Past Chairman, Transportation Cooridor Agency Coastal Animal Service Authority, San Clemente RepresentiveP. After a late night meeting that stopped just short of midnight, Ferguson, who was the lone dissenter against the 3-1 censure vote, said she is considering a court challenge of the censure. Send Gene an email. My priorities: Dana Point City Council meets Tuesday December 1 2020 at 6:00pm. The City Council consists of five members, elected at-large, for four-year overlapping terms of office. San Clemente. “Duly noted, thank you,” said Councilman Chris Hamm. If you would like to express an opinion to the City Council, please submit an email individually. San Clemente. SAN CLEMENTE CITY COUNCIL TO MEMBERS OF THE SAN CLEMENTE CITY COUNCIL: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special Meeting of the San Clemente City Council is hereby called to be held on March 30, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. made with full First Amendment protection. 910 Calle Negocio. Placentia. Censures don’t carry any consequences, but “represents the formal opinion of the city council and therefore carries weight in the public arena,” Smith said in a staff report presented at last Tuesday’s council meeting. All interested persons are invited to attend Council meetings to express their views verbally, or to submit written communications to the City Council to express their opinions for or against the agenda item. In addition, Council members represent the City on the governing … Malamud also said that Smith called the proceeding an administrative hearing and that it had to abide by those rules, but Smith said he just referred to it as that to clarify it would not have a consequence beyond a censure. The above Councilmembers are elected officers identified in Government Code Section 87200 and file statements of economic interests with the City Clerk's Department. Filing Window. You may utilize the following links to access Council agendas, agenda packets and minutes. 910 Calle Negocio. Emails to the City Council are also welcomed and are monitored on a regular basis. San Clemente Interim City Manager Let Go By Split City Council After Public Controversy JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC A view of the San Clemente Pier … Emails to the City Council are also welcomed and are monitored on a regular basis. Council Meeting Starts at 6:00pm Proposed Discussion Items Include November 3 2020 General Election Results Declaration Dana Point City Council Recognitions Presentation to Outgoing City Council Member Paul N Wyatt Swearing In of Newly Elected Dana Point City Council Members Oath of Office To… You may contact the City Council at (949) 361-8322 during regular business hours. San Clemente's City Council short term seat saw Donna Vidrine in the lead with 22 percent of the vote, with Steven Knoblock following at 20.7 percent, trailed by Jim Dahl at 20.4 percent. At one point, the conversation broke down into a shouting match between Malamud, Hamm, and James, when James ruled that Malamud could not call witnesses to discuss the accusations against Ferguson. – has served as the council’s de facto leader after former mayor Dan Bane resigned to move out of state. To qualify for the office, the candidate must be a registered voter in the City of San Clemente at the time of the issuance of Nomination Papers. The following items will be discussed during the meeting: 1. My experience, along with my knowledge of our City and its issues, will help me navigate the challenges that lie ahead. Malamud claimed the city attorney had told him he would be allowed witnesses, which Smith denied approving. Three San Clemente City Council members voted to censure their colleague, Mayor Pro Tem Laura Ferguson, after a nearly six-hour meeting on Monday, Nov. 23. Jim Dahl, a retired fire captain with Orange County Fire Authority, served on the San Clemente City Council from 1996 to 2012. Strong leadership is about working with others to make San Clemente an even better place. Ferguson’s defense, presented by her attorneys Brad Malamud and Mike Winsten, was that all her comments were well within the role of a local elected official and made with full First Amendment protection, adding that the documents and information she released were not subject to the protections of the Brown Act. Your input is important. Gene James City of San Clemente Councilmember. a local protest where eight people were arrested. November 5, 2019 in the City of San Clemente to fill one short-term seat for the office of Member of the City Council, City of San Clemente. Agendas are normally available by the Wednesday before the next Council meeting. The City Council serves as the Board of Directors of the San Ramon Public Financing Authority, the Geologic Hazard Abatement Districts, the Successor Agency, and the San Ramon Housing Authority. My priorities: Placentia City Council District 1: Devon Gray. I wanted our city to be transparent and forthcoming, and not behave like it’s a secret society at city hall. Tyler