BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ☐ No ☒
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A - Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT:
Title
Consider the January 2, 2024, Board Policy and Planning Committee Recommendation to Adopt the Proposed Changes to Board Governance Policy Executive Limitations (EL) 3: Human Resources.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Consider recommendations resulting from the January 2, 2024, Board Policy and Planning Committee meeting to:
A. Adopt the Proposed Changes to Board Governance Policy Executive Limitations (EL) 3: Human Resources; and
B. Provide feedback and recommendations to staff as necessary.
Body
SUMMARY:
Executive Limitation 3 (EL-3), initially adopted in June 1999, serves as a governance policy of the Board providing clear directives with the respect to compensation and benefits, employment, and the treatment of employees and persons doing work for or on behalf of Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water). The policy was updated in December 2019.
In 2014, the Board approved the addition of “Board Appointed Officer (BAO) Interpretations” to some governance policies (Attachment 2). The interpretations were designed to describe the Executive Limitations in more detail. However, because interpretations describe the same Executive Limitations and how Valley Water operates, they are duplicative and are not considered Board policies. Staff recommends that the BAO Interpretations for EL-3 be eliminated to reduce redundancies and/or information that is no longer applicable.
The current version of EL-3 aims to keep governance as a Board directive that communicates the expectations of the Board but does not prescribe how the expectations will be achieved through BAO interpretations.
The proposed revisions include the following:
1. For Executive Limitations 3 (EL-3) change any reference to “District” to “Valley Water” to align with our organizations branding policy and strike-out of reference to BAO interpretations.
2. Revises 3.7 and 3.17
3. Remove reference to BAO Interpretations and removes BAO Interpretations for EL-3.
At its January 2, 2024 meeting, the Board Policy and Planning Committee considered revised language to Board Governance Policies - Executive Limitations (EL) 3 - Human Resources. The Committee provided input and recommended that the Board adopt the proposed changes (Attachment 1 and Attachment 2).
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY IMPACT:
This item is not subject to environmental justice. However, the Executive Limitations policy, EL-3, Human Resources, ensures that Human Resources and Labor Relations policies and practices follow best management practices and are legally complaint and supports Valley Water’s efforts to ensure equitable, just access, and outcomes for prospective and current workforce.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact associated with this item.
CEQA:
The recommended action does not constitute a project under CEQA because it does not have a potential for resulting in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Revised Board Gov. Policy EL 3 - Redline
Attachment 2: Revised Board Gov. Policy EL 3 - Clean
Attachment 3: Revised BAO Interpretations for EL 3 - Redlined
*Handout 5.2-A: Irvin
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:
Manager
Patrice McElroy, 408-630-3159