HomeMy WebLinkAbout07 - Resignation of Council Member Gary ProctorCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No. 7
September 23, 2003
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: City Attorney & City Clerk
LaVonne M. Harkless, City Clerk, 644 -3005 — Iharkless @city.newport- beach.ca.us
Robert Burnham, City Attorney; 644 -3131 - rburnham @city.newport- beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: The Letter of Resignation Submitted by Council Member Proctor and the
options available to the City Council for filling the vacancy in District 2.
ISSUE
What options are available to the City Council with respect to filling the vacancy resulting from
the letter of resignation delivered to the City Clerk by Council Member Proctor?
RECOMMENDATION
The City Clerk and City Attorney recommend that
(1) The City Council declare the office currently held by Council Member Proctor to be
vacant on September 30, 2003, the effective date specified in the letter of resignation.
(2) The City Council establish a process leading to the appointment of a successor on or
before October 29, 2003 as required by Section 403 of the City Charter.
DISCUSSION
On September 17, 2003, Council Member Proctor submitted a letter of resignation to the City
Clerk. The letter specifies September 30th as the effective date of his resignation. The letter of
resignation creates a vacancy on the City Council. The City Charter states that, in the event of
a vacancy "from whatever cause arising" the City Council shall fill the vacancy "by
appointment... of a qualified person from the district in which the vacancy has occurred."
(Section 403) In the event "the City Council does not fill the vacancy within thirty days after
such office shall have been declared vacant' the City Council "shall forthwith cause an election
to be held to fill such vacancy from the proper district."
We are recommending the City Council declare the office held by Council Member Proctor to be
vacant on September 30, 2003 and establish a process for appointment of a successor on or
before October 29, 2003. According to the Charter, the appointee will serve until the next
municipal election and the qualification of a successor. We are recommending the City Council
appoint a successor rather than call a special election because: (a) the District would be without
representation in the absence of an appointment; (b) there is a limited amount of time remaining
on the current term of that office; and (c) an appointment would avoid the cost of an election
A special election could not be held less than 88 days from the call date and would be
conducted during or shortly after the holiday season. In the absence of a Council appointee,
District 2 would be without a local representative for at least three months. The successful
candidate would be serving a term of less than one year. The City Clerk estimates the cost of a
special election to be in the range of $75,000.
The City Council may wish to consider a selection process similar to that used to appoint
members of boards and commissions. The process could include (a) direction to the City Clerk
to notify qualified persons in the district that applications for appointment to the position will be
accepted until October 10, 2003; (b) appointment of an Ad Hoc committee to review
applications, interview candidates and make recommendations to the City Council with respect
to potential appointees; (c) interviews of candidates recommended by the Ad Hoc Committee,
and selection of the successor, at a duly noticed meeting of the City Council open to the public.
by:
M. Harkless, City Clerk & Robert Burnham, City
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September .15, 2003
Honorable Stcve Bromberg..
City of Newport Beach
3300 Newport Blvd.
Newport Beach, CA 92663
Dear Honorable Steve Bron'IbIhT-
Please accept this le#ter ea f9tT9Rit,il�Cl1 ofd inttt}ticf'
resign my seat on the Newport 84iW.:. ei%ctrvIb 5
Attached is a more detatledexpIio#:1 usy:decistertttt fJ3at
LTA has been a'pleasure m with yzx+ atd ofh t.
excelled city staff on behiijt f:s-- rrc city for tent tasf 3
This month marks.th626 :' ' :0
elected elected official and the time is light tondiirod;wy -Fake
etiorts.
Best wishes to all of the.itWkzted,r .oftWO,
of the city council members, bend °Aatf, 3fi8
serve with are only paralleledaiwel�.e�y
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tirelessly for the residents of t#uib i.ipvbtkttl
quality individuals and extend t: iii ii�ic i!bit Ora
Settxntiy,:'
600 Suu1L Main Sue�Svlu: 900V
Td: (714) 587-5855 Fu:
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At the council meeting on September 9`s our city manager presented his list of
accomplished goals, the first being the completion of the John Wayne Airport
Settlement Agreement extension. With that discussion the realization came home
to roost that 20 years had passed since 1 became involved in airport issues as an
appointee; to the Orange County Airport Commission. When I ran for the council
from district 2,1 was Ibcused on bringing that airport related experience to the
issues of seeking to secure commercial aviation at El Toro and to resist
unconstrained growth at JWA.
With my background in Airport issues as an attorney, a pilot, a member of the
Airport Commission and the Citizens Advisory Commission to oversee the reuse
o I' El Toro I ran and was elected to Newport Beach city council in November
2000. I sought to use that expertise on what were then front burner issues relating
to air transportation and the potential negative consequences to Newport Beach of
meeting all air transportation needs solely at JWA.
the current status ufEl Toro and JWA are much less fluid now then they were
over the last S years, and thus my expertise in those arenas is less relevant now to
the city as a whole.
Everyday a City Council is faced with challenges that are important to citizens in
various locations throughout Newport Beach. Thus, the Council never lacks for
challenge and fresh ideas as how to resolve issues to maintain the beauty and
quality of life residents of Newport Beach expect and deserve.
Twenty years seemed like an appropriate anniversary to rededicate my efforts in
my professional and personal goal and permit another to address rite numerous
neighborhood and citywide issues that are important to our residents.
It is for these reasons and for purposes of personal redirection that I am submitting
my resignation from the City Council effective September 30, 2003.
SEP -17 -2003 11:26 714 547 4656 95? P.03
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