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County of Santa Clara
Office of the Board of Supervisors

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County Government Center, East Winj?
70 West Hedding Street. I Oth Floor

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San Jose. California 951 10
(408) 299-2323
FAX 298-8460 TDD 993-8272

James T. Beall, Jr.

Supervisor. Fourth District

MEMORANDUM
DATE

December 18,1996

TO

Members, Board of Supervisors

Supervisor James T. Beall, Jr.|

FROM

SUBJECT

Restructuring the Board of Supervisors' Committee System

Recommendation:

Approve restructuring of the Board of Supervisors' Committee System, and
direct Administration to prepare the appropriate amendments to the Rules of
the Board.

Background and Reasons for Recommendation:

As incoming Chair of the Board of Supervisors, I propose a major
restructuring of the Board of Supervisors' Committee system.
As our County prepares for legislative changes and looming budget shortfalls,
I would like to see our committee system provide a venue for a
comprehensive review of major policy issues. In addition, I believe our
committee system would benefit from some consolidation, wherein Board

members could effectively focus and provide leadership on specific policy
areas.

My vision for a new committee structure includes 5 major policy committees.
Each Board member would serve as Chair of one committee and Vice-Chair

of another, with specific committee assignments forthcoming in a separate
memorandum. The policy areas would be consolidated as follows:
Health and Hospital System
Children and Families

Housing, Land Use, Environment, and Transportation
Public Safety and Justice
Finance

^^^^"A^roved^Acceptgci Adopted Denied Presented
BY THE SCARD Cr SUPERVISORS

OF THE COJWr/ OP SANTA CLARA
RtjyH'V, A. Psra". Cl.>fk

Board
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Restructuring the Board of Supe

-ors' Committee System
December 18,1996

Each committee would be charged with developing an armual workplan,
focusing on the major policy issues in each area and detailing specific goals
and objectives, including those related to CPM. Committees would also

review key policy-related agenda items before they are sent to the full Board
of Supervisors for approval. Committees should work in an
interdisciplinary, collaborative manner, with each committee chair

developing the committee's membership so the appropriate individuals

are

represented. The Chair of each committee should also work with the

Administration to assign staffing and coordinate meetings so overlap does
not occur.

Each committee would be given the following responsibilities:
Health and Hospital System: Much like the current Health Systems Joint
Conference Committee, the Health and Hospital Committee would continue
to review major policy and budgetary items. The committee would continue
to meet twice a month, alternating between issues related to Santa Clara
Valley Health and Hospital System and issues related to the Health
Departments (Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol, Public Health).

The Health and Hospital Committee will continue to address major items
such as Medi-Cal Managed Care, potential legislative changes, re-engineering,
and significant fiscal issues in the upcoming year.
Social Services: As I indicated in a previous memorandum to the Board of
Supervisors, I believe that the Social Services Agency and related social
concerns deserve serious attention. I propose that a Social Services
committee be formed to address both routine matters involving the Social
Services Agency (review of General Fund Contracts, issues related to the

Children's Shelter, matters pertaining to our General Assistance program) as
well as major social policy considerations, such as welfare reform or the
provision of In-Home Supportive Services.
I would suggest that the Social Services committee divide its time the way
that the Health and Hospital Committee might: one meeting a month would
be dedicated towards "Family and Children's Issues," including many of the
issues previously considered by the Children and Youth Joint Conference
Committee. The Committee should build upon the comprehensive, multi

disciplinary agenda of CYJCC, and move to include other major policy issues
related to families and children.

The second monthly meeting would be devoted towards other social services
issues Aging and Adult Services, Employment and Training, Income
Maintenance, and the Public Guardian's office. The committee could also

Restructuring the Board of Supt sors'Committee System
December 18,1996

consider issues related to domestic violence, senior issues, and welfare
reform.

