1979-10-03 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

• Regular Meeting 10/3/79 5 4. JOINT DISCUSSION WITH CHARTER REVISION COMMLTTEE AND CONSIDER APPROVING A DISTRICTING PLAN FOR THE PROPOSED BOUNDARY LINES FOR DISTRICTS FOR ELECTION OF COUNCILPERSONS UNDER THE PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE HOME RULE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE - (CONTINUED) Mr. Pfeiffer stated that he wanted to make one thing. clear. He had left town last Wednesday on business and returned on Sunday. Further stating that he was not aware of the map. He said, "I guarantee you one thing, I am not procrastinating, I'm not stalling". He stated that he felt that the entire committee would like to look at everything. They had spent a lot of time on the proposed. revision. He would. call a special meeting and get back with a recommendation. He stated that that was the best thing that he could recommend. Mr. Pfeiffer stated that he would assure the Commission. that there-would be a quorum at the next Charter Revision Committee meeting some way or the other. Evelyn Kennedy was recognized. and stated that she was not sure that she understood. Was Mrs. Riley's proposal different from what the proposed Charter was? Some people were of the opinion • that everyone had to have districts. Then she had heard that it was not necessary to do this. And then the question will it be necessary to have districts in the near future and then someone says yes you will have to have districts. Mrs. Kennedy asked if someone would explain. Mrs. Kennedy asked if we could be spared five minutes to have someone explain. Mayor Meza asked Gail Hamilton to explain. Gail Hamilton stated that the Charter Revision began as a change in the form of government from Commission to Council/Manager form of government. It was the feeling of the Commission and presumably various other members of the community that the Council/Manager form of government would be more efficient. The Council would act as a board of directors and the Manager of the City would be the adminis- trative arm to carry out their wishes. The citizens would be sort of like stock holders. Opposed to now, where each of the Commissioners have specific realms of duties. That was the motivation for begin- ning the change from Commission to Council/Manager form of govern- ment. The. City is under no compulsion to change. It is simply that is was the view that it be studied to see whether or not it would be good for the City. Once having made the decision to go to a Council/Manager form of government, the Federal Law, the Voting Rights Act, is the • compulsion that makes us go to single member districts.