DEPARTMENT: Office of the County Manager
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
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Approval Of Increase To Citizen Advisory Committee Per Diems
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Approve the increase of Citizen Advisory Committee per diems and approve per diems for two Department Appointed Committees.
SUMMARY
A Citizen Advisory Committee serves a statutory, policy, or operational purpose to support county government. Dakota County Board Policies 1015 (Citizen Advisory Committee Membership) and 1550 (Voluntary-Advisory Committee Reimbursement) set the current per diem rate for Board Appointees at $35 for attendance at regular and special meetings of committees. As discussed with the Board at the December 13, 2022, Governance Workshop, to better align with standard rates for advisory committees serving our neighboring counties, staff suggests increasing this rate to $50 for all Board Appointed Committees beginning in 2023. Per diems are not available for County staff or contractors, committee appointees who are representing a governmental unit, or members acting as a liaison from another advisory committee.
Staff will return to the Board with revisions to Policy 1015 to combine other policies related to citizen advisory committees (Policies 1550 and 1014 Open Appointments), which will note the increased per diem rate and also include the allowance of per diems for Department Appointed Advisory Committees as approved by the Board along with other non-substantive updates and reorganization of the policies related to citizen advisory committees.
Staff is requesting, at this time, the approval of per diems (at the $50 rate) for the following Department Appointment Committees:
• Workforce and Staffing Shortage Workgroup: a Board commissioned workgroup to discuss and identify potential solutions to the provider and staffing shortage impacting service delivery and creating significant challenges for people with disabilities and their families. The current timeline for this workgroup is November 2022 through late spring or early summer 2023. The current membership includes County Commissioners, individuals with disabilities/self-advocates, family members and guardians, individuals from organizations supporting people with disabilities, State agencies, and Dakota County staff.
• Pathways to Prosperity and Well-Being (P2PW) Advisory Council: solicits family perspective on known barriers, illuminates barriers invisible to the system but experienced by families, and considers new solutions and approaches. Families are asked to share their expertise and engage with staff for continuous improvement in county services. This is an ongoing advisory council that meets once a month.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends increasing the Citizen Advisory Committee per diem rate to $50, beginning in 2023, and allowing for per diems for Department Appointed Advisory Committees as approved by the Board.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
Sufficient funding is available within County departmental budgets to cover these increases.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, a Citizen Advisory Committee serves a statutory, policy, or operational purpose to support county government; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County Board Policies 1015 (Citizen Advisory Committee Membership) and 1550 (Voluntary-Advisory Committee Reimbursement) set the current per diem rate for Board Appointees at $35 for attendance at regular and special meetings of committees; and
WHEREAS, to better align with standard rates for advisory committees serving our neighboring counties, staff suggests increasing this rate to $50 for all Board Appointed Committees beginning in 2023.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby increases the Citizen Advisory Committee per diem rate to $50 beginning in 2023.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Policy 1015 Citizen Advisory Committee Membership
BOARD GOALS
☐ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☒ Excellence in Public Service
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT LEVEL
☐ Inform and Listen ☐ Discuss ☐ Involve ☒ N/A
CONTACT
Department Head: Matt Smith
Author: Jessica Johnson