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7. / /1- £'tJ Bay Area Employee Relations Service February 24. 2005 JPA MEMBERSHIP, SERVICES AND FEES 2005-2006 BackQround: The organization that is now known as the Bay Area Employee Relations Service was created as the Intergovernmental Employee Relations Service under a Joint Powers Agreement in 1974. Its purpose was to provide centralized staff and information services to Member agencies in support of Human Resource functions, such as labor relations and position-classification analysis. Original products included printed annual compensation and benefits reports that covered benchmark and executive positions. The program also provided special services including salary surveys, classification studies and a variety of other research. Over the years, this centralized approach resulted in the need to create a database. In August 1999, changes to that database were undertaken in response to member requests for more rapid dissemination of data. When the changes were presented to the organization's Executive Board, the potential for a web site application was recognized immediately. In September 1999, collaboration between the BAERS database designer and a web site designer at the City of Foster City (a Member agency) began. By January 2000, the site was operational with 2,044 total compensation records for benchmark classes. By September of that year, BAERS had assumed full responsibility for continuing maintenance and development of the site's structure and content. Over approximately the next 20 months, BAERS continued to modify the database and web site pages to add features, such as on-line maintenance and a variety of benefits and classifications, including those in information technology and executive ranks. This increased the number of total compensation records to over 3,600. Changes implemented in June 2004 increased the number of these records to over 4,300. Records are offered in 40 occupational categories. The site also presents information covering benefits associated with more than 260 bargaining units. In June 2002, the Board approved a change in fee structure designed to add increased financial stability to this effort. The following pages further describe current operations services and fees. Operations and Membership: BAERS estimates 37 member agencies for FY 05-06. The governing body is the Board of Directors. The Board consists of one representative from each member agency. Agencies are also encouraged to designate alternate representatives. The County of Santa Clara serves as the host organization for the JPA. It is also a member. BAERS' staff members are employees of the County. The County appoints and evaluates the Director with input from the Board. The Director appoints staff and manages programs pursuant to Board and County policies. The Board determines fees and the scope and content of BAERS' services. Generally, Board members and alternates are the person(s) responsible for the Human Resources or labor Relations function at their respective agencies. The Board of Directors elects a President and Vice- President for each fiscal year (July-June cycle). It also elects a Management Committee consisting of the President, Vice-President, an official of the County of Santa Clara and four additional representatives. The Management Committee works with BAERS' staff to provide guidance and develop recommendations for Board consideration. In considering prospective members, the emphasis is on stability in relationships. The only form of membership available is as a signatory to the Joint Powers Agreement. The membership process is straightforward. Key steps include: . Obtaining the Joint Powers Agreement from BAERS and securing approval of the prospective member's legislative body or from a person authorized to enter into Joint Powers Agreements on behalf of that body,