City Council Special Meeting

Mayor Brianne Zorn

Vice Mayor Debbie McKillop

Councilmember Jay Howard

Councilmember Mark Ross

Councilmember Satinder S. Malhi

ACTION MINUTES

CITY COUNCIL

ABBREVIATION KEY Page 1 of 1

CMR – City Council Member | VM – Vice Mayor | CT – City Treasurer | CM – City Manager | ACM – Assistant City Manager | CA – City Attorney |

ACC – Assistant City Clerk | CE – City Engineer | CED – Community Economic Development Director | FD – Finance Director

DATE: Wednesday, August 21, 2024

TIME: 12:00PM

PLACE: Martinez Unified School District - Administration Building Board Room

921 Susana Street, Martinez, CA 94553

Full details are available via audio/video recording on the City website. Additional documents pertaining to City

Council meetings (i.e. written public comment, presentations) can be found on the City website.

SPECIAL MEETING

CALL TO ORDER

• Mayor Zorn calls the meeting to order at 12:05 PM.

ROLL CALL (00:00:21)

• CMR Howard was absent. All other Councilmembers were in attendance.

CIVILITY STATEMENT

SPECIAL MEETING ITEMS (00:00:55)

1. Motion approving the appointment of the candidate nominated to be elected as City Treasurer at

the General Municipal Election to be held on November 5, 2024, and cancelling the General Municipal

Election as it relates to the Office of City Treasurer.

• Presenter: CM Chandler and CA Highsmith

• Closing Council Comments: None.

• Motion by CMR Ross, seconded by VM McKillop, to adopt the resolution approving the

appointment of the candidate nominated and cancelling the election as it relates to the Office. Motion

carried; Four Ayes (Ross, Malhi, McKillop, Zorn), one Absent (Howard).

PUBLIC COMMENT (00:07:30)

• Public Comments were given by Carolyn Robinson.

ADJOURNMENT

• Mayor Zorn adjourned the meeting at 12:15 PM.

* * * * *

Prepared by: Approved by:

