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Minutes of the Special Meetings Held on May 6, 2020 and May 7, 2020; and the Special and Regular Meetings Held on May 19, 2020; the Special Meeting Held on May 20, 2020 and the May 19, 2020 Continued Regular Meeting Held on May 20, 2020. (City Clerk)
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UNAPPROVED
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY- -MAY 6, 2020- -5:30 P.M.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft convened the meeting at 5:33 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL - Present: Councilmember Daysog, Knox White, Oddie, Vella and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft - 5. [Note: The meeting was conducted via Zoom.]
Absent: None.
AGENDA ITEM
(20- ) Recommendation to Provide Direction on Potential Measures Amending the City Charter Relating to Charter Section 7-3 - Counter Interference.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated the subcommittee was appointed on December 18, 2018 to address Alameda's serious issues, including housing and transportation; one way to restore public trust and make City government more effective is to bring the Charter in line to current needs and realities; the challenge will be to focus talents, strengths, and energies toward working on the City's best interests; Council made a commitment to the Grand Jury to move forward with reform recommendations; tonight's meeting is about looking forward and good governance moving forward.
Vice Mayor Knox White stated that he would like to suggest one minor change; the current language is so broad; the cities of Oakland and Santa Monica have revised their Charters in recent years to be much more instructive, clear and understandable; the State already provides a remedy for removing a Councilmember; clarifying would be good since the Alameda City Charter is not clear about the remedy; suggested a change in the final sentence of the proposed language: "a violation of any provision in this section shall be prosecuted as identified by State law...," which would allow flexibility; the Charter would not have to be amended as State law...
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