CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

Committee Meeting Minutes

Internal Operations Committee

Supervisor Candace Andersen, Chair

Supervisor Diane Burgis, Vice Chair

10:30 AM

Monday, July 28, 2025

309 Diablo Rd, Danville

3361 Walnut Blvd, Suite 140, Brentwood

https://cccounty-us.zoom.us/j/81079842919

Call in: (888) 278-0254, Conference code:

845965

Introductions

Chair Andersen called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. In attendance were Noel Garcia, Steven

Kwok, Tolfa Sezer, Dyanne Fankhauser, Sarah Shkidt, Sandra Bewley, Jamie Schecter, Alexandra

Heinitz, Jill Ray, Anissa Basoco-Villarreal, Chris De Dios, District 3 Office, Kiki Farris, Esa

Ehmen-Krause, Andrew Mainardi, Navi Singh, Kaitlyn Jeffus, and Julie Enea.

District II Supervisor Candace Andersen and District III Supervisor

Diane Burgis

Present:

Public comment on any item under the jurisdiction of the Committee and not on this agenda

(speakers may be limited to two (2) minutes).

No public comments were offered.

RECEIVE and APPROVE the Record of Action for the June 23, 2025 Internal Operations

Committee meeting. (Julie Enea, County Administrator's Office)

DRAFT IOC Record of Action for June 23, 2025

Attachments:

Aye:

Chair Candace Andersen and Vice Chair Diane Burgis

Passed

Result:

CONSIDER report and recommendations for improving the County's policy on purchasing

and distributing gift cards as program incentives, especially by contracted community

organizations. (Julie Enea, County Administrator's Office)

Admin Bulletin 615 Incentives for County Programs 12-12-09

Contractor Gift Cards by Dept

Attachments:

Board Referral to IOC_Gift Cards_5-13-25

Julie Enea presented the staff report, detailing data tables and attachments. She noted

that since 2009, about $220,000 annually is spent on gift card incentives. Most

transactions authorized less than 5% of grant funds for incentives, except one at 10%.

Utilization is highest in Health Services, followed by Employment and Human Services,

Probation, and the District Attorney. The Conservation and Development department's

use was limited to the Keller grant under former Supervisor Glover.

Julie referenced the current Program Incentives policy, attached to the staff report, and

reviewed the most common findings of noncompliance by County departments as

identified by the County’s Internal Audit Division, which periodically audits the use of

gift cards.

Julie provided a summary of the responses from an informal survey of high utilization

departments regarding their authorization of contractors to purchase and distribute gift

cards. Departments reported 38 current or recent contracts involving gift cards. She

noted that while many service contracts did not specifically mention the purchase and

distribution of gift cards as program incentives, departments indicated that payment

demands were supported by receipts, logs with card details, and sometimes beneficiary

confirmations.

Julie summarized the recommendations, which were to clarify that the current policy

applies to County programs whether administered by County staff or indirectly through a

contractor, to require a set of special conditions be incorporated into contracts that

authorize the purchase and distribution of gift cards as program incentives, and to direct

the CAO to update the County's policy to be consistent with the Committee's direction.

Vice Chair Burgis emphasized accountability and efficient use of public funds. She

raised concerns about repeat incentives going to the same individuals and non-county

residents, suggesting in-person verification for reliability. Chair Andersen highlighted

that this approach could be unfair to those with disabilities or busy parents. Vice Chair

Burgis proposed requiring contractors to specify their methods for ensuring incentives

reach the intended audience.

Deputy County Counsel Andrew Mainardi advised the Committee to avoid strict

quid-pro-quo transactions and instead require clients to make a good faith effort to

complete tasks for program incentives.

Anissa Basoco-Villarreal from the County’s Employment and Human Services (EHS)

Department commented that EHS issues gift cards for emergency needs of juveniles in

custody, a use not directly addressed in the policy recommendations, and that the

Workforce Development Board issues incentives for specific and verified achievements.

Jamie Schecter from the County’s Health, Housing and Homeless Services program

stated that incentives for online participation are rarely used by Health Services. When

they are, IP addresses are verified to exclude those outside of the target community based

on location or frequency. Digital gift cards are utilized for their added security. She also

mentioned that HSD staff already adhere to the guidelines outlined in the County’s

program incentives policy, so the recommended actions can be implemented with

minimal additional effort.

The Committee staff will enhance the language regarding the eligibility determination

for program incentives and present updated recommendations to the Committee in

September.