Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.a. Review Committee Charter and draft position paper to consider adopting changes to the Committee Charter as set forth in Board Policy No. BP 013-Standing Committee protocols, guidelines and chartersPage 1 of 7 Item 3.a. BOARD OF DIRECTORS POSITION PAPER DRAFT MEETING DATE: JANUARY21, 2025 SUBJECT: REVIEW COMMITTEE CHARTER AND DRAFT POSITION PAPER TO CONSI DER ADOPTI NG CHANGES TO THE COMMITTEE CHARTER AS SET FORTH IN BOARD POLICY NO. BP 013 - STANDING COMMITTEE PROTOCOLS, GUIDELINESAND CHARTERS 6-11J 3JilrA9491 X11a IJ1,lri/_Ai1►Lem Q21J_131J► 1=1►III 1F KATIE YOUNG, SECRETARY OF THE SECRETARYOF THE DISTRICT DISTRICT REVIEWED BY: ROGER S. BAILEY, GENERAL MANAGER ISSUE It is desired that each of the four Standing Board Committees review its respective Charter at the first regular meeting each year. Attached is Board Policy No. BP 013 with the Charter forjust this Committee. Staff has proposed changes for consideration by the Board. BACKGROUND Board has previously expressed interest in clarifying and reducing their involvement in reviewing expenditures as this is not a strategically significant matter warranting Board review. Additionally, the old laws were written such that it appeared expenditures must be approved first before issued, which is not conducing to efficient business operations. For this reason, many City Councils have eliminated the requirement for approving checks/expenditures as an annual independently audited financial statement is conducted and received by the governing body. As no such exemption exists for Sanitary Districts, Central San staff worked successfully to lobby the legislature allowing for more flexibility. Finance Committee will continue to receive monthly expenditures for review, however the expenditure cover sheet will now be reviewed and signed by the appointed Treasurer (Philip Leiber, Deputy General Manager of Administration) rather than the Committee Chair. The Committee is free to inquire with staff on any questions they may have as part of their review. The Committee will then recommend the item for Board receipt rather than recommend for Board approval. The expenditures, like most financial records, will be subject to the public record act and therefore be available for public review upon request. The charter should be updated to clarify this new role, which should meet the Health & Safety code requirement that expenditures are reviewed consistent with internally established policies. January 21, 2025 Regular FINANCE Committee Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 3 of 118 Page 2 of 7 ALTERNATIVES/CONSIDERATIONS The Board may elect not to adopt the proposed revisions to Board Policy No. B P 013 — Standing Committee Protocols, Guidelines and Charters. This is not recommended, however, as the revisions will achieve the Board goal of reducing its involvement in less strategic administrative matters and be in alignment with California law, as recently amended. The Board may direct modifications to the revisions being proposed to Board Policy No. BP 013 —Standing Committee Protocols, Guidelines and Charters or may direct other revisions FINANCIAL IMPACTS None at this time. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Administration Committee reviewed this item at its January 21, 2025 meeting and recommended RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION Adopt changes to the Committee Charter as set forth in Board Policy No. BP 013 - Standing Committee Protocols, Guidelines and Charters. Strategic Plan Tie -In GOAL ONE: Customer and Community Strategy 1 - Deliver high -quality customer service GOAL FOUR: Governance and Fiscal Responsibility Strategy 1 - Promote and uphold ethical behavior, openness, and accessibility, Strategy 3 - Maintain financial stability and sustainability ATTACHMENTS: 1. BP 013 (with Charter for Finance Committee) January 21, 2025 Regular FINANCE Committee Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 4 of 118 Page 3 of 7 Number: BP 013 Authority: Board of Directors Adopted: March 6, 2014 Revised: February 22, 2024 Reviewed: February 6, 2024 Initiating Dept./Div.: Administration BOARD POLICY BOARD COMMITTEES PI IRP().qF To establish Board committees, adopt general committee guidelines, and adopt charters for each standing committee. P(ll Iry In accordance with Section 2.04.020 of the District Code, when the Board considers it necessary for the efficient transaction of business, it may approve the creation of a committee for the purpose of reviewing, investigating and recommending with reference to a particular matter. This may include standing committees and ad hoc committees. 1. Standing Committees The Board has determined that the District's current Standing Committees are as follows: Administration Finance Engineering & Operations Real Estate, Environmental & Planning These Standing Committees shall operate within the General Committee Guidelines set forth below, which define the role of and provide a framework within which Committee Members and staff must operate. Each Standing Committee shall operate under a Charter approved by the Board as part of this Policy. The Charters set forth below define the mission, policy areas, and scope of each Committee with an emphasis on policy rather than operational matters. January 21, 2025 Regular FINANCE Committee Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 5 of 118 Page 4 of 7 Number: BP 013 BOARD COMMITTEES Page 2of8 2. Ad Hoc Committees Where expediency is required, the Board President shall recommend, and the Board has the authority to appoint an Ad Hoc Committee. GENERAL COMMITTEE GUIDELINES Members Each Standing Committee and Ad Hoc Committee shall be comprised of two Board Members, including a Chair. Members of Standing Committees are nominated annually by the Board President and approved by the Board, in accordance with the following: a) Goal is to annually rotate Board Members on the Committees to ensure all Board Members serve on all Standing Committees. b) A Board Member shall not serve more than two years on any Standing Committee (one as a Member and one as a Chair). c) The Board, by a simple majority, can make exceptions in special circumstances. d) To promote fairness in assignments, given five Board Members and four Standing Committees and moving to a Division -based system, the following structure would apply: Calendar Year 2024 Members Lauritzen [Division 5 Liaison] and Pilecki [Division 11 will serve on one Committee Calendar Year 2025 Members in Divisions 2 and 3 will serve on one Committee Calendar Year 2026 Members in Divisions 4 and 5 will serve on one Committee Calendar Year 2027 Members in Divisions 1 and 2 will serve on one Committee Calendar Year 2028 Rotation by Divisions continuing the above sequence and beyond e) In the event a Board Member declines to serve on two Standing Committees for a calendar year, then the above schedule would be amended accordingly for succeeding calendar year assignments. 