cares about this community and shows it through his involvement in Rotary and his participation as a City Council appointed member of the Human Affairs Committee. but not the city manager, who Smith said was a public official and could be criticized by council members as a First Amendment right. San Clemente Measure BB, a city council term limits measure, was on the ballot as a referral in San Clemente on November 3, 2020. Ferguson’s defense, presented by her attorneys Brad Malamud and Mike Winsten, was that all her comments, were well within the role of a local elected official and. Join to Connect City of San Clemente. When you arrive at the Council Chambers, please complete a “City Council Meeting Speaker Card", that is located at the entrance to the Chambers, and submit it to the City Clerk. When the Mayor calls your name, please step to the podium, and state your name and city of residence. Strong leadership is about working with others to make San Clemente an even better place. He wants to build unity on the council … It also called into question whether or not Ferguson violated the Brown Act by releasing a poll commissioned by the city that staff had ruled could not be legally released as an attorney work product. Elections. Join to Connect City of San Clemente. Jeff Wellman Healthcare Sales Director. San Clemente Measure BB, a city council term limits measure, was on the ballot as a referral in San Clemente on November 3, 2020. Our government is currently designed to favor the donor class over the working class, the well-connected over the disconnected, and special interests over San Clemente families. “They never cited a law that I broke, any kind of government code I violated, and believe me…if I had broken the law, they wouldn’t be doing a censure hearing.”. Brenau University. 00:15:10 Call to Order 00:21:35 Consent Calendar 00:39:35 Update on the evaluation and feasibility of creating a temporary emergency shelter for the … San Clemente City Councilmember Jim Dahl added his opinion Tuesday night to the debate about whether to impose term limits on the office of City Council … The censure complaint, which was brought forward by Councilwoman Kathy Ward, took issue with a variety of decisions made by Ferguson over the past two years, but specifically pointed at over half a dozen instances where. DONATE. Leading up to the San Clemente City Council General Election on Nov. 3, the San Clemente Times has published a series of … I don’t owe them an apology. Share your thoughts in a community opinion piece. Both sides were granted an hour and fifteen minutes to share their opinions on the argument, opening with a half hour review by Ward of 10 complaints listed in the city’s agenda. The censure kept the Brown Act complaints. Non-partisan City elections are held in November of even-numbered years for Council Members. City Council Member at City of San Clemente Orange County, California Area 500+ connections. ABOUT US: Mission | Editorial Policies | Contact Us | Funding | Privacy Policy. San Clemente City Council members have censured their colleague, Councilwoman Laura Ferguson, for publicly criticising city government and releasing public records to the public. The mood did not improve from there, with multiple heated exchanges throughout the night between Ferguson and the rest of the council. Noah Biesiada is a Voice of OC Reporting Fellow. publicly criticized city staff and the city manager. Thor Johnson Small Business Owner. Toll Road Update01:18:44 1B. The San Clemente City Council lacks fundamental anti-corruption laws that many other Orange County cities already have. Elections are held in even-numbered years. Over most of the past year, Ferguson – an outspoken conservative Republican – has served as the council’s de facto leader after former mayor Dan Bane resigned to move out of state. James repeatedly said he would hold off on moving forward with a censure if Ferguson agreed not to continue public criticisms of staff and promised to stop releasing records, but she said she would not apologize for exercising her First Amendment right. San Clemente Businessman. San Clemente City Hall. Closed Session items are considered at 5:00 p.m., with the public business session commencing at 6:00 p.m. Changes to this schedule, and additional meetings which may be scheduled, are publicly noticed. This meeting will be conducted via teleconference. Join the conversation... 