2000-05-31 Charter Commission Minutes

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minutes 05-31-00Page 14 of 54 RAY: Does everybody understand the discussion? So, either we let it transition naturally or we come up with some sort of an arbitrary methodology that would expedite that. HERKES: Would you like a motion or do you just want to discuss? SANTANGELO: Can we discuss? RAY: Sure, we could – HERKES: I’d be willing to make a motion to transition naturally. IRVINE: Second. RAY: Discussion. That’s Alternative A. YUEN: Alternative 1. RAY: Alternative 1, and Chris came up with the language for that. IRVINE: In favor of that, Chris does say in this letter that for Council members, the Charter makes it clear that they continue to serve their full terms and then at the end of that time, transition. And I think it would be more consistent to just let Boards and Commissions do the same thing. Of course, the Council people, it’s with the next election. But with Boards and Commissions it would be as terms expire. SANTANGELO: I wanted to get some discussion before the motion but since we have a motion – I guess the thoughts that I have is what is the intention, and I’m open to what’s the intention of the full Commission. When we went to single member districts, that was eight years ago, so there is some sense of urgency for me, possibly, especially with something like a Water Commission, although I think, if I read that right, Mr. Yuen, that’s 2002 that changes anyway? So that’s just one year away? HERKES: If it passes. YUEN: Yes, that’s the extent of the problem would be – SANTANGELO: If we used Alternative 1 which is let it go, in a year it would correct itself anyway. YUEN: That’s right. SANTANGELO: Okay, so again, just for discussion purposes, I thought, well, if our intent was to set something right that’s kind of been skewed for eight years because we went into single member right after the last Charter Commission, then I’d say we should be a little more forceful. On the other hand, if it’s only one year that these things kind of take care of themselves, maybe we just leave it alone and do the alternative. And that was the question I’d ask the Commission for discussion. HERKES: I think it’s disruptive. I’m afraid it would be disruptive to start ending terms early. Some of these Commissions are fairly important. I would hope all of them were important. Say you had a Chairman or say you had somebody that had a sub- committee or somebody with an important role in the Commission, I think those would be difficult decisions to make. And there are some things in the Charter that are going to be disruptive anyway, and I think the less we can do, the better off we are. RAY: Any other testimony? Okay, all in favor? RAY, ALONZO, BESS, HERKES, HIGASHI, IRVINE, KUROZAWA, SANTANGELO: Aye. Commissioner Martin abstained. RAY: New Business. Charter Preamble. Are we working with more than one version? file://\\coh01\cohweb\council\charter_commission\minutes\minutes 05-31-00.html7/1/2011