SR-102808-8Ac7®
~;tYOf City Council Report
Santa Monicu
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City Council Meeting:
Agenda Item: Br ~
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Dean Kubani, Manager- Office of Sustainability and the Environment
Subject: Measure V Citizens Oversight Committee
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council establish the Measure V Citizens Oversight
Committee with the appointment of at least three members from the Santa Monica
Community.
Executive Summary
The Clean Beaches and Ocean Parcel Tax (Measure V) was passed by Santa Monica
voters in November 2006 in order to raise funds for. implementation of the City's
Watershed Management Plan. Measure V created a Citizens Oversight Committee for
"audit responsibility" over use of Measure V revenues. At their meeting on May 27, 2008
Council adopted a resolution creating the five member oversight committee that sets the
specific duties, responsibilities and terms for the committee members.
Staff solicited applications for the Committee in July and August 2008 and received four
applications. for the five Committee seats. Staff is continuing to solicit applications and
will forward those applications to Council for review and appointment in the future.
However, staff recommends that Council appoint at least three community members
now to establish the. Committee so that it can begin oversight of the Measure V projects
currently underway.
Background
The Clean Beaches and Ocean Parcel Tax (Measure V) was passed by 67% of Santa
Monica voters in November 2006 for the purpose of implementing the City's Watershed
Management Plan. The goals of the Watershed Management Plan are to reduce urban
runoff pollution; reduce urban flooding; increase water reuse and conservation; increase
recreational opportunities and open space; and increase wildlife and marine habitat.
Revenues generated by Measure V can be used for necessary capital as well as
operations and maintenance costs related to storm drainage systems and multipurpose
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capital improvement projects that improve the quality of urban runoff, as well as paying
for any indebtedness incurred for these purposes.
Measure V created the Citizens Oversight Committee for "audit responsibility" over use
of Measure V revenues. Measure V also requires that each year the City's Chief
Financial Officer file a report with the City Council containing: (a) the amount of funds
collected and expended; and (b) the status of any project authorized to be funded as
identified in the Ordinance.
Discussion
The resolution adopted by Councif on May 27, 2008 created the five member Citizens
Oversight Committee. The responsibilities of the Committee are solely advisory to the
City Council and fall into three categories: 1) review of proposed capital and operating
expenditures from Measure V funds; 2) review of actual Measure V capital and
operating expenditures; and 3) review of proposed Measure V capital projects to
confirm consistency with established water quality improvement goals of the program.
The staff liaison to the Committee will be the Manager of the City's Office of
Sustainability and the Environment.
The Committee will set its own meeting schedule, but will be expected to meet at least
bi-annually. The Resolution stipulates that two of the Committee members will be
appointed for an initial one-year term and the remaining three members will be
appointed to two-year terms. Committee members can be reappointed by Council for
additional terms without limitation. The Committee, with the assistance of its staff
liaison, will be charged with preparing and submitting an annual report to Council on the
responsibilities set forth above.
Between July 15, 2008 and August 28, 2008 staff solicited applications from community
members to sit on the Committee. Despite significant outreach and extension of the
submittal deadline three times, only four applications were submitted. Copies of all four
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applications are attached to this staff report. Applications were received from the
following Santa Monica residents: Matmah Salaam, Consultant; Susan Bracey, Finance
Executive; Mark Gold, President -Heal the Bay; and Mark Peacor, Architect.
Financial Impacts & BudgetActions
Staffing for the Citizens Oversight Committee will be conducted by existing staff from
the Office of Sustainability and the Environment and will not require any additional
budgetary allocation. Supplies and expenses for the Citizens Oversight Committee are
expected not to exceed $1,000 per year and will be funded annually by revenues
generated by the Measure V parcel tax.
Prepared by: Dean Kubani, Manager, Office of Sustainability and the Environment
Dean Kubani ~.
Manager, Office of Sustainability and the
Environment
Attachments: Application Forms
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Approved: Forwarded to Council: