HomeMy WebLinkAboutSLOWhat July 2017The objective of the 1911 Charter for the City of San Luis
Obispo was to delineate the various duties of the elected
officials and the “Powers of the City and of the Council”
(Article VII). In a vast array of sections, the Freeholders
who compiled the list addressed (what I’m sure they
hoped) was any eventuality confronting governance.
Wide ranging in scope and content, we’ll revisit some of
the sections in the various sections in the future.
Indeed, Section 44 entitled “Direct Legislation”
empowered the voters through “the initiative” to enact
(or change) enforcement of any general powers of the
city or those granted to the council. Part of the arguments
for the charter had been discussions of “cronyism” in
the past and so there was reserved for the voters an
opportunity to insist on some legislation.
While throughout its history, San Luis Obispo has had
elected officials (verified to at least 1868), the chief
executive title has changed. Our current title – mayor –
was actually used before 1911 and then changed with
yet another community incorporation through the state
legislature. At various times, titles have been chairman
and president. Such has not been the case with “Clerk”
either of the Town or City. The position is the oldest in
municipal history. For historians, the clerk has a special
place in our hearts. For whatever reason, often unofficial,
this community has had clerks that were not super-
efficient in tossing unneeded documents. Thus, we have
a rich heritage of civic governance maintained by the
city officials.
As part of their multiple duties, they are the official
archivist for the community. In one short article (VII), the
clerk’s duties are summarized. A major difference today
was in 1911, the clerk was also the assessor of property to
determine the city personal property tax.
Regulating the elected official’s official behavior was
important to our civic ancestors, but the critical issue
was in the next article entitled “Finance and Taxation.”
It is interesting that both ends of the revenue stick are
named. Today, the department is more blandly called
Finance…as if there are groves of trees in the municipal
parks growing the source. Eleven sections amplify the
article with a definite attempt to limit both income and
expenditures to rigorous scrutiny. Little did anyone know
that a soon to be mayor - and the longest serving one at
that - Louis Sinsheimer was a strong advocate for what
today is anathema to most leadership…No Growth.
Basically, the article dictated the timeline and procedures
for taxation. In subsequent years, the secret was well
known to all. By limiting needs, the City limited the need
for income; Thus, tax rates remained quite stable. One
advantage (Article X) was the city managed the utilities
(and still does for water/sewage) and all revenue from
such was to be used to operate any utility and pay any
debts of the operation.
Key provisions of the article, and an insight into possible
practices of the time, was to demand all contracts to be
formed after a bidding process. Interestingly, two long
sections warn against “collusion” among bidders to
discourage limiting any bidders. The lengthier warning
was against any official who in any way interfered with
an open bidding procedure. Cronyism was discouraged.
Contact: jacarotenuti@gmail.com
Visit: www.joefromslo.com 7/2017
History of SLO
WITH JOSEPH CAROTENUTI, CITY HISTORIAN/ARCHIVIST
SAN LUIS OBISPO 1910