Resolution 7070 - Laserfiche WebLink

STAFF MEMORANDUM Proposed Certification Resolution Some questions have arisen regarding the proposed resolution regarding certifications (Agenda Item#4, January 11, 2017), which would allow the Mayor to delegate signature of certifications to department heads or the CAA. Below are comments regarding typical questions: 1. What are certifications? Can you give examples? The City usually must sign certifications in connection with grants or other agreements with federal, state or county agencies. Most certifications concern payment requests, where the City must certify compliance in order to receive payment from a grant or loan. Attached to this memo are two examples. One is a monthly payment certification from the Broadway Bridge project. Public works projects generate well over 100 of these certifications per year. Also attached is a certification required by HUD. The Planning and Community Development department processes many of these each year. 2. Does this resolution change what is brought before City Council? Not at all. The key to remember here is that all contracts and grant applications with federal, state or county agencies are approved by Council and signed by the Mayor. These are also approved as to form by the City Attorney and attested by the City Clerk. This resolution does not change this at all. A certification is simply a supporting document necessary to administrate the Council- approved contract or grant application. Because of this, certifications have never been brought to City Council for approval in the past. This resolution does not change this. 3. What is the advantage of this resolution? We are seeing an ever-increasing volume of required certifications. We expect about 200 in 2017. This has two problems. First,the Mayor is unlikely to have the personal knowledge needed to sign the certification. Second, sending every certification through the Mayor's office requires additional time, which is inefficient. This resolution will allow the Mayor to delegate certification signing to department heads or CAA. This will mean certifications will be processed faster. It also means the City signers will be persons with knowledge about what is being certified.