Here’s what is topping the agenda for Irvine’s City Council meeting tonight.
Early Presidential Vote in Irvine?
Irvine Councilman Larry Agran has proposed a nonbinding ballot resolution that would give Irvine residents an opportunity to cast votes stating presidential preference.
The ballot would be attached to a possible fall special election that Gov. Jerry Brown could call, the Orange County Register reported.
Agran told the Register his idea is to give urban residents a greater voice in the early nomination process, which is dominated by states like Iowa and New Hampshire, rural areas that Agran said are “unrepresentative.”
Agran tried to run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992 but was defeated.
iShuttle Expansion
The City Council is scheduled to vote on adding two more routes to the city’s shuttle-bus, connecting the city’s train station to the bustling Irvine Spectrum.
The city’s Democratic council majority sees the iShuttle as part of a future public transit system that could eventually allow Irvine residents to travel around town without needing a car.
But results for the shuttle-bus have so far been mixed. Most riders are commuters to the city, and the city cut midday routes in 2009 due to lack of ridership, the Register reported.
The city secured the funds for the route expansion — $2.4 million for fiscal year 2011-12 — through a funding swap with the Orange County Transportation Authority. The city received a $121-million promise of funding from the transportation authority over the next 30 years.
Doing Business Locally … to an Extent
The City Council is set to vote on an ordinance that would give an advantage to local businesses that sell goods to the city.
The ordinance would establish a preference to buy equipment and supplies from city vendors by giving them an advantage over outside competitors during the bidding process. Local vendors’ bids would be treated as if they are 5 percent less than their actual price.