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COUNTY OF SAN MATEOInter-Departmental Correspondence |
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DATE: |
March 12, 2002 |
BOARD MEETING DATE: |
March 26, 2002 |
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TO: |
Honorable Board of Supervisors |
FROM: |
Supervisor Mark Church |
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Supervisor Mike Nevin |
SUBJECT: |
Ordinance Amending the Salary Ordinance (Ordinance No. 04060) to Add One Full Time Deputy County Counsel Position to the Office of the County Counsel |
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Recommendation |
Introduce an ordinance amending the Salary Ordinance (Ordinance No. 04060) to add one full time Deputy County Counsel position to the Office of the County Counsel, and waive reading of the ordinance in its entirety. |
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Background |
With last year's amendment of Public Utilities Code section 21661.6, which eliminated any dispute over the County's authority to approve or deny plans for the expansion of San Francisco International Airport into San Francisco Bay, the County has assumed a major role in the consideration of the Airport's plans for expansion. The San Francisco Airport subcommittee has identified a number of issues which need to be addressed. On September 18, 2001, the Board approved and entered into a contract with the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, a law firm with particular expertise in the area of airport construction and operation, to represent the County in carrying out its responsibilities under Public Utilities Code section 21661.6 and the California Environmental Quality Act with respect to the proposed San Francisco Airport expansion project, and to further represent the County with respect to other issues involving the County and the City and County of San Francisco. |
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As the range of issues affecting the relationship between the County and the Airport have been identified, and the scope of the effort that will have to be made over the next several years has been realized, it became apparent that the County will require centralized, in-house management of the overall effort with regard to the Airport. This coordinating effort will involve, among other things: |
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a. The gathering of information from, and coordination of effort with, the more than 30 other agencies that have a role in the review and/or approval of any Airport plan for expansion. |
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b. Coordination of the effort to analyze the information gathered from all sources in preparing for the hearing process to be conducted pursuant to Public Utilities Code section 21661.6, and the conduct of that hearing process. |
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c. Coordination of the County's role as a Responsible Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act, including the possible retention of an outside contractor to conduct an independent environmental analysis based on environmental documents prepared by the Airport. |
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d. Liaison with the Akin, Gump law firm to ensure that they receive appropriate direction and are afforded access to County resources as necessary for them to complete their work. |
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Given the predominance of legal issues that will need to be addressed, the subcommittee has determined that this coordinating role should be assumed by the Office of the County Counsel. |
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Because of the major commitment that will be required to address Airport related issues, the subcommittee is also recommending that an attorney position be added to the staff of the Office of the County Counsel so that this effort may be undertaken without impact to the other services the Office of the County Counsel provides. Further, the subcommittee is recommending that a planner be assigned to the Office of the County Counsel, with direction to be given by that office, to assist in the effort. |
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Vision Alignment |
This action would help the County achieve the Shared Commitment to redesign the County's urban environment to increase vitality, expand variety and reduce congestion, and the Shared Goal of making land use decisions that consider transportation and other infrastructure needs as well as impacts on the environment and on surrounding communities. |
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Fiscal Impact |
The position would result in the yearly expenditure of approximately $146,000 in salary and benefits. |
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__________________________________ |
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Mike Nevin, Supervisor, Fifth District |
Mark Church, Supervisor, First District |
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cc: |
John Maltbie, County Manager |
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Marcia Raines, Director of Environmental Services |
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Thomas F. Casey III, County Counsel |