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Home My WebLink AboutAGENDA REPORT 2003 1119 CC REG ITEM 09EITEM a . E. MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT TO: Honorable City Council FROM: Deborah S. Traffenstedt, ATCM /City Clerk y DATE: November 13, 2003 (CC Meeting of 11/19/03) SUBJECT: Consider Letter in Support of Retaining Funding for State Resources Agency BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION Councilmember Mikos requested that this item be added to the agenda. She currently represents the City of Moorpark on the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) Advisory Committee and was provided with the attached information from the Executive Director of the SMMC. Included as an attachment is a copy of a letter dated November 12 from the State Secretary for Resources explaining that the State Legislature's denial of funding will result in the shut down of the Resources Agency. Councilmember Mikos is requesting that the City Council send a letter to our state legislature representatives, to the governor -elect (and anyone else we think is appropriate) to oppose the shut down of the Resources Agency and to suggest following the plan suggested by the Agency to be able to operate without taking general fund money. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Direct staff as deemed appropriate. Attachments: 1. E -mail from Joseph Edmiston, SMMC, dated 11/12/03 2. Letter from Mary Nichols, Secretary for Resources, dated 11/12/03 000183 Page 1 of 1 Debbie Traffenstedt From: Joseph T. Edmiston, FAICP [edmiston @smmc.ca.gov] Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 10:57 PM To: Board Secretary (E- mail); Ed Begley (E- mail); Elizabeth A. Cheadle (E- mail); Hal Ross (E- mail); Heather Barnett (E- mail); Jerome C. Daniel (E- mail); Jody Cook (E- mail); Jonathan Zasloff (E- mail); Linda Parks (E- mail); Maria Elena Durazo (E- mail); 'Pedro Nava; 'Ronald P. Schafer'; Steve Horn (E- mail); Woody Smeck (E- mail); Alan Kishbaugh (E- mail); Anthony Portantino (E- mail); Barry Read (E- mail); 'Bruce Saito; Caroline Brown (E- mail); 'Claudia Bill De La Pena'; 'Dennis Seider; Don Robinson (E- mail); 'Ed Corridori'; George Lange (E- mail); Heinz Ellersieck (E- mail); Lesley Devine (E- mail); 'Liane Weintraub'; Linda Palmer (E- mail); Lorraine Slattery (E- mail); Marc Stirdivant (E- mail); Mark Johnson (E- mail); Nancy Stephens (E- mail); Richard Gould (E- mail); Roseann Mikos (E- mail); Thomas D Seifert (E- mail); Timothy Wendler (E- mail); Ed Hayduk (E- mail); Michael Berger (E- mail); Mike Berger (Home) (E- mail); Tex Ward (E- mail); Carolyn Kraft (E- mail); George Magallanes (E- mail); Laura Plotkin (E- mail); Mary Sue Maurer (E- mail); Susan McEntire (E -mail) Cc: Rorie A. Skei (E- mail); Reva Feldman (E- mail); Juliet Chung (E- mail); Amy Lethbridge (E- mail); Laurie C. Collins (E -mail) Subject: Resources Agency closes up shop Dear all: See the attached memo from Resources Secretary Nichols. It is unclear what affect this will have upon the Mountains Conservancy board, for statutory purposes there certainly will be a "Secretary for Resources" in the new administration, whether or not with much staff back -up remains to be seen, so even with this budgetary shut down the secretary would still be empowered to appoint an employee of one of the Resources Agency departments as his or her designee. My guess is that the Legislature took this action because of the uncertainty of the new administration, and that with a special session of the Legislature being called for next week, the fate of the Resources Agency will be a topic of further negotiation. Joseph T. Edmiston, FAICP Executive Director Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy edmiston..aLsmmc.caggov 11/13/2003 000184 S T A T E O F C A L I F O R N I A GRAY DAVIS, Governor MARY O. NICHOLS, Sructary IC4 ti t A G E N C Y November 12, 2003 To: All Resources Agency Staff From: Mary D. Nichols Secretary for Resources Re: Legislature's Denial of Funding For The Resources Agency As you know, last July the Legislature sent the Governor a 2003 -04 budget that eliminated all General Fund support for the Resources Agency. The sum involved was not large: about $1.2 million dollars, or 1 /1000th of one percent of the total State Budget. But for the Agency that funding is critical since it constitutes approximately three - quarters of the support for our core functions. This was not the first time the Agency has had its General Fund support cut. In the early 1990's about 25% of the General Fund appropriation was reduced, but we were allowed by the Legislature to make up that difference by assessments on our departments. Following that precedent, the Department of Finance sent a request (known technically as a 'Section 28.5 Letter') on September 19, 2003 to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. Finance asked for approval to make up 95% of the funds that had been zeroed out in the Budget from our departments. This approach seemed reasonable: it would allow for the Agency to continue to function, while incurring absolutely no additional funding out of the State's General Fund. Moreover, the assessments had been developed so they would not impact program delivery by our departments. 