HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/22/19711
1
MINUTES
SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
October 22, 1971 - 12:00 Noon
City Hall
Roll Call
Present: Emmons Blake, Myron Graham, T. Keith Gurnee,
Kenneth E. Schwartz
Absent: John C. Brown
City Staff
Present: J. H. Fitzpatrick, City Clerk; A. J. Shaw,
City Attorney; R. D. Miller, Administrative
Officer; D. Englert, Police Captain; D. F. Romero,
City Engineer; W. Flory,'Park and Recreation
Director; L. Schlobohm, Fire Chief; J. Quirk,
Water Foreman.
1. The City Council considered a resolution authorizing the City Adminis-
trative Officer to dispose of accumulations of refuse constituting a health
menace to the citizens of the City of San Luis Obispo.
A. J. Shaw, City Attorney, briefed the provisions of the resolution which
would authorize the Administrative Officer to take steps to remove and dis-
pose of all accumulations of refuse within the City determined to be a
health menace. The resolution also provided methods of doing the work,
protecting the persons doing the work for the City and also provided for
payment of the work accomplished.
Bart Curto, representing the Teamsters Union, stated his union had offered
to allow workers to handle collection of refuse by the garbage company. He
also asked that the City Council not take any action to pass this resolution
as he interpreted it to be a strike breaking action by the City Council.
He also invited any City official who desired, to sit in on the negotiations
between the union and the garbage company representatives. He felt the City
Council should do nothing that would allow the garbage company to continue
to operate and do business while struck by the Teamsters Union with the
work being done under the protection of the City Council.
Bart Curto stated that the City should cancel the contract with San Luis
Garbage Company and try to get a new company to handle the refuse collection
within the City-- a.company that not only was responsible but one that would
talk with union representatives without prior commitments on either side.
He asked the City Council if the City did go into the collection of garbage
during the strike that union members be hired to operate the equipment.
Mayor Schwartz suggested that prior to the City taking action to collect
garbage causing a health problem, that both the company representatives and
the union representatives be notified of the proposed action by the City.
Councilman.Blake stated he felt that if the City did not take action as
suggested by the resolution, the City Council would be derelict in its duty
should a hea[th.problem arise. He felt the City action being considered
was neither in support of nor opposed to management or union representatives
but was only in support of protection of the health of the citizens of the
City of San Luis Obispo during the negotiations taking place.
Mayor Schwartz suggested that the resolution be amended following paragraph
one that upon initial notice that a health menace existed by the Health
Officer or City Engineer, that the Administrative Officer notify both the
garbage company and union representatives of the health problem and that
within six (6) hours of the notice, the Administrative Officer would begin
action to collect the garbage, refuse, etc.
City Council Minutes
October 22, 1971
Page 2
Phil Fike, !Labor consultant for the San Luis Garbage Company, stated that
the basic problem involved in this matter was the recognition by the com-
pany of a union representative for their employees. He continued that the
State Conciliation Service had offered to mediate the problem of the
Garbage Company with union representatives and their employees. Further,
the Conciliation Service had offered;to hold an election of the employees
of the garbage company to decide whether they wanted union representatives
The garbage company management had agreed to the election, but the
Teamsters Union had declined, stating that all employees had asked for
union representation. He continued that the company's only worry at this
time was the safety of company equipment and personnel. He also reported
that the garbage company was now picking up hospitals and large commercial
establishments and that as soon as the employees were sure they were safe
from harm, they would come back to work and service all collections in
the City.
Bart Curto again stated he felt some public official should sit in on the
garbage company and union negotiations.
Councilman Gurnee felt that the resolution should be adopted in order to
protect the citizens of the City.
Councilman Blake felt the resolution should be adopted and was essential
to prevent a greater emergency in the future. He did not feel that this
was intervention in a labor dispute between the garbage company and the
union.
Councilman Graham felt the resolution should be adopted.
Mayor Schwartz agreed that the resolution should be adopted to protect
the health of the community and the City did not take sides in the labor
dispute but was only concerned for the health of the citizens.
On motion of Councilman Blake, seconded by Councilman Graham, the follow-
ing resolution was introduced. RESOLUTION NO. 2236, a resolution author-
izing the City Administrative Officer to dispose of accumulations of
refuse constituting a health menace.
Passed and adopted on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Emmons Blake, Myron Graham, T. Keith Gurnee,
Kenneth E. Schwartz
NOES: None
ABSENT: John C. Brown
2. The City Council adjourned to the Conference Room for a public study
session with the City Council and department heads on procedures de-
signed to bring a more businesslike approach to items coming before the
City Council..
Mayor Schwartz adjourned the meeting at 1:40 P.M.
APPROVED: December 6, 1971. j ,Ciz;;,i
ZPATRICK, CITY CLERK
1
1
u