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PUBLIC HEARINGS RESOLUTION 98-086 - A resolution of the City Council of the City of Santa Aha vacating Second Street between Main and Spurgeon Streets with the exception of the area at the intersection of Second and Bush, and the southerly 100 feet of the Alley connecting Second and Third Streets lying between Main and Bush Streets - Planning and Building Agency FILE ABAN MOTION: Lutz SECOND: Bist VOTE: AYES: Bist, Christy, Franklin, Lutz, McGuigan NOES: None NOT-VOTiNG: Moreno ABSENT: Pulido RECESSED - 7:07 P.M. RECONVENED - 7:25 P.M. With only Conncilmembers Bist, Franklin, Lutz, and McGuigan present for the balance of the meeting WORK STUDY SESSION WS.A. MUNICIPAL LAW OVERVIEW City Attorney Joseph Fletcher provided an orientation regarding "City Council Legal Issues" that included an overview of local government structure, a discussion of the differences between general law and charter cities, Santa Ana's power as a charter city to legislate matters pertaining to municipal affairs, and the Council's "other" governmental roles such as serving as the Community Redevelopment Agency and Housing Authority. Chief Assistant City Attorney Ben Kaufman discussed the differences between legislative matters in which the City Council establishes policy and enacts laws of general application, and quasi-judicial matters in which the City Council acts only after a fair and impartial hearing. He advised the Councilmembers that decisions should be based on "substantial evidence in the record," and facts learned through "ex parte" contacts (discussions with applicants) should be disclosed. Attorney Fletcher outlined the major statutes affecting Council conduct including the: -Brown Act (open and public government); -California Environmental Quality Act; -Meyers-Millias-Brown Act (collective bargaining); and -Political Reform Act. He discussed the major components of the Brown Act in detail. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 357 DECEMBER 14, 1998