Charter Review Recommendation Reversed

Committee to recommend Binding Arbitration be placed on ballot

and removed from Vallejo City Charter

6/17/09

By Marc Garman

Last week, Vallejo's Charter Review Committee failed to reach the majority necessary to recommend that charter section 809 (binding arbitration) be placed on the November ballot for possible removal from the Vallejo City Charter. The vote was 7-6 in favor of placing the item on the ballot, but the majority could not be considered due to the absence of member Young.

Tonight's re-vote, with all members present, was 9 in favor of placing the measure on the ballot, with a recommendation for removal from the city charter. 5 members were opposed. The vote was as follows:

• Yes: Ball, Capello, Demmon, King, McConnell, Preovolos, Schussel, Torres, Wildermuth

• No: Gourley, Nelson, Young, Yen, Fox

After what seemed to be an interminable quagmire of procedural wrangling, the facilitator hired by the city was excused, and the committee broke into working groups. Both the committee majority, and the dissenting minority will issue reports and recommendations; however, the majority position will be considered the final word of the committee in their recommendation to council.

A special meeting is scheduled for June 24, 2009 at 6:30 PM in City Council Chambers to review and finalize the recommendation so that the matter can be placed before the city council for a vote in time for the November election. It will now be up to the city council to act on the recommendation of the Charter Review Committee.