City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 03/26/13 Item Number: A-2
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: Consideration and (If Desired) Taking of a Position
to Approve or Reject Two Proposed Amendments to the League of California Cities
Bylaws Pertaining to (1) Submission of Resolutions to the League’s General
Assembly and (2) League Board Approval of Positions on Statewide Initiatives.
Contact Person/Dept.: Shelly Wolfberg /
City Manager’s Office
Phone Number: 310-253-6008
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date: _______________
Public Notification: (Email) Meetings and Agendas – City Council (03/19/13)
Department Approval:
Martin R. Cole (03/19/13)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (03/19/13)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (03/19/13)
City Manager:
John Nachbar (03/19/13)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council discuss and, if desired, take a position on
two proposed Amendments to the League of California Cities (League) Bylaws and
(2) direct the City Manager to transmit the City Council’s votes to League staff.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
At the League’s February 2013 Board Meeting, the League’s Board of Directors
approved submitting two amendments to the League’s Bylaws to the Membership.
Consequently, the League staff sent a letter to League Membership about Proposed
Amendments to League Bylaws on March 5, 2013. The proposed amendments
would modify the Bylaws to provide that: 1) Resolutions submitted to the League for
presentation to the General Assembly must be concurred in by at least five or more
cities or by city officials from at least five or more cities; and 2) the League Board
may take a position on a statewide ballot measure by a 2/3
rd
vote of those Directors
present. Currently, the Board may take positions with a simple majority vote.
In order to potentially implement the changes to the League’s Bylaws, the Ballot
questions are as follows:
1. Does your city vote to approve the amendment of Article VI, Section 2 of the
League’s Bylaws relating to submission of resolutions to the League’s
General Assembly as set forth in the Proposed Resolution and incorporated
by reference in this ballot? Yes/No
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
2. Does your city vote to approve the addition of Article VII, Section 16 to the
League’s Bylaws relating to the League Board vote threshold for taking
positions on statewide ballot measures as set forth in the Proposed
Resolution and incorporated by reference in this ballot? Yes/No.
The background information as provided by the League is contained in the
Attachment. Staff does not believe that taking a position with respect to these
amendments would conflict with any City Council adopted policy or procedure.
Should the City Council determine to take position(s) on either or both proposed
Amendments, the City Manager would transmit such position(s) by submitting an
appropriately marked ballot to the League.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
There is no cost to discuss this item.
ATTACHMENT:
Proposed Amendments to League Bylaws
MOTION:
That the City Council:
1. Consider the two amendments presented by the League of California Cities
Board of Directors, and (if desired):
A. Take a position to approve (YES) or reject (NO) the amendment of
Article VI, Section 2 of the League’s Bylaws relating to submission of
resolutions to the League’s General Assembly; and/or
B. Take a position to approve (YES) or reject (NO) the addition of Article VII,
Section 16 to the League’s Bylaws relating to setting the League Board vote
threshold to 2/3rds for taking positions on statewide ballot measures.
MEETING DATE: March 26, 2013
AGENDA ITEM:
Discussion and Vote on the League of California Cities
Ballot pertaining to Bylaws Amendments and Direction
to City Manager to Transmit Votes
ATTACHMENTS
Pages
1. Proposed Amendments to League Bylaws
1-3 1400 K STREET
SACRAMENTO, CA 95814
PH: (916) 658-8200
FX: (916) 658-8240
?Mach merr-F
LEAGUE
OF CALIFORNIA
=CITIES'
WWW.CACITIES.ORG
March 5, 2013
To: League Membership
From: Chris McKenzie, Executive Director
Re: Proposed Amendments to League Bylaws
At its February meeting, the League's Board of Directors approved submitting two amendments
to the League's Bylaws to the membership. The proposed amendments would amend the Bylaws
to provide that:
1. Resolutions submitted to the League for presentation to the General Assembly must be
concurred in by at least five or more cities or by city officials from at least five or more
cities.
2. The League Board may take a position on a statewide ballot measure by a 2/3 rd vote of
those Directors present. Currently, the Board may take positions with a simple majority
vote.
The Board's purpose in submitting the first proposed amendment is to encourage members to
seek concurrence of other cities and city officials that the subject of a proposed resolution is a
substantial one and of broad interest and importance to cities. The Board's purpose in submitting
the second proposed amendment is to ensure that when the Board considers a position on
possibly controversial statewide ballot measures, the Board's ultimate decision represents a
broad consensus of the Directors.
The language of the proposed amendments is provided in the attached Resolution. To be
approved, the Bylaws require each amendment must receive a 2/3 rd vote of those members
voting. To consult the League's Bylaws: go to www.cacities.otg. The link is at the bottom of the
page.
As provided in the League's Bylaws, the Board of Directors is submitting these amendments to
the membership for approval by mail ballot. Please return the enclosed ballot, signed by an
authorized city official, by April 19, 2013.
Ballots may be submitted by email to: baBots@cacities.org .
By mail to:
League of California Cities
Attn: Ballots
1400 K Street, 4 th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Or by fax to: (916) 658-8240
Thank you for your attention to this important matter concerning the League's governance. If
you have questions, please direct them to Patrick Whitnell, General Counsel at
pwhitnell@cacities.org . PROPOSED RESOLUTION RELATING TO LEAGUE BYLAWS AMENDMENTS
WHEREAS, the League of California Cities is a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation under
California law and, as such, is governed by corporate bylaws; and
WHEREAS, the League's Board of Directors periodically reviews the League's bylaws for issues
of clarity, practicality, compliance with current laws, and responsiveness to membership interests; and
WHEREAS, the League Board of Directors at its February 7-8, 2013 meeting approved
submitting the following amendments to the League's bylaws to the League's membership by mailed
ballot:
1. Article VI, section 2 of the League's bylaws is amended to read as follows:
"Resolutions may originate from city officials, city councils, regional divisions, functional
departments, policy committees, or the League Board or by being included in a petition signed by
designated voting delegates of ten percent of the number of Member Cities. Except for petitioned
resolutions, all other resolutions must be submitted to the League with documentation that at least five or
more cities, or city officials from at least five or more cities, have concurred in the resolution."
2. A new Article VII, section 16 is added to the League's bylaws to read as follows:
"Section 16: Positions on Statewide Ballot Measures.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these bylaws, the League Board may take a position on a
statewide ballot measure by a 2/3 rd vote of those Directors present."
Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the League Board of Directors at its April 24-25, 2013 meeting in Sacramento,
California, after a canvass of mailed ballots, has determined that the above amendments to the League bylaws
have been approved by a 2/3 rd vote of those Member Cities voting. These amendments shall take effect 60
days after the approval of this resolution.
1/11/1111 Ballot on Bylaws Amendments
City of
Does your city vote to approve the amendment of article VI, section 2 of
the League's bylaws relating to submission of resolutions to the
League's General Assembly as set forth in the Proposed Resolution and
incorporated by reference in this ballot?
El Yes
No
Does your city vote to approve the addition of article VII, section 16 to the
League's bylaws relating to the League Board vote threshold for taking
positions on statewide ballot measures as set forth in the Proposed
Resolution and incorporated by reference in this ballot?
Yes
El NO
Ballot returned by:
City Official Name
City Official Title
Please return this ballot by April 19 1 2013 to:
League of California Cities
Attn: Ballots
1400 K Street, 4
th
Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
or by email to: ballots@cacities.org
or by fax to: (916) 658-8240
Thanks in advance for your participation in this important decision.