1976-12-02 Joint CC SSB CRC MinutesSPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALAMEDA, THE SOCIAL
SERVICE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION HELD
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1976
The meeting convened at 7:30 o'clock p.m. in the Council Chamber of the City Hall with
President Corica presiding.
ROLL CALL:
The roll of the Council was called and Councilmen Beckam, Diament, Hurwitz, Sherratt and
President Corica, (5), were noted present. Absent: None.
The roll of the Social Service Board was called and Board Members Blaisdell, Pritchard,
Goss, Weier, and Chairman Banda, (5), were noted present. Board Member Souza arrived after the
roll had been taken. Absent: Board Member Howard. Chairman Banda expalined Mrs. Howard was ill
with bronchial pneumonia.
The roll of the Community Relations Commission was called and Commission Members Akagi, Allen,
Cabral, Corpus, Happ and Chairman Bolton (6), were noted present. Commission Member Totorica
arrived after the roll had been taken. Absent: None.
1. Receipt of the Notice and Agenda of this Special Meeting had been acknowledged by the Council-
men and was on file. The Notice had also been acknowledged by the Board and Commission members
and was on file. The purpose of the session was to consider the following items, and take action
thereon, if desired: (a) Communication from the Social Service Board outlining objectives and
goals; (b) Communication from the Community Relations Commission submitting Second Annual Report;
(c) Discussion of proposal to merge Commission and the Board; and (4)1Discussion of matters of
mutual concern and interest.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
2. President Utica commented there had been talk of a merger of the Board and Commission which
he had discussed with the Chairman and several Board and Commission members; that the Council
had also discussed the matter and a poll had indicated the majority of the Council were interested
in looking into a merger. He noted the Community Relations Commission had taken an informal poll
and there was a vote of 4 ayes and 2 noes favoring the proposal. He asked if the Social Service
Board had reached any conclusion in the matter.
Mrs. Banda, Chairman of the Social Service Board, reported the Board had held its last regular
meeting on the first Thursday in November, at which time there was a quorum present although
not all Board members had attended, and for lack of agreement they did not come to a conclusion
in connection with responding to the proposal.
President Corica said that in view of the fact there seemed to be a duplication of services
performed by both the Board and Commission, he was of the opinion the two bodies should be
combined, the duties expanded, and the membership enlarged to include all persons now serving
on either the Board or Commission. He said he thought this makeup would enable the combined
Board to undertake other projects such as cultural shows, city fairs, and periodic community
programs involving all neighborhoods of the city. He stated it was his opinion the enlarged
Board could then become more effective in that it could split up into subcommittee to undertake
specific projects. Inasmuch as the Social Service Board had been asking for a staff person,
such as the Assistant City Manager or Administrative Assistant, he thought this might also be
accomplished. He asked for comments from the Board and Commission members.
Mrs. Banda stated it was her personal opinion the Board and Commission could better serve the
community if united. She said she felt a merger would require expansion of the Board to
possibly 9 members; that the City Manager now sat on the Social Service Board, however had
been unable to attend on a regular basis because of his heavy work schedule, and she would
recommend elimination of the present requirement that one member be the City Manager. She
stated she would not like to see the programs which the Social Service Board had been involved
in end, but would like to see them continued and evaluated on a regular basis. She said she
thought the combined Board would probably have to meet more frequently, especially in the
beginning, however she was aware of the fact that any change in the structure of the Social
Service Board would have to be approved by the electorate. She stated she would favor the merger
with the condition that their ongoing programs and policy statement would be considered.
Concerning the matter of discrimination, she asked that the Council adopt a policy which could
be implemented.
President Corica remarked that the issue to be addressed was whether or not there should be a
merger; that the duties of the combined Board could then be established by ordinance after
review and approval by both the membership and the City Council.
Mrs. Pritchard stated she believed that the formation of one Board, with a staff assistant and
secretary, would create a stronger Board to deal with both social and human needs of the community.
To accomplish this, she said, she would like to see a 9 member Board, with meetings held twice
monthly, to foster good relations in the community by possitive programs such as city-wide
ethnic cultural exchanges, picnics, parades, human relations and workshops, if needed.
Mrs. Blaisdell said she would also like to see a merger, recommended an 11 member Board, and
suggested any renaming of the combined bodies include the words "Human Relations", She reported
on a recent meeting of ACTEB/ACAP which had been attended by the Assistnat City Manager and several
members of the Social Service Board, programs offered by other communities in the fields of
Social Services and Human Relations, and suggested funds might be available at state and
federal levels if pursued. There followed a discussion of outreach programs which might be
available through ACTEB/ACAP and other agencies, which might be investigated by the combined
Board with staff assistance.
Mrs. Weier expressed her approval of a merger. She suggested a detailed statement of duties
be drawn up, and the Social Service Board task of solicitation control be assigned to another
department within the city.
Mr. Goss proposed deletion of the City Manager as a member of the merged Board.
Mrs. Souza reported she was in favor of a merger of the Board and Commission.
Mrs. Bolton, Chairman of the Community Relations Commission, noted that their last special
meeting they had discussed the issue of a merger and duties of the Commission; that the minutes
of the meeting reported the taking of a straw poll and she was one of the Commission members
who had not been in favor of combining the Board and Commission at that time. She reported
on their report to the Council dated December 2, 1976, outlining 13 areas which they would like to
see reflected in the merger. She said that, after hearing a response to their report, and from
members of the Social Service Board, she would feel ready to vote on the issue.
