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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-03-14 CRC MINSMINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION March 14, 2005 Cedar Conference Room, City Hall 4:30 p.m. ------------------------------------------------------------------- MEMBERS PRESENT: Harriet Acton, David Potter, Armida Martin del Campo, Cheryl Cox MEMBERS ABSENT: Humberto Peraza, Jr. STAFF PRESENT: Sr. Asst. City Attorney Sharon A. Marshall The meeting was called to order at 4:40 p.m. 1. Roll Call. The roll was called and members were noted as present or absent as indicated above. 2. Approval of Minutes. Minutes of the March 14, 2004 meeting approved as presented. 3. Discussion/analysis of whether or not to increase the $25,0.00 limit on staff authoritv to approve Public Works contracts. Sharon Marshall suggested that the Commission continue this matter to next .month. At that time, Merce LeClair from General Services will provide a report and give a presentation re: the reason for this request. Pursuant to the Charter, there is a provision that the General Services and Public Works Departments may approve only contracts under $25,000. General Services has requested that this amount be increased. It was agreed to continue further discussion on this matter until April's meeting. 4. Discussion on the consistency of the Chula Vista City Charter with the Citv's Municipal Code. Sharon Marshall suggested that this Commission might want to take on the task of reconciling the Charter with the Municipal Code at least to the extent that it deals with things like elections and highly sensitive issues. With respect to elections, since the section in the Charter dealing with campaign contributions we updated last year, it was decided that it would be appropriate at this time for the Commission to begin updating other sections of the Charter as necessary, as well. Ms. Marshall is currently working with the City Clerk, Susan Bigelow in updating and revising sections dealing with Boards and Commissions. It was agreed that Sharon Marshall would provide the Commission with a copy of the election section of the Municipal Code to compare Charter Review Minutes March 14, 2005 Page 2 with the Charter at next month's meeting. At that time, the Commission will decide how the task will be distributed among members and what course of operation to take. 5. Discussion of monthly meetings (as needed) of the Charter Review Commission as directed by the Chula Vista Municipal Code. Harriet Acton explained that according to the Municipal Code, the Commission is suppose to be meeting on the first Monday of each month as needed. Sharon Marshall proposed that this may be changed by a vote of the Commission. It was recalled that this issue was addressed and subsequently voted on at the last meeting. It is agreed that the meetings take place on the second Monday of each month at the discretion of the Chair, as needed. A formal resolution will be drafted and approved by the Commission reflecting this change. Consensus: next meeting to take place on April 11, 2005. 6. Old Business. a. The prospect of outstanding campaign contribution funds obtained during a previous campaign being used to fund a current campaign. This was an item questioned by Commission member Humberto Peraza, Jr. at the previous meeting. Sharon Marshall explained that pursuant to the Campaign Contribution Ordinance, a candidate may use outstanding campaign contribution funds obtained during a previous election to fund a current campaign as long as it is for the same office. Any other surplus campaign funds have to be used either to repay contributions previously made or they can be made in a donation to a charitable organization. b. Protocol for submitting items for meetings. Consensus arrived at during the last meeting: Any member of the Commission may submit his/her item for a meeting agenda to the Chair who will in turn contact the City Attorney in advance to advise of the proposed item. A suggestion was made by Sharon Marshall that the Commission might wish to consider adopting by- laws on how to carry on business within the Commission. David Potter opted for a more informal approach as proposed by the above consensus. Motion was made by David Potter to approve the protocol of submitting an item for a meeting agenda to the Chair who will in turn contact the City Attorney in advance to advise of the proposed item. Motion seconded by Cheryl Cox. Motion approved. Charter Review Minutes March 14, 2005 Page 3 c. Charter Review Commission budget and the purchase of member identification cards. There is a budget for the Commission of $177.00. None of these funds have been spent this fiscal year. It was determined by the Commission that business cards would not be needed at this time. 7. New business. Questioned posed by Cheryl Cox with regard to the campaign contribution ordinance reform, has there been any question raised since the November elections that reflect on how that particular amendment looks for the next election. Sharon Marshall will look into the answer between April and November that had this revision been in force could have soled it. If it doesn't than of course we have a lot of time between now and the next election to take a look at that ordinance one more time. 8. Public Comments. It was recommended that a time period be set for filling vacancies for seats on commissions. Cheryl Cox suggested that this might be an item where for the Commission to search the Charter and Municipal Code for consistency with regard to protocol in that regard. It was proposed that this question be addressed as an agenda item at next month's meeting. 9. Members' Comments. None 10. Adjournment. Motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:30 p.m. to a April 11, 2005 or soon thereafter. Diane Clancey, Sec ary J:\attorney\dianec\CRC - Minutes (3/14/05)