Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 12-06-99 - Adjourned w CDC 13339 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 6, 1999 The City Council of the City of Downey held an adjourned regular meeting at 7:32 p.m., December 6, 1999, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, Mayor Keith McCarthy presiding. PRESENT: Council Members: Keith McCarthy Mayor Joyce L. Lawrence Mayor Pro Tem Robert C. Winningham Meredith H. Perkins Gary P. McCaughan, M.D. ALSO PRESENT: Gerald M. Caton, City Manager Charles Vose, City Attorney Judith McDonnell, City Clerk - Treasurer Lee Powell, Assistant City Manager Shirley Conte, Executive Secretary ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED CHARTER MEASURE AMENDING SECTION 500.1 OF THE DOWNEY CITY CHARTER RELATING TO CITY COUNCIL TERM LIMITATIONS Council Member McCaughan stated he would concur with the majority of the Council, noting if there has been a shift in position, he did not wish a lengthy discussion. Ms. McDonnell read the titles of the Resolutions, noting the Council will need to decide which Council Member will file the arguments in favor of the proposed Charter Measure in the second Resolution. RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY CALIFORNIA, CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE OF THE HOLDING OF A SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION ON TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2000, FOR THE SUBMISSION OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 13 TO THE DOWNEY CITY CHARTER RELATING TO CITY COUNCIL TERM LIMITATIONS Council Minutes (adj.) 12/6/99 -1- 1 3340 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA, SETTING PRIORITIES FOR FILING A WRITTEN ARGUMENT REGARDING PROPOSED CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT NO. 13 RELATING TO CITY COUNCIL TERM LIMITATIONS AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA, PROVIDING FOR THE FILING OF REBUTTAL ARGUMENTS FOR CITY MEASURES SUBMITTED AT MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TO CONSOLIDATE THE CITY OF DOWNEY SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION WITH THE STATEWIDE PRIMARY ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MARCH 7, 2000, PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 10401 AND 10403 OF THE CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE Ed Di Loreto, 12405 Woodruff Avenue, spoke in opposition of the proposed amendment to the current term limits and submitted copies of a letter he had sent to the Mayor dated December 2, 1999, which he also read. He felt the public spoke loud and clear on this issue and that it was a waste of money to test them again. David Bowers, 10620 Dolan Avenue, mentioned concern with the way the Resolution is written and how the proposed Charter Measure will appear on the March 2000 Ballot. He felt people would not realize, unless they read the ballot information, what they were voting for. He referred to Section 2, (a), stating he felt it offered the opportunity for a write -in candidate. Mr. Vose advised this portion of the Resolution contains the same language currently in the City's Charter, which does offer the opportunity for a write -in candidate or the appointment of a Council Member to fill an unexpired term. Lennie Whittington, 8542 Manatee Street, referred to the discussion of this issue at the previous Council Meeting and felt the first Resolution presented was misleading, stating it reads the same as the Charter is now written. He mentioned the schedule for filing arguments was not in the public packet until prior to the meeting. He felt the incumbent has an advantage in any election and stated he was in favor of term limits. Council Minutes (adj.) 12/6/99 -2- 13341 Terry Lambrose, 9715 Brookshire Avenue, spoke in favor of term limits and read an article from the Press Telegram quoting statements from the Council Members on this topic. She referred to the recent Board of Education election, stating it was easy for the incumbents to be reelected because of the endorsements they received. She was opposed to spending City funds to place a charter measure on the ballot. Frank Perez, 9104 Gainford Street, spoke in favor of term limits. Jeff Bell, 12838 Barlin Avenue, thanked Mayor McCarthy and Council Member Perkins for being advocates for the people. He suggested the Council Members in favor of amending the present term limits, to draft a petition and obtain the required signatures, as was done during the 1993 initiative. He was opposed to anyone serving more than two terms in office. Doris Paterson, 10524 Lesterford Avenue, complimented the City Council but stated she believes in term limits. She urged the Council not to revisit the issue, stating there are other ways to serve the community. Mike Prokop, 10444 Julius Avenue, said a hue and cry from the public is missing and that the people spoke loud and clear in 1993 in favor of term limits. He felt eight years in office was enough but would like to see a hiatus of two or four years before returning to office. Dennis Carroll, 2037 Conquista, Long Beach, explained he wrote the term limits initiative for the City of Long Beach, which passed in 1992. He agreed that certain things are lost with term limits, noting it is not a perfect remedy but felt it was premature to revisit this issue again. He mentioned he included a write -in possibility in his term limit initiative and people felt more at ease with this option. Council Member McCaughan pointed out that none of the surrounding cities have a lifetime ban, mentioning a city loses its power in the various organizations it belongs to with no long -term Council Members. He