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Councilmember Villegas, acknowledge that being an elected official is a lot of <br />work; direct ward elections would take away rights of all City residents to elect <br />their representatives. <br />Councilmember Tinajero, opined that candidates should be living in the Ward for <br />at least a year; possibility for reform and consider Los Angeles model; <br />strengthen the residency requirement; supports Mayor Pro Tern Martinez option <br />for campaign reform; voters to decide if they would like full-time or part-time <br />representatives; need to be inclusive and allow all to have opportunity to run for <br />office; motion to direct staff to prepare documents to place on the ballot - <br />change minimum residency requirement and campaign reform; option for full- <br />time or part-time elected officials; and create task force to decide whether mayor <br />is directly elected or not; seconded by Councilmember Benavides. <br />Councilmember Solorio, open to discussing some areas and Charter in general; <br />support placing on the ballot in November of 2018 and not as part of a special <br />election; should not extend the term of any current member; residency <br />requirement is defined in case law; special election may be cost prohibitive. <br />Indicated that he has been transparent about his residency; concerned that <br />surplus budget may have been due to unfilled vacancies; need to get finances in <br />order in addition to using enterprise funds to fund other operations. Also, noted <br />that unions have traditionally endorsed candidates, now fewer unions involved. <br />Mayor Pulido, suggest that Charter Amendments should be placed on 2018 <br />general election ballot; opined that City is fortunate that we don't have district <br />election — need to focus on interest of the entire City; voters decide who should <br />represent City, but City represented by officials that live in all areas; dissented <br />on proposed motion. <br />Mayor Pro Tern Martinez, noted that several changes were proposed in the past <br />such as reform of Personnel Board, in addition to term limits; supports matter <br />placed on the 2018 General Election to reduce cost. Also, staff should consider <br />vacant funded positions be consolidated into one account that all departments <br />can tap into account; noted that retirement of long term employees not funded; <br />matters should be discussed and considered since planning is time consuming. <br />City Attorney Carvalho, noted that any Charter Amendments need to be <br />approved by the City Council no later than 88 days before Election Day. <br />Councilmember Tinajero, stated for the record that elected officials that are <br />termed out would not benefit from term extensions; community needs to decide <br />or residents may consider initiative process. <br />MOTION: Direct staff to place on the ballots following charter <br />amendments - increase minimum residency requirement, campaign <br />reform, option to have full-time or part-time elected officials and task force <br />to review option to have directly elected Mayor. <br />MOTION: Tinajero SECOND: Benavides <br />CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 26 JANUARY 17, 2017 <br />1 OA-26 <br />