HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-02-10 CRC Agenda PacketCHU'IAVISTA
Charter Review Commission
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA
February 10, 2016
6:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Executive Conference Room 103
276 Fourth Avenue
Chula Vista
ROLL CALL: Commissioners De La Rosa_, Felber O'Donnell RhamyW,
Ross , Spethman, and Chair Bellamy.
CITY STAFF: Malancl , Googins , Ponds , Norris
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Persons speaking during Public Comments may address the BoardlCommission on any
subject matter within the Board/Commission's jurisdiction that is not listed as an item on the
agenda. State law generally prohibits the Board /Commission from discussing or taking
action on any issue not included on the agenda, but, if appropriate, the BoardlCommission
may schedule the topic for future discussion or refer the matter to staff. Comments are
limited to three minutes.
ACTION ITEMS
The Item(s) listed in this section of the agenda will be considered individually by the
Board /Commission and are expected to elicit discussion and deliberation. If you wish to
speak on any item, please fill out a "Request to Speak" form and submit it to the Secretary
prior to the meeting.
1. Approval of January 13, 2015 Minutes
2. Review and Consideration of Article III of the City Charter, to Identify and Prepare
Potential Charter Amendments for Recommendation to the City Council, including but
not limited to, Sections 300 (City Council Members, Eligibility and Terms), and 303
(City Council Vacancies).
3. Discussion of Potential Charter Amendment Regarding City Attorney Residency
Requirement
OTHER BUSINESS
1. STAFF COMMENTS
2. CHAIR'S COMMENTS
I declare under penalty of perjury that I am employed by
the City of Chula Vista in the Office of the City Attorney
and that I posted this document on the bulletin board at
the City Hall according to Brown Act requirements.
,-, ,
Dated S. — Signed: ` L `
3. COMMISSIONERSVBOARD MEMBERS' COMMENTS
ADJOURNMENT
Materials provided to the Charter Review Commission related to any open -- session item on this
agenda are available for public review in the Chula Vista City Attorney's Office, during normal
business hours.
In compliance with the
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
The City of Chula Vista requests individuals who require special accommodations to access,
attend, and /or participate in a City meeting, activity, or service, contact the Human Resources
Department at (619) 691 -5041 (California Relay Service is available for the hearing impaired by
dialing 711) at least forty -eight hours in advance of the meeting.
Page 2 1 Charter Review Commission Agenda Meeting Date: February 10, 2016
At � 1 511 liill--ii��Iulz�
WIN :E i
1'
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA
January 13, 2016
6:00 P.M.
A Regular Meeting of the Charter Review Commission of the City of Chula Vista was called to
order at 6:06 p.m. in Executive Conference Room 103, located at 276 Fourth Avenue, Building
A, Chula Vista, California.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Commissioners De La Rosa, Felbers, Ross, Spethman, and Chair
Bellamy
ABSENT: Commissioners Rhamy and O'Donnell
STAFF PRESENT: Assistant City Attorney Maland, City Clerk Norris and Legal
Assistant Ponds
ACTION ITEMS
1. Approval of December 9, 2015 minutes.
ACTION: Commissioner Spethman made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner
De La Rosa seconded motion. The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: 5 (Chair Bellamy, De La Rosa, Felbers, Ross and Spethman)
No: 0
Abstain: 0
PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment
2. Consideration of Potential Charter Amendment Language to Charter Section 303
Regarding City Council Vacancies and Allow All -Mail Balloting
ACA Maland explained redline /strikeout Item 2 Attachment based on the meeting she had
with Subcommittee member Commissioner Ross and City Clerk NoiTis regarding the
proposed Charter language. The Commissioners discussed the revisions and gave
recommendations to ACA Maland regarding the proposed language.
Page 1 Chamfer Review Commission Minutes January 13, 2016
DRAFT
3. Review and Consideration of Charter Article III, including Section 300, 303, and 306
through 313, to identify Potential Charter Amendments for Recommendation to the
City Council
Legal Assistant Ponds distributed copies of Section Article III of the Chula Vista City
Charter.
ACTION: the Commissioners came to a consensus for staff to return with the revisions to
Charter Section 303 and to table Item 3, agendize the City Attorney residency, review of
California Government Code § 1770 and review Charter Section 303 (c) to the next meeting,
February 10, 2016.
OTHER BUSINESS
1. STAFF COMMENTS -None
2. CHAIR'S COMMENTS - None
3. COMMISSIONERS'/BOARD MEMBERS' COMMENTS - None
ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. The next regular meeting will be on
Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at 6:00 p.m.
