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Home My WebLink About2023-03-08 CRC Agenda Packet Date:Wednesday, March 8, 2023 Time:6:00 p.m. Location:City Hall, Bldg. #A, Executive Conference Room #103 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista Public Comments: Public comments may be submitted to the Charter Review Commission in the following ways: In-Person comments during the meeting. Join us for the Charter Review Commission meeting at the time and location specified on this agenda to make your comments. Please visit www.chulavistaca.gov/boardmeetings for current mask requirements and other safety protocols. • Submit an eComment. Visit www.chulavistaca.gov/boardmeetings, locate this meeting, and click on the comment bubble icon. Click on the item you wish to comment on, and then click on "Leave Comment." The commenting period will close one hour before the meeting. All comments will be made available to the Commission and the public. • Mail or email comments. Submit comments via email to CRC@chulavistaca.gov or by mail to Charter Review Commission, 276 Fourth Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Please send comments early; written comments received within one hour of the meeting may not be distributed until the following day. • Accessibility: Individuals with disabilities are invited to request modifications or accommodations in order to access and/or participate in a Charter Review Commission meeting by contacting the Office of the Charter Review Commission Staff at CRC@chulavistaca.gov (California Relay Service is available for the hearing impaired by dialing 711) at least forty-eight hours in advance of the meeting. Pages 1.CALL TO ORDER 2.ROLL CALL Commissioners Buddingh, Disharoon, Glanz, Hopida, Inzunza, and Chair Scofield 3.PUBLIC COMMENTS 3 Persons may address the Commission on any subject matter within the Commission’s jurisdiction that is not listed as an item on the agenda. State law generally prohibits the Commission from discussing or taking action on any issue not included on the agenda, but, if appropriate, the Commission may schedule the topic for future discussion or refer the matter to staff. If you wish to comment, please submit comments electronically at: www.chulavistaca.gov/boardmeetings. 4.ACTION ITEMS The Item(s) listed in this section of the agenda will be considered individually by the Commission and are expected to elicit discussion and deliberation. If you wish to comment on one of these items, you may do so at www.chulavistaca.gov/boardmeetings. 4.1 Approval of February 8, 2023 Meeting Minutes 12 4.2 Meeting Frequency: Discussion and Possible Action on Changes to the Frequency of Regular Charter Review Commission Meetings Discuss and approve Charter Review Commission yearly meeting frequencies for Fiscal Year 2023. 4.3 Discussion and Possible Action on Letter to City Council Regarding Ranked Choice Voting Concept 16 4.4 Discussion Regarding Potential Increase in Number of City Council Members OTHER BUSINESS 5.STAFF COMMENTS 6.CHAIR'S COMMENTS 7.COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS 8.ADJOURNMENT to the regular meeting on April 12, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. Materials provided to the Charter Review Commission relating to any open- session item on this agenda are available for public review by contacting the City Attorney's Office at CRC@chulavistaca.gov. City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission March 8, 2023 Agenda Page 2 of 16 Page 3 of 16 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission March 8, 2023 Agenda Page 4 of 16 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission March 8, 2023 Agenda Page 5 of 16 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission March 8, 2023 Agenda 2 much of a failure the appointment process has been causing negative press each time. So I’m calling on the Charter Review Commission to place an item an agenda to abolish the appointment process and make special elections permanent. Thank you, Anna Renwick Page 6 of 16 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission March 8, 2023 Agenda Page 7 of 16 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission March 8, 2023 Agenda Page 8 of 16 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission March 8, 2023 Agenda 3 We take feedback from the community seriously. Best, Jarred Cole Senior Council Assistant | Office of District 1 Councilmember Chavez City of Chula Vista | Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910 jcole@chulavistaca.gov (619) 585‐5614 ‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐ From: Delia Dominguez Cervantes Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2023 11:10 AM To: John McCann <jmccann@chulavistaca.gov>; Carolina Chavez <cchavez@chulavistaca.gov>; Jose Preciado <jpreciado@chulavistaca.gov>; Alonso