February-March 2010 Edition: http://www.sdddaa.org April 2012 Edition: Follow the DDAA on Facebook and the Web Jim Koerber, Editor

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April 2012 Edition Jim Koerber, Editor “Celebrate endings – for they precede new beginnings.”

- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE By Robert Hickey

1. Hail and Farewell 2012 – Thursday, May 10, 2012 – La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club: Please mark your calendars now with the date of Thursday, May 10, 2012 for the DDAA annual Hail and Farewell. We are finalizing the Farewells now, but it looks like an All-Star line-up this year. Further, we have an exceptional group in the Class of 2012 to officially Hail. Join us!

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SSaann DDiieeggoo DDeeppuuttyy DDiissttrriicctt AAttttoorrnneeyyss AAssssoocciiaattiioonn President: Robert Hickey Vice President: Steve Walter Treasurer: Cari Philpott Secretary: Chantal de Mauregne Directors: Bryn Kirvin, David F. Williams III, Brenda

Daly, Jim Koerber, Patrick Ojeil, Adam Gordon & Shannon Welton

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2. SDCERA Retirement Board Election – Vote for Kristina Maxwell: Kristina Maxwell is running for election to the San Diego County Employees Retirement Board. The DDAA Board has endorsed Ms. Maxwell. The ballots for the SDCERA election have been distributed, and are due back by April 24, 2012. We urge you to vote for Kristina Maxwell. 3. 2012 SDCBA Law Week Luncheon: On Tuesday, May 1, 2012, the San Diego County Bar Association will honor two DDAs at their Law Week Luncheon. Deputy District Attorney Kim-Thoa Hoang will be honored for “Service to Diversity.” Deputy District Attorney Danielle Hickman will be honored for “Service by a Public Attorney.” Congratulations to both! 4. CYAC Battle of the Badges X – Saturday, May 19, 2012: The Barona Band of Mission Indians, the Community Youth Athletic Center (CYAC), and the National Latino Peace Officers Association are holding the 10th annual "Battle of the Badges" charity boxing event on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at the Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino. Contact DDA Victor Nunez for more information. Please help support this event! 5. UPDATE - Attack on Public Employee Pensions: State lawmakers are still considering public employee pension changes, including a hybrid plan that would allow for a defined benefit component capped at a certain salary level. One proposal caps state employee pensions at what the governor earns, currently about $174,000. The joint Legislative Committee on pensions that has been meeting since late last year met again on April 13, 2012 in Southern California. 6. UPDATE - Health Plan Task Force: On April 4, 2012, the Health Plan Task Force, comprised of representatives of Labor (DDAA; DAI; SEIU; DSA; CC; etc.) and the County met to hear a presentation from Mercer regarding Health Savings Accounts. A Health Savings Account is a way for you to save money pre-tax which could be used for medical expenses. Details of a possible Health Savings Account that may be offered by Kaiser and Anthem in 2013 were discussed. Both HSA proposals would have a deductible of $1250 per year, but lower monthly premiums as a result. You could use the tax-free dollars from your HSA account to pay for the cost of medical appointments until you meet the annual deductible and other medical costs. At the next Health Task Force meeting in May, Anthem will present information regarding utilization rates by County employees in Anthem. Utilization drives rates – the more costly medical services that are used, the more rates are increased. One example – if you have a medical issue needing immediate attention, consider going to Urgent Care rather than an Emergency Room. The cost of the Emergency Room visit is far more, and that increased cost is later reflected in higher rates for all. If you have not done so, check out the County Employee Wellness Program website: http://insite.sdcounty.ca.gov/ewp/Pages/default.aspx. The Wellness Live Well Minute video (http://countynewscenter.com/video?v=123185) for April is on Cancer: half of all men and one-third of all women will develop cancer during their lifetimes. The sooner cancer is found and treated, the better your chances are for surviving and for living many years. 7. Free Passes to the San Diego Natural History Museum: We have two (2) free family passes to the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park which can be used repeatedly any time until December 31, 2012. The Titanic Exhibit is at the museum through September 2012. The passes are good for unlimited free general admission, but do not include separately priced events or exhibitions (there is a reduced price with the passes for the special events, like Titanic.) Please contact DDA Jim Koerber for the passes.

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8. DDAs on Facebook: Control + Click on the link to read about the cases being handled by your fellow DDAs: Facebook. If you “Like” the page, you will receive updates on your Facebook page when new case information is posted. 9. Save the Dates! Please mark your calendars for these events:

Thursday, May 10, 2012: DDAA Annual Hail and Farewell Saturday, September 22, 2012: DDAA Awards Banquet – Estancia Hotel, La Jolla Friday, December 14, 2012: Office Holiday Party – Air and Space Museum, Balboa Park

DDEEPPUUTTYY DDIISSTTRRIICCTT AATTTTOORRNNEEYYSS AASSSSOOCCIIAATTIIOONN BBOOAARRDD OOFF DDIIRREECCTTOORRSS MMEEEETTIINNGG MMIINNUUTTEESS OOFF 44//1111//1122

Officers and Robert Hickey Bryn Kirvin Brenda Daly Directors Steve Walter Patrick Ojeil Chantal de Mauregne Present: James Koerber Shannon Welton Adam Gordon Members Present: Deborah La Touche, Robert Lafer, Robert Harris, Terri Wyatt, Brent Neck

