1968-03-13 Special CC MinutesSPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALAMEDA
HELD WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON MARCH 13, 1968
The meeting convened at 3:30 o'clock p.m. with President McCall presiding.
ROLL CALL:
The roll was called and Councilmen Bartley, Fore, La Croix, Jr., Levy and President McCall, (5),
were noted present. Absent: None.
Receipt of the Notice and Agenda for this special meeting had been acknowledged by each of the Council-
, men and was on file. The purpose of said meeting was for consideration of and action on resolutions
concerning proposed amendments to the City Charter, to be submitted to the Board of Supervisors of
Alameda County for consolidation with the State Primary Election to be held June 4, 1968. Also, con-
sideration was to be given to appointments to certain of the City Boards, Commissions and Committees,
if so desired.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS:
1. From Alamedans for a Better Community (ABC), objecting to the action of the Council in attaching
to the proposal for an elected Mayor a salary of $600. per month, without extending the powers and
responsibilities of the Mayor.
2. From Mr. Graham Tattersall, 1520 Central Avenue, expressing deep disappointment regarding the
action of the Council in "clouding" the issue of an elected Mayor by adding the S600.-per-month-
salary provision.
The communications were to be acknowledged and filed.
3•1 The President then read a letter he had just received from Mrs. E. R. Sanders, 1617 Fifth Street,
indicating her willingness to continue to serve as a member of the Charter Amendment Advisory Com-
mittee and urging that additional study be given to the matter of simplifying the Charter.
President McCall expressed his appreciation for the letter, and noted the presence of Mrs. Sanders in
the audience.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
4 President McCall called attention to the memorandum from the City Clerk to the Councilmen dated
March 11, 1968, stating Mr. Rene Davidson, Chief of the Elections Division of the County Clerkts Office,
had telephoned her that he had been instructed to inform interested cities in the County that decisions
concerning the "ballot measures" had been held in abeyance by the Board of Supervisors. A final deci-
sion would be made by that Body at its meeting on Tuesday, March 26, as to what could be included on
the ballot for the June Primary Election. It was felt there was still hope of getting at least part of
the Charter amendment measures on and, in view of the situation, a resolution had been prepared by
the City Attorney setting forth the order of priority the City Council would request to be observed
in setting up the propositions to be listed on the ballot for the City of Alameda.
The President then invited discussion on the resolutions prepared for this purpose.
RESOLUTIONS:
Councilman La Croix moved the adoption of the following resolution in its entirety, as submitted
to the Council:
"Resolution No.
Proposing Amendments to the Charter of the City of Alameda on Motion of the
City Council; Calling a Special Municipal Charter 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 3-15.1 Thereto, Relating to
Monetary Purchase Limits Requiring Procedure Set Forth in Section 3-15 Thereof;
(2) By Amending Section 2-5 Thereof Reducing Period of Time, from Five to Three
Years, Certain Officers Shall Have Been Electors of City; (3) By Adding
Section 2-1.1, and Section 3-1.1, Alternate One, Thereto, Relating to Establish-
ment of Office of Mayor as Elective at Large at a Monthly Compensation of S600.00,
with the City Council Thereafter to Consist of Mayor and Four Councilmen; or,
Alternatively (4) By Adding Section 2-1.1 and Section 3-1.1, Alternate Two,
Thereto, Relating to Establishment of Office of Mayor as Elective at Large at a
Monthly Compensation of 3600.00, with the City Council Thereafter to Consist of
Mayor and Six Councilmen at a Monthly Compensation of S150.00 Each; or,
Alternatively, (5) By Adding Section 3-1.1, Alternate Three, Thereto, Relating
to Increase in Number of Councilmen from Five to Seven, at a Monthly Compensation
of S150.00 Each; (6) By Adding Section 11-2, Alternate One, Thereto, Relating
to Establishment of Elective Board of Education Consisting of Five Members, Each
to Serve Four Year Term; or, Alternatively, (7) By Adding Section 11-2,
Alternate Two, Thereto, Relating to Establishment of Elective Board of Education
Consisting of Seven Members, Each to Serve Four Year Term; Fixing Date of Said
Election, Manner of Holding Same, and Providing for Notice Thereof; and Con-
solidating Said Special Municipal Charter Amendment Election with the Primary
Election of the State of California to be Held on June 4, 1968."
Councilman Bartley seconded the motion.
Speaking on the question, Councilman Levy stated he had spoken to various citizens who felt the pro-
posals approved by the Council at its last regular meeting for submission to the electorate did not
provide the voters with the opportunity for real expression of their thinking. He referred specifi-
cally to the question of the Mayor and the Councilmen and the three alternate proposals. He suggested
an additional alternate whereby the people could determine whether there should be an elected Mayor
and six elected Councilmen, with their salaries to be determined by ordinance.
Councilman La Croix reiterated his opinion that it was improper for the Council to determine the
salary of an elected Mayor or of the Council, feeling this was the right of the electors and that it
would act as one control the voter would have over his representatives.
President McCall stated he would be opposed to the resolution as presented. He suggested, if the pro-
vision for a S600.-per-month salary was to remain tied to the proposal for an elected Mayor, that the
item be amended to read, not to exceed $600. per month, to be established by ordinance of the City
Council".
Councilman Fore expressed his feeling that the amounts proposed for compensation of the Mayor and the
Councilmen were not to be considered as salaries, that the money involved should not be too much of
an issue.
