1963-05-14 Special CC MinutesSPECIAL MEETING OF THE, COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALAMEDA
HELD TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 14, 1963
The meeting convened at 7:30 o'clock p.m, with Vice President McCall presiding.
ROLL CALL:
The roll was called and Councilmen Freeman, La Croix, Jr., Rose and Vice President McCall,
(4), were noted present. Absent: President Godfrey, (1).
Also in attendance at this meeting were the following members of the Citizens' Committee on Charter
Revision: Messrs. Clarence R. Kline, J. D. Stevens, S. O. Seagren, Jr., Louis W. Schroeder,
John G. McKean, Daniel J. McPeak, Thomas B. Nason, K. E. Zigelhofer, R. J. Kihn, George A.
8ackleman and Mesdames Mae E. Maritzen and Louise Greeley.
NEW BUSINESS:
l. « . Receipt of the Notice and Agenda for this special meeting had been acknowledged by each of
the Councilmen and was on file. The purpose of said meeting was to consider the current report of
the Citizens' Committee on Charter Revision as contained in its letter of May 1, 1963, and take
appropriate action thereon, if so desired. Copies of the latest draft (April, 1963) for final
consideration of the proposed revision of the Charter of the City of Alameda had been sent to the
Councilmen.
Vice President McCall pointed out it was not the intent this evening to review the proposed Charter
but to come to some agreement on what procedure would be followed in presenting said Charter to
the people for their information prior to submitting the document for a vote.
Vice President McCall, on behalf of the Mayor and all of the Councilmen, expressed special thanks
to all of the Committeemen for their diligent effort in the preparation of the proposed Charter.
Upon request, Mr. Kihn, Acting Chairman of the Committee, reviewed the steps taken to date - the
submission of a tentative draft of the Charter in December, 1982, which had been considered by the
Council in several public meetings. It had been returned to the Committee with certain suggestions
and since that time the Committee had been working on these matters. In some instances, the
"December" draft had been revised in accordance with the Council recommendations but in others,
the Committee had maintained certain.aectiona as it originally proposed. Mr. Kihn stated the Com-
mittee's letter of May 1, 1963, answered all of the suggestions given to it. Be remarked that the
Committee was now in the position of having taken care of the requests of the Council, having given
the Committee's views and saying that, so far as the Committee was concerned, it was up to the Coun-
cil to decide whether or not it wished to have alternative proposals set up and also, the final
action on whether the Council or the Committee would hold the public meetings.
Mr. Zigelhofer supplemented Mr. Kihn's remarks by stating that during all of the Charter study, the
Committee was in almost every respect unanimous in its decisions, all points were thoroughly dis-
cussed and the "April" draft represented the full and unanimous opinion of all of the Committee
members.
In response to Vice President McCall's question, "Would the Committee be willing to accept the
responsibility of holding the Public Hearings", Mr. Kihn replied that it had been the thought of
the Committee some time ago that said Public Hearings would be held by the City Council. Be maid,
however, the Committee had worked up some tentative plans for holding public meetings and he
explained that various members of the Committee had been assigned the study of certain sections of
the proposed Charter in Order to be able to fully explain these particular sections. He then stated
it was the consensus of the Committee that it would be willing to hold public meetings on the matter.
Upon request, Mr. Clarence Kline then outlined the tentative plan for informing the public about
the subject. The sub-committee was working on a list of all organizations in the City with the pos-
sibility in mind of setting up area-wide meetings - in the west end, center of-town and the east
end - in order to enlighten the public before the time for a vote on the adoption of the proposed
Charter.
There developed a lengthy discussion - and clarification by Mr. Weller - of the distinction between
"Public Hearings".and "public meetings". Mr. Weller said he felt said meetings were properly the
job.of the Committee. It was developed that there should be Public Hearings at the proper time and
it was the consensus that the people should be fully enlightened on the subject. ^
Councilman Rose moved the suggestions for holding Public Hearings as outlined by Messrs. Kihn and
Kline, be approved. The motion was seconded by Councilman La Croix, who suggested an amendment to
the motion which would specify the number of public meetings to be held.
During further discussion, it was pointed out by Mr. Kline that the Committee planned to hold at
least three public meetings. Mr. Kihn emphasized that the Committee was going to have public meet-
ings and not Public Hearings and it was felt that they should be held in different sections of the
City in order to make it easier for people to attend. Also, Mr. Weller supplemented his explana-
tion of the responsibilities in this matter between the Committee and the City Council in the
procedure to be followed.
Councilman Rose then restated his motion that the suggestions for holding *public meetings" as out-
lined by Messrs. Kihn and Kline, be approved. Councilman La Croix agreed this was all inclusive
and seconded the motion, which was carried on the following roll call vote. Ayes: Four. Noes:
None. Absent: President Godfrey, (1).
It was agreed the Council would hold the Public Hearings in the Council Chamber after the Committee
had had its public meetings.
Vice President McCall broached the subject of consolidating the Charter measure on the ballot of
the coming Fall Election concerning a Junior College District. The City Manager was directed to
keep abreast, of this situation in order that the Council would be fully aware of the deadline dates
involved and the time element within which action must be taken.
In response to a question about the Committee's schedule for holding its meetings, Mr. Kline
answered that, tentatively, one meeting could probably be held before June and then the big job
would come up just prior to the election itself.
The question was presented with regard to the poaaibtlity.ot certain "alternative proposals" being
provided for the ballot - and if so, in the judgment of either the Committee or the Council, who
should draft them - whether they should form a part of the recommendation of the Committee to the
Council or whether the Council, having received the Committee's recommendation, would then undertake
to draft such alternatives as it felt were pertinent.
Following some discussion and an explanation by Mr. Weller of how the matter could be worked out
advantageously, especially in view of the time element involved, it was agreed that the Committee
would submit any alternatives it believed were necessary.
Mr. Kihn referred to the Committee's letter of May 1, 1963, in which was set forth the actions taken
on each of the Council's suggestions. He called attention to the item concerning Section 701 of the
proposed Charter, relating to the probationary period of Police and Firemen, which the Committee was
now recommending be eliminated from the new Charter and included in the Civil Service Ordinance, as
requested by the Civil Service Board. Mr. Kihn asked for a Council decision on this recommendation.
After an explanation by Mr. Weller of the soundness of this action, Councilman La Croix moved that
the recommendation of the Committee be accepted and Section 701 be eliminate'd from the proposed new
Charter and this provision be made a part of the Civil Service Ordinance. The motion was seconded
by Councilman Rose and carried^
With regard to the letter of May 1, 1963, as a whole, Councilman Rose moved that the recommendations
of the Committee as contained therein be approved. The motion was seconded by Councilman La Croix
and on roll call carried by the following vote. Ayes: Four. Noes: None. Absent: President
Godfrey, (1).
Vice President McCull.again thanked the members of the Charter Revision Committee for their excellent
service to the Council and the people of this community in this tremendous undertaking - and offered
them the Council's assistance in any way possible in completing the task.
ADJOURNMENT:
2. There being no further business to come before the meeting, the Council adjourned at 8:45
o'clock p.m.
Respectfully oubmi tpd,