1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311, Socromento, CA 95814 Ph. 916.653.5656 Fox 916.653.8102 http:llresources.co.gov C�wio:?r� +:nnscr >u;,er. Cotes • p^portrrwrrro{fio:+ting & Wcsenvays • th >I:arrn. xm o.:onseNG,ion • ikpa+rmenrof Fisl+ &Ca+re • r�crtra>nr or'wesrry & Firer'mtC: rirn • brxrrr;enr of v arks & R<cremion fkrpartms37ut.5'ater Reipur;c`i •Catifan»a Consral COmmissiar •Cold(kn;a Tat= Come. vanry •Comhe fla'VWJey,Vaunra;ns Conse."nry-Sur joarun Ri:w Corserva^c o • Swm',Ibr!coh`.o;:ira is Conser on;y CocraG, sRUerSnarf ofC<: Itfomn• inen�yRZSOUttetCrMSCnatinrt& UevtkpmriComntsson •SanfranciHOfim /Conseraton &fir n, mattCamrsvon• San hfouwain;Gln;rrvan;y BOO M$) IOUs earmywncy • Srore coasra: Conkywwy • Statr. Lards Cor. mnV%sion • Stat¢ Redamerion °card • Nw,'YeArtmmran ileritcge Ceur;ntissiur. 000185 Page 2 November 12, 2003 We learned on Monday, November 10, 2003 (following a second submission of additional information to the Committee) that the Legislature has denied the request. The effect of this unprecedented decision is to shut down the Resources Agency. The Legislature's failure to act impacts every single person who works here at Agency — every executive, and every member of the support staff. must inform you that layoffs are now inevitable. We are developing a plan for an orderly shutdown. In the next few days each of you will be receiving specific notification of your rights and employment status. In the meantime, all travel and supply and all equipment purchases are immediately suspended. Proposed and existing contracts will be reviewed for consistency with the shutdown. As you know the Resources Agency — one of only six Cabinet agencies in the state's administration — oversees 31 departments, boards, commission and conservancies. These agencies touch the lives of almost every Californian in a way that no other Agency does, with facilities, personnel and staff — including Rangers and Wardens — in virtually every single county in the State. The Agency takes leadership in long -term planning and ensuring that various departments speak coherently. We address myriad issues that cut across departmental boundaries. Without Agency oversight, there is no ability to resolve conflicts that arise in the legal, legislative, land acquisition, budgetary, fiscal, or environmental program areas. Ironically, all the programs that will be affected were created by the Legislature itself. Without an Agency Secretary and Agency structure new projects and acquisitions that could be funded by the Secretary will not be committed. This would include Propositions 13 and 40 River Parkway funds for the American, Tuolumne, Ventura, Santa Ana and San Diego Rivers; and Proposition 12 funds for the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers. Finally, without the Resources Agency, there will be no one to serve as the liaison between the departments and the Governor's office. The Governor's office and the Department of Finance will now be forced to wade through separate and competing funding requests and legislative proposals from 31 separate entities. This is precisely the situation the Legislature wanted to avoid in 1961 when it established Cabinet Agencies. Agencies were created to streamline the Governor's decision - making process and make state government more manageable. 111 :. Page 3 November 12, 2003 These are undoubtedly difficult fiscal times for the State. Closing down the Resources Agency, however, makes no sense from a budgetary or a programmatic point of view. We offered the Legislature a plan that would have no impact on the General Fund. Since the funding was spread out over many of our departments' administrative support budgets, the plan would not have affected program delivery. We have already trimmed all overhead costs and eliminated all vacant positions. Therefore, we have no choice but to cease operation. Working together all of us here at the Resources Agency have achieved many milestones in ensuring California's water supply; protecting land and wildlife; promoting strategic conservation investments. We have worked hard to protect, and restore our rivers, lakes and bays. We played a crucial role in promoting energy efficiency and conservation. And we have tirelessly protected our spectacular coastline. Sadly, the recent decision by the Legislature means that these important endeavors to protect our resources and environment will be jeopardized. I wish you continued success in the next chapter of your lives, and on behalf of the people of California, I want to thank you for your hard work and dedication. Cc: Mr. Steve Peace, Director, Department of Finance Mr. John Lloyd, Department of Finance Mr. Patrick Kemp, Department of Finance Members of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee Resources Agency Directors Resources Agency Chief Deputy Directors 000187