Gonzalez <agonzalez@chulavistaca.gov>; Andrea Cardenas <acardenas@chulavistaca.gov> Cc: Kerry Bigelow <KBigelow@chulavistaca.gov> Subject: Future City Council Vacancies Warning: External Email Good Morning Mayor and City Council, As most certainly you know, the appointment process of District #3 started without community support. It only got worst. Please be prudent and prevent future community vs. city council contentious meetings. This is not the first time an appointment process has had such negative attention. Nothing was done to prevent its repeat in the future; so here we are. No more appointments. Allow the people their right to vote. No more voter suppression. Put it on the Agenda. Prevent it from reoccurring in the future. Assign to a Board/Commission to address and identify a process allowing the community to elect their representative. Respectfully, Delia Dominguez Cervantes Page 9 of 16 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission March 8, 2023 Agenda Page 10 of 16 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission March 8, 2023 Agenda 2 Now, in 2023, questions related to Mr. Meisen's appointment pale in comparison to the sordid affair involving a favored candidate who misrepresented her educational background yet somehow remained the favorite of at least 2 city council members who could be described as her "allies." It seems like the vetting of candidates that was promised was partially true, they were vetted based on their potential political contributions instead of any other knowledge and experience they would bring to the table. Additionally, there were very possibly violations of the Brown Act that were reminiscent more of "PRI style historical impunity" in my parents and grandparents beloved country which they had no choice but to leave specifically because of how corruption hurt them .... than what we should expect from our elected officials in Chula Vista, CA. When it comes to the temporary granting of elected power, way too many of our elected officials (and I mean this in a non partisan manner) have proven themselves incapable of doing what would be in the best interest of their constituency and instead seem to follow "higher political" marching orders. We cannot allow our elected officials to descend into this type of 3rd world atmosphere. We've never had 100% honest politicians but at the very least, they have done a better job of honoring their public commitments than most others around the world. We need to go back to that. We may disagree with election results at times but as long as the process was honest and followed the rules, it is what makes us a functioning democracy. Nobel Prize Laureate, Rigoberta Menchu Tum once said "without watchdog institutions, impunity becomes the very foundation upon which systems of corruption are built." The political appointment process, as permitted by the City Charter today, enables politicians to forget their sworn oath and act in the utmost ugly partisan manner. As such, they require "watchdogs." The electorate are the ultimate "watchdogs" as we are where the buck stops. Our vote is the ultimate power, as it should be. Please give the final voice back to the electorate. Amend the City Charter to require special elections and eliminate the political appointment process from the smokey backroom. Very Respectfully, Alejandro Galicia, Concerned Citizen Page 11 of 16 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission March 8, 2023 Agenda 1 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION Meeting Minutes February 8, 2023, 6:00 p.m. City Hall, Bldg. #A, Executive Conference Room #103 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista Present: Commissioner Buddingh, Commissioner Disharoon, Commissioner Glanz, Commissioner Hopida, Commissioner Inzunza, Chair Scofield Absent: Also Present: Deputy City Attorney Megan McClurg, City Clerk Analyst Cristina Hernandez and Secretary Doris Cornejo _____________________________________________________________________ 1. CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the Charter Review Commission of the City of Chula Vista was called to order at 6:01 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Secretary Cornejo called the roll. 