October
10, 2007
Gene Gilbert, Council Member
Melanie Fesmire, Council Member
100 Civic Center Mall
Re: Suggested Use of Technical Advisory Committee
Dear Mr. Gilbert and Ms. Fesmire:
I want to thank you for your letter of August 16, 2007 and
for your having met with myself and staff of the Coachella Valley Mosquito and
Vector Control District to address your questions about District financial
issues. I also want you to know that I
appreciate your confidence in me as your appointed representative to serve as a
Trustee to the District. I take my
responsibilities very seriously. I
believe my election to the office of President of the Board of Trustees
confirms my dedication and commitment.
I wanted to respond to your letter suggesting that a
Technical Advisory Committee be established in a manner similar to the process
used by the Coachella Valley Association of Governments. I was not initially familiar with the role of
that committee on CVAG and have now obtained some background to give your
suggestion consideration prior to responding.
It is my understanding that CVAG and the Palm Springs Desert
Resorts Communities Convention and Visitors Authority are both “joint powers
authorities”. Joint powers authorities
are separate agencies created by the cities under an agreement between them to
collectively exercise some powers or purposes on their behalf. A joint powers authority does not come into
existence unless the cities feel it is beneficial to surrender some of their
power to another entity so that it can be exercised through that entity. The desire for city manager oversight and
control through a TAC is a good method to assure the cities that their intent
is being followed and implemented.
Joint powers authorities are also funded by the cities
either through grants or other sources of revenue that the cities allow to be
collected on their behalf. I am told
that in some cases, liability can flow back to the city members for actions
undertaken by an independent joint powers authority they have created.
The District is not a joint powers authority created by an
agreement among the cities; rather, it is an independent special district that
exists under state law on a par with a city.
Our District’s revenues come from 2 sources: a (small) percentage of the property tax and
from a benefit assessment district established a few years ago on a
District-wide basis. Cities are in no
fashion liable for activities undertaken by the District. I understand that in the past the District
filed lawsuits against the various redevelopment agencies in the
The reasons for a city to want to establish a TAC to oversee
the function of a joint powers authority it has created are absent and would be
inappropriate for a special district. I
understand concern has been expressed over rumors and innuendo about the
District’s finances but these matters relate to decisions of policy that our
Board has made in order to allow us to focus our attention on the health and
safety purposes for which this independent special district was formed.
These concerns were strong enough that the Legislature
determined many years ago to authorize the existence and functioning of
independent special districts whose focus and purpose is to protect the public
health. I believe you appointed me to
this Board because of my background in pest control and municipal affairs. I appreciate the confidence you have placed
in me and I am anxious to continue to serve the citizens of
I also appreciate that as an independent public agency
funded by the public, the District is accountable for its spending and
financial decisions. We welcome your
input and questions. If uncertainty or
concern about our District remains, please let me know so that we can determine
if something needs to be changed or reviewed.
Very Truly Yours,
Cc: Members of the City Council, City of
Board of
Trustees