HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-26-2016 Minutes Charter Review Committee
Tuesday, January 26,2016
Minutes
Committee Members Present: Phil Savage, Vicki Lee, Tom Pierce,Michael Craft(left at 6:40 p.m.), Casey Dailey
(arrived at 5:27 p.m.), Dennis Baxter, and Hillel Cohn
Committee Members absent: Gloria Harrison and Gary Walbourne
Staff/Committee Consultants Present: Cathy Standiford, Management Partners; City Attorney Gary Saenz, City Clerk
Gigi Hanna
Chair Savage called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, City Attorney Saenz spoke to the committee about making their votes clear and
passed out a memo concerning it. The Clerk agreed to announce the vote tally to keep the record clear.
Public Speakers
Shirley Harlan, of San Bernardino, discussed ways to engage the public in the Charter Review discussion and process.
She said she was working with the League of Women Voters on the matter.
Minutes
A motion was made by Cohn, seconded Baxter,to approve the Minutes of the January 12, 2016 meeting. The motion
passed unanimously.
Special Presentations
Dr. Milton Clark discussed the Library Board of Trustees and its role in the Library's functions as well as how the library
has weathered the financial and political difficulties of the City by maintaining an independent Board.
Action Items
The Committee voted to:
• To strike the words "and staff' in Article 3, Section 300 of the Proposed Charter: The role of the Council is
legislative in nature in character, which includes the power to set policy, approve contracts and agreements, and
undertake other obligations consistent with this Charter and the City's municipal code, while deferring to the
discretion of management and staff to choose appropriate means to achieve the Council's goals. Motion by
Baxter, second by Craft. Carried unanimously
• To strike the section from"Unless ... contrary"in Article 3, Section 301(a): The term "Council, " `legislative
body, "or other similar terms used in this Charter or any other provisions of law shall be deemed to refer to the
collective body composed of the Mayor and Council members.,
Motion by Baxter, second by Craft. Approved
unanimously
• To change the wording of Article 3, Section 302(f)to read: (The mayor shall)Represent the City in
intergovernmental relations and establish and maintain partnerships and regional leadership roles to advance the
City's interest, and may delegate such votes to other members of the Council. Motion by Baxter, seconded by
Dailey. It carried unanimously.
• To move Article 3, Section 303(g) to the second paragraph of Section 302. The motion was made by Dailey,
seconded by Baxter. The motion carried 5-1, with Cohn dissenting.
• To strike Section 303(g). The motion was made by Pierce, seconded by Cohn and carried unanimously.
• To approve the following language in Article 3, Section 305(a): Holding Other Office. No Mayor or Council
member shall hold any other City office or City employment during the term for which they were elected, No
Former Mayor or Council member shall hold any compensated appointive office or employment with the City
until one year after the expiration of the term for which they were elected, Elected and appointed officials shall
adhere to conflict of interest codes as established by state law and/or City ordinance. The motion was made by
Baxter, seconded by Lee and carried unanimously.
• To amend the language of Article 3, Section 305 (b) to read:Appointments and Removals. Neither the Council
nor any of its members shall in any manner control or demand appointment or removal of any city administrative
Officer or employee whom the t-aty Manager is empowered to appoint. The motion was made by Dailey, seconded
by Baxter and carried unanimously.
• To amend the second sentence of Article 3, Section 305 (b)to read: This does not preclude members of the
Council from expressing their views and fully and freely discussing with the City Manager anything pertaining to
the appointment and removal of such officers and employees. The motion was made by Cohn, seconded by Dailey
and carried unanimously.
• To adopt the following language (Option C) for Article 3, Section 305(c): Interference with Administration. The
Mayor and Council members shall deal with city officers and employees who are subject to the direction and
supervision of the city manager solely through the city manager and shall not give orders to or attempt to direct
the work of such officers and employee eitherpublicly orprivately. Inquiries may be made directly to officers and
employee under supervision of the city manager with the knowledge and consent of the city manager. The motion
was made by Pierce, seconded by Dailey and carried unanimously.
• To modify the language of Article 3, Section 306(a)be modified to read: A vacancy shall exist on the Council and
shall be declared by the Council, upon the occurrence of any of the events enumerated in the provisions of the
Government Code pertaining to vacancies in public offices. The motion was made by Cohn, seconded by Dailey
and carried unanimously.
• To eliminate Article 3, Section 306(b) from the Charter. The motion was made by Cohn, seconded by Baxter and
carried unanimously.
• To adjust their schedule and make their presentation to the Mayor and Common Council at its February 16, 2016
meeting. The motion was made by Cohn, seconded by Lee and carried unanimously.
• To change the committee's meeting time to 5:30 p.m. The motion was made by Craft, seconded by Pierce and
carried unanimously.
Next Meeting Date and Time
The next meeting date of the Volunteer Citizen-Based Charter Committee will be 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 9, 2016.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by
Gigi Hanna
City Clerk