MINUTES OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
December 12, 2005
CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
Chair Dixon called the Administrative and Finance Committee meeting to order at 2:04 p.m. Committee members present were Chair Dixon, Vice Chair Dailey, and Directors Brammell, Knutson, Muir, Price, Watton and Williams. Committee members absent were Vice Chair Tu and Directors Bowersox, Johnson, Parker, Steiner and Representative Slater-Price. Also present were Directors Bond, Croucher, Lewanski, Linden, Rhinerson and Sundram. Staff present was General Manager Stapleton, General Counsel Hentschke, and Deputy General Manager Lanspery.
CONSIDERATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE CODE AMENDMENTS REGARDING COMPENSATION AND EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT
Mr. Hentschke gave an overview of the recommended Administrative Code amendments. These included the following:
Issue: Limit on reimbursement for tips . As currently proposed, Section 2.05.020, subdiv. (a) reflects existing policy limiting reimbursement on tips for reimbursable meals and other services to 15 percent. At the last committee meeting, some directors suggested this amount be increased.
Policy question 1 : Should the limit on reimbursable tips be increased from 15 percent to 20 percent?
Director Muir requested that staff prepare a chart showing the tipping policies of our member agencies.
The vote was two votes to support and six votes to oppose.
Issue: Limit on reimbursement for meals . As currently proposed, Section 2.05.020, subdiv. (g) reflects existing policy limiting reimbursement for meals, including beverages and tips, to $50 per day, or $65 per day in designated high-cost cities. At the last committee meeting, some directors suggested this amount be increased.
Policy question 2 : Should the maximum daily amount reimbursable for meals, including beverages and tips, be increased from $50 to $60, and in high-cost cities, from $65 to $75.
The vote was one vote to support and seven votes to oppose.
Issue: Designation of meetings and other occurrences for payment of per diem compensation . AB 1234 lists specific meetings and occurrences that qualify for per diem compensation. It authorizes a local agency to designate other meetings and occurrences that constitute performance of official duties and qualify for payment of per diem compensation. The list of official Water Authority meetings and other occurrences that qualify for per diem compensation is contained in Section 2.05.010, subdiv. (c). As currently proposed, Section 2.05.010 would preclude payment of per diem for attendance at meetings or conferences of the California Special District Association. The Water Authority is not a member a CSDA. Also, as currently proposed, the policy would preclude payment of per diem for attendance at the monthly “North County Agencies” meetings and the monthly “City 10” meetings on the basis that these are not Water Authority functions.
Policy question 3 : Should meetings or conferences of the California Special District Association be added to the list of occurrences that constitute performance of Water Authority duties?
The vote was eight votes to support.
Policy question 4 : Should attendance by the City of San Diego’s representatives to the Water Authority at monthly “City 10” meetings qualify for per diem?
The vote was seven votes in opposition. Director Price abstained.
Policy question 5 : Should attendance at the monthly “North County Agencies” meetings qualify for per diem?
The vote was seven votes in opposition. Director Price abstained.
Issue: Attendance at meetings by teleconference . AB 1234 authorizes payment of per diem for “attendance” at meetings and other authorized occurrences that constitute the performance of official duties of a local agency. Proposed Section 2.05.010, subdiv. (d) defines attendance as including physical presence and participation by teleconference. AB 1234 does not authorize compensation for time spent preparing for a meeting. As currently proposed, Section 2.05.010, subdiv. (d) lists specific occurrences in which a director may participate by teleconference. Some directors suggested the list should be expanded to permit the Water Authority’s representatives to other organizations to receive per diem for participation in teleconference meetings of those other organizations.
Policy question 6 : Should Section 2.05.010(d)(3) be expanded to allow the Water Authority’s representatives to other agencies and organizations to be compensated for participation in teleconference meetings?
The vote was eight votes in support.
Issue: New rule precluding a director from getting paid per diem if another agency is also paying, or could also pay, the director for the same time or activity. The Water Authority’s current practice is to pay directors per diem based solely on whether the director participated in a compensable Water Authority activity.
Policy question 7 : Should the Water Authority compensate a director who receives pay from a member agency while attending a Water Authority meeting or occurrence?
The vote was seven in support. Director Watton abstained.
Policy question 8: Should the Water Authority compensate a director who receives pay from another public agency that is not a Water Authority member agency while attending a Water Authority meeting or occurrence?
This item was pulled. The vote was six in support of pulling this item.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Administrative and Finance Committee, Chair Dixon adjourned the meeting at 4:04 p.m.
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Jesse Dixon
Chair
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