Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdministration 01-11-06 0o, AMENDED I ST. CROIX COUNTY NOTIC -F, OF C MMTITF.F. MEETING AND AGENDA TO: Buck Malick, Chairman, St. Croix County Board Chair FROM: Art Jacobson, Chair, Administration Committee COMMITTEE TITLE: Administration Committee DATE: Wednesday January 11, 2006 TIME: 9:00 a.m. LOCATION: Government Center, Room 1281 -1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: February 8, 2006 ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES: December 14, 2005 UNFINISHED BUSINESS: NEW BUSINESS: 1. Review Supervisors Per Diem — Proposed Changes 2. Review of Policy re: Department Head Vacancies — Proposed Changes 3. *Resolution to Add Rezonings as a Consent Agenda Item 4. *Discussion regarding Governor Doyle's Signed Bill Allowing County Boards to Downsize Twice Every Ten Years 5. Discussion re: Spring Board of Supervisors Goal Setting/Retreat Session 6. Closed session per WI Stat. 19.85 (1) c for the purpose of an annual performance review. Reconvene into open session to complete agenda items. ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order) SUBMITTED BY: Art Jacobson DATE: January 5, 2006 — amended January 10, 2006 COPIES TO: County Board Office County Clerk News Media/Notice Board Committee Members Chairman Malick Greg Timmerman and Lorin Sather *ADDITIONS/CHANGES /CORRECTIONS 1:23 PM 1/10/2006 JS Online: County boards allowed to shrink Page 1 of 3 Bo nfrne www.isonline.com Return to regular view to I L W A� UU K E E jOUR AL.SEN INEL Original URL: bttp://www.jsonline.com/news/statp County boards allowed to shrink Governor signs law to ease downsizing By SCOTT WILLIAMS swilliamsC j ournalsentinel.com Posted. Jan. 4, 2006 The size of county government is coming under new scrutiny in some parts of Wisconsin after Gov. Jim Doyle signed a measure Wednesday that makes it easier to shrink county boards. Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas immediately announced plans to cut 10 or more positions from the 35- member County Board, a move he said would save taxpayers more than Archived $100,000 a year. Coverage Officials in Ozaukee, Washington and Dane counties also signaled an interest in exploring , ST downsizing. �IJ But while some local officials are drawn to the potential cost saving, others worry that smaller county boards would dilute representation or require board members to become full -time [ Section: state employees. politics "The perception is that you're going to save a lot of money, and its going to be more efficient," said Washington County Board Chairman Ken Miller. "That's not necessarily true." Under the law signed Wednesday, voters can force binding referendums on county board size, if necessary, by collecting enough signatures on a petition. In signing the measure passed by the Legislature, Doyle called it a tool to help counties look for internal efficiencies, adding that it also could increase competition in county board elections. The new law does not force any county to do anything, the governor said. Designed to give county officials more flexibility on the issue, the measure eliminates a previous restriction that county boards could redistrict only once every 10 years, after a new census. The new law empowering counties to take action twice every 10 years was sought by suburban Milwaukee officials after the state allowed Milwaukee County to change between censuses. Milwaukee County in 2004 shrank its board from 25 to 19 members. Craig Thompson, legislative director of the Wisconsin Counties Association, said Wisconsin has larger county boards than many other states, and his organization does not oppose making it easier to downsize them. The state's largest county boards - in Wood, Marathon and Winnebago counties - have 38 members each. The smallest board is seated in Menominee County, with just seven members. Thompson's association opposes the law, however, because it allows voters to force the issue through referendum. http: / /www.jsonline.com/news/ state /jan06 /382808.asp ?format =print 1/9/2006 JS Online: County boards allowed to shrink Page 2 of 3 r Questioning whether voters are aware of the implications of downsizing, Thompson noted that some small county boards involve full -time employees, which often costs taxpayers more than larger, part-time boards. "It's a different kind of government," he said. In Wisconsin, only Milwaukee County supervisors work full time, each collecting a salary of $50,679 a year. Waukesha County supervisors receive part-time salaries of $9,121 a year. Vrakas who was elected coup executive in October on a platform county r a rm of boosting efficiency and controlling taxes, said he is confident that the county's 370,000 residents