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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 2009-08-31 - Special Meeting 210 City Council, Special Meeting Council Chambers 777 Cypress Avenue Redding, California August 31, 2009, 6:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Bosetti with the following Council Members present: Dickerson, Jones McArthur, and Stegall. Also present were City Manager Starman, Assistant City Manager Tippin, City Attorney Duvernay, and Deputy City Clerk Mize. I Public Forum to Discuss State Governance and Fiscal Reform [ A-050-060/S-050] Mayor Bosetti recalled that on July 17 and 18,2009, he and Council Member Dickerson attended the Local Government Summit on Governance and Fiscal Reform in Sacramento. He noted that attendees numbering more than 600 included mayors, council members, county supervisors and school board members from across California. Discussion primarily focused on the State's political paralysis leading to delayed state budgets and continuing threats of local government revenue confiscation. Mayor Bosetti relayed that attendees were asked to go back to their communities and discuss the issues with local voters and seek their opinions. Council Member Dickerson remarked that the clear message from forum attendees was that California state government is broken, and that it will not be fixed by the Assembly or the Senate. The consensus was that real change will only come from a grass-roots effort. He noted that two groups were represented at the summit and advocated different approaches to change. The Bay Area Council proposes a Constitutional Convention, while California Forward (a southern California group) supports an initiative. Mr. Dickerson advised that City of Anderson, City of Shasta Lake, and Shasta County plan to hold public forums to discuss the summit results with their citizens. Mr. Dickerson shared results of recent surveys indicating that 81 percent of likely voters believe California is headed in the wrong direction, and 75 percent disapprove of the California Legislature. By contrast, 39 percent of voters approve oflocal government. He explained that a Constitutional Convention can be called by the legislature or it can be called as the result of an initiative (a ballot measure). I Mayor Bosetti advised that initiatives passed by voters become amendments to the State Constitution. Council Member Dickerson opined that a major problem with California government is partisan politics, and that representatives are more loyal to their party than to their district. He suggested that if the legislature is to become more responsive, all meetings should be fully accountable to the Brown Act, including caucus meetings. Additionally, he suggested that powerful positions, such as Speaker of the Assembly and Chair of the Appropriations Committee, should be allocated between the parties and that chairpersonships should be allocated in accordance to the percentage of members from each party. Council Member Stegall noted the following problems with State government: (1) California is one of only three states that requires a two-thirds vote on budget issues; (2) term limits put too much power in the hands of lobbyists because new, untrained legislators depend on lobbyists' influence too heavily; (3) government by initiative is inefficient because initiatives are purposely written to be confusing to voters. I Mayor Bosetti stated that full-time legislators are a problem and that legislators should spend more time in their districts. Court McGowan, Redding resident, listed the following as problems with State government: voters have mis-perceptions about how government works; voters pass initiatives without including ways to fund them; citizens want government services but do not want to pay for them; and citizens have abandoned civil discourse. 8/31/2009 211 Cheri Beck indicated that she had worked for four state senators and currently works for the Assembly. She explained the differences between a Constitutional Convention and the initiative process. She opined that not all legislators are lazy. Gary Cadd and Charles Alexander, Redding residents, stated opposition to a Constitutional . Convention and changing the two-thirds voting requirement for budget issues. Janet Terral, League of Women Voters, favored extending Brown Act requirements to state government. I Ron Largent, Redding resident, suggested appointing a group of citizens to research state reform issues. Rod Linsdey, Shasta Lake Council Member, invited attendees to a forum to be held on September 24, 2009. Chris Young, Redding Planning Commissioner, opposed a Constitutional Convention and favors re-districting. Tom O'Meara opposed initiatives because they tie the hands oflegislators. Michael Wopat favored continued research of ways to improve state government and stated that civil discourse is important. Bill Goodwin, Tehama County Chief Administrator, noted that participation is needed from schools, and that it will be necessary to look at issues from a regional perspective ~o make a difference. There being no further business, at the hour of7:30 p.m., Mayor Bosetti declared the meeting adjourned. I APPROVED ~273;?;>~~ Mayor ATTEST r?OIVY)fL, ~iI Deputy City Clerk .. I 8/31/2009