Loading...
15 - CASA MEMBERSHIP DUESItem 15 Costa Mesa Sanitary DistriclE. ....an Independent Special District Memorandum To: Board of Directors From: Scott Carroll, General Managgr-� Date: January 24, 2013 Subject: CASA Membership Dues Summary The California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) is a professional organization that represents sanitary districts in California. They provide leadership, advocacy and information to their members, legislators and the public. CASA also promotes partnerships on clean water and beneficial reuse issues that are intended to protect the public's health and the environment. CMSD has been a member of CASA for many years and it's time to consider renewing our membership with the agency. Staff Recommendation That the Board of Directors forego renewing CASA membership in 2013. Analysis The Costa Mesa Sanitary District belongs to many professional agencies that provides professional development, legislative advocacy, training, insurance programs, public relations and other important services to employees, board members and the organization as a whole. CASA is one of those agencies that CMSD belongs to. CASA was formed to specifically support sanitation agencies in California. According to its website, CASA currently has 108 members. Most of the member agencies provide wastewater treatment and disposal services. Benefits from being a member of CASA include legislative advocacy, conferences (CASA holds three conferences a year), limited educational seminars, biosolids sustainable management policies and access to studies. Membership dues are based on member agency budgets. CMSD dues for 2013 will be $12,000. Attached is a renewal notice and membership dues statement from CASA. 19 Protecting our community's health and the environment by providing solid waste and sewer collection services. www.crosdca.gov Board of Directors January 24, 2013 Paae 2 of 2 I believe CASA membership dues are excessively high and for that amount I do not believe CMSD receives tangible benefits from being a member of CASA. In contrast, CMSD is a member of the California Special District's Association (CSDA). CSDA, which has over 1,000 members, offers a variety of relevant training programs such as preventing sexual harassment, ethics, board secretary/clerk conferences, general manager summits, Legislative Days, and conferences. CSDA also offers a special purchasing credit card, a listserv, online magazine, and a very strong legislative advocacy group. The cost to being a member of CSDA is $4,925. Attachment B is CSDA Highlights of 2012. Board members and staff can still attend CASA conferences, but as a non - member attendee. The cost difference between a member and non - member is $200 per person. If the entire board and two staff members attended all three CASA conferences, the additional cost for attending as a non - member is $4,200; however, CMSD will still save approximately $7,800 from annual dues. Strategic Plan Element & Goal This item complies with the objective and strategy of Strategic Element 5.0, Administrative Management, which states the following: 5.0 Administrative Management Objective: To create, maintain and implement policies and procedures to ensure sound management of the District. Strategy: We will conduct periodic reviews, refine and implement policies and procedures, and assure the General Manager has the direction and tools necessary for successful District operations. Legal Review Not applicable Financial Review The cost for CASA membership dues is $12,000. However, not renewing CASA membership dues can save the District between $7,800 and $12,000 a year depending on CMSD attending CASA conferences. Committee Recommendation On January 15, 2013, the Operations Committee reviewed and discussed this issue. The Committee did not take any action because they want to discuss with the full Board. Board of Directors January 24, 2013 Page 3 of 2 Public Notice Process Copies of this report are on file and will be included with the entire agenda packet for the January 24, 2013 Board of Directors regular meeting at District Headquarters and on District's website. Alternative Actions 1. Do not approve staff's recommendation and renew CASA membership Attachments A: 2013 CASA Membership Dues Renewal Notice B: CSDA Highlights of 2012 CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION of SANITATION AGENCIES I 1215 K Street, Suite 940 • Sacramento, CA 95814 • TEL: (916) 446 -0388 — FAX: (916) 231 -2141 • www.casaweb.org CASA Attachment A RECEIVED MARGIE L. RICE Midway City Sanitary District December 3, 2012 DEC 0 6 2012 E.J. SHALABY CU61A RSA JANIIAItY MUM West County Wastewater District Costa Mesa Sanitary District Executive Board Scott Carroll, GM President 628 W. 19th Street JOHN E. HOAGLAND Rancho California Water District Costa Mesa, CA 92627 -2716 1st Vice President STEPHEN A. HOGG City of Fresno Subject: 2013 CASA Membership Dues Renewal 2nd Vice President DAVID R. MS On behalf of the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA), I want to East Bay Municipal Utility District personally thank you for your ongoing commitment to our Association. For more than Secretary- Treasurer TOM SELFRIDGE 55 years, CASA has been recognized as the leading California voice on water quality and Truckee Sanitary District related environmental policy issues. Your Agency's support, through dues and individual TIMOTHY P. BECKER Oro Loma Sanitary District