September 9, 1997




The Honorable William L. Gordon
Presiding Judge
Santa Barbara Superior Court
1100 Anacapa Street
Santa Barbara, California 93121


Dear Judge Gordon:

First of all, I would like to thank the members of the Grand Jury for the conscientious and thoughtful effort reflected in the 1996-97 Final Report. Please be assured that the City of Santa Barbara will give careful consideration to the recommendations of the Grand Jury.

The City's response to the specific findings and recommendations requested by the Grand Jury are as follows:

FINDING 1: Boards and commissions established by local resolution or Minute order may no longer be needed because their original purpose has been accomplished. There is a need for a written policy for disbanding a committee.



FINDING 6: Reporting to the governing bodies via agendas and minutes may not adequately indicate effectiveness of boards and commissions. Annual reports are not consistently required or submitted.


RESPONSE:The City of Santa Barbara appoints a City Councilmember liaison to each of the 31 advisory groups appointed by City Council (attachment 1). Councilmembers regularly attend advisory group meetings as observers. As a result, Councilmember liaisons are well informed as to the activity of their assigned advisory groups and are able to assist City Council with first-hand information during deliberations of issues brought before City Council by the advisory groups.Consideration of whether or not to require each and every advisory group to file an annual report on the group's activities is a policy issue that would have to be considered by the City Council.

As such, Recommendation 6 will require further analysis. The issue will be presented to City department heads for consideration and input. A staff recommendation will then be formulated for City Council consideration and would likely involve a request for input from each of the advisory groups as to the value of an annual report or other suggested method for advisory groups to report their activities to City Council and the community. The analysis and recommendations to City Council will be completed by December 31, 1997.


FINDING 7: An organization chart or matrix would help to clarify the function of each board or commission and its relationship to government structure. Such a chart or matrix would also identify redundancy or an unmet need.


RESPONSE:An organizational chart (attachment 2) showing the current 31 City of Santa Barbara advisory groups and their relationship to each department is attached. This organizational chart is included in the Handbook to City of Santa Barbara Advisory Groups which contains specific detailed information about the history, function, membership, qualifications, terms, meeting schedule, time involved, financial disclosure requirement, staffing, and legislation on each group.


In closing, I would once again like to thank the members of the Grand Jury for its conscientious and thoughtful analysis.

Sincerely,


Harriet Miller
Mayor

HM:rh

Daniel J. Wallace, City Attorney

Attachments

ATTACHMENT 1



CITY OF SANTA BARBARA ADVISORY GROUPS COUNCIL LIAISONS




Airport Commission .......................................................................Beaver
Architectural Board of Review ........................................................Beaver, Garcia
Arts Advisory Committee ...............................................................Langer
Building and Fire Code Board of Appeals .......................................Blum
Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens
Area Agency on Aging ...................................................................Hart
Civil Service Commissioners, Board of .........................................Blum
Community Development and Human Services Committee .........Hart
Community Events and Festivals Committee ................................Hart
Douglas Family Preserve Advisory Committee ............................Hart, Alt.: Blum
Downtown Parking Committee .....................................................Beaver
Fire and Police Commissioners, Board of .....................................Roberts
Fire and Police Pension Commissioners, Board of .......................Blum
Franklin Center Advisory Committee ...........................................Blum
Harbor Commissioners, Board of .................................................Roberts
Historic Landmarks Commission .................................................Beaver, Garcia
Housing Authority Commission ...................................................Garcia
Library Board ................................................................................Blum
Lower Westside Center Advisory Committee ...............................Blum
Naval Reserve Center Overview Committee* ...............................Mayor Miller, Beaver, Roberts
Park Commissioners, Board of .....................................................Blum
Planning Commission ...................................................................Langer
Public Access Advisory Committee .............................................Mayor Miller
Recreation Commission ................................................................Garcia
Rental Housing Mediation Task Force ..........................................Roberts
Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District Board ........................Garcia
Santa Barbara Public Facilities Corporation ...................................Hart
Santa Barbara Sister Cities Board ..................................................Mayor Miller
Senior Citizens, Committee for .....................................................Mayor Miller
Sign Committee ............................................................................Beaver
Water Commissioners, Board of ...................................................Langer
Westside Center Advisory Committee ..........................................Garcia



*Voting Member(s)