LWVP Sends Letter to City Council and Mayor Regarding Proposed Revisions to the Piedmont City Charter

LWVP Sends Letter to City Council and Mayor Regarding Proposed Revisions to the Piedmont City Charter

Type: 
News

The League of Women Voters of Piedmont sent the following letter to the Piedmont Mayor, City Council Members and School Board. The letter addresses the League's concern about the potential for placing three proposed City Charter revisions on the June election ballot without adequate community input and discourse between the Council and Piedmont residents.

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February 9, 2018

Mayor Bob McBain
City of Piedmont
120 Vista Avenue
Piedmont, CA  94611

 

Dear Mayor McBain,

The issue of revisions to the Piedmont City Charter and the governing of our city are of considerable concern to the Piedmont League of Women Voters (LWVP) and equally, I am sure, to all the residents of Piedmont.  In fact, recently our League conducted an in-depth study and developed a position on local elections which, among other things, included criteria for selecting our mayor.

After viewing the City Council meeting of February 5th* our board met and discussed the implications of the Council’s action regarding revisions to three items of the City Charter:  term limits for the City Council and PUSD School Board, provisions for filling a vacant seat and general fund reserves.  The quick timing of this action is of great concern because it does not allow for adequate community input and discourse between the Council and residents prior to adopting and placing these items on the June ballot. 

The League of Women Voters has a position that “believes that democratic government depends upon informed and active participation at all levels of government. The League further believes that governmental bodies must protect the citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings and making public records accessible.”

Therefore, LWVP urges a public meeting for a two-way discussion on these proposed charter changes so that the public has sufficient opportunity to share its input with the Council and for the Council to consider any revisions to the three proposals.  If there is insufficient time for a two-way discussion with the public, we then urge the Council to reconsider its decision to put these charter changes on the June ballot. 

In addition, with respect to those City Charter amendments proposed for the November ballot, we respectfully request that the City Council engage in a meaningful and adequate dialogue, as noted above, before any amendments are placed on the November ballot. 

Regards,

Katy Foulkes
President, League of Women Voters Piedmont

 

cc All City Council members
     Paul Benoit, City Administrator
     John Tulloch, City Clerk
     PUSD School Board
 
* The City Council meeting can be viewed online. Discussion of the City Charter amendments begins at 1:52:30.