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COUNTY OF ORANGE WITH THE STATEWIDE PRIMARY ELECTION; <br />APPROVING TITLE OF CHARTER AMENDMENT AND PROPOSED <br />LANGUAGE FOR CONSIDERATION BY VOTERS; AND AUTHORIZE THE <br />FILING OF ARGUMENTS AND REBUTTALS — Clerk of the Council <br />The following spoke on the matter: <br />• Mark Rosen, again expressed strong opposition to action. <br />• Peter Katz, concerned that ward reboundary will happen now now and again <br />after 2020 Census; process inconsistent with the sunshine ordinance. <br />• Irma Macias, reminded elected officials that they need to serve the interest of <br />the community and not political gain. <br />• Joese Hernandez, concerned that mayor has single handedly obstructed the <br />decision of the council. <br />• Carl Benninger, not opposed to District Elections, but would like to review <br />demographic information before deciding on whether to place on the ballot; <br />threat of litigation can wait until November when the cost is reduced; <br />concerned with allegations of hidden agendas. <br />• Ken Nguyen, thanked the council members for supporting the Vietnamese <br />community and district election effort; opined that Vietnamese have been <br />disenfranchised; does not support extension of term limit and demand that the <br />Mayor sign the resolutions to place matters on the June ballot. <br />City Attorney Carvalho, commented on importance of transparency laws; <br />allegations of Brown Act conversations were carried out to identify the subject to <br />which agenda was to be noticed, nonetheless the meeting not held; meeting today <br />called by individual members of the city council; addressed email from Mr. Rosen <br />regarding illegal use of liability fund account - municipal code identified is 1976 <br />provision that is not included in budget <br />City Manager Godinez, noted that the liability account has been used to pay for <br />anything that has been anticipated as liability and capital projects to reduce <br />exposure to liability to the City; the Demand letter provided credible threat of <br />liability and staff determined that funds could be used to cover the costs; if funds <br />were not available then five affirmative votes would be needed to transfer funds. <br />Executive Director of Finance and Management Services, Francisco Gutierrez, <br />noted that staff report recommend use of general fund -fund balance for payment <br />of election costs; but when Demand Letter filed then liability fund the option of <br />liability fund could be used that is consistent with past practice; sufficient funds <br />are available thus appropriation was not needed. <br />City Attorney Carvalho, further commented on allegations of City not complying <br />with California Voter Rights Act; City Council has been discussing ward district <br />elections since December of 2016; City received correspondence in June of 2017 <br />expressing concerns at which time the City hired a demographer; most cities have <br />not fought demand letters; proposed measure asks voters if representatives to be <br />elected by ward(district); ward re -boundary process is separate. <br />SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 10 D-� MARCH 12, 2018 <br />