SONOMA COUNTY
Sonoma County Mayors’ and Council Members’ Association October 13, 2011
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• Public agencies work together to achieve economies of scale
• Maximize the efficient use of public funds • Takes different forms • Government to government relationships
Definition of Service Sharing
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• Joint Powers Authorities (JPAs): Library JPA; Waste Management Agency JPA
• Contracts for major services: Law enforcement
• Memoranda of Understanding • Regional Partnerships
Already Successful in Sonoma County
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Success Story No. 1
• REDCOM Joint Powers Agreement for Fire & Emergency Medical Services Dispatching
JPA COVERING MOST OF THE PROVIDERS IN THE COUNTY
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Success Story No. 2
• Regional Climate Protection Authority
REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP; EXPANSION OF EXISTING AGENCY FUNCTION
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Success Story No. 3
• Sonoma County Energy Independence Program
REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP; COUNTY OF SONOMA LEAD AGENCY
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Success Story No. 4
• Agreement between Town of Windsor & City of Santa Rosa for use of Geyser pipeline for recycled water
AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO CITIES, USE OF EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE
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Success Story No. 5
• Agreement for Building Official & Inspector Services Between City of Sebastopol & Cotati
AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO CITIES TO SHARE SERVICES
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Success Story No. 6
• Agreements for Law Enforcement Services – County of Sonoma & City of Sonoma – County of Sonoma & Town of Windsor
AN ENTIRE AND PROMINENT MUNICIPAL FUNCTION CONTRACTED WITH PROVDER
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Success Story No. 7
Memorandum Of Understanding Regarding Joint Funding of Economic Development Program between: • City of Sonoma Community Development Agency • Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce • Sonoma County Community Development Commission
JOINT AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO PUBLIC AGENCIES & A THIRD PARTY COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION
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• Held retreats to initiate communication
• Assessed lessons learned • Pursuing new relationships
City/County Managers Association 2011 Activity
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Marin County GSA
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• Success formulas: – Let partner agencies make decisions – Indemnification model – JPA indemnifies the
members – Limited and well-defined role of JPAs – Hire single-purpose contractors
Marin and San Mateo County Lessons
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• Know rules up front – have a withdrawal process; “out clause”
• Need to “move slowly in order to move quickly”
• Need to ensure goals alignment throughout process, each party receives value
Lessons Learned
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• How to deliver the service seamlessly • Labor issues • Local control • Balance of shared governance • Overcome competitive mindsets
Known Challenges in this Process
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• Sharing on a larger scale & in new areas • Agencies to determine specific needs based
on individual assessments: – Threshold of savings – Local control issues – Geographic issues – Grouping like services – Sense of urgency – Culture of each agency/community
Moving to the Next Step
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• Not a new concept • Internal downsizing • Supportive elected officials, communities • Economy presents new opportunities
Existing Assets in this Process
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Existing Assets in this Process (cont.)
• High trust and openness • Specialized staff • Infrastructure / technology investments • Strong relationships • Compelling need • Common financial challenges
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• Potential areas of further sharing/regionalization: – Information technology – Law enforcement – Fire services – Housing administration – Storm water compliance – Training and illness/injury prevention – Park maintenance – Homelessness – Library – Need to also consider special districts / nonprofits / schools as
partners
Next Steps in Process
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• Regional leadership academy – City of Santa Rosa taking the lead; joint/regional training forum
• Information Technology – Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Park Maintenance: including State of California Parks
• Stormwater Mandates • Housing Administration
Areas of Immediate Focus
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• New future of government, not a trend • Studying whether a broad-based umbrella JPA
would be recommended • Committed to continue exploring and
implementing new partnerships
2011-2012 and Beyond
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2011-2012 and Beyond
• Issues are regional and require broad strategies • Not ruling out other partners • Shared values continue to drive future decisions:
– Economy – Efficiency – Best use of public resources – Respect for individual agency needs – Added value by working together
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SONOMA COUNTY
Sonoma County Mayors’ and Council Members’ Association October 13, 2011
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