HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/22/2011MINUTES
MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2011
990 PALM STREET
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
6:00 P.M. — CLOSED SESSION — COUNCIL HEARING ROOM
ROLL CALL:
Council Members
Present: Council Members Dan Carpenter, Andrew Carter and Kathy Smith, Vice
Mayor John Ashbaugh, and Mayor Jan Marx
City Staff
Present: Katie Lichtig, City Manager, Christine Dietrick, City Attorney, Michael
Codron, Assistant City Manager, and Elaina Cano, City Clerk, were
present at Roll Call. Other staff members presented reports or responded
to questions as indicated in the minutes.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED-SESSION-TOPIC
City Attorney Dietrick announced the following Closed Session topic.
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code § 54957.6
Agency Negotiators: Monica Irons, Rick Bolanos
Employee Organizations: San Luis Obispo City Employees' Association (SLOCEA),
San Luis Obispo Police Officers' Association (POA),
Fire Battalion Chiefs' Association and
San Luis Obispo City Firefighters, Local 3523
Unrepresented Employees: Confidential Employees, Unrepresented Management
Employees
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION ITEM
Mayor Marx called for public comments.
Matt Giuffrida spoke about his concerns regarding the upcoming labor negotiations.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT -
City Attorney_Dietrick reported on the Closed Session at the commencement of the 7:00
p.m. Special Meeting.
City Council Meeting Page 2
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The Closed Session adioumed at 7:05 p.m.
7:00 P.M. — SPECIAL MEETING — COUNCIL CHAMBER
Mayor Marx called the Special Meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. All Council Members were
present.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Dietrick reported that Council met in Closed Session to discuss Labor
Negotiations as indicated above. No further reportable action was taken.
Mayor Marx's made opening statements.
BUSINESS ITEM
1. CONSIDERATION OF AND COUNCIL DIRECTION REGARDING POTENTIAL
BALLOT MEASURES TO MODIFY OR REPEAL SAN LUIS OBISPO
CHARTER SECTIONS 1105 (RETIREMENT) AND 1107 (IMPARTIAL AND
BINDING ARBITRATION FOR SAN LUIS OBISPO POLICE OFFICERS
ASSOCIATION AND SAN LUIS OBISPO FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION,
IAFF LOCAL 3523, EMPLOYEE DISPUTES).
City Manager Lichtig, City Attorney Dietrick and City Clerk Cano presented the agenda
report and responded to questions.
Public Comments
future ballot:
Dave Christy, San Luis Obispo
Steve Barasch, San Luis Obispo
Mike Hey[, San Luis Obispo
Carroll McKibbin, San Luis Obispo
Carl Dudley, San Luis Obispo
Jim Duenow, San Luis Obispo
Rick Racouillat, San Luis Obispo
Tim Williams, San Luis Obispo
Russ Levanway, San Luis Obispo
Amy Kardel, San Luis Obispo
Greg Notley, San Luis Obispo
Will Powers, San Luis Obispo
Dave Juhnke, San Luis- Obispo
David Garth, President of Chamber of Commerce
Ed Cox, Morro Bay
City Council Meeting
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Jeff Buckingham, San Luis Obispo County
Dave Romero, San Luis Obispo
Gary Fowler, San Luis Obispo
Ron Malak, San Luis Obispo
Annie Malak; San Luis Obispo
Jerry Michael, San Luis Obispo
T. Keith Gurnee, San Luis Obispo
Linda Groover, San Luis Obispo
Erik Justesen, San Luis Obispo
John Ewan, San Luis Obispo
Paul Rys, San Luis Obispo
Bill Almas, San Luis Obispo
Michael Gunther, San Luis Obispo
Kevin Rice, San Luis Obispo
Paul Brown, San Luis Obispo
John Grady, San Luis Obispo
Leslie Halls, San Luis Obispo
Dave Cox, San Luis Obispo
Michelle Tasseff, San Luis Obispo
Sandra Rowley, San Luis Obispo
Bill Thoma, San Luis Obispo
Page 3
Richard Kranzdorf, San Luis Obispo, suggested that Council table the issue and take no
final action.
Ray Hais, San Luis Obispo, spoke in opposition of placing binding arbitration on a ballot.
---end of public comments—
Council recessed at 9:05 p.m. and reconvened at 9:15 p.m. with all members present.
Council Member Carter made a PowerPoint presentation, which included comparisons
of cost of living, operating and personnel costs and the impacts of binding arbitration.
Mr. Carter spoke in favor of placing the two proposed charter amendments on a future
ballot and the importance of Council's fiscal responsibility and employees' rights to
collectively bargain.
Council Member Smith thanked.the community and the media for their involvement. in
the discussion. Ms. Smith spoke in support of placing the repeal of the two proposed
charter amendments on a future ballot.
Vice Mayor Ashbaugh spoke about his concerns regarding the fiscal health of the City
and of the impacts of placing the repeal of the two proposed charter amendments on
the ballot without taking sufficient amount of time to meet and confer with City
employees. Mr. Ashbaugh spoke favorably about modifying the language in City
City Council Meeting Page 4
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Charter Sections 1105 and 1107 and continuing the sound labor relationships with City
employee groups.
Council Member Carpenter spoke about the importance of maintaining and gaining the
community and staff's trust and Council's control to make important decisions regarding
the City's fiscal health. Mr. Carpenter spoke in favor of placing the repeal of the two
charter amendments on a future ballot.
Mayor Marx explained Measure T, which was placed on the 2000 ballot opposing
binding arbitration, and defeated by 60 %. Ms. Marx spoke of the importance of citizen
groups willing to form a campaign committee. She also presented alternatives to
placing the repeal of the two proposed charter amendments on a June 2011 ballot, such
as tabling the issue, additional community outreach /survey, and appoint a Charter
Review Committee.
Further Council discussion ensued during which they discussed the City's meet and
confer obligations with employee groups, time and cost for conducting a community
survey, and a possible date for an all mail ballot special election.
Moved by Ashbaugh /Marx to direct staff to begin preparing an initiative to amend
Charter Section 1105 by repealing the second paragraph; motion failed 2:3,
Carpenter /Carter /Smith opposed.
Moved by Smith /Carpenter to direct staff to begin preparing an initiative to repeal
Charter Section 1105 in its entirety; motion failed 2:3, Ashbaugh /Carter /Marx opposed.
Moved by Carter to direct staff to begin preparing an initiative to amend Charter Section
1105 which would authorize the City Council to provide a retirement program for its
employees.; motion failed due to a lack of a second.
Moved by Marx/Carter to direct staff to begin preparing an initiative to amend Charter
Section 1105 by eliminating the last sentence in the first paragraph and the entire
second paragraph; motion failed 2:3, Ashbaugh /Carpenter /Smith opposed.
Moved by Smith /Carpenter to direct staff to draft a measure that would repeal in its
entirety Charter Section 1105 to place on the ballot, 4:1, Ashbaugh opposed.
Moved by Carter /Smith to direct staff to draft a measure to place on the ballot that would
repeal in its entirety Charter Section 1107; 4:1, Ashbaugh opposed.
Moved by Carter /Ashbaugh to direct staff to prepare ballot measure language for their
consideration and to direct staff to bring back an ordinance that would authorize the
conduct of an all mail election on August 30, 2011; 5:0.
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Marx adjourned
the meeting at 11:15 p.m.
City Council Meeting `
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Elaina Cano, CMC
City Clerk
APPROVED BY COUNCIL: 04/05/11
Page 5