Minutes 1991-10-17
444 .
MINUTES
REGULAR ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1991
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 215 EAST BRANCH STREET
ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA
I The City Council of the City of Arroyo Grande met at 7:30
I p.m., with Mayor Mark M. Millis presiding.
.2. ROLl. rAT.T.
Present were Mayor Mark M. Millis and Council Members A. K.
"Pete" Dougall, Gene Moots, and B'Ann Smith. Staff members present
were City Manager Chris Christiansen, City Attorney Judy Skousen,
and Deputy City Clerk Mary Bassett.
Mayor Millis ~xplained that the purpose of the meeting was to
fill the vacancy on the Council created by the death of former
Council Member Doris Olsen. The Mayor then turned the meeting over
to the City Attorney to guide the Council through the process. At J
this point, the City Attorney advised the Council that they must
allow time for oral communications even though it was not on the
agenda.
3. .oRAL .,CDMMUNICATIDNS/.PUBLIC .CDMMENTS
There were no oral communications/public comments, therefore,
the Mayor closed the public comment period.
4.. , . .CLTY.. COUNCIL .MEMBER. VACANCY
The City Attorney suggested that the Council, before formally
nominating an individual for the Council, have a discussion on the
method of nomination. There were several methods for the Council
to choose: one, being the most common method, whereby the Council
would discuss the nomination among themselves and a Council Member
would make a motion for a formal nomination, with a second, and
the Council would then vote on the nomination. However, due to the
fact that there were eleven (11) names submitted and all had
indicated an interest, the City Attorney suggested a polling
process. Therefore, a list had been prepared with the eleven (ll)
names and the Council could mark any names; and if there was a
majority, the City Attorney would advise the Council; and the
Council could make a motion to nominate to appoint, with a second,
and then a 'n'1. call vote would be taken by the secretary. If
there was not a majority vote, there would be several other ways
the Council could handle the nomination; and that would require
discussion on the part of the Council.
The Council discussed at length the possibility of an
elimination process but agreed to have the City Attorney and City
Manager conduct polls. The Council then proceeded to mark the
lists a number of times, with no consensus for a nomination.
Council Members Dougall and Smith were in favor of the City
Attorney's suggestion of an elimination process; however, Mayor
Millis and Council Member Moots expressed their concerns with the
concept and felt that the purpose of the poll was to come up with
some nameS. The Council then continued with the polling process,
with no consensus. This process continued at length.
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It was moved by Smith/Millis, and the motion passed, to open
the diseussion to four other candidates. Council Member Dougall
inquired as to the amount of time left within the 30 days and was
advised by the City Attorney that the Council had until the 29th
of October. The Council continued the pOlls, with no consensus.
At this point, the Mayor requested the City Attorney's advice.
She responded that the Council should take the top three candidates
I from the last poll and discuss the candidates amongst themselves
in this meeting, that they could not discuss it outside this
meeting. The Council was not in favor of this process. She ,then
suggested that the Council continue or adjourn the meeting to
another date. The polling continued.
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445"
CI~Y COUNCIu.MITNUTES
OCTOBER. ~7... ~991
Mayor Millis called a five-minute recess at 8:40 p.m. The
Council reconvened at 8:45 p.m.
The Council then continued the polls. City Attorney Skousen
announced that the poll now listed a majority for one candidate and
asked if one of the Council would like to move to appoint James M.
Souza to the City Council. It was moved by Moots/Millis (2-2,
Moots and Millis voting eye, Dougall and Smith voting no) to
appoint James M. Souza to the City Council. The motion failed.
It was moved by Moots to appoint James M. Souza to the City
Council. The motion failed for lack of a second.
Council Member Moots expressed concern over the fact that the
"- poll had demonstrated desire for the candidate, yet the actual roll
call vote failed. City Attorney Skousen explained that the poll
is not binding and that someone changed their mind before the vote,
which is permissible.
Mayor Millis called a two-minute recess at 8:55 p.m. The
Council reconvened at 8:57 p.m.
The Council began the polling process and continued with no
consensus. Council Member Smith suggested that the meeting be
adjourned to another meeting so the Council could have an
opportunity to contact the candidates and ask them questions and
their views on various matters. Council Member Dougall concurred,
stating that this was a very important decision to be made, in view
of the fact that the term was for almost four years.
.6. ADJOlIRNMENT
After considerable discussion, it was moved by Smith/Dougall,
and the motion passed, to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m., for a
continued meeting on this matter, to Saturday, October 19, 1991,
at 8:00 a.m.
::;J~~~~.. "
MARK . M~LLIS, MAYOR
ATTEST: ~~~~~~~~~~~-----
SETT, DEPUTY CITY CLERK
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