Although the agenda hasn’t been posted yet, a special Anaheim City Council meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday at Anaheim High School’s Cook Auditorium and is expected to draw as many as 1,000 people.
It’s the first open council meeting since angry protesters attempted to force their way into a council meeting last month, only to be rebuffed by police. Demonstrators, enraged over two recent police shooting deaths of young Latino men, then flooded the streets and clashed with officers in a melee that left 20 businesses and a City Hall building damaged.
Council members will consider two ballot measures during the meeting. Both strike at the heart of what Latino leaders say is the cause of the city’s unrest, a political system that excludes the city’s working-class neighborhoods.
One ballot measure would reshape the way the City’s Council is elected, converting at-large election to election by six council districts. Residents would vote only on a council member to represent their district, ensuring that all areas of the city would have a council member. The mayor would continue to be elected at-large.
Four of the five current council members are from Anaheim Hills, the affluent eastern section of the city. None are Latino.
The other measure would require voter approval of future hotel room tax subsidies. Many Latinos were incensed about the Jan. 24 approval of a $158-million tax subsidy for the developer of two four-star hotels, saying that city officials refuse improvements like parks and speed bumps in poor areas because the city lacks funds.
Here’s a rundown of other highlights from this week’s council agendas:
Santa Ana City Council, Monday, Aug. 6, at 5 p.m.
- The annual report for the community management district, a downtown area with a special tax that funds Downtown Inc.
- Dismantling the downtown tax.
- Issuing revenue bonds to finance the acquisition and rehabilitation of 1401 N. Flower St. by Washington Place Management.
Huntington Beach City Council, Monday, Aug. 6 at 5 p.m.
- A report on bullying from the Huntington Beach Human Relations Task Force.
- A development agreement with DCO Beach Walk for the construction of a 173-unit multifamily apartment project.
- Agreement with Best Towing and Transportation Service, Mandic Motors and Metro Pro Towing for police towing services.
- Eliminating new council members’ medical benefits and reducing allowable compensation to $125 per month.
- A lease agreement between the city and Park Bench Cafe for the operation of a food concession at Central Park.
Costa Mesa City Council, Tuesday, Aug. 7, at 6 p.m.
- Contract with West Coast Arborists for tree trimming services.
- Bicycle parking regulations.
- Councilwoman Wendy Leece’s request for rehearing of the Newport Beach Banning Ranch traffic mitigation agreement.
- Appointment to fill the a vacancy on the Planning Commission.
Westminster City Council, Wednesday, Aug. 8, at 7 p.m.
- Retirement agreement between City Manager Mitchell Waller.
Closed Session
- Public employee discipline, dismissal or release.
Fullerton City Council, Tuesday, Aug. 7, at 5 p.m.
- An update on a consolidation study to merge North Orange County police departments and considering costs for services from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
- Contract with the Stanford Institute of Economic Policy Review to study the city’s pension and other “post employment” liabilities.
- An update on the unrest in Anaheim.
- Review of public records act request procedures.
- A municipal airport restaurant lease agreement.
- A $120,000 contract for graffiti removal services with Graffiti Protective Coatings.