City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JANUARY 18, 2022 FROM: CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: AMENDMENT TO WESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT ISSUE:
Approval of an amendment to the Western Riverside Council of Governments Joint Powers Agreement.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve an amendment to the Western Riverside Council of Governments Joint Powers Agreement; and Authorize the Mayor to execute the amendment on behalf of the City of Riverside.
BACKGROUND:
In early 2018, the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) was asked by several members of the Executive Committee to research and recommend potential options related to the appointment of alternates for the Board of Supervisors. During the course of these discussions, the issue of a larger update to the WRCOG Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) was also discussed.
WRCOG staff and legal counsel conducted a comprehensive review of the JPA and recommended numerous changes, including minor word changes and corrections to address other minor issues.
These revisions were reviewed by staff and the City Attorney’s Office and on March 26, 2019 the City Council:
Approved the amendment to the Western Riverside Council of Governments Joint Powers Agreement; and Authorized the Mayor to execute the amendment on behalf of the City of Riverside.
DISCUSSION:
On November 1, 2021, the WRCOG Executive Committee approved the attached JPA amendment and directed staff to forward the JPA Amendment to WRCOG member agencies for approval.
Noteworthy changes to the JPA are as follows:
Remove references to the membership of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.
Modernize language and processes, including removal of references to use of member agency employees to perform day-to-day WRCOG Agency business.
Completely revise indemnity language to better articulate WRCOG responsibility to indemnify member agencies.
Remove outdated arbitration provision.
The JPA amendment must also be approved by two-thirds of WRCOG member agencies in order to take effect. WRCOG is requesting that the City Council approve the amendment to the Joint Powers Agreement and authorize the Mayor to execute the amendment on behalf of the City of Riverside.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This action supports Strategic Priority 5 – High Performing Government – Provide world class public service that is efficient, accessible and responsive to all, and specifically Goal 5.3 – Enhance communication and collaboration with community members to improve transparency, build public trust and encourage shared decision-making.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Prepared by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer Approved by: Al Zelinka, AICP, City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments: WRCOG JPA Amended Agreement
WRCOG JPA Amendment ● Page 2