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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