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March 7, 2023
ITEM TITLE
Municipal Code Update: Ordinance Amending Chula Vista Municipal Code Section 2.04.050 Relating to Workshops
Report Number: 23-0063
Location: No specific geographic location
Department: City Manager
Environmental Notice : The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
Recommended Action
Place an ordinance on first readin g amending Chula Vista Municipal Code Section 2.04.050 relating to workshops. (First Reading)
SUMMARY
Chula Vista Municipal Code (“CMVC”) Section 2.04.050 establishes rules, policies, and guidelines related to the convening of City Council workshops. Minor modifications to this section in order to improve efficiency in the scheduling and conduct of workshops are recommended.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Director of Development Services has reviewed the proposed activity, amending provisions of the Chula Vista Municipal Code relating to workshops, for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a physical change in the environment; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Not applicable.
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DISCUSSION
CVMC Section 2.04.050 establishes rules, policies, and guidelines related to the convening of City Council workshops. Minor modifications to this section in order to improve efficiency in the scheduling and conduct of workshops are recommended.
Scheduling a Workshop
CVMC Section 2.04.050(A) provides that the “Mayor may announce, or the Council on majority vote may direct, at any regular Council meeting, the convening of a Council workshop on the first Thursday of the month…”. This section further provides that such meetings “shall be conducted in a “workshop” context according to the rules, policies, and guidelines herein set forth in this section .” Staff recommends revising this section as follows to remove the requirement to announce the convening of a workshop at a regular Council meeting and clarifying that noticing of workshops shall be in accordance with the Brown Act.
The Mayor may announce, or the Council on majority vote may direct, at any regular Council meeting, the convening of a Council workshop . Workshops shall be held on the first Thursday of the month , and in such event, the Council shall conduct a Council meeting on said first Thursday of the month at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the Civic Center Complex, Administration Building, at 276 Fourth Avenue, unless otherwise noticed. Said meeting shall be known as a “Council workshop,” and shall be conducted in a “workshop” context according to the rules, policies, and guidelines herein set forth in consistent with the provisions of this section, and noticed in accordance with the Brown Act.
Workshop as a Special Meeting
CVMC Section 2.04.050(E) provides that “Council workshop meetings shall be deemed a regular City Council meeting for all intents and purposes, and the City Council shall have the full authority to take any and all actions which the City Council is otherwise authorized by law or Charter to take at meetings .” Staff recommends revising this provision as follows, deeming workshops to instead be special meetings of the City Council.
Council workshop meetings shall be deemed a regular special City Council meeting for all intents and purposes, and the City Council shall have the full authority to take any and all actions which the City Council is otherwise authorized by law or Charter to take at meetings.
Section 307(C) of the City’s Charter provides that “[s]ubject to the laws applicable to charter cities, any Council action that may be taken at a “regular” Council meeting may also be taken at a “special” Council meeting .” Making workshops special meetings would, therefore, have no impact on the ability of the City Council to take action at a workshop. The only effect of this change would be to limit the mandatory contents of the workshop agenda to just those items related to the workshop itself (e.g., excluding public comments, Mayor’s report, and Council comments). If this change is approved, these non-mandatory items would be included in workshop agendas on a case-by-case basis.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site-specific and consequently, the real property holdings of the City Council members do not create a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov't Code § 87100, et seq.).
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Staff is not independently aware, and has not bee n informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision-maker conflict of interest in this matter.
CURRENT-YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
There is no current-year fiscal impact as a result of this action.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There is no ongoing fiscal impact as a result of this action.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
Staff Contact: Tiffany Allen, Assistant City Manager