Cheryl Ponds- Poole, Secretary
Page 2 Charter Review Commission Minutes January 13, 2016
Sec. 303. Vacancies.
A. Definition ova Vacancytrs; Granting Permission for Absences.
1. Definition of Vacancy. A vacancy on the City Council is deemed to occur in each of
the following instances, and is effective on the corresponding date indicated:
Occurrence of Vacancy
Vacancy Effective Date
A member is absent from four consecutive
The date of the member's last unexcused
regular meetings of the City Council,
absence
scheduled and held, without obtaining excuse
for such absences pursuant to section 303.A.2.,
below
A member is convicted of a felony or crime
The date of the conviction
involving moral turpitude
A member submits a letter of resignation to the
The effective date of the resignation, as set
City Clerk
forth in such letter of resignation, or if no date
is specified, the date it is submitted to the City
Clerk
The election of a member to another office
The earlier of the date on which the member is:
requiring the surrender of the member's current
sworn into another office, or the election
seat
results are certified, or the City Council
declares the seat vacant
A member ceases to be a resident of City, gr of
The earlier of the date which the member
the District which the member represents
provides to the City Council or City Clerk as
the last date of residency; or the date which a
court of competent jurisdiction determines the
member's residency ended
The City Council may identify additional occurrences of vacancy by ordinance.
[Discussion Point for Commission: Are there other types of vacancies that should be
added? (See, for example, Government Code section 1770.
The City Council small declare the existence or any vacanc or anticipated __.vacancy as
soon as practicable.
2. Excusing Absences. A Councilmember may request that the City Council excuse the
member's absence from a City Council meeting, The reques f the r'^uiieil shall be
granted for any temporary illness of the requesting Councilmember disabling him or her from
attendance at such meeting and may be granted in other instances on a majority vote of the City
Council. The ig .anting of any such request shall be expressed in the City Council's official
minutes of the meeting at which the request is granted.
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The City Council small declare the existence or any vacanc or anticipated __.vacancy as
soon as practicable.
2. Excusing Absences. A Councilmember may request that the City Council excuse the
member's absence from a City Council meeting, The reques f the r'^uiieil shall be
granted for any temporary illness of the requesting Councilmember disabling him or her from
attendance at such meeting and may be granted in other instances on a majority vote of the City
Council. The ig .anting of any such request shall be expressed in the City Council's official
minutes of the meeting at which the request is granted.
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Filling Vacancies: Appointments and Special Elections..
Exeept under the eiFetimstances he -- einabove provided in pafagfaph R +The City Council shall
fill such vacancy by election or appointment as set forth herein.
1. Vacancy with Less Than One Year Remaining in Term. If a vacancy is declared by
the Council with one (1) year or less remaining in the term from the date of
declaration, the Council shall within 45 days appoint a person to fill the vacant seat on
the City Council.
In the event the Council shall make such an appointment, such an appointee office
holder shall be entitled to hold office until a successor subsequently qualifies at the
expifatien of the remaining Couneil or- Mayoral teFm.
If the Council is unable to Make an ntmei - +, toe Cnuneil's power to appoint a
person to fill the vacancy within 45 days of declaration of vacancy, the Council's
power to appoint is thereby terminated for the duration of such minimal remaining
term and the seat will remain vacant. The Council shall use good faith and best efforts
to reach agreement on such an appointment. If the Gauaeil is unable te make
. I . . i during the alloued t4ne, the Council is power to appoint is .
2. Vacancy with 25 Months or More Remaining in Term. If a vacancy declared by the
Council occurs with 25 months or more remaining in the term from the date of said
declaration, the Council shall call a special election. The special election shall be held
on the earliest Established Election Date ( "EED "), as specified in the California
Elections Code on which it is practicable to hold such special election. If the City
Council determines that the time between the vacancy and such EED is excessive, the
City Council may determine to hold the election on an earlier date. If there is a
federal, state, or local election scheduled to be held on such EED, the election maybe
consolidated with that election. The City Council may opt to conduct an all vote -by-
mail "All VBM ") ballot election pursuant to section 303.13.6., below. to be held O
the next established election da4e, as speeified in the Weetions Code of the State o
Califefaia, OF with-in 1-20 days ft-ofn the deelar-ation of varaiwy, whichever- is pfaetiea!7
unless tker-e is a federal, siate, of! leeal eleetion seheduled to be held within 180 days
10- 91M
a. Majority of Votes Cast for One Candidate. In the special election, the voters in
the district for which a vacancy shall be filled shall be entitled to vote for one (1)
candidate from the district. If a candidate receives the majority of the votes cast in
that candidate's district, that candidate shall be deemed °n 4eelafed b he
couneil * elected to the vacant office. Ties among candidates shall be resolved
in the manner provided in Section 300.A.3.