Housing. Land Use, Environment and Transportation: This committee
would consolidate the work currently performed by the Land Use and
Environment Committee and the Transportation Joint Conference

Committee. I envision this committee working on long-range, strategic
planning in the area of land use, which should flow hand-in-hand with our

environmental programs and transportation planning.
Aside from critical work around land use and environmental issues, the

committee would review general transportation issues, including those
related to the Roads and Airport Department, perform oversight for the
Measure B tax revenue Strategic Plan, and review transportation programs
and fiscal policies. Given the housing crisis in Santa Clara County, and the
potential formation of a Housing Trust Fund, I also believe this topic
deserves a higher profile when considering our overall planning strategies.
Law and Tustice: Based on the existing Crime Task Force, this committee
would address important issues in the area of criminal justice. The
committee would continue to examine policy matters such as criminal justice
costs, crimes related to drugs and alcohol, jail capacity issues, and juvenile
justice. The Law and Justice Committee would also provide a venue for

discussion of matters related to the court system, such as Trial Court Funding
and court consolidation.

Finance: The proposed Finance Committee would perhaps represent the
biggest change from our current committee structure. The Finance

Committee would consolidate the work of the existing Budget, Technology,
Audit, Capital and CPM Committees into one body. I would suggest the
Finance Committee meet once a month on audit-related issues, and at least

once a month to discuss the remaining areas.
The Finance Committee would meet year-round to consider federal and state
funding decisions, and to create an even more effective budget process for the

Board. In the arena of technology, the Finance Committee will be charged
with developing a Master Plan for the County's technology needs, and
allocating resources accordingly. In addition, the Committee would assign
and review audits, and track the implementation of audit recommendations.
In addition, the Committee would assess the County's capital needs and
develop Master Plans for major capital projects. Lastly, the Finance
Committee would monitor the overall implementation of Comprehensive
Performance Management (CPM), so that the mission statement and goals
developed for the County through the CPM process are reflected in our fiscal
approach.

Restructuring the Board of Supi., j5ors' Committee System
December 18,1996

Legislation: In addition to the five policy committees, I would propose that
our Legislative Committee continue to monitor bills, receive updates on our
legislative priorities, develop strategies and pursue legislation of interest to
Santa Clara County.

Linking our Boards and Commissions: On a closely related matter, I am
working with Supervisor Alvarado and the Clerk of the Board to revise the
Boards and Commissions of the Board of Supervisors. This process will
consolidate our Boards and Commissions, and more clearly define the
relationship between the Boards and Commissions and the Board of
Supervisors. This revision will not only give the Boards and Commissions a

clear mission, but will make these bodies more functional in their capacity as
advisors to the Board of Supervisors.
Conclusion:

Attached is a depiction of the proposed committee structure, including
'related committees' that must continue to exist. Specific committee
assignments will be announced in a forthcoming memo; however, serving as
the Chair or Vice-Chair of a policy committee will not prevent participation
on a 'related committee' in another policy area. The attachment also
demonstrates how the newly defined Boards and Commissions might report
back to a specific policy committee, and then back to the entire Board of
Supervisors.
This memorandum represents an attempt to streamline our Board's
committee system. I welcome your thoughts and comments on this
recommendation, and look forward to implementing an improved
committee process in the upcoming year.

attachment

c:

Supervisor Elect Joe Simitian
Supervisor Elect Pete McHugh
Richard Wittenberg, County Executive

Board of Supervisors

Housing,

Health and Hospital

Land Use^
Environment and

Social Services

Public Safety
and Justice

Finance

.^^nsportatiOTu-Related Committees

Health Authority

Joint Child Care Committee

ABAC

Welfare Reform Oversight
Mayor's Aging Leadership

BAAQMD

Council(City of San Jose)
Children's Shelter
Task Force

Mental Health

BCDC

Jail Diversion

MIC

Steering Committee

Transportation Authority

Juvenile Justice

Coordinating Council

LAFCO

Central Fire District
Solid Waste
Commission
Hazardous Materials

Legislative Committee
NACo
CSAC

Advisory Committee
Redevelopment JPA
Library JIA

El Camino Hospital
District

Fair Association Board
of Directors

CalTrain JPB

West Valley Sanitation
District

Related Board and Commissions

Specific committee assignments will be atinoimced shortly; serving
on a 'Related Committee'in another policy area.

on

>

a 'Policy Committee'will not prevent participation

2.