Kat Galileo, Assistant City Clerk

8/21/2024

____________________________

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, WELCOME TO THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE MARTINEZ CITY COUNCIL. TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21st AND IT IS 12:05 P.M. CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? -- IS ABSENT. >> PRESENT. >> PRESENT. >> PRESENT. >> THANK YOU. SO TODAY WE ONLY HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA. IT IS A SPECIAL MEETING ITEM AND AS WE USUALLY DO I WILL HOLD PUBLIC COMMENT UNTIL AFTER THE ITEM HAS BEEN PRESENTED BY STAFF AND DISCUSSED. THE SPECIAL MEETING ITEM IS APPROVING THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CANDIDATE NOMINATED TO BE CITY TREASURER AT THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION THAT WE HELD ON JANUARY 25th, 2024. MIKE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO PRESENT ON THIS ITEM? >> I WILL GET US STARTED. BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY, I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE US THAT OUR ASSISTANT CITY CLERK FLAGGED WHEN IT WAS REALIZED THAT WE HAVE THIS SEAT ON THE GENERAL ELECTION THAT IS RUNNING UNOPPOSED. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE HAD SITUATIONS LIKE THIS IN THE PAST, HOWEVER, WE HAVEN'T FULLY EXPLORED OR VETTED WITH THE CITY COUNCIL THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY BY APPOINTING THE POSITION. BECAUSE AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST, THE COUNTY, WHEN THEY DO AN ELECTION THEY BUILD THE CITY BASED ON THE LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION IN THE ELECTION AND BY POTENTIALLY APPOINTING THIS POSITION INSTEAD OF INCLUDING IT ON THE BALLOT TO ALL REGISTERED MARTINEZ VOTERS WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAVE APPROXIMATELY $32,000. AS FAR AS THE PROCEDURAL ASPECTS AND OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TODAY, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO TERRY TO WALK US THROUGH. >> THANKS, MIKE. AS MIKE SAID, JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY, BACK IN JUNE THE COUNCIL ADOPTED A RESOLUTION CALLING THE ELECTION AND CONSOLIDATING IT WITH THE COUNTY AND THE GENERAL ELECTION. AT THAT TIME THERE WERE THREE OFFICIAL POSITIONS FOR ELECTION. ONE IS THE TREASURER WHICH IS A CITYWIDE ELECTED POSITION. THE OTHER TWO ARE DISTRICT TO COUNCIL MEMBER AND DISTRICT 3 COUNCIL MEMBER. THAT GOT US OFF AND RUNNING. THE NOMINATION PERIOD FOR CANDIDATES TO DECLARE THEIR INTEREST FOR RUNNING FOR ANY OF THESE THREE POSITIONS OPENED IN JULY, JULY 15 AND CLOSED ON AUGUST 19, AUGUST 9th, I'M SORRY. WHICH WAS A FRIDAY. AS OF AUGUST 9 AND THE CLOSE OF THE NOMINATION PERIOD FOR THE CITYWIDE ELECTED POSITION OF TREASURER, THERE WAS ONLY ONE CANDIDATE. AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT HAS BEEN TRUE FOR MANY ELECTION CYCLES, JUST THROWING THAT IN. BUT WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IT CREATES A PROCEDURAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY, WHICH IS REALLY LARGELY ABOUT SAVING MONEY THAT WOULD OTHERWISE UNNECESSARILY BE SPENT. BECAUSE IF YOU PROCEED WITH THE ELECTION WITH ONLY ONE CANDIDATE THERE COULD ONLY BE ONE OUTCOME. AND THE ELECTIONS CODE RECOGNIZES THAT UNDER ELECTIONS CODE 10229, I THINK IT IS. SO YOU HAVE THIS OPTION, WHEN THIS OCCURS FOR CANCELING THE ELECTION FOR THAT POSITION AND SIMPLY APPOINTING THE SINGLE CANDIDATE. WHEN YOU DO THAT IT IS NOT REALLY CONSIDERED AN APPOINTMENT, IT IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS IF THAT PERSON HAD BEEN ELECTED. BUT, YOU HAVE SAVED, IN THIS CASE, THE CITY A LITTLE OVER $32,000 WHICH WILL OTHERWISE HAVE TO BE SPENT WITH THE COUNTY TO CREATE THE BALLOTS, ET CETERA. IT IS OKAY TO COUNSEL A POSITION THAT IS FOR GENERAL ELECTION AS LONG AS YOU DON'T HAVE ANOTHER POSITION, THAT COULD BE ANOTHER EFFICIENT --OFFICIAL POSITION OR BALLOT MEASURE THAT IS ALSO FOR GENERAL ELECTION. IF YOU HAD MORE THAN ONE YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THIS. BUT IN THIS CASE BECAUSE YOU ARE DISTRICT BASED CITY, THE ONLY GENERAL ELECTED POSITION IS THE TREASURER. THEREFORE, YOU CAN CONSIDER CANCELING JUST THAT ELECTION AND LETTING THE OTHER TWO DISTRICT ELECTIONS GO FORWARD. