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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 2008/09/30MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA September 30, 2008 4:00 P.M. A Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Chula Vista was called to order at 4:02 p.m. in the Council Chambers, located in City Hall, 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, California. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Councilrnembers Castaneda, McCann, Ramirez, Rindone, and Mayor Cox ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: Interim City Manager Tulloch, Interim City Attorney Miesfeld, Interim City Clerk Norris, and Deputy City Clerk Bennett PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG AND MOMENT OF SILENCE ACTION ITEM 1. PUBLIC INPUT REGARDING DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS FOR THE POSITION OF CITY MANAGER Mayor Cox introduced and recognized recently appointed Interim City Manager, Scott Tulloch. Mayor Cox provided her opinion on the recruitment process for appointment of a City Manager, stating it would be irresponsible for the Council to accelerate a recruitment of the City's top administrator without performing a thorough search for a City Manager. She spoke of the need to restore credibility to the process of selecting a qualified candidate for City Manager. Deputy Mayor Rindone spoke in support of the comments by Mayor Cox, and stated the need for a transparent process. He asked that the Council permit an expedited but not truncated process to seek a qualified, experienced City Manager with city government experience. Councilmember Castaneda stated that the City could not afford a headhunter for the City Manager recruitment process, and he believed that City staff possessed the expertise to perform the recruitment. He then requested public input on the matter. Councilmember Ramirez spoke in support of administering the City Manager recruitment process in-house. He stated that he was confident of his ability to judge the applicants' qualifications, and that it was his duty and responsibility as a Councilmember to make the best possible selection for the City. Jim Biddle, Chula Vista resident, was opposed to any rush decision by the Council for selection of a City Manager. Page 1 -Special Counci] Meeting September 30, 2008 ACTION ITEM (Continued) Chris Lewis, Bonita resident, spoke of the need for candidates for City Manager to have leadership qualities, the ability to build and sustain consensus among all players in every situation, and to be of spotless moral chazacter. He asked the Council to take its time with the selection process, and he did not see the necessity for a decision prior to the upcoming elections. He stated that expediting the hiring process would leave questions in the minds of the public. Larry Breitfelder, Chula Vista resident, spoke in support of giving the Council the benefit of the doubt in its selection of a City Manager. Kevin O'Neill, Chula Vista resident, spoke in opposition to hiring local talent for City Manager. He stated that the qualities of a City Manager should include professionalism, and to be independent of the Council. He stated that it was unnecessary to hire a new City Manager immediately or in a precipitous manner, and to consider a candidate who would not be tainted. Theresa Acerro, Chula Vista resident, spoke of the need for a City Manager who would uphold the City's Mission Statement, create consensus in the community, be respectful of the citizens, have values, have the courage to stand up for all communities, hold policies and goals in high regazd, and insist on enforcement against heavy industrial uses in light industrial zones. Cazlos F. Lopez, Chula Vista resident, representing Communities Taking Action, spoke of the need for a City Manager who would look at the City as a whole. He stated that the City Manager and City Council's failure to assist the children on the south side of the City had Ie8 him with no alternative but to serve a recall on Mayor Cox and Councilmember McCann. Diana Vera stated that Mr. Lopez had spoken on her behalf. Ted Kennedy, Chula Vista resident, submitted to the Council, copies of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Code of Ethics, and he asked the Council to study the process of hiring a City Manager and get it right. Scott Vinson, Chula Vista resident, questioned the rush to hire a City Manager. He stated that the qualities of a City Manager would include the ability to balance and re-balance a budget, and knowledge about redevelopment and labor negotiations. He questioned the relationship that a local-hire would have on the current City staff, contractors and developers in a rapidly changing economy and current budget crisis. Diego Vazgas, Chula Vista resident, spoke of a City Manager who would be a leader, promote accountability and continuous improvements. He stated that the hiring process should not be rushed, but the decision should not be delayed until after the November election. David Krogh, Chula Vista resident, stated that the qualities of a City Manager would include competency, professionalism, impartiality, and possess prior City Manager experience. Given the general state of the economy, the City budget, and the Council, he suggested consideration by the Council to appoint Interim City Manager Tulloch as Acting City Manager until such time that the Council could arrive at a unanimous selection of a City Manager. Page 2 -Special Council Meeting September 30, 2008 ACTION ITEM (Continued) Discussion ensued among the Council about the process and timeline for hiring a City Manager, and the types of qualities to look for. Mayor Cox stated that the Interim City Manager would have all the authority of a City Manager, and decisions to be made would be brought before the Council in accordance with the City Charter. She assured the community and those who did business with the City, that no break in the current policy of the City was anticipated, and that the Council looked forward to working with Interim City Manager Tulloch until a new City Manager was selected. OTHER BUSINESS CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS Interim City Manager Tulloch noted two items on the dais, the Pay and Display parking meters flyer announcing the effective date for the new parking meter enforcement of October 6, 2008; and a memorandum to the Mayor and Council from staff, dated September 30, 2008, regarding retention of the full-time schedule in the Planning and Building Department's permit center counter hours. 3. MAYOR'S REPORTS Mayor Cox reminded everyone about the Beautify Chula Vista event on October 4, 2008, 8:00 a.m. at Otay Park, with pre-registration for the event at www.beautifychulavista.org. 4. COUNCIL COMMENTS Deputy Mayor Rindone: Five New Flyer buses (report of MTS action) Deputy Mayor Rindone announced the purchase by the Metropolitan Transit System, of five new natural gas buses for the City to replace the existing diesel buses. The release of the new buses was scheduled for February 2009. Deputy Mayor Rindone also asked Interim City Manager Tulloch to request the Code Enforcement staff to remove any campaign signs placed in the public right of way, and to encourage candidates to refrain from placing their signs in the public right of way. Councilmember Ramirez announced that his next public office hours meeting was scheduled for October 6, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers to discuss the topic of redevelopment. Councilmember McCann thanked the public for attending the Council meeting. He invited the community to participate in the Beautify Chula Vista event on October 4, 2008. Mayor Cox recessed the meeting to convene in Closed Session at 5:33 p.m. Page 3 -Special Council Meeting September 3Q 2008 CLOSED SESSION 5. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957 Title: City Manager This item was removed from the agenda and was not discussed. 6. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(b) One case. No reportable action was taken on this item. ADJOURNMENT At 6:10 p.m., Mayor Cox adjourned the meeting to the next Regular Meeting of October 7, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Lorraine Bennett, CMC, Deputy City Clerk Page 4 -Special Council Meeting September 3Q, 2008