County to create yet another Joint Powers Authority

Alameda County Board of Supervisor's Regular Meeting

agenda: http://alamedacounty.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=alamedacounty_e1aac51a302a994b950b7f000ec4bf14.pdf&view=1

23. Public Works Agency - Approve the following recommenations:
A. Authorize the General Manager of the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (District) to execute a Joint Power Authority (JPA) Agreement with the California State Water Resources Control Board, the Ventura County Watershed Protection District, and the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District;
B. Appoint the District’s stormwater program manager as the representative to serve on the JPA’s Board of Directors; and
C. Authorize the General Manager to approve immaterial revisions to the agreement requested by the other initial signatories and/or the inclusion of additional members after review by County Counsel, the estimated start time for the JPA is January 2015 and will continue until such time as it is dissolved by the parties.
- CAO Recommends: Approve

attachment 23: http://www.acgov.org/board/bos_calendar/documents/DocsAgendaReg_11_04_14/SITTING%20AS%20THE%20FLOOD%20CONTROL%20AND%20WATER%20CONSERVATION%20DISTRICT/Regular%20Calendar/ACPWA_210619.pdf

There are multiple levels of "regional" government that nest in-between the high school civic's class understanding of local-county-state-federal government. Currently there are multiple dozens of authorities that exist within and without the county of Alameda. Aside from the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum JPA, how many can you name? How many are reported on in any of the Bay Area News Group's incestuous McNewspapers? The state often passes legislation or creates regulations that force lower governmental entities to create/join other regional authorities. Sometimes it is done by the local & county governments of their own accord. NO one watches these governmental entities. They supposedly have open meetings but no one will ever know about them. They rarely have distribution lists for the agendas/meeting minutes/reports for upcoming meetings. They essentially don't exist in the public's eyes yet they have can have quite a bit of responsibility. Often, the appointees are elected officials who are self-chosen based on a pro-whatever basis the authority exists for. The other appointees are usually appointed departmental heads of related agencies who have been appointed to both positions based on the pro-whatever basis those positions exist. One can see how this all leads to rubberstamping. Even more so when one considers that almost ALL items brought before elected or appointed bodies are drafted and executed by the hired and appointed staff of the governmental agency.

Contact your county supervisor and tell them NO more! Stop this insanity! The Alameda County government is huge and yet almost no one knows of it or what it does. If you live within the municipal boundaries of Oakland, you might be surprised to learn that this hidden government is the single largest employer within that area. Yet, only 5 elected supervisors are really responsible to the county residents.