HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07141998 - P1 ..............
PA
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
DATE: July 14, 1998 MATTER OF RECORD
SUBJECT: PLACEMENT OF A COUNTY CHARTER ON THE NOVEMBER 3,
1998 BALLOT
On this date, the Board considered a report from the Contra Costa County Charter
Commission on a proposed County Charter.
After discussion, the Board took testimony from the following persons:
John Wolfe, Contra Costa Taxpayers Association, 820 Main Street, Martinez;
Pete Williams, Charter Commission, 237 Ivy drive, Orinda;
Henry Clarke, Local One, Martinez.
Following public testimony, Supervisor DeSaulnier moved to place the proposed
Charter on the November 3, 1998, ballot. The vote on the motion was:
AYES: IV, I
NOES: IIJII, V
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
The proposal failed to receive a majority vote; no action was taken by the Board.
TfHS IS A MATTER FOR RECORD PURPOSES ONLY
NO BOARD ACTION TAKEN
P.1
7-14-98
Charles Brydon, Retired Academic Dean of several Community Colleges
Bruce Cain, Professor of Political Science, U.C. Berkeley
Robert Campbell, Retired Assemblymember, 11th District
Henry Clarke, General Manager, Public Employees Local 1
Jiro Cleary, Former'General Manager, Tosco Refinery
John Dalrymple, Secretary-Treasurer, Central Labor Council, Contra Costa County
Mark Deaulnier, Member, Board of Supervisors
Carol Hatch, Aide to Congressman George Miller
Marianne Jameson, Former member of the Grand Jury, Retired College Professor
Paul Katz, Local 1
Joan Kelley-Williams, Partner, BABCO
Chris Kenber, Member, Board of Trustees, San Ramon Valley Unified ,School District
Quentin Kidd, Information Systems Auditor, Chevron;
Member, Brentwood City Council
Paul Kilkenny, League of Women Voters
Gail Murray, Former member, Walnut Creek City Council; League of Women Voters
Lou Paulson, President, United Professional Firefighters, IAFF, Local 1230
Margaret Philipps, Public Member
Sue Rainey, Member, Walnut Creek City Council;
Former member,Board of Directors, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
Pamela Reed, Former President, Contra Costa Council;
Attorney, Morrison & Foerster
Gwen Regalia, Walnut Creek City Council
Don Ritchey, RetiredChairman, Lucky Stores; Farmer Councilman,Town of Danville
Robert Schroder, Retired member, Board of Supervisors
Laurie Schuyler, Environmental Organizations
Thom Stark, Computer Networking Consultant
Tom Terrill, Reynolds and Brown
Maria Theresa Viramontes, former Aide to Assemblymember Campbell;
Executive Director, East Bay Public Safety Corridor Project
Pete Williams, Retired Environmental and Safety Manager, Chevron Refinery
John Wolfe, Executive Vice President, Contra Costa Taxpayers Association
- 3 -
P.1
7-14-48
CHARTER
OF THE
COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA
Preamble
As Americans, we govern our own destiny. As Californians, we cherish the
principle of local control. As taxpayers, we insist on government that is
responsive, efficient, and effective. As voters, we demand accountability both
from our elected officials and their non-elected staff.
Determined to maximize local control of our government, the citizens of
Contra Costa County adopt this Charter.
Article I. Board of Supervisors
141. Governing Body,
The Board of Supervisors is the governing body of the County of Contra Costa.
The Board consists of five members elected by district.
142. Vacancies.
If a vacancy occurs on the Board of Supervisors,the Board shall,within 60 days
of the effective date of the vacancy, fill the vacancy by appointment. If the Burd fails to make
an appointment within 60 days, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the Governor.
143. Compensation.
The Board of Supervisors shall fix the compensation of its members by
ordinance.
144. Meetings.
The Board of Supervisors shall provide for regular meeting dates, times, and
places.
1
Request to Speak Form
( THREE ) MINUTE LIM17)
c ete this
fOm end PIM ft in the box near the
tdreWng the So"
1 !' 2 -: /o
dot:__ : ae.4-IAJ 5i�
CHECK ONOwftOf
%owwaunflow!inn
�d }
I wtsh to V" an#*KA*O Of
04
IKK wish to "A 4 ;WVO emu
for Ow Mwd
.s v .....
REQUEST T4 SPEAK yORX'
(THREE (;3) MINIITE LIMIT)
Complete this farm and place it in the box near the speakers,
rostrum 'before addressing Me' Board.
