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6.1.1. - Page 1 <br /> RE PO RT <br /> To the Honorable Mayor and City Council <br /> From the Cit Mana er <br /> July 22, 2013 <br /> SUBJECT <br /> Response to Civil Grand Jury Report entitled "South Bayside Waste Management <br /> Authority (SBWMA) Board - Elected Officials or Senior Management Staff?" <br /> RECOMMENDATION <br /> Approve by motion the issuance of the attached letter responding to the June 17, 2013 <br /> Civil Grand Jury Report and authorize the Mayor to sign and send the letter in response. <br /> BACKGROUND <br /> On June 17, 2013 the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury ("Grand Jury") filed a report <br /> with the San Mateo Superior Court regarding whether the South Bayside Waste <br /> Management Authority (SBWMA) board should be reconfigured to be composed entirely <br /> of elected officials (city council members). The Superior Court requires the City Council <br /> to submit a response to the report's findings and recommendations no later than <br /> September 16, 2013, and that the response be approved by the City Council at a public <br /> meeting. <br /> The concept of reconfiguring the SBWMA board stems from concerns raised by <br /> member agencies, including Redwood City, that the public would be better served by a <br /> board consisting of elected officials rather than its current composition of staff from the <br /> member agencies. Redwood City convened a Blue Ribbon Task Force of inember <br /> agency representatives which concluded that stewardship of the significant public funds <br /> involved, full accountability directly to the public, and proper oversight and transparency <br /> of this public agency is in the best interest of the communities which are served by the <br /> SBWMA. It should also be clarified, that the recommendations to appoint elected <br /> officials to the board does not reflect a negative view of staff inembers currently serving <br /> on the board. Rather, the City feels it is not an appropriate role for staff to serve and <br /> oversee in this capacity, but rather serve as advisors and subject matter experts in the <br /> capacity of a Technical Advisory Committee. It is elected officials that should be <br /> responsible for the oversight of this public entity. <br /> ANALYSIS <br /> City staff has considered the findings and recommendations and has prepared a letter <br /> for the Mayor's signature that responds to the Grand Jury's report. The response largely <br /> disagrees with the findings and recommendations of the Grand Jury. Namely, the Grand <br /> Jury finds that "There is no demonstrable advantage to changing the Board <br />