Realizing that the County's departmental sunset review is well overdue (the Charter requires one every four years, yet the Manager's office has not completed one since July 2003) three of the Republican members of Council (the Council is responsible for taking action on the Manager's recommendations in the review) have put forth an ordinance that would get the ball rolling on this fundamental duty.

Under their proposal the Manager must have the review that was due in July of 2007 done in six months from the effective date of the ordinance. The Manager would then have to submit a departmental evaluation schedule by October 1 of this year.  Each department would have to be reviewed at least once every four years (it could be reviewed more than once in that time period) and the schedule would have to be communicated in writing to the Executive and the Council.  The due date for the sunset review would be July 1 of 2011 and every four years thereafter.  If a review cannot be done, a six-month extension would be granted. 

Currently the Charter and the Code prescribe no sanctions for failing to have a sunset review on time.  The proposed ordinance would tie Council's role in confirming or denying appointments to the completion of the review, disapproving of all new and pending appointments to County authorities (PAT, Airport, Housing, etc.) until the review is received.