01 MINUTES REGULAR 07-15-08 - Laserfiche WebLink

Fred Norman said he was celebrating the International Criminal Court's decision to indict the President of Sudan against genocide and crimes against humanity. Mr. Norman said many people request he be gentler to the Council but at least 4,119 American military men and women have died in Iraq, over 30,000 wounded and maimed, over 1 million innocent Iraqi adults and children are dead, and he questioned whether he was the one being mean. Kay Ayala thanked the Council for moving forward quickly with the Fire House Arts Center, congratulated the Cultural Arts Group, said the POA contract is coming forward August 19 and questioned if the sunshine issue will be addressed again. Howard Neely spoke about graffiti, said from July 2007 to June 2008 there were 800 incidents of graffiti in Pleasanton, 274 gallons of paint covered 30,500 square feet at $9,800 and $33,000 in labor costs. City Manager Fialho, in response to Ms. Ayala's comment, said the City has been negotiating with the Police Officers Association since April 2008. The Council met in Closed Session about setting parameters as well as an open session to discuss matters to be negotiated. Staff then held discussions with the POA; their contract expired on May 315', and most recently, their membership approved the tentative agreement which was the basis of discussion in Closed Session. This item will be set for August 19`" at which time the City will sunshine the terms and conditions of the new contract. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND OTHER MATTERS 16. Adopt a resolution placing the Save Pleasanton's Hills & Housing Cap initiative on the November 4, 2008 ballot; and approve related Election procedures Assistant City Attorney Larissa Seto gave the staff report, stating the Save Pleasanton's Hills and Housing Cap Initiative has qualified for the ballot and before the Council are several administrative matters. The title and text of the Initiative is already set, staff has recommended deadlines for arguments based on the Elections Code and staff has recommended the Council seek an impartial analysis by the City Attorney. Also, issues that staff would need Council direction on include the text of the ballot question for the Initiative and whether or not the Council is interested in writing any arguments either in support of or against this matter. Councilmembers who are not part of the committee but want to sign would have no ability to try to influence any language of the argument. Concerning ballot arguments, Councilmember Cook-Kallio questioned and confirmed this would not preclude community members also signing if one of the Councilmembers did not want to sign onto the discussion, to achieve a total of five. Councilmember McGovern confirmed that the only way the full Council could have input on an argument would be to have a special meeting. Councilmember Sullivan said if there are two Councilmembers on one argument and two Councilmembers on the other argument, the necessity of a special meeting is up to the Council. If three or more want to discuss the text of the language a special meeting would be needed. Vice Mayor Thorne questioned and confirmed participate in the argument for or against as argument that was drafted by another source. Code. that if the Council decides it does not want to i Council, Councilmembers could sign onto an t becomes a priority list based on the Elections City Council Minutes 4 July 15, 2008