RPVCCA_SR_2010_10_05_12_Charter_City_Committee_Appointment_of_MembersCITY OF
MEMORANDUM
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
CAROLYN LEHR,CITY MANAGER cS2-.
OCTOBER 5,2010
APPOINTMENT OF ADDITIONAL MEMBERS TO THE
CHARTER CITY COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION
Appoint three additional residents to the Charter City Committee to serve with the
Council Subcommittee to facilitate a public outreach program to advise residents of the
benefits of having Rancho Palos Verdes become a charter city.
DISCUSSION
On August 3,2010,the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council voted to appoint seven
residents to serve on the Charter City Committee,along with the two-member Council
Subcommittee,consisting of Mayor Steve Wolowicz and Mayor Pro Tem Tom Long.
This action followed a June 29,2010 presentation to the Council on the merits of
Rancho Palos Verdes becoming a Charter City,and subsequent action by the City
Council to pursue the Charter City initiative and the creation of a Charter City
Committee.
The primary purpose of the Committee is to develop and conduct a public education
program to inform RPV residents of the benefits to the City that would arise from
changing Rancho Palos Verdes from a General Law City to a Charter City.The "Charter
City Committee Purpose and Objectives"statement is attached.
The Charter Subcommittee called its first meeting on July 23,2010,where the Mayor
and Mayor Pro Tem 'considered nominees for the citizen committee.Each Council
member had been asked to submit up to three names of residents they would propose
to serve on the committee,in advance of the July 23 meeting.
All combined,the five Council members offered 15 names (three duplicates)for
consideration.The Subcommittee reviewed all of the nominations and identified seven
persons on the list who were known by both members of the Council Subcommittee
and deemed well-suited for the task ahead:
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Ann Shaw
Bill Gerstner
Jon Cartwright
Jeffrey Lewis
Dave Emenhiser
Paul Tetreault
Bill James
The appointment of the Charter City Committee members was presented at the August
3,2010 Council meeting.All seven nominees were approved by the entire Council,
along with a motion that the Council Subcommittee interview the remaining four
nominees for inclusion on the Committee,assuming that each of them still is willing and
able to serve.
Subsequently,the Council Subcommittee met on August 20,2010,to interview the
three out of four residents who expressed a continued interest in serving on the
Committee:
John Cruikshank
Willie Wang
Anthony Self
The Council Subcommittee was pleased with the level of enthusiasm and ability
demonstrated by the three additional candidates,and recommends that the Council
approve the addition of these three residents to the Charter City Committee.If this
action is taken,Staff will update the Purpose and Objectives of the Committee to state
that the Committee will be comprised of ten residents plus the two Members of the City
Council Subcommittee.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff anticipates no fiscal impact to the City arising from the appointment of three
additional members to the committee.
ALTERNATIVE
1.The City Council could choose not to appoint three additional residents to the
Charter City Committee.
2.The City Council could appoint fewer than all three of the additional residents to
the Charter City Committee.
Attachment:
"Charter City Committee Purpose and Objectives"
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Charter City Committee
Purpose and Objectives
The City Council will appoint a Committee comprised of two Council Members
(the Mayor and the Mayor Pro Tem)and five residents of the City to facilitate a
robust public outreach program to educate and create a clear understanding of
the issues surrounding General Law Cities vs.Charter Cities.The main
objectives of the Charter City Committee are as follows:
1.Review the materials that have been presented by the City Attorney's
Office and understand the advantages and disadvantages of the general
law versus the city charter forms of government;
2.Develop and execute a plan for educating and informing the public
regarding the proposed ballot measure to adopt a charter;and
3.Develop a report to the City Council summarizing the pUblic outreach
program results and feedback received from the community.
4.Draft the ballot argument in support of adopting the charter and a rebuttal
argument,if necessary.
The Charter Committee and City Staff will make informational presentations and
hold question and answer forums with various community groups and service
organizations.In addition to these community presentations,the public outreach
program also will include the development and distribution of an informaJional
brochure,press releases to advise the public of the meetings and locations
where informatfOn about chartering can be obtained,information on the City's
website,and informational programming on RPV-TV.
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