HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-06-05 CRC MINS MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY OF CHULA VISTA
CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION
June 5, 2000 City Attorney' s Conference Room 4 : 30 p.m.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: John Dorso, Harriet Acton, Deric Prescott,
David Potter, Jack Blakely and Barbara
McAllister
MEMBERSIABSENT: Bob Campbell
STAFF PRESENT: City Attorney John M. Kaheny
The meeting was called to order at 4 :30 p.m.
1 . Roll Call .
The roll was called and all members were present except Member
Campbell who was excused due to illness .
2 . Approval of Minutes .
MSUC (Blakely/Potter) to approve the minutes of May 15, 2000 as
presented.
(Chair Dorso asked to move Item 4 up on the Agenda)
4 . Previously Approved Amendments for Placement on November
ballot and Report by City Attorney John M. Kaheny.
Chair Dorso noted at the last meeting, the Commission selected
Option 3 relating to the creation of a Nature Center Board of
Trustees to be placed on the November ballot . The City Clerk has
budgeted funds for three propositions . Any further discussion of
additional items is tabled until the next meeting.
3 . Term Limits .
Attorney Kaheny and Chair Dorso met recently to brainstorm on term
limits . There appears to movement in the community either for or
against term limits, and, if in fact the Commission wants to pursue
this, it has to be done within the next month and brought to the
Council in order to forward it to the County Registrar of Voters by
August 11 . The community is probably not aware of the time frames
involved.
Member Prescott distributed an extensive research packet regarding
term limits for the Commission to review.
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Charter Review Commission
June 5, 2000
Page 2
Since there has not been much of a debate citywide, Mr. Kaheny
suggested it might be wise to give everybody a choice by
structuring the ballot language with two measures . If both fail,
the status quo stays . If one passes, we abolish terms limits . If
the other one passes, we can do either a lifetime ban or add more
years because there is a concern with the one-year rule. As noted
by Chair Dorso, usually the Commission has the luxury of time to
deliberate the merits of an issue, however, in this case, we can
let the public decide . Since there has been no direction from
anybody, if terms limits are not placed on the November ballot, it
would require a costly special election in order to be effective _
prior to the next primary.
Member Blakely does not believe the Commission should look at
tightening it up. It' s been 30 years since it was before the
voters; we should look at abolishing it, and if that didn' t pass,
then come back and tighten it up instead of confusing the issue by
giving the voters two choices . He has only heard talk in the
r community of abolishing the limits . The Charter is not consistent
because a City Councilmember waits a lesser period of time than a
board or commission member to serve again.
Member, McAllister has not heard talk of abolishing limits, but that
, the Commission should take a good look at the situation because
people are not happy with what we have .
Member Prescott agreed with Mr. Blakely with regard to getting rid
of terms limits, but has heard discussion on how people should have
the right to vote for whom they want . The trend has been in most
municipalities and many states to do away with term limits . Those
politicians who have done a good job should be rewarded as opposed
to, you have done a good job but because of some mandatory law, you
have to leave . Although the idea of having both versions of the
-ballot measure would be a good idea, it would probably confuse the
issue as did the two Indian gaming propositions .
The consensus of the Commission was to go forward with one measure
repealing term limits and Chair Dorso asked the City Attorney to
come back with language .- MSUC (Prescott/Acton) to ask and direct
the City Attorney to come up with language demonstrating the
Commission' s idea to request the Council look into repealing the
term limit language . Mr. Kaheny will draft proposed repeal
language. MSUC (Acton/Blakely) to authorize John Dorso to get
together with the City Attorney to prepare the report to forward to
the City Council .
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Charter Review Commission
June 5, 2000
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From the people he has talked to, David Potter noted there is a
strong indication that they are unsatisfied with the language as is
and thinks it' s an issue the voters should decide .
The Chair thanked Commission Prescott for doing a lot of homework
on his own and suggested the members review the materials he
provided.
Barbara felt term limits is an inappropriate way to remove someone
from office . Harriet Acton noted the political atmosphere in Chula
Vista is on the upscale, and it will be well-watched.
6 . Public Comment's . - None
7 . Members' Comments . Since Bob Campbell' s term is up on June 30,
2000, Harriet Acton suggested remembering Bob Campbell with a
letter and the Chair and City Attorney will compose a letter to be
sent .
8 . AdI ournment .
MSUC (Potter/Prescott) to adjourn the meeting at 4 : 50 p.m. to the
next meeting scheduled for July 17, 2000 at 4 : 30 p.m.
�i' n_ / V
Lorraine Kraker, Secretary
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