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were none. 4. ACTION ITEMS 4.1 Approval of November 9, 2022 Meeting Minutes Page 12 of 16 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission March 8, 2023 Agenda 2 Commissioner Glanz arrived at 6:06 pm and was not present to vote on this item. Moved by Commissioner Inzunza Seconded by Commissioner Disharoon Approve the minutes dated November 9, 2022. Yes (5): Commissioner Buddingh, Commissioner Disharoon, Commissioner Hopida, Commissioner Inzunza, and Chair Scofield Result:Carried (5 to 0) 4.2 Written Communications Commissioner Glanz arrived at 6:06 pm and was not present to vote on this item. Moved by Commissioner Disharoon Seconded by Commissioner Hopida Commission excused absence. Yes (5): Commissioner Buddingh, Commissioner Disharoon, Commissioner Hopida, Commissioner Inzunza, and Chair Scofield Result:Carried (5 to 0) 4.3 Presentation by City Clerk Kerry Bigelow Regarding City Election Processes and the Potential Future Use of Alternative Voting Methods City Clerk Analyst Cristina Hernandez presented in place of City Clerk Kerry Bigelow. Her presentation included The City of San Diego Staff Report to City Council regarding "Consideration of a Proposed Ballot Measure to Amend the City Charter to Establish Ranked Choice Voting in The City of San Diego" and The City of San Diego "Review of Ranked Choice Voting Ballot Proposal" presented by the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst Report. No Action was taken. Commissioners discussed upfront cost and maintenance for Rank Choice Voting. 4.4 Review and Discussion of Measure K Election Results Page 13 of 16 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission March 8, 2023 Agenda 3 The Commission discussed the Measure K election results, the implications of the Charter and how well did it performed given recent events. No action was taken. 4.5 Continued Discussion of Ranked Choice Voting Concept Discussion ensued amongst the Commissioners regarding creation of an ad hoc subcommittee to draft a letter to the Mayor and City Council regarding potential interest in Rank Choice Voting. Moved by Chair Scofield Seconded by Commissioner Inzunza An ad hoc subcommittee was created consisting of Jan Budding and Todd Glanz. Yes (6): Commissioner Buddingh, Commissioner Disharoon, Commissioner Glanz, Commissioner Hopida, Commissioner Inzunza, and Chair Scofield Result:Carried (6 to 0) 4.6 Continued Discussion of Charter Review Commission Priorities for 2023 Commissioners will revisit next month. Deputy City Attorney (DCA) Megan McClurg reminded the Commissioners of their previous discussion of wanting to present to the Mayor and Council on what the Charter Review Commission does and what they are working on for 2023. DCA McClurg mentioned that at the time of presentation, they could also present their letter regarding future use of Rank Choice Voting. No action was taken. OTHER BUSINESS 5. STAFF COMMENTS Staff reminded the Commissioners about the AB 1234 training on February 16, 2023 and invited them to attend. 6. CHAIR'S COMMENTS None. 7. COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS None. Page 14 of 16 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission March 8, 2023 Agenda 4 8. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:56 p.m. Minutes prepared by: Doris Cornejo, Secretary _________________________ Doris Cornejo, Secretary Page 15 of 16 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission March 8, 2023 Agenda Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers: I write on behalf of the Chula Vista Charter Review Commission. Upon request of various councilmembers, the commission has been examining alternative voting systems, including ranked choice voting. While the commission believes that ranked choice voting is the best of the alternatives, it is not a perfect system. The primary benefit of ranked choice voting is that the candidate who ultimately wins is likely to be accepted by voters on both sides of the political spectrum. This benefit has been seen in jurisdictions in which ranked choice voting is being used. On the other hand, the time that it takes to compute and, when necessary, re-compute the votes could cause some to not have confidence in the validity of the results. The most objective negative aspect of ranked choice voting is the cost of implementing a new voting system, including the registrar of voters’ cost of modifying the vote counting computers and the much greater cost of educating the public about ranked choice voting and how to complete a ballot. Savings could be eventually realized when use of ranked choice voting results in not need to have a run-off election for city offices. The City of San Diego is considering implementing ranked choice voting. As such, implementation costs could be shared, especially if other public entities in the county decided to utilize a ranked choice voting system. In other words, the commission would recommend not implementing a new voting system until San Diego did so, though the commission could modify the charter in the meantime to allow for ranked choice voting subject to that provision being implemented by ordinance. We look forward to receiving guidance from the council as to how the commission should proceed with respect to potential adoption of a ranked choice voting system. Yours very truly, Page 16 of 16 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission March 8, 2023 Agenda