Consultant John Wainio

CAO Walt Ekard 1. Call to Order: President Hickey called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. 2. Association Comment: None. 3. Walt Ekard – Chief Administrative Officer – San Diego County: CAO Walt Ekard

addressed the Board on a range of topics. (1) The Economy: Sales tax revenues have increased, meaning Prop 172 money available to the County has increased. However, property taxes revenue is expected to decrease for the second year in a row, causing increased pressure on the County budget. With essentially flat revenue, the County must do more with less. (2) State of CA: The County’s biggest problem is the State of California and its budget issues. AB 109 is extremely costly and will continue to cause financial strains on the County’s resources. Additionally, there may be some re-alignment of HHS in the near future. (3) Retirement: Mr. Ekard said the County retirement system has problems and concerns ahead. The current pension contribution is $350 million, a $50 million dollar increase over last year. The contribution is expected to rise to $500 million dollars in the next several years. Much depends on returns in the stock market, and whether SDCERA meets the assumed rate of return of 8%. It is likely a third tier will be added to the retirement system in the years ahead. Mr. Ekard does not think a 401k retirement plan would work for the County because it detracts from his goal of attracting quality career employees. He would rather see a sustainable defined benefit

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plan that provides employees with a reasonable retirement. (4) Public Perception of Public Employees: Mr. Ekard voiced a concern about recent attempts by some politicians to portray public servants and public service in negative terms. He stressed his view that service to the public is an honorable calling, and should be promoted and encouraged. Additionally, he stated that soon there will be a different Board of Supervisors due to term limits. Thus, there could be some very different changes with how they do business.

4. DDAA Happy Hour in Vista and El Cajon: A DDAA Happy Hour is to be held on

April 26, 2012 at Karl Strauss Brewery in Carlsbad from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Appetizers and two free drinks will be provided. A DDAA Happy Hour will also be scheduled in El Cajon for sometime in May. Please be on the lookout for an announcement soon.

5. Summer Intern Happy Hour: The DDAA Board will be sponsoring a happy hour for our summer interns on May 17, 2012. The location will be determined soon. The Board voted to contribute $500 for this event and a request will be made to the PAC for them to do the same as well.

6. Hail and Farewell – May 10, 2012 at La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club: This event will be from 5:30 – 9:00 p.m., so please remember to RSVP by May 7, 2012.

7. DDAA Awards Dinner and Holiday Party: The DDAA Awards Banquet will be on September 22, 2012 at the Estancia Hotel. The Holiday Party will be on December 14, 2012 at the San Diego Air and Space Museum in Balboa Park. Please mark your calendars for both events.

8. PAC Board Bylaw Changes: After discussion at the SDAC Board meeting on February 28, 2012, a working group was formed to make recommendations for revisions to the SDAC Bylaws. On March 27, 2012, the SDAC Board adopted the following revisions to their bylaws:

1. The following statement was included in the purposes outlined in Article III: SDAC

will only support political candidates and initiatives in cooperation with the DDAA Board and in conformity of DDAA goals and interests;

2. SDAC membership was limited to active members of the DDAA; 3. Outside contributors are no longer allowed; 4. SDAC Board was fixed at 9; 5. The current sitting DDAA President will have permanent seat on the SDAC Board; 6. The election process currently used by the DDAA will now be used by SDAC in the

future; 7. In order to qualify to serve as either SDAC President or Vice President, a member

must serve one two year term on SDAC.

A copy of the revised SDAC Bylaws is available upon request.

9. PAC Board Update: PAC President Terri Wyatt reported that the PAC is working on their website and a face book page is also up and running. The next PAC meeting will

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be April 24, 2012 at noon at the Panda Inn. All PAC members are invited to attend. Please RSVP to Terri Wyatt by Friday, April 20, 2012.

10. Consultants’ Report: None.

11. Treasurer’s Report: Primary Savings: $**** Money Market: $**** Litigation Money Market: $**** Certificate: $**** Checking: $**** As always, if any member desires to see an itemized list of our spending and savings, it is available by contacting Treasurer Cari Philpott.

12. President’s Report: There will be a Salary Committee meeting on April 17, 2012 at 5:00

p.m. at HOJ. Giacomo Bucci is the Chair of this committee. The PAC has changed their by-laws to call for popular election of officers and directors by PAC members to mirror the DDAA’s elections. The PAC also added language to assure that the PAC acts only in conformity with and in support of the DDAA’s goals and interests. These changes should ensure accountability to you and structural cohesion with the DDAA for generations to come. Special thanks to all the PAC Board members who work very hard to bring this about.

13. New Business: In March, the Board voted by e-mail to sponsor a table at the Law Week Luncheon on May 1, 2012. On March 23, 2012, the DDAA presented a plaque to Dr. Christopher Swalwell, Deputy Medical Examiner, at his retirement event. Dr. Swalwell was very appreciative of the thanks and recognition. The Board voted by e-mail in April to sponsor a table at the STAR/PAL Superheroes for Youth Celebrity Waiter Luncheon on May 4, 2012. The Board voted to endorse Kristina Maxwell for the San Diego County Employees Retirement Board. The Board voted to contribute $200 and sponsor a hole in the CNOA Region 4 Charity Golf Tournament which donates to FOF (Fallen Officers Fund).

14. Old Business: The Board discussed the bill from Olson & Hagel for legal advice

regarding the PAC bylaw revisions. 15. Executive Session: The Board met in Executive Session. Not reported.

16. Next DDAA Board Meeting: The next DDAA Board meeting will be on Tuesday, May

1, 2012 at 5 p.m. in a conference room on HOJ 9.

17. Adjournment: 6:50 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted, Chantal de Mauregne, Secretary

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