City Council: Summer hiatus not
a sunny issue for all members
June 12, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
A City Councilwoman objected to the panel taking a summer break of three meetings noting that the city is embroiled in various projects including soon finalizing new rates for wastewater treatment services.
The conversation on the council’s annual summer hiatus was not a sunny issue for all members when it occurred at the June 1 meeting.
The report by City Manager Jaime Fontes noted that “historically” the council has taken a summer break during July and a portion of August.
“For the past several years,” he told the council the break has been taken by not holding two meetings in July and skipping the first meeting in August.
“Aside from being our business custom,” the pause in council meetings “allows staff time to decompress,” and if needed use the time to concentrate on long-term projects without interruption of council meeting requirements.
The hiatus allows council and the staff to take vacations and this year in particular it will allow staff time for the “major restructuring” and deployment of new agenda management software that will organize and make uniform the agenda and staff report process.
Fontes said there is no major issues on the short-term agenda and that the council can call a special meeting at any time.
“It’s entirely up to the council,” he noted.
“I have a real problem with closing down over the summer,” said Councilwoman Ginger Gherardi who noted the council should indeed be busy.
“We have a lot going on…buying the sewer plant,” has created the need to “find someone to operate it,” and fees must be examined for projected customer rebates.
“The notion of letting this go until September,” she noted, should not be considered.
Vice Mayor Martin Hernandez disagreed noting “there’s nothing out of the ordinary,” in such council shutdowns which greatly benefits City Hall work schedules and gives a chance for staff to catch up.
If an issue comes up with the request for proposals for operation of the wastewater treatment plant Hernandez said a special meeting could be called.
Said Gherardi, “I would feel more comfortable if we could see a matrix,” of council requested agenda items that are pending, “especially ones relating to the wastewater treatment plant.”
Hernandez noted tightened staff time with the upcoming budget and Gherardi said other staff could work on such a request.
“The city manager’s office should have a list,” that she said the council could have.
Fontes noted some legal issues have emerged that could impact wastewater treatment plant rates: “Laws have changed,” and the issue requires study.
Mayor John Procter expressed his discomfort for taking two months off and several other council members noted their own summer schedules.
After more discussion it was decided that the council would have a three-meeting summer break in July and the first meeting of August.
