Countywide : Proposal Divides Director’s Duties

Representatives of 10 Ventura County cities have asked the county’s Local Agency Formation Commission to divide its executive director’s duties between LAFCO and an emerging regional advisory board.

Under the proposal, the director who runs the county agency that oversees the formation of new cities would also help run the new regional board, called the Ventura County Council of Governments.

City representatives say they need a director as soon as possible, since the new regional board is scheduled to meet for the first time Jan. 9 to discuss issues such as air quality, growth and transportation.

The 17-member council represents all cities in the county, the Board of Supervisors and the Los Angeles County communities of Agoura Hills and Westlake.

LAFCO is expected to review the cities’ request at its meeting Wednesday, when it discusses replacing the current LAFCO director, Robert Braitman. Braitman resigned last month from his $58,000-a-year post after 18 years and is expected to leave in January.

Thousand Oaks Mayor Frank Schillo came up with the idea at meetings where members discussed Braitman’s resignation and the need for a director to assist in the formation of the new regional board. The cities have offered to pay half of the new director’s salary, but do not have any revenues to back up that offer.

“If (LAFCO) agrees to it, we’ll have to sit down and figure out where it will come from,” Schillo said.

Simi Valley Mayor Greg Stratton said he supports the idea because the cities cannot afford to hire a full-time staff person on their own. Also, Stratton argued, Braitman does not spend all his time as LAFCO’s chief executive.

Braitman acknowledged that he spends about 20% to 50% of his time coordinating other special projects for the county, including the new county jail.