The FAQs were updated to address questions resulting from the April 4, 2011 Action Plan public workshop.

monterey peninsula regional park district
60 Garden Court, Suite 325 • Monterey, California 93940-5341

 Questions Regarding Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District Policies

1.       Does the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District (MPRPD) have a plan to increase community participation in and appreciation for its mission and programs?

2012 will mark the 40-year anniversary of MPRPD.  The Board and staff will be using the lead up to this milestone to take stock of our accomplishments and set the future course to strategically meet the needs of the community we serve and natural resources we protect.  The process will be another demonstration of the organization’s commitment to transparency and effectively engaging the public, and will include:

·         A survey of our valued partners to assess past performance and ways to strengthen the collaborative process,

·         An objective survey of District-wide residents to determine the level of public awareness and perception of the organization, its places and programs, and

·         Direct community involvement in the strategic planning process that will determine future goals and measures of success.

2.       What is the Board’s plan for expanding community and media relations?

The MPRPD Board has identified the importance of bringing the public into its governance process and initiating outreach opportunities into the communities we serve. The Board has implemented both immediate and long-term steps in the MPRPD Action Plan:
 

• Immediate plan — Each director, supported by the general manager, will host twice-a-year meetings with constituents in his or her Ward, with the first scheduled between April 1 and June 30, 2011, and advertised on the MPRPD website (www.mprpd.org).  Additionally, the Board and general manager are proposing that, as part of the Action Plan, a District-wide third party survey be conducted to assess public awareness, perception, satisfaction and other factors relevant to understanding the needs of the community served by MPRPD.
• Long-term plan — Directors and the general manager have committed to strategic planning in 2011 that will involve staff and community input, resulting in the development and implementation of a comprehensive community and media relation strategy.

 3.       Does MPRPD have plans for community-based meetings?

•  Each member of the Board acknowledges the importance of community meetings in the Wards they represent, and their role in fostering effective public participation and organizational transparency.  Over the next 12-months each Director, accompanied by the general manager, will hold two meetings in their respective Wards.  Dates, time and place will be advertised in the Wards. 

4.       What is the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District’s and its Board of Directors’ plan or policy for funding future retirement health benefits?

The MPRPD Board and general manager recognize the staff and their needs are essential to the optimal performance of the organization and its service to the community.  MPRPD also recognizes the importance of honoring its obligation to employees.

·         At the February 7, 2011 regular meeting of the Board of Directors, the Finance and Administration Manager of MPRPD presented the Board with a 5-year budget forecast where the cost to fund future retirement health benefits was outlined (see www.mprpd.org to view February board packet). 

·         The Board’s standing Budget Committee will use this information to determine how to proceed with funding these Other Postemployment Benefits (OPEB). 

·         For FY2009-10 District OPEB liabilities are outlined in the year-end financial audit and will be updated on future audit reports.  The audit is posted on the MPRPD website.

5.       What is the current status of the personnel practices at MPRPD?

• The District has policies and procedures in place that are consistent with state and federal laws and regulations and govern the hiring, promotion and discipline of employees.  The personnel practices are documented in and shared with all  employees in the Employee Handbook.  This document is periodically reviewed and updated as the law changes.  It was last updated in April 2010.

• The MPRPD utilizes contract labor and service relationships in compliance with California state law.  Procedures for identifying and hiring contractors are documented in the MPRPD Purchase Policy Procedures:  for bidding, vendor selection and purchasing. Existing contracts have received internal legal review.  The new general manager is reviewing all current contracts for programmatic relevance. 

6.       What is the Board’s policy regarding continuing governance education?

• Assembly Bill 1234, enacted in 2006, requires directors of California special districts to receive ethics training, with recertification every two years.  Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District directors attend the required workshop training in general ethics principles and state laws related to:
  • Personal financial gain by public servants,
  • Conflict of interest, bribery and nepotism,
  • Gift, travel and mass-mailing restrictions,
  • Honoraria, financial interest disclosure and competitive bidding,
  • Prohibitions on the use of public resources for personal and political purposes,
  • The Brown Act open meetings law, and
  • The Public Records Act. 