can be served well by a smaller board. Vrakas said he plans to submit proposals in the next few weeks for either a 25- member or 19- member board so that supervisors can have a choice. Under - representation feared But Waukesha County supervisors have rejected past downsizing proposals, and deep divisions remain on the issue. Supervisor Mareth Kipp of the Town of Genesee said she worries that rural areas would be under- represented on a smaller board and that supervisors would become more politically motivated. "Until somebody comes along telling me that we aren't doing the job we were elected to do, I don't know why we need to change," Kipp said. Supervisor Andrew Kallin of Waukesha, however, said he was excited to hear that Waukesha County was moving to take advantage of the new state law. The savings might not have much effect on the county budget, Kallin said, but shrinking the County Board is an important issue to taxpayers who would like to see a streamlined government. With elections approaching in April to seat new county boards throughout the state, officials said any redistricting decided at this point could not take effect until the next election cycle, in 2008. In Ozaukee County, supervisors voted Wednesday to consider an advisory referendum in April on reducing the 31- member County Board. Supervisors were unaware of the bill that Doyle had signed. "The problem really is a lack of citizens willing to serve on this board," said Ozaukee County Supervisor Tom Richart. "The only way to get an interesting election is to reduce the size of the County Board." In Waukesha County, nine of the 35 County Board seats up for election in April have a competitive race. Seven of 31 seats are contested in Ozaukee County; nine of 30 in Washington County. Dane County Supervisor Dave de Felice issued a statement Wednesday applauding Doyle's action, saying that Dane County's 37- member board should be shrunk. The Racine County Board downsized in 2001 from 31 to 23 supervisors, and County Board Chairman Kenneth Vetrovec said he has no interest in considering another cut. The law is another instance of state lawmakers trying to dictate local governance, he said. "Why aren't we allowing an option for a similar referendum for the state Legislature ?" he said. "Maybe there are too may folks in Madison and it's time for that to be reviewed, too. What's good for the goose is good for the gander." Steven Walters, Jennie Tunkieicz, Dan Benson and Don Behm of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report. hq: / /www.jsonline.com/news/ state /janO6 /382808.asp ?format =print 1/9/2006 OFFICIAL MINUTES ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE JANUARY 11, 2006 Meeting called to order by Chair Jacobson at 9:OOa.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Art Jacobson, Tom Caflisch, Don Jordan and Cindy Leonard. Absent: Jan Zoerb OTHERS PRESENT: Buck Malick, Julie Speer, Chuck Whiting, Amy Geurkink ADOPTION OF AGENDA: Motion by Caflisch, 2nd by Jordan to adopt the agenda. Carried unanimously. DATE OF NEXT MEETING: February 15, 2006. ADOPTION OF MINUTES: Motion by Jordan, 2nd by Caflisch to approve the December 14, 2005 minutes. Motion carried unanimously. SUPERVISORS PER DIEM. Discussion regarding revising the language of the section of the bylaws concerning per diem compensation. An addition to the revised language was recommended b Count Clerk Y Y Campbell and reviewed by the committee. Motion by Caflisch, 2nd by Jordan to approve the language with Campbell's revision. Carried unanimously. REVIEW OF POLICY RE: DEPT HEAD VACANCIES. Malick presented Resolution No. 40(2004) and recommended the language be revised to include "UW Extension Agent" to the review policy when a vacancy occurs. Discussion regarding clarification of the Extension Agent position. Discussion whether the committee has authority to conduct the Extension Agent position review. Malick indicated it does because the county pays a percentage of the salary. Motion by Jordan, 2„d by Leonard to approve the language as discussed. Carried unanimously. RESOLUTION TO ADD REZONINGS AS A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM. Discussion that a supervisor may have an item pulled from the consent agenda if they wish. Discussion if a public citizen wants it pulled from the consent agenda, they must request their supervisor do so. Motion by Jordan, 2 by Caflisch to present the resolution at the next County Board meeting to add rezonings to the consent agenda. Carried unanimously. Resolution was signed at the meeting and will be presented to the County Board at the January meeting. DISCUSSION REGARDING GOVERNOR DOYLE'S SIGNED BILL ALLOWING COUNTY BOARDS TO DOWNSIZE TWICE EVERY TEN YEARS. Discussion that because ofthe recently signed bill if the County Board does not do something about the number of board members, the public may. Discussion regarding the difficulty of getting anything accomplished with thirty-one board members and how the thirty -one- member -board came to be. Discussion if smaller is better what would the number be and why. Discussion regarding the public being somewhat oblivious as to what the County Board does; citizens are not knowledgeable about the role of the County Board and they do not inquire unless there is a hot issue. 