January 8, 2025 – Study Session Minutes Page 1
JANUARY 8, 2025 – CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MEETING
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Freedman called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: M/Freedman, MPT/Cajulis, C/Law, C/Tragarz, C/Wu ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
Also present: City Manager Weiner; City Attorney Leibold; Community Development Director Vasquez, Public Works Director Barcelo, Administrative Services Director Carlson; Community Services Director Bumia; Finance Manager Meza; Community Relations Officer Tep; Administrative Services/Human Resources Officer Ramos; Senior Management Analyst Markel; and City Clerk De Dios.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
There being no input, the City Council closed oral communications.
DISCUSSION ITEM:
1. Council Reorganization Policy Review
CA/Leibold presented a staff report and asked for Council input regarding the date of the rotation and order of rotation. She believes the best approach is to have a reorganization following the election to be consistent with Government Code section 36801.
Discussion took place amongst Council and Staff regarding the following: the history of the rotation policy and elections, Government Code section 36801, the option to reorganize, potential ways to reorganize, and potential way to maintain the current rotation in July.
C/Tragarz provided information on the rotation policy and stated she personally likes the 9.5- month rotation of the mayor.
M/Freedman stated that she feels the December reorganization is the best for the city and follows the code. She stated that she is willing to step down as mayor and reorganize to follow the code.
C/Wu stated that he is in favor of no change, but if they change, he would suggest a 13-month term as mayor until the reorganization aligns with December.
C/Cajulis stated that he is in favor of aligning the reorganization with the election cycle.
C/Law stated that if the policy changes, she is in favor of a policy that is fair for all Councilmembers.
January 8, 2025 – Study Session Minutes Page 2
CA/Leibold stated that if Council would like to stagger reorganization and the election cycle, they could opt to confirm the seated positions of mayor and mayor pro tem following the certification of election results.
M/Freedman proposed revising the policy to reorganize in December following the election certification to follow the code and to reorganize January 2025 for this election cycle.
C/Tragarz stated that the mayor serves at the pleasure of the Council and since the Council did not reorganize after the previous election, the decision to change the policy does not have to be made during this meeting.
CA/Leibold suggested that staff review the comments provided by Council and present options to Council at a future meeting.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:59 p.m.
PASSED AND APPROVED on the 22nd day of January 2025
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Linda Freedman, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Teresa De Dios, City Clerk