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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988/06/27 Charter Review Commission Minutes - . . ( ( MINUTES OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE June 27, 1988 Council Conference Room 7:00 p.m. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Members Present: Chairman Campbell, Members Susan FUller, Jack Blakely, Sharon Reid, Mary Frances Click Members Absent: Carlos Batara Staff Present: City Attorney Tom Harron Chairman Campbell called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. DISTRICT ELECTIONS Chairman Campbell stated that the demographics do not indicate a need for district elections now. Member Blakely noted that the studies were specific to Hispanics. He stated that he thinks of this issue in terms of geographic neighborhoods like Montgomery or EastLake, rather than in terms of ethnic background. He stated his concern about ward leader politics. Chairman Campbell said that he saw no demonstrated need for change. Member Reid suggested that if the City's population is approximately 130,000 people, and if half of the population is registered to vote (65,000), and if we divide the City into four equal districts with approximately 16,000 voters each, and if we continue to get poor voter turnout, the number of people responsible for electing a councilman would be so low as to be embarrassing. Member Click added her concern that this would lead to ward politics. Member Reid moved that no district elections. Member passed 5-0. further consideration be Blakely seconded and gi ven for the motion COUNCIL COMPENSATION Member Reid raised the question as to whether City Councilmembers receive other compensation from serving on other boards, such as MTDB. Member Fuller contrasted the Mayor and City Council's compensation to the compensation of staff members. Member Reid noted tha t Chula Vi sta I s exper i ence is typi cal, and tha t s taf f always tend to make more than elected officials. Member Reid suggested that the City adopt an "indicator" in the Charter ; ( ( - Charter Review Committee June 27, 1988 Minutes Page Two similar to what the County has done. The County gives the Board of Supervisors a salary based on a percentage of what Municipal Court JUdges make. Chairman Campbell agreed that salaries should be raised. Member Reid stated that we have members of the City Council who are suffering substantial sacrifices as a result of serving on the Council. She stated that we should take this issue out of the emotional arena. Member Fuller agreed. As an alternative, Member Reid suggested pegging the Mayor's salary to one-half of the salary of the City Manager, and the City Council to one-quarter of the Mayor I s salary. Yet another al ternati ve was to tie it to three-quarters of the salary of a Supervisor. The Committee discussed the potential for a City Council raising the Manager's salary excessively in order to improve their own salary. Chairman Campbell did not think anything like this would happen, and expressed his support for the idea for tying compensation to the City Manager's salary. . The Committee discussed how councilmembers give opportunity to make money in private enterprise while serving on the Council because of the demands of Council. Chairman Campbell noted that the problem argument is that people point out that councilmembers this was going to happen when they ran for office. up the they are the City wi th this knew that Member Fuller expressed her interest in knowing how the County carne up with judges as an "indicator". It may have been to avoid the connotation that the elected officials could influence their own salary by using an employee's salary as the measure. Chairman Campbell volunteered to look into this question. Member Click stated that she liked the idea of City Council v/ salaries being based on the Mayor's salary. Member Fuller stated that she felt the salary increase proposal was not strongly supported the last time it was before the voters. It carne from the Chamber of Commerce and didn't get a strong Charter Review Committee support. She stated that whatever indicator is chosen, it must be supported by strong arguments based on the growth in the City, the increased responsibility and the increased time required of the City Council. Chairman Campbell made comparisons between the responsibilities of councilmembers and people in private enterprise using hospital di rectors as one exampl e. The Commi t tee clar if ied the fact t ha t no one on the Charter Review Committee is opposed to the idea of increasing compensation. Chairman Campbell suggested that this issue be discussed again at the July 11, 1988 meeting. . . . . , ","",'. .. ,',.. ( ( Charter Review Committee June 27, 1988 Minutes Page Three PLANNING COMMISSION COMPENSATION Member Fuller stated that she wanted to explain the background of this request, but that she did not want to participate in the question after that because she is currently serving on the Planning Commission and did not want to give the appearance of conflict. She stated that this idea was originally raised by a new member of the Planning Commission after he attended a League seminar where it was stated that most Planning Commission members do recei ve compensation. The Planning Commission members, when they sent this request along to Council, did not realize that it would involve or require any change in the Charter. Member Blakely stated that he wanted the Commi t tee to consider this question in light of other boards and commissions. Chairman Campbell was not in favor of compensation for all boards and commissions. He stated that he recognized the far reaching effects of decisions of the Planning Commission. Member Reid noted that the Planning Commission is the ultimate decision making body on many important issues. Member Blakely noted that we could delete Section 601(b) from the Charter which would then allow boards and commission members to receive compensation. It would then be up to the City Council to determine if they wanted to give compensation to any particular board or commission. Chairman Campbell was very concerned that other boards and commissions would then seek compensation. Member Blakely moved that we delete Section 601(b). Member Reid seconded. The vote was 2-2 wi th Chairman Campbell and Member Click voting no. Chairman Campbell expressed his further concern about putting another compensation issue on the ballot along with compensation of the City Council. Both Chairman Campbell and Member Click stated that they were not opposed to allowing compensation if it was limited to the Planning Commission. Member Reid moved to amend Section 601 (b) to make an exception for the Planning Commission. Member Blakely seconded. The vote was 4-0-1 with Member Fuller abstaining. Chairman Campbell noted that the Committee should start working on a campaign contribution ordinance even though it is not proposing to put the specifics of the ordinance itself on the ballot. It was the consensus that the League model ordinance would be the basis of future discussions. The meeting adjourned at July 11, 1988. 8: 22 p.m. to the,/next meeting on I , / . f,;I!7.'0:JliIz1'l/lJ \ /Thomas y: Harron " City Attorney I \ 4344a