HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - January 13, 2004 SM (9)LODI CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET
TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2004
A. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
The Special City Council meeting of January 13, 2004, was called to order by Mayor Hansen at 5:35
p.m.
Present: Council Members — Beckman, Hitchcock, Howard, Land, and Mayor Hansen
Absent: Council Members — None
Also Present: City Manager Flynn, City Attorney Hays, and City Clerk Blackston
DISCUSSION
Following discussion, Council concurred to consider this matter prior to the Adjourned Special
Meeting topic of public employee performance evaluation/discipline/dismissal/release of City
Attorney and Envision Law Group, which was scheduled for the same date and time.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
0o Tim Howard advocated for an atmosphere of constructive and meaningful communication for all
the City's government officials. He recommended that Council expedite scheduling the team -
building sessions to be facilitated by Pastor Dale Edwards, to allow Members an opportunity to
discover commonalities and come to an agreement on principles and practices. He believed
that harmonious relations between government officials could best be achieved by friendly
conferences where intelligence and arbitration takes the place of the sometimes irrational and
cruel methods of the past. Cooperation is a practical necessity in carrying out the specialized
and complicated political processes of modern society. Failure of Council to effectively
communicate hangs a melancholy gloom over the entire City. Distress over current difficulties
in the City may cause some to lose their power of reasoning, patience, ability to control
emotion, and possibly to begin blaming others for the present situation. Responsibility to serve
the public includes extending encouragement, cooperation, discernment, integrity, and
kindness toward one another. Adjustments made by political force, with one side or the other
temporarily more powerful, cannot endure. The public always suffers through settlements
dictated by the stronger interest, without guiding principles and reasonable timetables to which
all can agree. Lodi needs one solid stance in its position as a City and its commitment to
citizens. He requested that Council think clearly and respect one another so that each Member
is able to openly participate in a leadership decision tonight for the betterment of the municipal
government and citizens of today and tomorrow. He urged Council to try to communicate and
work together before taking any significant actions.
B. CLOSED SESSION
At 5:48 p.m., Mayor Hansen adjourned the Special City Council meeting to a Closed Session to
discuss the following matter:
B-1 Actual Litigation: Government Code §54956.9(a); one case; People of the State of
California: and the City of Lodi. California v. M & P Investments, et al.; United States
District Court, Eastern District of California, Case No. CIV -S-00-2441 FCD JFM
The Closed Session adjourned at 10:54 p.m.
C. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION / DISCLOSURE OF ACTION
NOTE: Action is also related to January 13, 2004, Adjourned Special City Council meeting agenda
item.
Continued January 13, 2004
At 10:55 p.m., Mayor Hansen reconvened the Special City Council meeting and disclosed the
following action:
In regard to Item 13,1, on a motion of 32 (NOES: Howard, Land) Council terminated, effective
immediately, the contracts between 1) the City of Lodi and Randall A. Hays (City Attorney) and
2) the City of Lodi and Envision Law Group (Resolution No. 2004-13); and will request a continuance
before Judge Damrell in United States District Court on January 14, 2004, for the purpose of
evaluating the stipulation that the court suggested on January 12, 2004.
Council Member Howard noted that the litigation matter had been heard by various Councils and its
Members for many years. Over the last several months there has been an interest to change the
strategy, which culminated today with considerable discussion, thought, and different opinions on
how to handle the challenges. She felt that Council's decision was not one that best reflected the
various thoughts, guidance, and input that were expressed today and over the last several months.
She expressed concern that the outcome may result in short-term satisfaction for some and long-
term heartache for the City of Lodi.
D. COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC ON NON -AGENDA ITEMS
None.
E. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at
10:57 p.m.
ATTEST:
Susan J. Blackston
City Clerk
W