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? AND THIS IS ENTIRELY UP TO THE CITY. YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO THIS. BUT IT WILL SAVE SOME MONEY AND IT IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THOUGH THE SINGLE CANDIDATE FOR TREASURER HAD IN FACT BEEN ELECTED. ANY QUESTIONS? >> CAN I JUST CLARIFY A FEW ITEMS? I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE BUT I WANT TO SAY THEM OUT LOUD SO EVERYONE ELSE HEARS THEM. WE COULD HAVE DONE THIS FOR ANY ELECTION, RIGHT? THIS IS NOT NEW CODE, WE JUST HAVE NEVER ACTED ON IT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. BEFORE THE TIME WHEN YOU ACTUALLY HAD DISTRICT ELECTIONS, IF YOU HAD OTHER SEATS THAT WERE ALSO ELECTED GENERALLY AND ONLY ONE WAS UNCHALLENGED, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE COMPLICATED. >> AND THIS APPLIES TO INCUMBENT OR NEW APPLICANTS. RIGHT? SO IT IF CAROLYN DID NOT STEP UP WE COULD BE GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS? >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> AND THIS POTENTIALLY COULD APPLY TO DISTRICT ELECTIONS AS WELL BUT THIS TIME WE ARE ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE TREASURER POSITION. >> THAT IS TRUE. IT COULD ALSO APPLY TO EITHER OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER ELECTIONS. >> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE SORT OF TALKING THROUGH SOME OF THAT. THIS IS NEW TO US AND AT THIS TIME THIS DISCUSSION HAS NOT BEEN HAD, IN FRONT OF THIS COUNCIL, AT LEAST, FOR THE PAST SEVERAL ELECTIONS AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS TO WHAT I JUST SAID? HOW WOULD YOU LIKE US TO PROCEED? CAN I OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT? >> YES. >> I WILL OPEN THIS TO PUBLIC COMMENT SINCE THERE IS NO QUESTIONS. WOULD ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? YOU CAN, CAROLINE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO IF YOU DON'T WANT TO. THANK YOU FOR JUST BEING HERE. WE APPRECIATE IT. [ NO AUDIO ] >> THANK YOU. SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS, WE ARE NOT BROADCASTING, RIGHT? THERE IS NO VIRTUAL AUDIENCE? >> NO, IT'S NOT. IT IS RECORDED FOR THE RECORD FOR ACTION. >> I HAVE TWO COMMENTS I WANTED TO MAKE BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS SINCE THIS IS OUR ONLY ITEM TODAY. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE OUR CITY CLERK FOR BRINGING THIS UP, IT IS VERY HELPFUL. ONE THING I DID NOTICE, TO CAROLYN'S POINT, WE HAVE SO MUCH WONDERFUL INFORMATION ON THE CITY CLERK'S PORTION OF THE WEBSITE, BUT THIS COMPONENT WAS NOT EVER LISTED AS ANY PART OF THE PROCESS. I FIND THAT WHEN SOMETHING IS LISTED ON THE WEBSITE AS PART OF THE PROCESS THEN PEOPLE ARE NOT SURPRISED OR TAKEN ABACK WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD ON IT . I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THIS INFORMATION IS INCLUDED ON THE WEBSITE SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW IF THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON THE CITY COUNCIL MAY ELECT THAT ONE PERSON MOVING FORWARD. I KNOW THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE PLAN BUT I WANTED TO REITERATE. >> POINT WELL TAKEN AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE INFORMATION. >> I THINK THERE ARE OTHER ITEMS POSTING TO THE WEBSITE THAT THE CITY CLERK WILL PROBABLY BE GOING THROUGH SO WE CAN MAKE THOSE OTHER TWEAKS AT THAT TIME. >> CORRECT. >> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT FROM ME. I JUST OPEN IT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION. >> IF WE COULD CLARIFY THE MOTION. >> COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU ARE REALLY GREAT AT READING OUT THE WHOLE TITLE OF THE LEGISLATION AND THAT WILL BE REQUIRED AT THIS POINT. WHICH IS THE RESOLUTION ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA, THAT IS THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN. >> SO WE SHOULD HAVE A MOTION ADOPTING RESOLUTION APPROVING THE APPOINT, RIGHT? IT IS A RESOLUTION WE ARE ALREADY ADOPTING. >> THANK YOU. MOTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MARTINEZ PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CANDIDATE NOMINATED TO BE ELECTED AS CITY TREASURER AND FOR THE ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 5th 2024 AND CANCELING THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION AS IT RELATES TO THE CITY TREASURER. >> SECOND. >> CAN WE DO A VERBAL, IS THAT OKAY? >> ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. ALL OPPOSED? ANY EXTENSIONS? GREAT. WITHOUT KAT BEING HERE, THIS MOTION PASSES. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT OR IS AT THE END OF OUR MEETING? >> ALL RIGHT, WONDERFUL. THIS MEETING IS OFFICIALLY ADJOURNED UNTIL OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED NEXT MEETING.