(

H-EHOLU
COUNTY
of
SANTA
CLARA

TO:

Richard Wittenberg
County Executive

SUBJECT:

ITEM NO. 61
SUPERVISORS
RELATING TO
SUPERVISORS

FROM: Erline Jones(/Deputy Clerk,
of the Board of Supervisors

DATE:
FROM THE BOARD OF
MEETING OF 1/14/97
February 19, 1997
RESTRUCTURE OF BOARD OF
COMMITTEE SYSTEM

At its regularly scheduled meeting of January 14, 1997 the Board
of Supervisors took the following action with regard to
Item No. 61 :

Approved restructure of Board of Supervisors committee
system and directed Administration to prepare appropriate
amendments to Rules of the Board.

(Beall)

A copy of the "approved" memorandum is attached for your
information.

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cce

County of Santa Clara

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Office of the County Executive
County Governnient Center, East wing

on,Of

70 West Heciding Street
San Jose. California 951 10
(408) 299-2424

V/r

Prepared by:

Mary Lou Fitzpatrick ,^4/

Reviewed by:

George NeweP,^
Assistant Count'

C'ecurive

June 12, 1997
TO:

The Board of Supervisors

EROM:

Richard Wittenberg, County Executiv

SUBJECT:

Countywide Mission and Goals

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS

It is recommended that the Board adopt the new Countywide Mission Statement

and the mission and goals statements from the five areas of County government as

recommended by the Board Policy Committees.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no fiscal impacts which will result from adopting the recommended

actions.

CONTRACT HISTORY

Non applicable.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

Adoption of the Countywide Mission will create an updated mission statement

which reflects the missions and goals of all county departments and agencies. These

statements are to be considered a work in progress. The statements will be

distributed to all County employees through their departments and programs, with
the request that they be reviewed and discussed during the next 12 month period

so

that a similar submission will be presented to the Board next June. As is true with

the Comprehensive Performance Management(CPM) process the review of
missions and goals is an annual procedure. This assures that County services are
responding to the needs of the community and to the direction of the Board. The

Countywide Mission Statement was reviewed by the Board of Supervisors at their

June 10th meeting and recommendations for changes were made. Those changes
are included in this transmittal packet.

Board of Sup('r\-i.sor.s: Donald F. Gage. Blanra Alvarado. Pere .vicHLigh. Janies T. Beall Jr
CoLintN’ E.xecutivc: Richard wiitenberg

AHiniM rt I

S. Joseph Simiiian

S)

BACKGROUND

During its Fall workshop on CPM the Board of Supervisors adopted the
recommendation of Supervisor Beall to direct the Administration to develop a
process for the Board to review and update its mission and goals. Supervisor Beall
pointed out that an annual review was required by both the County Charter [Article
Ilh Section 301 (a)], and the CPM process.

As a part of the CPM process the Countywide Mission Statement when taken with

the five area mission and goal statements defines in very broad terms the mission of
County Government,"what we do", and the goals or results we hope to achieve
through the services we provide to the community. These missions and goals are
linked to the actual services we provide through the departmental and then the
program mission and goals in a Strategic Framework•where theoretically any
County employee can see what they do reflected in the Countywide Mission and
Goals Statement.

This is the first year where the Board will have adopted a County Mission and Goals
Statement which was developed based on the services it provides and the outcomes
it hopes to achieve. To accomplish this, the Board approved a process where Board
Policy Committees reviewed the mission and goals of the departments in their
service areas and developed a service area mission and goals statement which
would both reflect the type of services provided and the quality of outcomes desired.
The Policy Committees review service areas as follows:
•

Finance Committee

General Government

• Public Safety & Justice Committee - Public Safety & Justice
• Children and Families Committee - Social Services

• Joint Conference Health & Hospital Committee - Health & Hospital
• Housing, Land Use, Environment, Transportation Committee - Environmental
Resources/Roads and Airports

Each Policy Committee has now submitted their recommended mission and goals
statements to be adopted as part of the Countywide Mission and Goals Statements.
CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION

The County will continue to operate with a mission statement which was

developed in 1989 and which does not reflect the changes that have occurred or the
current goals of the County.
STEPS FOLLOWING APPROVAI.

Provide one executed copy of the transmittal to the Office of the County Executive.
The Office of the County Executive will then forward the Countywide Mission and
Goals Statement to all departments and agencies.