After months of lobbying and waiting by a Santa Ana activists coalition, the City Council is scheduled Monday to consider a proposed sunshine ordinance aimed at increasing transparency at City Hall.
The ordinance would open up council members’ meeting calendars, start a lobbyists registry, require community meetings before development projects go to the council, provide more advanced notice of council meetings, increase outreach on the city budget and goals known as a strategic plan and require a panel to evaluate requests for proposals.
When the ordinance was first proposed six months ago by an activists coalition known as the Santa Ana Collaborative for Responsible Development (SACReD), it received only tepid, if any, support from council members. But the issue became one of the rallying points of the “Santa Ana Spring,” a movement by the council majority to increase transparency and oust longtime Mayor Miguel Pulido.
Activists have said Pulido was the only council member who has been cold toward the proposal. In particular, Pulido opposes making public the council members’ meetings calendars, according to the activists.
Here’s a rundown of other important agenda items across Orange County.
Santa Ana City Council, Monday, Sept. 17, at 5:45 p.m.
- A proposed sunshine ordinance to increase transparency at City Hall.
- A discussion to consider holding all regular council meetings in the council chambers.
- Report on citywide records retention and destruction policy.
- Approving more than $36,000 in legal expenses related to a lawsuit against the city filed by parks commissioner Max Madrid and Councilwoman Claudia Alvarez.
- Employment agreement with City Clerk Maria Huizar.
- Agreement with Firetec Used Apparatus Sales to sell surplus fire equipment.
- A contract with CARE Ambulance Services for emergency transport.
Special joint meeting with the Irvine City Council and the Great Park Board of Directors, Thursday, Sept. 20, at 9:00 a.m.
- FivePoint Communities presentation about the Great Park Neighborhoods project.
Huntington Beach City Council, Monday, Sept. 17, at 4:00 p.m.
- Study session regarding employee tax override and AB 340, the pension reform bill.
- The city budget for fiscal year 2012-13.
- Proposed addition of a chief city attorney position.
- Councilwoman Connie Boardman’s proposal to discontinue outsourcing the city attorney’s office.
- Councilman Devin Dwyer’s proposal to implement a hiring freeze until Gov. Jerry Brown’s pension reform bill takes effect.
- Proposed emergency medical services fee increases.
Fullerton City Council Study Session, Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 4:00 p.m.
- The city’s pension liabilities.
- An update on the city’s infrastructure.
Yorba Linda City Council, Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 5:30 p.m.
- Discussing the preparation of emergency evacuation plans.