Council of Governments: An Idea Whose Time Is Now

Isn’t it time Orange County moved into the 21st century and improved the archaic way it has done business for the last 150 years? Many efforts, organized and informal, have convened during the past 18 months to examine how the public sector operates.

For the past 16 months, the formation of an Orange County Council of Governments has been discussed and debated in public forums throughout the county. Over 40 presentations have been made to cities, special districts, private businesses and involved community groups. After these public discussions, two-thirds of Orange County cities recently voted unanimously to form a council. Remaining cities and special districts will be addressing the idea in the next few weeks.

The concept is not a new one. At present there are 25 such councils in California and more than 500 throughout the nation. Every major county in California has one, except Orange County. An interesting and compelling endorsement of the benefits can be seen in Ventura County. In an effort to streamline government, Ventura County cities eliminated their council. After a very short period, they realized the benefits they were missing and reinstated it and are today among the strongest supporters of the program.

The council is based on the premise that it is possible for the residents of Orange County to have more representation without having more government. By sharing resources, technical expertise and information, local agencies can make the most efficient use of tax dollars, comply with state and federal law and give residents local control and input.

The purpose is to bring together local government agencies and interests impacted by regional, state and federal mandates. This includes not only cities but the county, single-purpose agencies and special districts, as well as the private sector and our major universities.

The reality is a number of mandates exist, and Orange County can have more clout by having a unified voice. We need to influence the processes in Sacramento and Washington that impose these mandates in the first place. The Council of Governments will conduct studies, make recommendations and advocate the implementation of those recommendations.

The council will serve as a resource for and not a barrier to member entities and will have no power or ability to force any member entity to carry out any recommendations. These recommended activities are not being performed by any other agency representing the collective interests of Orange County’s cities, county and special-purpose agencies. Focusing these issues in one forum with diverse representation will strengthen Orange County’s voice in the region and state.

The council also can serve as a forum where ideas for additional savings and efficiencies can be identified. The council makes use of existing staff resources. It does not call for dues, will not pay its members and is not a taxing authority.

It is designed to help public agencies respond to the increased call for services in the face of dwindling revenues. A primary goal is to work harder with existing resources to consolidate, collaborate and find new ways to do needed activities for less and eliminate duplication of effort.

Information and idea sharing among member entities is certain to reduce duplication as well. For example, the recent transition of demographics activities, from the county to Cal State Fullerton, will reduce the costs for performing these activities from $800,000 to $325,000. This collaboration will result in a $475,000 savings to Orange County taxpayers.

The council’s accountability to the public is achieved by virtue of elected officials who constitute its voting membership. They are directly accountable to their constituents for the orderly and responsible management of the regional planning issues that affect their communities. Additionally, the COG will be subject to the open-meeting laws. Notice of all meetings will be made publicly, and public participation will be sought and encouraged.

In the most recent edition of the Annual Survey conducted by professor Mark Baldassare at UC Irvine, respondents indicated by a 2-1 ratio that they wanted to see their city government given more authority and the Board of Supervisors less. The council is a way to recognize residents’ desires for more local input, while at the same time ensuring fair representation for entities such as the county and others who have a stake in regional issues.

Times have changed in Orange County, and now more than ever the need exists for a formal, representative organization to be operational and capable of conducting studies, building consensus, formulating recommendations and advocating positions for the collective benefit of Orange County. The Council of Governments will serve this purpose.