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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