Although there was a great diversity of opinions (we squabbled hard and often), the committee unanimously drafted and approved [ I repeat, unanimously drafted and approved] a comprehensive proposal that was adopted by the City Council. It will appear on the ballot as Measure V.
Here’s what’s wrong with the arguments against Measure V.
The opponents said, “Measure V places too much power over expenditure and budgetary controls into the hands of one person, the proposed City Manager. Under Measure V, both the City Controller (budget planning) and the City Treasurer (actual revenues and expenses) would be supervised by the City Manager.”
· This argument ignores the fact that the City’s budget always has been, and under the new Charter will continue to be, passed by the City Council. Similarly, all expenditures authorized by the City Treasurer will continue to be approved by the City Council. Finally, the City’s books will continue to be audited by an independent, outside auditor, just as before. Measure V doesn’t place too much power in the City Manager, just a lot more efficiency.
The opponents said, “The City Controller and the City Treasurer would no longer report directly to the City Council.”
· Actually, the City Controller never has reported directly to the City Council. Currently, the City Controller reports to the CAO, who reports to the City Council. This wouldn’t change with a City Manager.
· The City Treasurer is currently an elected position. As such, the City Treasurer does not “report” to either the CAO or to the City Council in operating the department. Under the new Charter, the City Treasurer would report to the City Manager, who in turn reports to the City Council.
The opponents said, “Our city is currently coping with budgetary and cash flow problems…. Now is not the time to change our form of government.”
· Cash-flow problems would mean the city doesn’t have the funds available to pay employees and vendors. This is not accurate. Within the last two weeks, the City Treasurer issued the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for Fiscal Year 04-05 and just closed the accounting records for December 2005. Paychecks went out as usual and vendors are being paid. The new Charter will actually save the city money by providing a more efficient way to run our city government. And, the current Treasurer is backing the new Charter.
The opponents said, “Measure V is an all or nothing measure that is unfair to Culver City voters.”
· Actually, Measure V is a comprehensive revision of the Charter that was the product of twenty-two public hearings, two Town Hall meetings and two City Council meetings. The community participated extensively in the process and their views are incorporated in the proposed new Charter.
The new Charter recognizes that the job of the City Council is not to run the government but to lead the city. It puts the job of running the government in the hands of trained professionals and the role of leading the city in the hands of our elected City Council. This is the way local government should work.
Please vote for a Culver City “victory.” Vote yes on Measure V.
Tom Camarella, Culver City
President-elect, Culver City Democratic Club, which will have an important endorsing forum on the Charter and City Council candidates on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m., at the Vets Auditorium); Charter Review Committee member; Alternate for Culver City Landlord/Tenant Board; Chair, Fiesta La Ballona Committee; and member of Committee for a New Charter.