CC SR 20180619 I - EPC Member RemovalRANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 06/19/2018
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA DESCRIPTION:
Consideration and possible action to remove a member of the Emergency
Preparedness Committee
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Remove member Joe Locascio from the Emergency Preparedness Committee
(EPC)
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Gabriella Yap, Deputy City Manager
REVIEWED BY: Same as above
APPROVED BY: Doug Willmore, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Emails from Joe Locascio (page A-1)
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
The City Council adopted Rules of Procedure for the conduct of meetings and of City
business generally to promote transparency and citizen participation in a civil and
respectful governance environment. Section 1 of the Rules of Procedure state that
these rules also apply to City Council-appointed Commission and Committee members.
As part of these rules, all members of the City Council, Committees, and Commissions
are required to use a City-issued email address.
11.0 PUBLIC RECORDS AND USE OF EMAIL
11.2 Must Use City Email Account. All Councilmembers are provided
with an @rpvca.gov email account, and shall only use this account for City
business. Personal accounts should not be used for City business and if
they are, in the event of a public records request, the personal account will
be subject to review and disclosure of City related emails.
This practice enables the City to comply with Public Records Act and the City’s Records
Retention Schedule. Currently, all emails from the past five years (2013-2018) must be
1
retained. As a result, Staff has begun issuing City email addresses to all Commission
and Committee members.
EPC member Joe Locascio vehemently insisted to both Staff and his fellow Committee
members that he would refuse to use the City-assigned email address (see Attachment
A). While he did ultimately acquiesce to the email requirement, his behavior has
repeatedly defied the Rules of Conduct laid out in the Rules of Procedure at meetings.
Fellow Committee members, Staff, and members of the public have witnessed Mr.
Locascio’s angry outbursts, including raising his voice and pounding the table, when he
was in disagreement over an issue. Unfortunately, at one of the last meetings, his
display was in the presence of some children who had come to observe the meeting,
setting a bad example for them and the public in general. Disagreement itself over
issues is not a bad thing as it brings perspective, but the lack of ability to have civil
discourse when disagreeing and general respect for others is what is worrisome.
Committee members have expressed that Mr. Locascio’s temper and behavior have
made it difficult for him to work productively with the rest of the Committee. Similar
behavior issues arose when Mr. Locascio previously served on the Traffic Safety
Committee. As a result of these continued challenges, Mr. Locascio’s removal from the
EPC is recommended.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative action is available for
the City Council’s consideration:
1. Do not remove Joe Locascio from the EPC.
2
A-1
A-2
A-3
A-4
A-5
A-6
A-7