Regional Legislative Alliance - http://www.legislativealliance.org
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
http://www.legislativealliance.org/articles/4/1/MEMORANDUM-OF-UNDERSTANDING/Page1.html
By Lisa Rivas
Published on 06/4/2007
 
The Regional Legislative Alliance is a cooperative Council of the leading Chambers of Commerce in the Santa Barbara and Ventura County Regions. Recognizing that these regions are one geographic and economic community with regional issues common to each Chamber, the Mission of the Regional Legislative Alliance is to develop policy for the participating Chambers on key federal and state issues.
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MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Purpose

To create a regional legislative alliance between the Chambers of Commerce in the Ventura County and Santa Barbara County Regions in order to serve as a united public policy advocacy group on appropriate state-wide and federal legislation that impacts the business and economic climates of the Santa Barbara and Ventura Regions.

Mission

The Regional Legislative Alliance of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties (RLA)is a cooperative Council of the leading Chambers of Commerce in the Santa Barbara and Ventura counties only. Recognizing that these regions are one geographic and economic community with regional issues common to each chamber, the mission of the RLA is to develop policy for the participating members on key state issues, and in some cases on Federal issues. Through a combined effort, the RLA will influence legislation and policy decisions, provide coordination to advance the common business legislative interests of the participating members, serve as a public policy advocacy group for the regions, and provide leadership in legislative advocacy on state and federal issues that impact the participating members of the alliance. The RLA is a strong, unified voice for the business community in the Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, improves and enhances the business climate, and maintains and supports the economic vitality, social community, and quality of life of this region.

Governance

The RLA is governed by this Memorandum of Understanding and is a 501(c)6 organization comprised of the participating member organizations. The board of directos is composed of representatives from the participating member organizations with a maximum of two representatives from each participating Chamber, one of which must be the CEO or their employed designee. The operations of the RLA are managed by the board of directors with the aid of the RLA executive director.

Voting

Each participating member organization is entitled to one vote on each issue. Policy positions and other votes require a unanimous vote for action by the RLA. If a unanimous vote is not reached, no action will be taken and the issue will be referred to each member for their own separate action. Members of the RLA board who are not present at a meeting may notify the executive director of their position prior to the meeting. If no notice is given, the members present at the meeting will vote accordingly and the absent members will be included in that decision. The RLA may move forward on an action if a member abstains from voting on an issue, however, a majority of the RLA membership must take a position on an issue in order for it to move forward.

Finances

The finances of the RLA will be managed through a budget developed by the board of directors and approved by each participating members board of directors. At no point will the RLA incur debt on behalf of the participating members. Funds contributed to the RLA will be the property of the alliance and shared equally by the participating members. Financial management of the RLA will be overseen by the RLA board of directors. 
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Quorum

A majority of the participating members will constitute a quorum for a vote except on policy issues as outlined in a previous section titled “Voting.”

Membership

A chamber of commerce located within the county boundaries of Ventura or Santa Barbara may request membership with the RLA at any time. Once the request is received the board of directors, at their next regular meeting, will vote to approval or deny the request. Upon approval, the RLA board of directors must receive a signed MOU and payment of the first quarter dues. Each member organization is financially committed for ne year. A participating member organization may dissolve its membership with the Alliance at any time with a formal letter of intention to the RLA board of directors. 

Meetings

The RLA board of directors shall set meetings of the Regional Legislative Alliance. Meetings can be either physical or virtual via electronic communications. Regular meetings of the board of directors occur on the second Friday of every month from 11:30-1:30, unless otherwise noted. The meeting location changes.

Issues

The RLA is a public policy advocacy group and takes actions on appropriate statewide and federal legislation that impacts the business and economic climates of the Ventura and Santa Barbara County regions.  These critical issues include, but are not limited to:
  • Workforce Housing
  • Economic Development
  • Education
  • Infrastructure – including Transportation and Water Quality issues
  • Taxes
  • Environmental Health
  • Government Regulation of Business
  • Employee Relations

Staff

A staff person or independent contractor will be selected by the board of directors to oversee the administrative duties of the RLA, including assisting with the board meetings, developing agendas, drafting monthly newsletters, facilitating communications between board members, planning lobbying trips to Sacramento and developing an annual plan of action for the board's approval. The contracted staff will provide guidance on state and federal legislation and will be responsible for:
  1. Identifying relevant business legislative issues
  2. Researching and summarizing specific issues and legislation
  3. Creating an Issues Paper summarizing relevant legislation
  4. Disseminating the information to each Alliance Member
  5. Corresponding with Legislators and Committees on priority bills
  6. Coordinating with the California Chamber of Commerce, US Chamber of Commerce, and other business organizations
  7. Tracking and recording the voting records of legislative representatives in the region.
  8. Facilitating, educating, and coordinating local business advocacy efforts in Sacramento.
Each member organization will be responsible for disseminating the information to their respective boards of directors and members. Staff will be compensated by the RLA.
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Annual commitment

Members of the RLA during 2008 agree to the following monetary commitments:  Based on chamber membership on January 1, 2008, chambers will pay to the Alliance $7.00 per member. Payments will be made to the designated entity as follows: 25% upon agreeing to join the RLA (target date February 8, 2008), 25% at the beginning of each subsequent quarter (target April 1, July 1, October 1, 2008).  

The monetary commitment for organizations that are affiliates through the Capitol Circle program are outlined in a separate document.

Payments will be made to the Regional Legislative Alliance of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. The tax identification number is EIN 26-1270040. Checks should be mailed to the RLA treasurer Zoe Taylor, c/o Ventura Chamber of Commerce, 801 South Victoria Avenue, Suite 200, Ventura, CA 93003.  

Agreement

Each chamber or organization must sign a copy of this Memorandum of Understanding and complete the information requested below.

 Organization:  ________________________________________________________
   
 Address:  ________________________________________________________
   
 Agreed:
  
   
 Top elected officer
 ________________________________________________________
   Signature
   ________________________________________________________
   Date
   ________________________________________________________
   Type or print name
   
 CEO  ________________________________________________________
  Signature
   ________________________________________________________
   Date
   ________________________________________________________
  Type or print name


Number of members on January 1, 2008 ___________________

Representative on the RLA board of directors, in addition to CEO:

Name _________________________________________________________________

Chamber position ________________________________________________________

Contact information (address, e-mail, phone, fax) _________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________