b. Majority of Votes Not Cast for One Candidate. If no candidate receives a
majority of votes cast in the special election, to fill a vacancy, a special run -off
election shall be held in the district in which the vacancy exists, on the
next earliest EED on which it is practicable to hold such special election. If the
City Council determines by majority vote that the time between the vacancy and
such EED is excessive, the City Council may determine to hold the election on
an earlier date, after consultation with the Registrar of Voters. establishes
election date, as speeified -in the Eleetiens C4e—, If there is a federal, state, or
local election scheduled to be held on that established election date, n
e
� ] federal, state,
withif '2190 -- days fallowing the eel-1ifieatien of the ,
,..4ieh fimc the Council may consolidate the special run -off election with that
election, as p,..,yided by the gleelions Code The two (2) candidates receiving the
highest number of votes cast for the vacant seat in the first special election shall
be the only candidates for the vacant Council seat. and the name of only th
two (2) eandidates shall be nted oft the ballot for that sm. Ties shall be
resolved in the manner provided in Section 300.A.3. No "write -in" candidate
names shall be allowed.
c. Mayoral Vacancy. A vacancy in the office of Mayor shall be filled in the same
manner as provided in subparagraphs a., and b., above, except that the voters of
the City at -large shall be entitled to vote.
3. Vacancies with More Than One Year, but Less than 25 Months. If a vacancy is
declared by the Council with more than one year but less than 25 months remaining in
the term from the date of declaration, the Council may either appoint a person to fill
the vacant seat on the City Council, pursuant to subsection 13C.1., above, or call a
special election to fill the vacancy, pursuant to subsection BQ2., above. The Council
shall determine, by majority vote within fourteen days of the declaration of vacancy,
whether to fill the vacancy by appointment or by special election.
If the Council fails4etefff4nes to fill the vacancy by appointment and is .,able to
make an ap-pointment within 604-5 days of the Council declaring a vacancy, the
Council's power to appoint is terminated and the Council shall call a special election
pursuant to section 303.13E.2., above.
4. Majority of Council Members Cannot be Appointed. Notwithstanding any other
provision in this Section 303.13E to the contrary, if an appointment would result in a
majority of the members serving on the City Council being appointed, the Council
shall not fill the vacancy by appointment; rather: (a) where the vacancy is for a
remaining term of one year or less, the office shall remain vacant; and (b) where the
vacancy is for a remaining term of more than one year but less than 25 months, the
Council shall call a special election to fill the office in accordance with section
303.13C.2.
5. Appointee One -Year Waiting Period. As provided in Section 300.13E, any person
who is appointed by the Council to fill the office of Councilmember or Mayor may
not seek nomination and election to said offices of Councilmember or Mayor until a
period of one year from the termination of the appointed term has elapsed. Said
appointee shall be eligible to seek nomination and election for two (2) full terms
thereafter.
6. All Vote-By-Mail Balloting. Notwithstandipg any other provision in this Section
303.13 to the contrary, if a City Council or Mayoral vacancy is to be filled utilizing a
special election that is not consolidated with a scheduled federal, state or local polling
place election the City Council may, upon a majority vote, allow such election to be
conducted using an All VBM ballot. The All VBM ballot election shall be conducted
in accordance with applicable City ordinances. The City Council shall adopt an
ordinance governing the manner in which All VBM ballot elections are to be
conducted prior to holding the first All VBM ballot election. If the City Council
determines to hold the special election utilizing an All VBM ballot election the "next
EED" referenced in section B.2. above shall mean the next established mail election
date as set forth in the California Elections Code.
[Discussion Point for Commission: Are there portions of this that would be
better - suited for an ordinance ?i
§ 1770. Events causing vacancy before expiration of tern, CA GOVT § 1770
West's Ann.Cal.Gov.Code § 1770
§ 1770. Events causing vacancy before expiration of term
Effective: January 1, 2015
currentness
An office becomes vacant on the happening of any of the following events before the expiration of the term:
(a) The death of the incumbent.
(b) An adjudication pursuant to a quo warranto proceeding declaring that the incumbent is physically or mentally
incapacitated due to disease, illness, or accident, and that there is reasonable cause to believe that the incumbent will not be
able to perform the duties of his or her office for the remainder of his or her term. This subdivision shall not apply to offices
created by the California Constitution nor to federal or state legislators.
(c)(1) His or her resignation, except as provided in paragraph (2).