disagreed that the 1993 term limit initiative was the will of the _._, people, noting many people are still of the understanding that present Council Members could run again if they desired. Mr. Caroll pointed out the required number of signatures was obtained in 1993 and felt the present argument would be stronger if signatures had been obtained to show the present proposal was the will of the people. Joseph Di Loreto, 8607 East Imperial Highway, spoke in favor of term limits and felt Council Members were using their position in violation of the will of the people. He gave a brief history of the term limits issue dating back to a proposal of former Mayor Barbara Hayden, noting he solicited signatures for petitions on an initiative, which was then placed on the ballot. He felt Council Member McCaughan should do the same if he wants to place this before the voters and urged the Council not to waste money to put this on the ballot. (**see amended wording, Page 5) Joseph Polselli, 9330 Gallatin Road, supported Council Member McCaughan on this matter and felt a erson should be allowed to wait four years and then run again, if they so p Y desired. He also supported a high standard of pay for Council Members and urged Council Member Winningham to support the term limit proposal. Council Minutes (adj.) 12/6/99 -3- 13342 Council Member Perkins stated he felt the term limit issue was brought up due to the results of the recent school board election and mentioned concerns he has heard from constituents about school related issues. He referred to the history of the City since 1956, noting there have � y g been 38 City Council Members, six of whom have served three terms; ten have served two terms; and seventeen have served one term. He indicated no one has served more than 12 years and there are people serving on the City Council for as long as 28 years in other cities. He felt the people voted on term limits and that the will of the eo le should stand. p p Council Member McCaughan pointed out that from 1957 to 1993 there were no term limits in the City and explained that the issue is not term limits, but is term limits without the lifetime ban. The survey of other cities shows that none have a lifetime ban and man y have no term limits at all. He referred to a prior comment about the wording of the proposed measure being misleading to the public, noting only ten words would be changed, with the rest remaining g as originally written. Council Member Lawrence felt the voters in the City are apathetic, since there was only a ten percent turnout at the most recent election. She has encouraged public participation and voted to discuss this issue tonight to encourage dialogue. She stated the Council is concerned that the City's government is the best it can be for the citizens of Downey and explained that attending Council Meetings to discuss business is only a small portion of what the Council's job involves. She noted her support of Council Member cCaughan in his bid to place this issue before the voters. (* *see amended wording, Page 5 g g 5) ill. If Mayor McCarthy concurred with Council Member Perkins in that he felt this is not the time to revisit the issue of term limits. He referred to the ballot measure p aased in 1993 and felt the issue was still fresh in the voters' memories. Council Member Winningham read a prepared statement, stating he wished people would have contacted him with their opinions but it did not happen. He noted a major portion of the Council's job is to listen to public input, study the issue, and make a decision based on what is in the best interest of the City and its future. He believes in term limits at the National and State level but not at the local level. He felt the Council is the ultimate act of community volunteerism and its members really care about the City. He expressed concern that in the future, the City may be faced with unqualified candidates. He offered his support in gathering signatures to place this item before the voters, in the way it was done in 1993. It was moved by Council Member Winningham, seconded by Council Member Lawrence, and unanimously carried to receive and file. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Jeff Bell, 1283 Barlin Avenue, mentioned attending the meeting was a good learning experience and complimented Council Member McCaughan. Terri Lambrose, 9715 Brookshire Avenue, commended each Council Member, noting she was proud to sit in the audience and listen to their comments. Council Minutes (adj.) 12/6/99 -4- 13343 Ed Di Loreto, 12405 Woodruff Avenue, commended the final judgement of the Council and thanked them for giving the present law a chance. He offered his assistance to help change the law, if it does not work within the next ten or fifteen years. Lennie Whittington, 8542 Manatee Street, mentioned his appreciation for the work Council Members do for the City. ADJOURNMENT: 9:18 p.m. The meeting was adjourned to 6:30 p.m., December 14, 1999, in the Council Chamber of Downey City Hall. P ")14 u y C&A/bit w ith E. McDonnell, City Clerk Keith McCarthy, Ma o H:\CCLERKISCONTE\MINUTE3\ccmn l 206 **At the Meeting of January 11, 2000, the Minutes were amended as follows: On Page 3, Paragrap k 9, Line 1, after the word "Highway," insert the words "a Superior Court Judge who stated he was speaking as a private citizen and not a Judge," and on Page 4, Paragraph 3, adding the words "She felt the return of four longtime incumbents to the Downey Unified School District Board showed an inconsistency in public attitude regarding terra limits and what makes up good government and that is why she wanted to have the dialogue." Council Minutes (adj.) 12/6/99 -5-