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<br />Hearing no further requests to speak, public comment was closed. <br /> <br />Council member Brozosky indicated he did not support the item at the last meeting, <br />indicating he felt it was poor for a Council to enact a raise at the last possible <br />meeting. He indicated he is distraught that the Council did not go about this correctly <br />because of the Brown Act. In addition to not supporting this because of the timing, <br />he added the current Council has the obligation to continue this item indefinitely and <br />to let the next Council take it up. To protect the integrity of the Council, he said he <br />will continue to vote no on this matter. <br /> <br />Councilmember Sullivan stated it is unfortunate that the first discussion on this was <br />in Closed Session. But, it was unintentional. The Brown Act does provide a remedy <br />to correct that action. There have been two additional hearings and the public has <br />had an opportunity for their input. He believes that the Council is following a legal <br />course to resolve an issue that was unintentional and unfortunate. The integrity of <br />the public process is being maintained. He feels the recommendation is completely <br />in line with others in the area and that it is appropriate. He indicated he is supportive <br />of the direction and staff's recommendation. <br /> <br />Councilmember Thorne indicated that he heard from one council candidate whose <br />concerns were much like his own which has more to do with what happens alter the <br />election than what is going on now. He indicated he feels much of the Council's <br />credibility has to do with perception. Public perception is as important as the reality <br />of the remedies. He indicated he will have to change his mind from last meeting and <br />vote no on this issue. <br /> <br />Council member McGovern indicated she takes the Brown Act violation very seriously <br />and apologized for the violation and for her participation in the Closed Session. She <br />added that her integrity has always been her foremost guide to what she does and <br />how she does the public's business, and maintaining that integrity is of the utmost <br />importance to her. She stated the Council did violate the process and feels the <br />Council should stop and not move forward with this raise. She added that everyone <br />in attendance at closed session bears some responsibility for the violation and she <br />doesn't feel the violation is totally on the shoulders of the City Manager. She <br />believes that the Council needed some Brown Act training. She indicated the <br />Council also needs to look at the 5% rule and the possibility of including that review <br />during the budgeting process. She also indicated when looking at this next time, the <br />issue of stipends should only be looked at and not at increasing benefits to Council. <br />Referencing the survey, she noted the only Council receiving car allowances is <br />Walnut Creek. <br /> <br />Councilmember Brozosky commented that the integrity of the public process was <br />discussed and indicated he doesn't feel having a public hearing does the public <br />justice. He indicated there was a lot of discussion during Closed Session regarding <br />how much a raise could be, how much a car allowance should be if one was <br />established, and even a discussion regarding an increase of medical benefits. <br />Those issues were never brought to the public. For that reason alone he would not <br />want to move forward with this issue at this point. <br />Mayor Hosterman referenced Chapter 9 of the Government Code regarding Open <br />Meetings. She added that the entire Council is concerned about maintaining the <br /> <br />City Council Minutes <br /> <br />9 <br /> <br />November 7, 2006 <br />