2010-10-08 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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MS. O’HARA: I guess what you’re asking is should we ask if he or someone from his office can attend to clarify what’s in his submittal. MS. PROVALENKO: But could we like get the information first, review it and then request explanation? MS. WONG: The letter asks for MS. GARSON: The letter just asks for information. MS. PROVALENKO: Right, and after we get the information then we can decide. MS. WONG: Okay. Another comment, I went online and found the years of minutes from previous commissions. A lot of reading but it was very interesting to me to see that things that we’re going through, discussions, it’s been discussed, been there, done that. Some hurdles that they had to get over and it’s online. Our minutes are online. Anything else that anyone might consider something useful to help our committees move along or accomplishing the mandate? MS. O’HARA: I have one thing, and I’m not really sure how to bring this up so it fits within the discussion. We have the subcommittee approach that we’re taking and we also are looking at the overall duties or obligations of government to provide services. And one thing that kind of arches over all of this is the manner in which we carry out our government procurement process. The contracting end of things. I’m just wondering as a separate subject if that can be kind of looked at because it impacts cost of government at all different levels. And we are bound to state laws in terms of procurement process, but there still may be ways to improve the internal process of contracting within the county, not only the actual contracting process but also the administering of the contract, the oversight of the contract, etc., that could potentially save the county lots of money. So I just throw that out as a big item. MS. WONG: Perhaps that will be included in some of the investigations with the first two committees. MS. O’HARA: I think it needs kind of it’s own focus because I think it’s big item and we’re talking big dollar amounts. It can impact the cost of the county government. MS. WONG: So, are you suggesting another committee? MS. O’HARA: Oh heavens. MR TAKABA: Policy. MS. GARSON: Well, another thing you can do is invite someone from Purchasing or Finance to your next meeting to give you an overview of government procurement and contracting. And that might give you other ideas, cause I don’t know if all of the members are familiar with the government’s contract data and procurement laws. You worked for county and state so you understand, but maybe one of the first thing is what the laws are and how the county deals with the contracts, might be helpful. 13