(2) In the case of the office of city council member, upon the delivery of a letter of resignation by the resigning council
member to the city clerk. The letter of resignation may specify a date on which the resignation will become effective.
(d) His or her removal from office.
(e) His or her ceasing to be an inhabitant of the state, or if the office be local and one for which local residence is required by
law, of the district, county, or city for which the officer was chosen or appointed, or within which the duties of his or her
office are required to be discharged.
(f) His or her absence fi•om the state without the permission required by law beyond the period allowed by law.
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§ 1770. Events causing vacancy before expiration of term, CA GOVT § 1770
(g) His or her ceasing to discharge the duties of his or her office for the period of three consecutive months, except when
prevented by sickness, or when absent from the state with the permission required by law.
(h) His or her conviction of a felony or of any offense involving a violation of his or her official duties. An officer shall be
deemed to have been convicted under this subdivision when trial court judgment is entered. For purposes of this subdivision,
"trial court judgment" means a judgment by the trial court either sentencing the officer or otherwise upholding and
implementing the plea, verdict, or finding.
(i) His or her refusal or neglect to file his or her required oath or bond within the time prescribed.
0) The decision of a competent tribunal declaring void his or her election or appointment.
(k) The making of an order vacating his or her office or declaring the office vacant when the officer fails to furnish an
additional or supplemental bond.
(0 His or her commitment to a hospital or sanitarium by a court of competent jurisdiction as a drug addict, dipsomaniac,
inebriate, or stimulant addict; but in that event the office shall not be deemed vacant until the order of commitment has
become final.
(m)(1) The incumbent is listed in the Excluded Parties List System and all of the following subparagraphs apply:
(A) The office is one that the incumbent holds ex officio, by virtue of holding another office, or as an appointee.
(B) The appointed or ex officio office is on the governing board of a local agency that is, or may reasonably be expected to
be, a participant or principal in a covered transaction, pursuant to federal law.
(C) A federal agency head or designee has not granted the incumbent an exception, in writing, permitting the incumbent to
participate in a particular covered transaction in which the local agency is, or may reasonably be expected to be, a participant
or principal.
(2) For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms have the following meanings:
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§ 1770. Events causing vacancy before expiration of teru7, CA GOVT § 1770
(A) "Excluded Parties List System" means the list maintained and disseminated by the federal General Services
Administration containing names of, and other information about, persons who are debarred, suspended, disqualified, or
otherwise excluded from participating in a covered transaction, pursuant to federal law.
(B) "Local agency" includes, but is not limited to, a county, whether general law or chartered, city, whether general law or
chartered, city and county, school district, municipal corporation, district, political subdivision, or any board, commission, or
agency of one of these entities.
(C) "Federal law" includes, but is not limited to, federal regulations adopted pursuant to Section 2455 of Public Law 103 -355
(108 Stat. 3327), Executive Order No. 11738, Executive Order No. 12549, and Executive Order No. 12689.
(3) This subdivision shall not apply to an elective office.
Credits
(Stats.1943, c. 134, p. 969, § 1770. Amended by Stats.1943, c. 166, p. 1062; Stats.1949, c. 1512, p. 2695, § 1, operative Jan.
1, 1952; Stats.1970, c. 465, p. 921, § 1; Stats.1971, c. 702, p. 1362, § 1; Stats.1974, c. 1234, p. 2678, § l; Stats.1988, c. 283,
§ 1; Stats.1998, c. 931 (S.B.2139), § 177, eff. Sept. 28, 1998; Stats.2002, c. 784 (S.B.1316), § 122; Stats.2011, c. 543
(A.B.309), § 2; Stats.2014, c. 725 (A.B.1795), § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2015.)
Editors' Notes
LAW REVISION COMMISSION COMMENTS
1998 Amendment
Section 1770 is amended to reflect elimination of the justice court. Cal. Const, art. Vt, §§ 1, 5(b). [28 Cal.L.Rev.Comm.
Reports 51 (1998)].
2002 Amendment
Subdivision (e) of Section 1770 is amended to reflect unification of the municipal and superior courts pursuant to Article Vl,
Section 5(e), of the California Constitution. [32 Cal.L.Rev.Comin. Reports 178 (2002)].
Notes of Decisions (120)
West's Ann. Cal. Gov. Code § 1770, CA GOVT § 1770
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§ 1770. Events causing vacancy before expiration of term, CA GOVT § 1770
Current with all 2015 Rev —Sess. laws. and Ch. 1 of 2015 -2016 2nd Ex.Sess.
Fild of Document
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