1 Discussion regarding compensation involved with a smaller -size board, expecting a smaller number to do more, etc. Discussion regarding re- districting the county and the complications of starting from ground zero. Discussion regarding a comparison with other counties concerning the number of board members per population in St. Croix County. Malick indicated he would recommend a one -third reduction of board members, a smaller board size would force the board to focus on the big picture and be more policy orientated. Currently the County Board has overkill on some issues, an example being voucher review. Forcing the County Board to be less intensive is a good thing. Discussion regarding taking a look at the individual committees, which ones could be less in members, which ones could be combined, and those that could hold fewer meetings, etc. Discussion that transition to a fewer member county board is complicated and that County Board supervisors are best suited to come up with anew number. Discussion regarding jurisdiction boundaries, wards, etc. Currently St. Croix County consists of twenty -one towns, four cities, and nine villages. Discussion that the latest 2000 census would have to be used and it will be difficult to get accurate more recent data and perhaps a realistic goal being the year 2010 when data from the next census is available. Discussion that downsizing could result in a more involved campaign for those choosing to run for a county board seat. Discussion that a first step would be to draft a resolution to be presented at the County Board session in March to see where County Board members stand regarding reducing board size. Jordan suggested a unanimous vote by the Administration Committee to pursue this issue and once there is the nod from the County Board then start the review process. Speer suggested scheduling it for the goal- setting session in April. Motion b Jordan, y Jo dan, 2 b Caflisch that the Administration Committee approve the concept of downsizing the Y pp P g County Board and acknowledge there is additional work and input necessary to make the change and will gain consensus at the March County Board meeting whether to proceed. Carried unanimously. Insert it on the February Administration Committee agenda, Jordan will prepare proper wording and present it at the meeting, Malick indicated this issue is an opportunity for the voters to tell the state legislature something very important and he suggests a referendum next fall concerning St. Croix County reducing its board size at the same ratio as the state Senate and Assembly districts be reduced. Malick suggested this be discussed at the February Administration Committee meeting. Malick presented a handout and requested that the topic of revising Section C (Rules of Debate), items 1 and 2 of the Rules and Bylaws be inserted on the February agenda. Malick suggested the language ought to be revised to state "he /she shall raise his hand" instead of "he /she shall rise." This item will be placed on the February agenda for discussion. DISCUSSION RE: SPRING BOARD OF SUPERVISORS GOAL SETTING/RETREAT SESSION. Malick reported that Whiting has not narrowed the field of facilitators and is not ready to recommend someone to head up the goal setting session in April. Whiting reported he has contacted a group in the Twin Cities but they may be a bit more than is needed. He will report back next month. Whiting indicated that by the March Administration Committee meeting there should be a draft agenda for the goal- setting session. Discussion regarding it being difficult to sort out priorities for the goal- setting session. Brief break taken at 10:15am. Reconvened at: 10:26am 2 CLOSED SESSION PER WI STAT. 19.85 (1) C FOR THE PURPOSE OF AN ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION TO COMPLETE AGENDA ITEMS. Motion by Caflisch, 2 by Leonard to go into closed session (the committee went into closed session at 10:28am). Motion by Caflisch, 2nd by Leonard to reconvene into open session. Motion to adjourn by Caflisch, 2 by Jacobson. Carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 10:50am. Cindy Leonard, Secretary Amy Geurkink, Recording Secretary 3 J