There was discussion concerning the mechanics of possibly amending the resolutions submitted to the
Council for consideration at this meeting, to reflect the thinking now brought out, keeping in mind
the necessity for getting the material to the Board of Supervisors before the deadline date.
Councilman La Croix emphasized he did not consider the S600. salary too high but repeated he did not
want to take the matter out of the hands of the electorate. He was open for consideration of the
question now being discussed but would never vote to put the two matters on the ballot separately.
Councilman Fore indicated his concurrence.
Councilman Bartley remained firm in his judgment that 3600. was a reasonable salary for the Mayor and
should be the minimum. As in the past the Charter had established the pay for the Mayor and the Coun-
cilmen, he felt it was not within the right of the City Council to decide what compensation the Mayor
should receive.
Councilman Levy at this time proposed to make a motion to amend the resolution under discussion.
Councilman La Croix, with the consent of his second, thereupon withdrew his previous motion.
Councilman Levy then moved said resolution be amended to include the salary of the Mayor not to exceed
600. per month and the City Council not to exceed $150. per month, to be established by ordinance.
The motion was seconded by Councilman Fore and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes:
Councilmen Fore, Levy and President McCall, (3). Noes: Councilmen Bartley and La Croix, Jr., (2).
Absent: None.
The City Attorney reviewed the action, stating a motion had been adopted to amend the resolution under
consideration on its face, in all respects, as to Measure C, Alternates One, Two and Three, and the
corresponding questions therein. The matter now before the Council would be that concerning said
resolution, as amended.
Councilman Levy then moved that the following resolution be adopted:
"Resolution No. 7293 (as amended)
Proposing Amendments to the Charter of the City of Alameda on Motion of the
City Council; Calling a Special Municipal Charter 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 3-15.1. Thereto, Relating to
Monetary Purchase Limits Requiring Procedure Set Forth in Section 3-15 Thereof;
(2) By Amending Section 2-5 Thereof Reducing Period of Time, from Five to Three
Years, Certain Officers Shall Have Been Electors of City; (3) By Adding Section
2-1.1, and Section 3-1.1, Alternate One, Thereto, Relating to Establishment of
Office of Mayor as Elective at Large at a Monthly Compensation in Such Amount as
May be Established by Ordinance but not Exceeding S600.00, with the City Council
Thereafter to Consist of Mayor and Four Councilmen; or, Alternatively (4) By
Adding Section 2-1.1 and Section 3-1.1, Alternate Two, Thereto, Relating to
Establishment of Office of Mayor as Elective at Large at a Monthly Compensation
in Such Amount as May be Established by Ordinance but Not Exceeding S600.00, with
the City Council Thereafter to Consist of Mayor and Six Councilmen at a Monthly
Compensation in Such Amount as May be Established by Ordinance but Not Exceeding
150.00 Each; or, Alternatively (5) By Adding Section 3-1.1, Alternate Three,
Thereto, Relating to Increase in Number of Councilmen from Five to Seven, at a
Monthly Compensation in Such Amount as May be Established by Ordinance but Not
Exceeding S150.00 Each; (6) By Adding Section 11-2, Alternate One, Thereto,
Relating to Establishment of Elective Board of Education Consisting of Five
Members, Each to Serve Four Year Term; or, Alternatively, (7) By Adding Section
11-2, Alternate Two, Thereto, Relating to Establishment of Elective Board of
Education Consisting of Seven Members, Each to Serve Four Year Term; Fixing Date
of Said Election, Manner of Holding Same, and Providing for Notice Thereof; and
Consolidating Said Special Municipal Charter Amendment Election with the Primary
Election of the State of California to be Held on June 4, 1968."
The motion to adopt said resolution, as amended, was seconded by Councilman Fore and carried on the
following roll call vote. Ayes: Councilmen Fore, Levy and President McCall, (3). Noes: Councilmen
Bartley and La Croix, Jr., (2). Absent: None.
6Y. Councilman Levy then moved the following resolution be adopted, with changes to Measure C,
Alternates One, Two and Three in the same respects as in Resolution No. 7293:
"Resolution No. 7294
Stating and Requesting Consolidation of a Special Municipal Election to be
Held Tuesday, June 4, 1968, with the Primary Election of the State of
California to be Held on Tuesday, June 4, 1968."
The motion to adopt said resolution, with the necessary changes, was seconded by Councilman Fore and
on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Councilmen Fore, Levy and President McCall, (3).
Noes: Councilmen Bartley and La Croix, Jr., (2). .Absent: None. Councilman La Croix stated, again,
his vote was based solely on the fact that he felt the salary should be established by the voters of
the City.
7. The following resolution was introduced by Councilman La Croix, who moved its adoption:
"Resolution No. 7295
Requesting Alameda County Board of Supervisors to Observe Order of Priority
of City of Alameda Propositions to be Included on Ballot for Consolidated
Primary Election, June 4, 1968."
The motion to adopt said resolution was seconded by Councilman Bartley and on roll call carried by
the following vote. Ayes: Five. Noes: None. Absent: None.
The President declared the foregoing resolutions adopted, as specifically stated.
8: There being no objections, the Council then retired to an executive session for consideration of
appointments to various City Boards, Commissions and Committees, and to take action thereon, if so
desired. It was determined that the City Attorney would be requested to prepare an appropriate reso-
lution for adoption at the next regular meeting, to be held Tuesday, March 19, 1968, to appoint a
new member of the Civil Service Board to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Elvin Larsen, who had resigned.
ADJOURNMENT:
9. There being no further business to come before the meeting, the Council adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Deputy City Clerk