Name: Phone
Address:
City:_(
I am Speaking for myself s�` or organization:
CHECK ONE:
(name *fr�rysnizacion)
p
-� I wish to speak on Agenda ItemIDate: ✓� �-y
�' 1:
My comments will be: general for against
-- _ I wish to speak on the subject of
I do not wish to speak but leave these 'comments for the
Board to consider:
7--'
EIVE6
July 14, 1998 JUL 14 1
Comments on the proposed Contra Costa County C CONBOA�a os sa co. ops
Submitted by
Peter S. Williams
237 Ivy Drive
Orinda, CA 94563
Phone 925-376-2715
Board of Supervisors:
I represent business on the Charter Commission but I submit these
comments as a private citizen. I recommend you submit the charter to the
voters for approval. There are two sections which I believe should become
County policy regardless of your decision.
Section 112. County Government Goals. This requirement for County
and Department goals should improve county government performance. It
will also permit the public to participate with suggestions and a renewed
faith that they can influence county government goals and that county
government will be held accountable for meeting those goals.
Section 113. Partnerships in Government. Most existing
partnerships appear to be working well. Most county funds are used to
support productive activities. Two major exceptions are funds used to
support people on welfare or in jail. People in these categories should not
be supported for more than a few days without the requirement to be
productive. The departments supervising welfare and jails will hopefully
create a partnership with other government agencies (or non profits or
private firms) to use these under utilized personnel which are already
supported with tax dollars.
REQUEST TO SPEAR FORM
(THREE (3) XIIWTELIMIT) �f
Complete this farm and place it in the box near the speakers'
rostrum; before addressing the Board.,
Name: Phone
Address. City; 10.4
I am speaking for myself or organizations
tr+ame of or�nixst�ocs>
CHECK ONE:
I wish to speak on Agenda Item # gate;
My comments will be: general for against
I wash to speak on the subject of
I do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the
Board to considers
...::
COMER W"�E L IV
July 7 , 1998
Centra Costa County :hoard of Supervisors
651 Pine St.
Martinez 94 553
Dear Board :
The draft proposed county charter comes before you on July 14.
here are my comments for your consideration.
The Preamble is an empty promise. The draft does not deal with elected
offices. In letters to Supervisor DeSaulnier and local newspapers in
1996, 1 said the charter job would be only half done unless elected
offices were included in the assessment. in my opinion, , the pro.potrved
charter accomplishes nothing significant except the expenditure of
taxpayer dollars for staff support to the drafting panel. Except for a
change in filling a board vacancy and appointment of department heads ,
a.11 other recommendations could have been done by ordinance . This is
certainly not to say that more could not have been done if there had
been will to do it (and expertise?)
A glaring omission in the draft is absence of an amendment process. A.
two-thirds majority should be mandated. California' s sad and scandal-
ous experience with changes in the state constitution, Iparticularly
by initiative , and a similar volume of amendments to the San Fran-
cisco charter should prove the folly of a simple ma, ori.ty. The latter
type of vote generates attempts by self- serving groups to promote
their self-interest. We have trio much of that already at the expense of the
public interest.
Before I deal with other criticisms of the proposed charter, hear me
say that I will not ask any voter to suppovt this effort. Why?
Because it gives residents nothing significant to nake county govern-
ment more efficient , more accountable or cost-effective .'
in the very beginning, I was critical of the way membership was chosen.
There was no application criteria, no application process , no punlicity
seeking imterested applicants and no board hearing seeking public input.
The initial list was generated in-house! Except for the representative
of the Private Industry Council. (PIC) , no minorities were repre-
sented , despite the county ' s diversity. Although I knewpersonally
( some are political friends) or by reputation, many members of the
drafting. panel, I still. believe a truly public process should have been
followed in application and selection. In my opinion , there were too
many aztxbxi establishment types (past and present) and very , very few
who could be seen as representative of the general public. Surely , there
are more academics working in or resident of this county with appro-
priate professional background. While Bruce Cain is well-reputed ,
judging from results he needed some vocal collegues schooled in
urban government.
Participants and users of urban services can contribute from a
practical standpoint but the panel sorely needed professional guidance
,assess county government and ignore elected offices? Even though
three are constitutional , three are not. The constitutional ones could.
be changed by the state legislature if we had one worthy of the name.
At the outset of this 'venture in 1996, I said I support the concept of
a. charter. I still support the concept but there is a. far greater need..
The overriding need is a reliable revenue source for cities and
counties to perform services demanded by the electorate. That gust
come frm the robber-barons -- the state legislature which is so
.incompetent that it can' t pass a budget in lush days we are having.
But the pnly option for attaining reliable revenue is that pressure by
all cities and counties , in concert , be kept on the legislature .
former board beseiged Sacramento but constant and concerted effort
needs to be made.
Finally , either do the charter job right or forget it.
Yours for government as envisioned by the Founding Fathers ,
P4*1&04� 1
Phyllis Hoff
2593 San Carlos Drive
Walnut Creep, CA 9 598
9-55-"2916