Council Study Session

CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION CITY OF MONTEREY Wednesday, August 28, 2019 4:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, 580 PACIFIC ST. MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Councilmembers Present: Albert, Haffa, Williamson, Roberson Absent: Smith City Staff City Manager, City Attorney, Community Development Director, Acting Present: City Clerk, Assistant City Attorney, Sustainability Coordinator CALL TO ORDER Mayor Roberson called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. STUDY SESSION 1. Presentation by Mike Clancy of the Citizens' Climate Lobby, Monterey Chapter, on Understanding and Mitigating Climate Change (Not a Project Under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and Under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Received presentation Mayor Roberson and City Manager Uslar gave a brief introduction. Mike Clancy, Citizens' Climate Lobby, Monterey Chapter, gave the presentation and answered Councilmembers' questions about proposed legislation. It was commented by Council that some of the solutions suggested by the Project Drawdown organization seem feasible and important for Monterey. An update was given by Council on the status of Monterey Bay Community Power and its contributions to sustainability in the region. Mayor Roberson opened public comments, and received none. 2. Sustainability Division Update on Climate Change Goals and Objectives, and Waste Diversion from Landfills (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Received update Sustainability Coordinator Terrasas gave the staff presentation and answered Councilmembers' questions. Comments were made by Council in support of continuing to focus on solar power opportunities including at the City's parking garages and the Library, considering electric vehicle infrastructure and an electric City fleet, encouraging residents to compost, expanding the Monterey-Salinas Transit trolley, participating in regional transportation projects, and eliminating single-use plastics. It was stated that community outreach will be needed to find good places for solar arrays. Mayor Roberson opened public comments. Mr. Allen suggested that the City look into electric vehicle charging sites, electric battery storage, and hybrid or electric MST buses. Libby Downey spoke about an anaerobic digester at the waste management district. The Council recessed at 5:13 p.m. and reconvened at 5:22 p.m.  City Council Minutes August 28, 2019 PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3. Receive a Report and Provide Direction on Whether to Pursue Campaign Finance Reform (Not a Project Under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and Under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Received report; Directed staff to bring forth a first reading ordinance on October 1, 2019, relating to campaign finance reform and political signs; Directed staff to research approimately seven years of campaign contributions and present the data with the first reading ordinance Councilmember Haffa gave a brief introduction on the subject, saying that raising large amounts of money can be a disincentive to someone running, and can allow for negative public perception. He stated that sign pollution was an issue in past elections. Assistant City Attorney Salameh gave the staff presentation and answered Councilmembers' questions. It was commented by Council that some agencies budget funds to assist candidates with their campaigns and incentivize them not to fundraise over a certain amount. Mayor Roberson opened public comments. Libby Downey spoke about past Council candidates' fundraising and increases in contributions over time. Esther Malkin spoke in favor of campaign finance reform and about the effects that she said contributions can have on local representation. The Council discussed the matter. It was suggested that political action committee ("PAC") contributions to committees, and campaign contributtions over $500 or $750, may be appropriate limits that could still allow a newcomer to raise enough money to be competitive. It was posited that limiting contributions could also hamper a newcomer from raising enough money. It was stated that the County of Santa Cruz has campaign finance limits. It was noted that the Mayor and Council seats are nonpartisan but political parties have provided financial support to candidates. A concern was raised that contribution limits could encourage donation via PACs and could result in lessened transparency. The question was raised about whether term limits would be a potential response to concerns about newcomers having a difficult time being elected. It was noted that independent expenditures must be disclosed and are not as effective as messaging directly from a candidate. It was noted that the Council would be required to make a finding relating to preventing corruption. Another perspective given was that providing such a finding may be protective but may not be necessary. It was stated that Council is looking for a first reading Ordinance that would include a recommendation on a defensible number that will allow candidates to be competitive but would offer some reasonable limit on individual contributions. On the subject of signs, Council requested further information from staff on the potential of eliminating signs from public property (not increasing the restricted areas). City Attorney Davi asked who would enforce an ordinance limiting contributions. She said that the finding relating to preventing corruption is required by case law. It was commented by Council that a finding on preventing corruption could be difficult to produce. City Attorney Davi referred to a finding made in Santa Monica relating to powerful special interests that have sought to use their wealth to influence election results. It was stated by Council that a finding relating to preventing corruption should be enough, without stating that any corruption has already happened. 2  City Council Minutes August 28, 2019 On consensus, the Council directed staff to bring forth a first reading ordinance on October 1, 2019, relating to campaign finance reform and political signs. The Council directed staff to research approimately seven years of campaign contributions and present the data with the first reading ordinance. ADJOURNMENT The Council adjourned at 6:11 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Clementine Bonner Klein Clyde Roberson Acting City Clerk Mayor 3