commitments enable CASA to provide continuing leadership education and up -to -date � � � information. Promoting the essential role of wastewater agencies in the provision of PAUL BUSHEE Leucadia Wastewater District renewable resources and advocating for sound clean water laws and regulations to GARY W. DARLING protect both public health and the environment are the focus of those efforts. Delta Diablo Sanitation District KEVIN W HARDY Enclosed you will find our 2013 CASA membership renewal statement for the calendar Encina Wastewater Authority y Y p BARBARA D. HOCKETT, RN MS Ed year. Your membership is vital to CASA's ability to successfully fulfill our mission and Central Contra Costa Sanitary serve our members. We rely on active member involvement as we embark on new VIVIAN HOUSEN challenges in the years ahead. West Yost Associates JEFF M. MOORHOUSE If you have any questions or need assistance with the renewal process, please contact Carpinteria Sanitary District Debbie Welch at dwelch @casaweb.org or call the office 916- 446 -0388. MARGIE L. RICE Midway City Sanitary District On behalf of the Executive Board, thank you for your support. I wish you a Happy Holiday Season and a New Year filled with good health and prosperity. E.J. SHALABY West County Wastewater District Sincerely, ROBERTA L. LARSON Executive Director MICHAEL F. DILLON State Lobbyist John E. Hoagland GREG KESTER President Biosolids Program Manager ERIC SAPIRSTEIN Federal Legislative Advocate Ensuring Clean Water for California CASA California Association of Sanitation Agencies 2013 Agency Membership Dues Statement TAX I.D. 68 - 0018896 Remit to: 1215 K Street Suite 940, Sacramento, CA 95814 PH: (916)446 -0388 — FX: (916)231 -2141 — Web site: casaweb.org * Please return a copy of the Dues Statement with your check December 3, 2012 CONTACT •- • Name: Costa Mesa Sanitary District Manager: Scott Carroll, GM Address: 628 W. 19th Street City: Costa Mesa State: CA Zip: 92627 -2716 Phone: (949) 645 -8400 $ 8,000 E-mail: scarrollrucrosdca.gov Website: www.crosdca.gov PLEASE DETERMINE YOUR AGENCY'S ANNUAL DUES AS FOLLO $ 800 2. Budget between $500,000 up to $1,000,000 1. Agency 2012 /2013Operations and Maintenance Budget for sewerage collection, $ (1) treatment, disposal and reclamation (including administrative costs, unless your agency $ 8,000 5. Budget between $5,000,000 up to $10,000,000 is multi - purpose). 6. Budget between $10,000,000 up to $20,000,000 $ 15,000 2. For multi - purpose agencies, allocate proportional share of administrative budget for $ (2) sewage services. 3. Subtract budgeted revenues to be received from other agencies that are members of $ (3) CASA, if any. 4. Total for membership dues determination (1 +2 -3). $ (4) 5. 2013 Dues Payment insert from chart below the appropriate fee for membership $ (5) 1. Minimum rate maximum budget up to $500,000 $ 800 2. Budget between $500,000 up to $1,000,000 $ 1,500 3. Budget between $1,000,000 up to $2,500,000 $ 4,000 4. Budget between $2,500,000 up to $5,000,000 $ 8,000 5. Budget between $5,000,000 up to $10,000,000 $ 12,000 6. Budget between $10,000,000 up to $20,000,000 $ 15,000 7. Budget between $20,000,000 up to $100,000,000 $ 18,000 8. Budget over $100,000,000 $ 25,000 *Please return a copy of the dues statement with your check. Thank You "Ensuring Clean Water for California" Attachment B AMEMINM aJ ±. California Districts Association 0000 CSDA Highlights of 2012 ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS – OUR TOP PRIORITIES Safeguarding Special District Revenues • Passthrough Agreements: A last- minute state budget proposal was put forward to invalidate passthrough agreements for special districts and other local agencies— shifting $250 million of local funding to the state. CSDA took the lead in organizing a coalition of organizations that successfully opposed this proposal. • Property Tax Increment: Following the dissolution of redevelopment agencies (RDAs), legislation was introduced — Senate Bill 1156 —that would renew the diversion of property tax increment away from special districts. CSDA advocated the principle that such diversions should require the consent of the local special district board, and the legislation was amended to include that requirement. Prior to dissolution, RDAs diverted over $500 million annually from special districts. At the Forefront of Major Reforms • Pension Reform: After surveying its membership, CSDA represented all special districts before multiple hearings of the Legislature's Conference Committee on Public Employee Pensions. CSDA provided members all of the latest news and materials, including specialized presentations on the reforms' impact. • Workers' Compensation:.CSDA joined a coalition of local government organizations in support of workers' compensation reform that is expected to create significant cost savings for special districts and improve benefits for injured employees so that they can return to work more quickly. Protecting Local Control • Municipal Bankruptcy: The legislator, who reached a compromise with CSDA and other local government organizations last year, sought to immediately undo the agreement in a manner that would have jeopardized the delivery of local services. CSDA opposed this measure, Assembly Bill 1692, which failed passage. Budgeting Discretion: AB 2418 attempted to dictate how locally elected healthcare district boards could spend local property tax dollars, including the amount that could be placed in reserves. CSDA joined healthcare district advocates in opposing this precedent- setting measure, which failed passage. Preventing Costly State Mandates • Public Records: SB 1002 would have cost each special district approximately $4,000 a year to meet "open format" requirements for Public Records Act requested data and documents. CSDA and other local government organizations opposed the legislation and secured amendments that removed the costs. • Sales Tax Permits: SB 1125 sought to require local agencies to maintain a copy of the seller's permit of every outside vendor and vendor affiliate at an estimated cost to each special district of over $8,000 a year. CSDA secured an exemption for districts, which would have realized no benefit to offset the costs of compliance. