7-14-99 Applicant's Selection Process and Criteria for the hiring of Consultants for the LACFO Process.

Index Selection Process Selection Criteria Additional names of possible consultants Conclusion

LOS ANGELES COUNTY LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION

Valley Study Foundation, Inc
14622 Ventura Blvd. Ste 201-B
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

(818) 501-5862 Fax (818) 501-6959

Selection Process and Criteria for the hiring of LAFCO Consultants

This submittal is made on behalf of the 132,490 qualified and registered voters ("Applicants") of the San Fernando Valley ("Valley") who have petitioned to study a proposed Special Reorganization of the City of Los Angeles ("City") and pursuant to procedures established by the State of California and the Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Commission.

In order to facilitate the hiring of LAFCO consultants that will conduct the necessary analysis for the aforementioned Special Reorganization, the Applicants respectfully ask that LAFCO Commission consider the following requests;

1) Selection Process - Create a selection process that includes representatives of the Applicants and the City of Los Angeles and provides a process for the public to provide input. The purpose for making this request is to;

* Expedite the consultant selection process.

* Allow the parties to have input into the selection process.

* To ensure that the consultant selection process is done in full-view and in public.

* Find common ground in setting the criteria for hiring consultants.

* Provide input on the pros and cons of the various consultants under consideration.

* Collectively agree upon the timeline upon which the consultants are expected to perform.

Allowing the Applicants and the City of Los Angeles to participate on equal footing in a good faith selection process that is public and to participate in setting the selection criteria will create consensus today and minimize the potential of dissatisfied parties later claiming that the data or study results are flawed based upon the consultants selected. Return to index

2) Selection Criteria - The Applicants submit the following preliminary recommendations to LAFCO for consideration as part of the selection criteria;

* The consultants should have first hand experience and understanding of the LAFCO processes.

* The consultants should have completed three or more comprehensive fiscal analysis reports required under the LAFCO Process.

* To maintain objectivity and avoid potential conflicts of interest the prior financial relationships between the consultants and the City of Los Angeles or the Applicants, should be considered. Consultants should be required to disclose any past (last five years), current, and pending dealings with the city of Los Angeles (including any of its departments or elected officials) or the Applicants. It is the preference of the Applicants to avoid conflicts of interest that might threaten the integrity of the study or potentially prejudice the study results.

* To avoid potential conflicts of interest with the commission members and staff of LAFCO, consultants under consideration should be required to disclose past (last five years), current and pending dealings with or support, donations given to LAFCO commission members.

* The selection committee should consider whether to hire a single consulting firm, or to hire a team of consultants comprised of different members with different specialties, with coordination through a lead consultant. Return to index

3) Additional names of possible consultants - The Applicants have attached a list of possible consultants that the Applicants request be added to the list of consultants under consideration. By submitting the additional consultants, Applicants make no implied or expressed representation as to the professional qualifications of the named consultants nor the acceptability of these consultants to the Applicants, the City of Los Angeles or LAFCO, based on either current selection criteria or selection criteria which may be set in the future. Furthermore, the Applicants are not making a recommendation as to a preference between the named consultants. Return to index

Conclusion

The Applicants recognize that the final decision on the selection of the consultants rests with the LAFCO Commission. The Applicants request that LAFCO will make the selection decision with the input and cooperation from other parties including the Applicant, The City and the public.

Applicants are encouraged by statements recently reported by the press, that the City of Los Angeles wants to fully cooperate with LAFCO. They reflect a mutual intent and interest in thoroughly investigating the issue. Statements made by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Los Angeles as well as the 132,490 qualified petitioners reflect that each are seeking solid facts to allow the residents of Los Angeles to form an educated opinion on the issue of reorganizing Los Angeles into two or more smaller cities.

The Applicants are looking forward to working with the Mayor , the City Council, and LAFCO in the next step of cooperatively working to select the most qualified consultants to conduct the required San Fernando Valley Special Reorganization Study. The selection of the consultants is an essential first step to an open and fair study process that will yield credible data, and to study results that will benefit all of Los Angeles.

To keep the public informed the applicant requests that all contracts with the consultant include the requirement that all reports will include both paper and electronic copies.

Applicants reserve the right to supplement and amend this submittal based upon new information and subsequent events. Return to index