President Corica said he thought the 13 items referred to by Mrs. Bolton and the bojectives and
goals set out by the Social Service Board in their communication would adequately reflect the
duties to be performed by a combined Board.
A ten-minute recess was called to provide the members of the City Council and the Social
Service Board an opportunity to review the communication of the Community Relations Commission,
which had been disiributed just prior to this meeting. Upon reconvening, the meeting contined
with the regular order of business.
On request, Mrs. Weier read aloud the objectives and goals of the Social Service Board, as
stated in their communication to the City Council.
There being no objection, President Corica stated staff would be advised to coordinate the
statementsof both the Board and Commission in outlining the powers and duties of a merged Board.
3. From the Community Relations Commission submitting Second Annual Report.
Mrs. Bolton referred to the report which had been distributed. She noted there had been many
instances of individual Commissioners responding individually to members of the community, and
there was no real way to accurately record the number of times this had taken place and this
was not reflected in the Annual Report. She commended the Commissions for the active role which
they had taken in the performance of their duties.
Councilman Hurwitz said it was his opinion the Commission had done a fantastic job considering
the probelms which they had encountered. He said it seemed to him, however, that a number of
the items covered were Social Service functions, and asked if the Commission was of the same
opinion.
Mrs. Bolton, reported the Commission had discussed the issue and had been unable to reach agreement
as to a separation of the duties of the two bodies.
President Corica said that if it was the general consensus that the two bodies be merged, then
thought should be given to a Charter Amendment to be presented to the electorate at the March 8,
1977 General Municipal Election. Councilman Sherratt noted December 21, 1976, had been the
deadline established for adoption of a resolution proposing Charter amendments.
There followed a discussion of Charter Sections 10-1, 10-4and 15-1. The City Attorney suggested
the powers and duties of a combined Board be established by ordinance, rather than set out in
the Charter. He further suggested the Board and Commission could be merged by ordinance prior
to the date of election, to be of no force and effect should the measure fail to pass at the
ballot box He recommended Section 15-1(b) be retained, and Sections 15-1(a)(c) and (d) be
deleted. He asked for a determination on the name of the combined Board.
Commander Earl Rivard stated he wished to go on record as opposing a merger; that he felt there
was a definite need for two separate bodies, each with clearly defined purposes, and it was
his opinion the Commission had not had a change to operatein matters relating to Community Relation
and its efforts had been diverted to Social Service type activities.
Mr. Happ refuted the remarks of Commander Rivard, and expressed his agreement with a mercer.
Mrs. Allen requested consideration of incorporation of the language of Article 3 of Ordinance
No. 1733, New Series, into any ordinance governing a merged Board. Concerning affirmative action
guidelines, she aked that these also be clearly defined.
At the conclusion of lengthy discussion, Councilman Sherratt moved the combined Board be named
the Social Service Human Relations Board. The motion was seconded by Councilman Beckam and
carried unanimously on voice vote.
Councilman Diament moved the Board consist of 9 members. The motion was seconded by Councilman
Sherratt and on voice vote carried unanimously. It was the consensus of the Council that the
City Manager seat on the Board be delted.
Councilman Sherratt moved the proposed Charter Amendment retain Section 15-1, delete Sections
15-1(a)(c) and (d), and add a new Section 15-1 (b) to read: "Such other duties and powers as
may be delegated by ordinance." The motion was seconded by Councilman Beckam and on voice vote
carried unanimously.
Councilman Diament moved an ordinance be prepared to immediately merge the Board and Commission,
as suggested by the City Attorney. The motion was seconded by Councilman Hurwitz and carried
unanimously 01 voice vote.
A discussion followed concerning the duties and powers of the Social Service Human Relations Board
which would be adopted by ordinance should the measure be passed by the electorate.
Councilman Beckam suggested there were a number of items in the Goals Study, which had been
determined as needs of the city and validated as desires of the citizens, and he would like to
see those included. He said he would also like to see some form of program adopted which would
address yearly the needs of the city so that the functions of the new Board would then be able
to know what the needs were and be able to address them as they changed over the years.
President Corica noted a request had been made for a yearly joint meeting with the City Council.
He stated the recommendations of the Board and Commission would be considered in preparation of
the ordinance establishing the duties and powers of the merged Board.
On question, City Attorney Stroud suggested the Board and Commission be merged by passage of an
emergency ordinance, following which they could work together, share their separate functions,
and reorganize; that during the interim preceding the General Municipal Election date the
establishing ordinance could be prepared and ready for Council consideration if the measure
passed. Councilman Sherratt then offered the foregoing as a motion, which was seconded by
Councilman Diament and carried unanimously on voice vote.
A discussion ensued concerning initial membershipon the merged Board. It was the consensus that
all members serving on both the Social Service Board and Community Relations Commission would
continue in office, if they desired to do so, and the establishing ordinance would state the
Board would consist of no less than 9 members.
Councilman Hurwitz moved the Council adopt a policy that anyone interested in serving a second
term could reapply for appointment. The motion was seconded by Councilman Sherratt and on voice
vote carried unanimously.
4. Councilman Sherratt moved the Council retire to executive session for a discussion of
litigation. The motion was seconded by Councilman Hurwitz and carried unanimously on voice vote.
After a five-minute recess, the Council reconvened in the Conference Room of the City Hall. At
the conclusion of discussion, it was determined no action would be taken at this time.
ADJOURNMENT:
5. There being no further business to come before the meeting, the Council adjourned at 10:40
o'clock p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
City Clerk