Highlighting this week’s public meeting agendas in Orange County is the Santa Ana City Council’s consideration of a sunshine ordinance to increase transparency at City Hall.
The ordinance would, among other things, require officials to hold meetings with the community before approving development plans; opening meeting calendars of council members and some staff; and opportunities for more residents’ feedback on the city budget.
Council members and city staff spent hours last month editing the proposed ordinance line-by-line. The process was essentially a compromise between city leaders and Santa Ana Collaborative for Responsible Development (SACReD), the activists coalition that for months has been pushing for the ordinance to pass.
The biggest cut from SACReD’s proposal so far was a required lobbyist registry. City Clerk Maria Huizar had argued that most of the state-required disclosures — campaign contributions, statements of economic interest and contributions made at the behest of public officials — shed light on most of the lobbying efforts.
The SACReD proposal defines a lobbyist as any person or entity except lobbyists on behalf of the city paid at least $250 monthly to influence city policy. The SACReD ordinance would have required these “special interest lobbyists” to register annually with the city.
The sunshine ordinance has also become a major campaign issue in the “Santa Ana Spring,” the term Councilman Sal Tinajero coined for the mayoral campaign of Councilman David Benavides and the council majority’s rebellion against longtime Mayor Miguel Pulido.
Here’s a rundown of other interesting agenda items from across the county:
Orange County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 9:30 a.m.
- Terminating agreements with the federal and state departments of fish and game allowing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study the heavily damaged Aliso Creek Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Project.
- Agreement with Jones Lang LaSalle Americas Inc. as the real estate development advisor for a 100-acre parcel of the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro.
- The 2013 Board of Supervisors meeting schedule.
- Waving a potential conflict of interest arising from Best Best & Krieger’s representation of the Santa Margarita Water District.
- Appointing candidates to the CalOptima board of directors.
- Selecting LPA Inc. as primary firm and MIG, Inc. as the alternate firm to prepare a development plan for a regional park at the former Marine Corps Air Station Tustin.
- Environmental impact reports and planning application for the Saddlecrest Homes project.
Santa Ana City Council, Monday, Oct. 1, at 5:45 p.m.
- A sunshine ordinance to increase transparency at City Hall.
- A general plan and zone change for a planned park at 300 E. McFadden Ave.
- A resolution opposing Proposition 32, which would bar unions from automatically deducting money from members’ paychecks for political activities.
Costa Mesa City Council, Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 6 p.m.
- Rescinding layoff notices for street and storm drain maintenance services and instead reorganizing the services delivery section.
Fullerton City Council Study Session, Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 4 p.m.
- Affordable housing study session.
Tustin City Council Special Meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 4:30 p.m.
- Interviewing planning commission candidates and appointing one member.
Tustin City Council Meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 2, at
- Hearing Councilwoman Deborah Gavello’s appeal of a planning commission decision to approve the site of a Goodwill Industries of Orange County store.
- Agreement between Tustin and the South Orange County Community College District to allow development of an Orange County regional law enforcement training center and animal control facility.
- Legislative report