Topping this week’s business in local government, the Anaheim City Council considers elections by districts, and several agencies approve new budgets.
Anaheim council members are scheduled Tuesday to consider the Citizens Advisory Committee’s final recommendations, which include requiring council members be elected by their home districts and increasing the council’s size.
District elections are a hot-button issue in Orange County’s largest city, with the debate coming amid an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit asserting that the city’s current at large election system disenfranchises Latinos and violates state law, which requires adequate representation for minorities.
Activists have complained that Anaheim’s resources are unfairly distributed to the detriment of the city’s majority Latino population. They pointed out that all of the five sitting council members are non-Latino and from affluent neighborhoods.
Opponents of council districts say the concept would trigger political gridlock, because council members would be constantly jousting to steer resources to their districts. They also describe the push for council districts as racist, as the lawsuit implies that Latinos can only be fairly represented by other Latinos.
Also, with the new fiscal year beginning in July, Anaheim and other jurisdictions, including the county, are set to discuss and approve their spending plans this week.
Anaheim will hold its first budget hearing Tuesday, with debates also scheduled that day in Costa Mesa and Irvine.
The county, which is fighting a court order that it return up to $147 million in property tax revenue to the state, is also set to approve its new budget on Tuesday.
And Orange County Transportation Authority directors plan to adopt their new $1.3-billion budget on Monday.
Following in the footsteps of several other local cities, Garden Grove is scheduled Tuesday to vote on a social host ordinance. The law would permit misdemeanor criminal charges against anyone in control of private property who allows youths under 21 to drink alcohol on the premises.
Here’s a rundown of what’s up for debate this week across Orange County:
Orange County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday, June 10, at 9:30 a.m.
- Increasing IT contract with Xerox by $1.8 million, for a new total of $17.4 million.
- Holding a public hearing on the fiscal year 2013-2014 budget and approving it.
Closed Session
- Discussing the county’s appeal of a lawsuit in which a judge ordered Orange County to pay the state more than $140 million in lost property tax revenue.
- Performance evaluation of Internal Auditor Peter Hughes.
Anaheim City Council Special Closed Session, Monday, June 10, at 1 p.m.
- Negotiations for the city attorney position and possible appointment.
Anaheim City Council, Tuesday, June 11, at 2 p.m.
- First session of the fiscal year 2013-14 city budget hearing.
Regular meeting at 5 p.m.
- Considering a ballot measure to change the city’s at large election system to council districts, as recommended by the city’s citizens advisory committee.
- Urging Congress to act on campaign finance reform specifically in response to the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission U.S. Supreme Court decision.
Irvine City Council, Tuesday, June 11, at 5 p.m.
- Fiscal year 2013-14 city budget.
- Community services fee changes.
- Contract with Joe A. Gonsalves & Son and Van Scoyoc Associates for state and federal lobbying services.
Orange County Transportation Authority, Monday, June 10, at 9 a.m.
- Approving the fiscal year 2013-14 budget and withholding $800,000 from Metrolink until future OCTA board approval.
Garden Grove City Council, Tuesday, June 11, at 5:30 p.m.
- Approving a social host ordinance creating misdemeanor criminal liability for a person in control of private property to allow youth under 21 to drink alcohol on the premises.
- Approving a contract with The Association of the Vietnamese Language and Culture Schools of Southern California to conduct the 2013 Moon Festival.
- Approving annual levy of assessments for Garden Grove Street Lighting District No. 99-1, Garden Grove Park Maintenance District and Garden Grove Street Lighting District.
Closed Session
- Discussion of property negotiations over Willowick Golf Course
Costa Mesa City Council Study Session, Tuesday, June 11, at 4:30 p.m.
- Discussion of fiscal year 2013-2014 preliminary budget.
- Considering the Community Development Block Grant Public Service Grants for fiscal year 2013-2014.
Special Meeting at 6 p.m.
- Modifying the Costa Mesa Homebuyer Assistance Program to allow for refinancing of first trust deed mortgages and re-subordination of Costa Mesa’s second trust deed mortgages.
Orange City Council, Tuesday, June 11, at 4:30 p.m.
- Adopting a resolution opposing the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s proposed adoption of a Project Labor Agreement favoring union contractors on Measure Q construction projects.
- Directing staff to draft a resolution supporting beach bonfire rings in coastal Orange County.
- Amending municipal code to allow “transitional housing” and “supportive housing” in single-family residential, duplex residential, multi-damily residential, Old Towne mixed use, and public institution zoning districts either as a “permitted” or “conditionally permitted” use.
Westminster City Council, Wednesday, June 12, at 7 p.m.
- Receive presentation from the Orange County Transportation Authority on West County Connectors project.
- Approving $20,000 payment to Townsend Public Affairs for advocacy efforts related to the I-405 Improvement Project.
- Appointment by Councilwoman Margie Rice of one resident to the Community Services and Recreation Commission.
Adam Elmahrek contributed to this report.
You can reach Nick Gerda at ngerda@gmail.com, and follow him on Twitter: @nicholasgerda.