while ensuring oversight. Shea said LAFCO commissioners plan to review scope and work plans once the board has provided authority.
After discussion the committee proceeded to forward the resolution to the full Board; the motion passed with no objection. The resolution as discussed would allow LAFCO to consolidate duties into the senior specialist position, use the carryforward funds for those duties, and extend the possible term through June 30, 2016 as stated in the staff report.
The item will proceed to the full Board for final action.
