1986-08-11 Special CC Minutes193
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
HELD MONDAY - - - - - - - - AUGUST 11, 1986
The meeting convened at 12:00 Noon, with President Diament
presiding.
ROLL CALL: Present: Councilmembers Corica, Hanna, Lucas, Monsef
and President Diament - 5.
Absent: None
86 -486 Resolution No. 10990 "Ratifying and Readopting City of
Alameda Resolution No. 10988, 'Stating and requesting
consolidation of a Special Municipal Election to be held Tuesday,
November 4, 1986, with the General Election of the State of
California to be held on Tuesday, November 4, 1986."
President Diament announced that she had watched the video tape
of the Council meeting of Thursday, August 7, 1986, and therefore
heard the testimony offered that evening.
Fred Scullin, 1120 Chestnut, stated he has not heard any reason
given why the issue is being brought up at this time.
William Osborn, 1209 Rosewood Way, said he admired Council and
their dedication to the City, but he would suggest that in April
Chuck Corica run for Mayor and the others on Council oppose him
as a body on the grounds that they feel no one should have more
than two terms in a lifetime, and that would save the public the
cost of the special election.
Bill Kane, 2615 Bayview Drive, asked if under these Measures, a
Councilmember in his or her first term must resign to run for
Mayor. The City Attorney responded the term must expire because
the idea was to prevent the term from being vacated and therefore
being filled by appointment rather than election.
Joseph M. Sullivan, 3221 Liberty Avenue, urged the City Council
to reconsider its resolution, rescind their action, act on it at
a future meeting of the City Council, and then submit the issues
to the electorate at a regular City election next April.
Amey Stone, 1623 High Street, stated she believes Council to be
well- intended in Measure B (Measure G) because it would permit
the citizens of Alameda to elect persons to Council rather than
an appointment be made, but that she requests Council reconsider
and take time on language on both Measures, stating that the
original Charter Amendment was ambiguous but feels the current
Measures will need clarification also.
Barbara Thomas, 1118 Paru, stated the proposed Charter Amendments
are unclear and that very little time was taken to draft them.
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Councilmember Monsef asked the City Attorney to respond to Mrs.
Stone's statement regarding confusion in the language._ The City
Attorney noted that what is on the ballot is only a summary of
what becomes part of the Charter, and then read proposed Sections
2 -16 and 2 -17 as the actual wording that would become the law.
Councilmember Corica reviewed the Council action in proposing and
drafting the measures, stated the clarification was in the voter
pamphlet of 1976, and read the ballot measure and pamphlet
notations of 1976 regarding the two -term limit.
Councilmember Lucas stated the issue is whether or not people
want career politicians. She added that she believed Mr.
Kirkland raised a legitimate question and that the people would
have an opportunity to vote on it.
President Diament made a statement as follows: That charges have
been made that there is a vendetta against Councilmember Corica;
that it is true that he is the first one who has announced for a
third term (since the 1976 Charter Amendment), therefore his
candidacy is the one that will determine the outcome of the
proposed Charter Amendment; that there has been a lot of
discussion about the swiftness of movement and the deadline, but
what was noted, upon question to the City Clerk at the Council
meeting of August 5, 1986, was that, to qualify for the ballot,
the issue would have to meet a deadline of Friday, August 8. She
added that the Councilmembers who have brought it up and passed
it have very legitimate concerns, but because of so much response
from the public against this, she would be voting against the
measure.
Councilmember Hanna moved adoption of the resolution.
Councilmember Lucas seconded the motion and it was carried by the
following roll call vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Hanna, Lucas,
and Monsef - 3. Noes: Councilmembers Corica and President
Diament - 2. Absent: None.
86 -487 Resolution No. 10991 "Ratifying and Readopting City of
Alameda Resolution No. 10989, 'Proposing amendments to the
Charter of the City of Alameda upon motion of the City Council;
calling a Special Municipal Election in the City of Alameda for
the purpose of submitting to the Electors thereof proposals to
amend said Charter, viz: (1) By adding Section 2 -16 thereto
providing for a two -term limit for elected officials; and (2) By
adding Section 2 -17 thereto requiring Councilmembers to serve a
full term before running for Mayor; fixing date of said
Election, manner of holding same, and providing for Notice
thereof; and consolidating said Special Municipal Charter
Amendment Election with the General Election of the State of
California to be held on November 4, 1986.'"
195
Bill Kane, 2615 Bayview Drive, commented that with the short
period of time and the complications involved, he would like to
see the Councilmembers turn this down not necessarily on the
merits but the confusion that surrounds it.
Barbara Thomas, 1118 Paru, said Councilmember Corica was a
volunteer career politician, not getting rich off the City, that
state and federal career politicians receive money from their
careers, and asked the Council to reconsider the matter.
Joseph Sullivan, 3221 Liberty Avenue, asked that the Council
reconsider the matter at a future meeting.
Fred Scullin, 1120 Chestnut, stated he believed Joe Camicia
should present his opinion.
Beverly Holmdahl, 3329 Constance Circle, stated she believes
no person should be told they cannot run for office.
Diane Coler -Dark, 2857 Jackson Street, questioned the
constitutionality of proposed Charter Amendment Section 2 -17.
The City Attorney responded that, as an example, the State of
Georgia has a provision which says that a judge, or clerk or
person who holds a state or federal office, cannot run for the
State Legislature of Georgia, and the United States Supreme Court
ruled that was permissable.
Joe Camicia, 1730 San Jose Avenue, commented that he believed
putting the matters on the ballot is wrong.
Councilmember Corica stated that it is not necessary to place
this matter on the ballot in November, that many people have
spoken against putting it on, and suggested that someone on the
prevailing side make a motion to rescind the action and have this
matter set aside.
Dr. Alice Challen, 2601 La Jolla Drive, asked why Councilmember
Corica could not go ahead since he applied under the 1976 ruling.
President Diament responded that he has announced but not
applied; that he cannot apply until January.
Councilmember Hanna moved adoption of the resolution.
The City Attorney stated the only purpose of Section 2 -17 is to
prevent a vacancy that must be filled by appointment; that he
would like to request the County Registrar to allow a change of
wording for the Effect portion; that although it is correct as
it stands, it is not as precise as it could be and he would like,
following the words "Would prevent a Councilmember from running
for Mayor," to add "if his or her election to Mayor would vacate
his or her Council seat."
196
Councilmember Hanna agreed to the change, if possible, to be
included in his motion.
The City Attorney stated that it should be noted for the record
that the County will renumber the measures in accordance with the
measures on the ballot, therefore Measure A will be Measure F and
Measure B will be Measure G on the ballot.
Councilmember Lucas seconded the motion and it was carried by the
following roll call vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Hanna, Lucas,
and Monsef - 3. Noes: Councilmember Corica and President
Diament - 2. Absent: None.
ADJOURNMENT
President Diament adjourned the meeting at 12:55.
Respectfully submitted,
Dine Felsch
City Clerk