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVES ELECTED /APPOINTED OFFICIALS & DISTRICT STAFF Board Secretary/Clerk Conference This event gathered more than 130 Board Secretaries and Clerks in Monterey for our second such conference. In an effort to provide professional development opportunities throughout the state, the 2013 Board Secretary/Clerk Conference will be held in Anaheim, February 28 - March 1. General Manager Leadership Summit The first annual summit was held in Napa this July with more than 120 attendees. The conference focused on critical areas within the general manager's responsibilities, including relationships with the board, human resources, policies and procedures, pensions, liability exposures and legal issues. Webinars CSDA webinars continue to be a cost - effective way for CSDA members to participate in professional development programs. With prices starting at just $49 and no travel costs, CSDA members were able to participate in webinars on a variety of topics from Required Ethics AB 1234 Training and Harassment Prevention Training to Customer Service, Proposition 218 & Rate Setting, and Records Retention & Management. 2012 CSDA Annual Conference & Exhibitor Showcase Held September 24 -27 in San Diego, this year's conference drew nearly 500 special district elected /appointed officials and staff. Over 30 breakout sessions provided attendees with valuable information covering a variety of topics including technology, administration, district operations and governance. Save the Date! The 2013 CSDA Annual Conference & Exhibitor Showcase is coming to Monterey, September 16 -19. CSDA MEMBER SERVICES CONTINUE TO EXPAND Adding Value to Membership CSDA was proud to announce a partnership with eCivis, an online provider of federal, state and foundation grant information and management tools. CSDA members can now receive a discount of 35 -85 percent off eCivis' standard pricing. The CSDA member discount from CalChamber was another new benefit added in 2012. Districts get 10 percent off the purchase of employee posters and other HR compliance resources offered through calchamberstore.com. Chapters Become Formalized Local special district associations across the state have strengthened their relationship with CSDA by adopting an affiliation agreement with the state association. Affiliated chapters are able to use the CSDA name and logo and have increased access to many CSDA resources. Association -Wide Communication Survey Always looking for the best way to get information out to members, CSDA completed an association -wide survey on communications. CSDA asked members to tell us how they want to receive information on professional development offerings, legislative updates and new member services. Survey results indicated, among many other things, that members enjoy weekly updates through the CSDA e-News and in -depth articles from California Special District magazine. CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICTS ALLIANCE: YOUR DISTRICT'S PREMIER RESOURCE The California Special Districts Alliance partners — CSDA, CSDA Finance Corporation and SDRMA— collaborated on a number of projects to benefit special districts. In 2012 the main focus was on expanding professional development opportunities, including webinars, regional workshops and conferences. Technology was also a priority of the Alliance as shown by their support of the newly launched Special District Mapping Project. CSDA Finance Corporation The CSDA Finance Corporation initiated a program for the refinancing of CalPERS side fund obligations, providing special districts and other local government agencies with a means to reduce expenses in their general fund. With interest rates at historic lows, numerous districts contacted the Finance Corporation for cost- saving analyses. Special District Risk ManagementAuthority (SDRMA) SDRMA continued their focus on providing special districts with the most cost - effective risk management solutions possible, including property/ liability coverage, workers' compensation and health benefits. To assist their members during the ongoing difficult economic times, SORMAs Board of Directors kept rates flat for property /liability and adopted the 2012 WCIRB rate recommendations for workers' compensation for program year 2012 -13. INCREASING SPECIAL DISTRICT VISIBILITY With the support of the California Special Districts Alliance, CSDA launched the Special District Mapping Project, a comprehensive and interactive online map of all the special districts in the state. The map will continue to be refined with more special district boundaries as additional shape files are gathered.