HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08041992 - S.1 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 141
4 Contra
FROM: Supervisor Tom Torlakson Costa
Introduced July 28, 1992 for Action on August 4, county
DATE:
CONSIDER.SUPPORT. FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION AND DETERMINE THE
SUBJECT: NEED TO PLACE INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT CALLING FOR GOVERNMENT -
REFORMS
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION-
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1 . Endorse Senator Barry Keene's effort to call for a constitutional
convention and consider support for a unicameral legislature as a
high priority item for discussion of the reforms .
2 . Communicate with CSAC, ABAG, the League of California Cities, and
our own Mayor',s Conference and Schools Boards Association
regarding support for such .a constitutional convention.
3 . Determine whether the Legislature will proceed on their own to
place this before the California voters or whether we should
proceed with an initiative linking efforts with the cities, the scho
districts. and special districts and the tens of thousands of
citizens who will be willing and eager to quality an initiative
and fight for its passage.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: There have been serious discussions in
.recent months surrounding the need to reform and restructure the way
California is governed. Our Board has been involved in realignment
reform for over a decade and as early as last year we endorsed a
unicameral legislature.
Recent discussions have included the idea of convening a
constitutional convention to provide the forum for the major changes
which must take place if California as a state is to live up to its
real potential as a land of opportunity. Major changes are
desperately needed if California is to survive the fiscal and
legislative gridlock that has lowered our credit rating, driven
hundreds of thousands of jobs out of California and created a state of
confusion and lack of public confidence.
Recently Senator Barry Keene introduced a bill to place on the
ballot the call for a constitutional convention. A fearful
Senate--with cause to worry based on the public's high level of
discontent with their performance--voted this proposal down.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENTt YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)
ACTION OF BOARD ON August 4, 1992 APOROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER X
REFERRED to the Finance Committee for further review the development
of this concept.
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
C UNANIMOUS (ABSENT I ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AYES: NOES: AND.CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: County Administrator. ATTESTED August 4, 1992
Finance Committee Phil Batchelor,Clerk of the Board of
Superâ–ºlmWCounty Adcainfstr Wr
M3e2/7-83 BY DEPUTY
August 4, 1992
Page TWO
If there is not support from our legislators and Governor to move
forward with this constitutional convention, local governments should
join forces to place an initiative on the ballot. As I have discussed
the concept of a unicameral legislation and major administrative
reforms to simplify the legislative and governance process, I have
found strong grassroots support. Many have already come forward to
offer to carry petitions to place such an initiative on the ballot and
I am certain tens of thousands more will join in this effort.
TT:gro