2. Role The role of the Committees is advisory to the Board. They may make recommendations to the full Board but cannot direct staff outside of their respective policy areas or expend public resources. January 21, 2025 Regular FINANCE Committee Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 6 of 118 Page 5 of 7 Number: BP 013 BOARD COMMITTEES Page 3of8 3. Agendas The General Manager and staff generate the agendas. The General Manager will determine to which Committee items are assigned as they arise. In cases where certain topics may span two Committees, he/she may confer with the Board President for guidance. 4. Staff Recommendations Staff will specify on Committee agendas what is needed from the Committee for each agenda item (e.g., Committee recommendation for Board approval; receive the report/update, provide input to staff, etc.). 5. Committee Action For those items for which a Committee recommendation to the Board is requested, staff will proceed as follows, depending on the Committee vote: a. Committee recommendation of Board aaoroval. • Routine items will generally be put on the Board Consent Calendar. • Non -routine items will be agendized for a presentation and Board discussion. b. Split Committee vote: The item will proceed to the full Board (not on Consent Calendar), and the reason for the split vote will be reflected in both the Committee minutes and the position paper. For purposes of efficiency within the Committee process, should the two Committee Members find themselves at early impasse regarding their position on any committee matter, it is the policy of this Board to bring that matter to the full Board as early in the process as possible. C. Committee votes against approval: The item will generally proceed to the full Board (not on Consent Calendar), and the Committee's position will be reflected in both the Committee minutes and the Position Paper. 6. Committee Requests for Information When a Committee Member requests information, the Committee must vote on whether to proceed with the request. If the request does not receive Committee approval, staff generally will not proceed with the request. 7. Staff Responses to Committee Requests for Information If the response is in writing, it will generally be made part of the next Committee packet. If the response is provided by staff verbally or via email to Committee Members outside of a convened meeting, staff will provide that information at the next Committee meeting. January 21, 2025 Regular FINANCE Committee Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 7 of 118 Page 6 of 7 Number: BP 013 BOARD COMMITTEES Page 4 of 8 8. Informational Reports The General Manager will determine which informational reports (e.g., NPDES annual report, HHW annual report, Sanitary Sewer Overflow annual report, mentorship presentations, etc.) that do not require Committee recommendation or input will go directly to the Board, and which will be scheduled for Committee review first. 9. Standing Items The use of standing items on Committee agendas is generally discouraged due to potential Brown Act issues. 10. Scheduling, Rescheduling and Cancelling Committee Meetings Committee meetings may be scheduled, rescheduled or cancelled at the request of a Committee Member or staff. The Committee Chair will be consulted prior to the cancellation of any Committee meeting. 11. Appointment of Alternates Use of alternates for Committee meetings is generally discouraged due to potential Brown Act issues; however, when necessary, the Board President may appoint an alternate based on Board Member availability. 12. Review of Internal Audit Reports Individual Internal Audit Reports will be initially reviewed by the Committee having the most relevant jurisdiction over the subject matter of the audit, as determined by the General Manager. However, all Internal Audit reports, after review by the relevant committee, will be provided to the full Board. The Internal Audit work plan adoption, and any intra-year changes to that plan, will not be reviewed by a Committee as those matters shall be directly reviewed and adopted by the full Board. 13. Compensation/Meeting Stipend Board Members attending Standing Committee meetings and Ad Hoc Committee meetings shall be eligible to receive the meeting stipend in accordance with District Code Section 2.04.030 and Board Policy No. BP 045 — Board Compensation, Benefits, and Expense Reimbursement. Committee Charters appear on the following pages. [Original Retained by the Secretary of the District] January 21, 2025 Regular FINANCE Committee Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 8 of 118 Page 7 of 7 Number: BP 013 BOARD COMMITTEES Page 7of8 CHARTER FINANCE COMMITTEE Members Chair, Member Meeting Schedule Monthly, or as needed (subject to rescheduling or cancellation) Mission Provide input and recommendations to the Board regarding the Policy Areas listed below that support the District's Mission, Vision and Values and Strategic Plan. Policy Areas • Fiscal sustainability • Fiscal regulatory compliance • Appropriate levels of internal controls • Investment reserves • Financial reporting and budget documents • Risk Management Scope Review and address staff recommendations. May direct the General Manager to conduct additional research within the Committee's Policy Areas. The Committee is tasked to: • Oversee proper use of financial resources • Ensure compliance with federal, state and public financing requirements • Review financial reports for completeness, accuracy and clarity • Review development, implementation and oversight of investment policies and practices • Provide recommendations related to the annual budget, its implementation and future projections • Review Treasurer -approved summary of expenditures and recommend Board receipt and filing for public record (Board approval is not required. tTo the extent possible, Committee Members are encouraged to provide their questions on expenditures in advance of the meeting) • Ensure adequate public outreach of certain program -related matters within the scope of the Committee, as referred by the General Manager • Oversee Risk Management and associated legal matters Revised by Board 3/6/14, 7/23/15, 2/18/16, 7/6/17, 4/26/18, 8/6/20, 10/21 /21, 2/3/22 January 21, 2025 Regular FINANCE Committee Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 9 of 118