BOARD MEETING DATE: May 1, 2009
AGENDA NO. 14

PROPOSAL:

Amend Board Member Assistant and Board Member Consultant Policy and Administrative Code

SYNOPSIS:

This item is to amend the Board Member Assistant and Board Member Consultant policy and the Administrative Code to permit those Assistants and Consultants who serve as AQMD employees the opportunity to participate in the deferred compensation plan AQMD sponsors for employees, as covered under Section 457 of the Federal Internal Revenue Code. Additionally, a second amendment to the policy would permit reimbursement of expenses associated with attendance at mobile Board meetings and Board retreats for all Board Assistants and Board Consultants.

COMMITTEE:

Administrative, April 10, 2009, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

1. Amend Board Member Assistant and Board Member Consultant Policy as set forth in Attachment A.
2. Adopt Resolution to amend the Administrative Code as set forth in Attachments B and C.
    

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

The Board has adopted a Board Member Assistant and Board Member Consultant policy, last amended in September 2008, that contains the terms and conditions of assistant and consultant employment. The policy, as well as the Administrative Code, currently do not allow those assistants and consultants who serve, under contract, as AQMD employees to participate in the deferred compensation plan AQMD sponsors for its employees, as covered under section 457 of the Federal Internal Revenue Code.

The plan allows employees to defer a portion of their pre-tax earnings into a retirement savings account and to invest those savings, from among the range of investment options offered, in accordance with their own time horizons, risk tolerance, and retirement goals.

Additionally, under current policy, Board Member Assistants and Board Member Consultants must cover expenses related to attendance at mobile Board meetings and Board retreats within the annual compensation provided in their contracts.
 

Proposal

With this policy amendment and with amendment of the Administrative Code, those Board Member Assistants and Board Member Consultants who serve as AQMD employees would be permitted the option of participating in the deferred compensation plan AQMD sponsors for its employees.

Additionally, the amended policy would permit, for all Board Member Assistants and Board Member Consultants, reimbursement of approved expenses associated with attendance at mobile Board meetings and Board retreats.
 

Resource Impacts

Voluntary participation in AQMD’s Section 457 deferred compensation plan would have no budgetary impact, and the cost of reimbursing expenses associated with attendance at mobile Board meetings and Board retreats can be accommodated in the current budget and will be included in subsequent budgets.
 

Attachments (EXE, 47 k)

1. Amended Board Member Assistant/Consultant Policy
2. Resolution to Amend Administrative Code
3. Amendment to Administrative Code