ITEM:		CONSENT CALENDAR
6.	AUTHORIZE EXPENDITURE OF BUDGETED FUNDS TO CONTRACT FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING AND GOAL SETTING FACILITATION SERVICES BY SNIDER AND ASSOCIATES
Meeting Date:			June 12, 2005	Budgeted:	Yes
From:			David A. Berger, General Manager	Program/ Line Item No.:	Acct. 99-7740 (Professional Fees)
Prepared By:			Arlene Tavani	Cost Estimate	$4,400
General Counsel Approval: N/A
Committee Recommendation: The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on June 12, 2006 and recommended approval.
CEQA Compliance: N/A

SUMMARY: The purpose of this action is to authorize the expenditure of budgeted funds for professional meeting facilitation services by Marilyn Snider of Snider and Associates in connection with the proposed annual District Strategic Planning and Goal Setting Workshop scheduled as a special meeting of the Board on September 25, 2006.

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RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Board authorize 1) the expenditure of budgeted funds, not to exceed $4,350, to cover the cost of professional facilitation services for the September 25, 2006 Strategic Planning and Goal Setting Workshop; and 2) the General Manager to execute a District professional services agreement with Snider and Associates to perform this facilitation service.

Snider and Associates provided annual strategic planning services several times for the District in the late 1990’s, and Ms. Snider has committed to personally facilitate the Board’s September 25 workshop. As the regular facilitator of Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency strategic planning workshops, she is contemporary with the current water supply challenges and opportunities facing the Monterey Peninsula and other regions of the county. Her services include strategic plan workshop agenda planning, preparation, facilitation, recording and creation of the written workshop summary.

BACKGROUND: The Board of Directors last held a strategic planning workshop on September 8, 2005. The Strategic Plan developed at that workshop, which the Board adopted on October 17, 2005, specifies that a strategic planning session should be conducted annually. All Directors and District Counsel have confirmed their ability to attend the September 25, 2006 Strategic Planning Session. Division managers and other key staff members have also been invited to participate again this year, and this date has been coordinated with them.

IMPACT TO STAFF/RESOURCES: The General Manager’s Office section of the District’s proposed fiscal year 2006-07 budget, contains a $4,400 professional fees line item for strategic planning facilitation services. This amount will cover the cost of Ms. Snider’s professional facilitation fee, as well as expenses that include the attendance of a skilled and experienced recorder. This cost is about 14% higher than last year’s facilitation service. However, staff believes it is fully justified by the value of Ms. Snider’s approach, which includes visual display of the “in-progress” workshop summary for participants’ reference and use at all times during the meeting, and her immediate production of the draft Strategic Plan. A Snider and Associates prospectus describing the firm’s professional services, qualifications and experience is attached as Exhibit 6-A.

EXHIBITS

6-A Snider and Associates Prospectus

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