7.       What is the District’s procedure for filling open seats in the next election cycle for expiring terms?

• The County Elections Office publishes a notice of election that includes information about open District seats. MPRPD will place a notice on its website announcing open District seats. 

8.       Is there a Board stipend policy?

•  There is a stipend policy and MPRPD is in full compliance with the laws concerning Board stipends.  Under California state law, individuals serving on public boards may be reasonably compensated for their service (Public Resources Code §5536 and 5535.5). 
• The MPRPD Rules of Procedure (Revised 2003) summarizes state codes governing Board of Directors’ responsibilities and conduct.  Section 2.30 of these Rules outlines the financial compensation available to elected members of the MPRPD Board.  Individuals are entitled to $100 for each Board meeting attendance.  No member of the Board of Directors shall be entitled to more than $500 in any calendar month. The MPRPD Board stipends are comparable to other special district board stipends.  Board meetings include: special meetings, continued meetings, closed meetings, committee meetings, study session or a special public hearing.  

9.       What is the Board’s practice regarding providing notice of regularly scheduled Board meetings?  

The MPRPD Board is committed to transparency in all aspects of the organization and strong public participation in its governance.  Involvement in regularly scheduled meetings is one important way to accomplish both goals.

• The District’s regularly scheduled meetings are normally held on the first Monday of the month at 6 p.m.  The meeting dates are posted on www.mprpd.org for the remainder of 2011. The District complies with the laws governing advance notice of meetings and posting of the meeting agendas. The Brown Act is California’s government sunshine law (Gov. Code § 54950 et seq.)  It requires all special districts to post agendas at least 72 hours prior to any regular meeting (Gov. Code §54954.2(a)(1)).  The District publishes meeting notices for every meeting on its website (www.mprpd.org) and in the Monterey County Weekly, and posts notices at Garland Ranch Regional Park and in libraries throughout the District. 
• Under most circumstances 72 hours is sufficient notice for posting an agenda for a regularly scheduled meeting.  However, the Board reserves the right under the Government Code to post an agenda more than 72 hours before a regularly scheduled meeting when appropriate.  

10.   Are the MPRPD Board positions governed by term limits?

The District recognizes there is no more important way for the public to engage in the governance of the organization than to participate in the election of directors.

• Terms of members of the MPRPD Board of Directors are governed by the Uniform District Election Law of the California Election Code (§10507).  Directors serve four- year terms or until the Board member’s successor qualifies and takes office.
• There is no limit to the number of consecutive terms a director may serve. 

11.   Were legal fees incurred by MPRPD in the negotiation of the salary, benefits, post-retirement contract or retirement package of the former general manager?

•  The District was represented by legal counsel in contract negotiations.  Legal counsel was engaged to advise the District in those negotiations.  

12.   What is the ongoing annual financial impact to MPRPD of retired and retiring employees?

• The MPRPD’s financial obligation is outlined in a 5-year budget forecast where the cost to fund future retirement health benefits was summarized (see www.mprpd.org to view February board packet).  See other related questions and answers in this document.  

13.   What is the current Board of Directors’ position on service to constituents and resignation from service?

The MPRPD Board listens to constituent concerns and takes this feedback seriously.  The Board also acknowledges its duty to respond both thoughtfully and in a timely way.

• The President of the MPRPD Board of Directors stated the Board’s position in a letter dated February 25, 2011, “… we [Directors] are answerable to all of our constituents during our terms of office.  Each election offers voters the option of either returning us to office or replacing us with new Board members.  Currently, Board members are up for election every four years, with three members having run unopposed in November of 2010, and two with terms that expire on December 31, 2012.”
• The entire text of the President’s letter was included in the March 7, 2011, Board Meeting materials and can be viewed at www.mprpd.org.