2020 Election Night Results: San Clemente City Council, Candidates in a Jammed Field Make a Run for San Clemente City Council, Orange County's Nonprofit & Nonpartisan Newsroom. Ward repeatedly referred to Ferguson’s Facebook page, where she regularly posts screenshots of emails with city staff. San Clemente City Hall. The censure kept the Brown Act complaints. Early results are in for three City Council seats in San Clemente in an election that will finally break the panel’s 2-2 deadlocks over the past year and set the majority for the next two years. Copies of the statements of economic interests filed by the above elected officers may be obtained by visiting the offices of the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) or the City Clerk. The San Juan Capistrano City Council meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month at 4:00 for Closed Session and 5:00 p.m. for the public Business Session, in the Council Chamber. Submit. Democrat Chris Duncan and Republican incumbent Gene James are leading the race for two 4-year term seats on the San Clemente City Council. With a week to go in the election, San Clemente residents are looking at a field of 18 candidates that will decide the political balance of the council. A “yes” vote supports limiting city council term limits to two consecutive four-year terms and the ability to only serve as a city council member again after at least two years off city council. San Clemente City Council, Three Terms San Clemente Planning Commission Mayor, San Clemente -- Three Terms Past President, League of California Cities-- OC Div. San Clemente's City Council short term seat saw Seven Knoblock take the lead with 23.57 percent of the vote, followed by Jim Dahl at 21.34 percent. The council could not agree on who to appoint as the new mayor, leaving her in charge of running the meetings as mayor pro tem. Appointing members to advisory municipal activities. Laura Ferguson | Kathy Ward | Chris Hamm | Gene James. San Clemente City Council members have censured their colleague, Councilwoman Laura Ferguson, for publicly criticising city government and releasing public records to the public. Kathy Ward | Gene James | Laura Ferguson | Chris Duncan | Steve Knoblock, The City Council meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month in the City Council Chambers. “I support Tyler Boden for city council. taken down after threats by the OC Sheriffs’ Department. 1691 an ordinance of the city of san clemente, california, adding a new section 2.04.090 to chapter 2.04 of title 2 of the san clemente municipal code establishing city council term limits, subject to approval of a majority of the electors voting on the measure at the general municipal election to be held tuesday, In lieu of comments, we encourage readers to engage with us across a variety of mediums. “Transparency is great, but does not outweigh the constitutional rights of our employees.”. After suggestions by city attorney Scott Smith, council members’, final censure focused on Ferguson’s criticisms of city staff. Earlier this year, Ferguson held a press conference outside city hall to criticize then-interim city manager Robert Dunek’s decision against holding in-person city council meetings. The City Council Members are elected officers identified in Government Code Section 87200 and file statements of economic interests with the City Clerk's office. GET IN TOUCH. People will know the information they deem they should know,” Ferguson said in a phone call with Voice of OC after the meeting. Mark Taylor, City Treasurer, is also an elected officer identified in Government Code Section 87200. throughout the night between Ferguson and the rest of the council. The fence was later taken down after threats by the OC Sheriffs’ Department to pull patrols out of the city, and Dunek was fired by the city council less than a month later. Council Meeting Starts at 6:00pm Proposed Discussion Items Include November 3 2020 General Election Results Declaration Dana Point City Council Recognitions Presentation to Outgoing City Council Member Paul N Wyatt Swearing In of Newly Elected Dana Point City Council Members Oath of Office To… Hamm and James backed up Ward’s comments, adding their own comments over concerns with her conduct. “I ran on transparency, that’s why I ran. Kathy Ward | Gene James | Laura Ferguson | Chris Duncan | Steve Knoblock. Five members are elected to four-year Council terms. Update on Homeless Issue01:20:30 1C. The City Council is composed of 5 members elected at large by the city's residents to serve four-year terms. A “yes” vote supports limiting city council term limits to two consecutive four-year terms and the ability to only serve as a city council member again after at least two years off city council. I want to speak at a City Council Meeting. Send Gene an email. The mood did not improve from there, with multiple. San Clemente City Council: Special Election 2019 Live Results - San Clemente, CA - A special election was held in San Clemente to fill the vacant seat after Council Member Steve Swartz's death in … “You’re taking an illegal vote, you’re out of order,” Ferguson said. What do I do? Agendas | Agenda Packets | Minutes. We have been your lifeline during the pandemic, economic fallout, wildfires, protests and the election. City Council Candidate. ASIS. Click on the following links to email individual council members. Submit. GET IN TOUCH. “I support Tyler Boden for city council. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter @NBiesiada. Rancho Santa Margarita City Council: Beth Schwartz Rancho Santa Margarita City Council: John Christopoulos. Determining how the City shall obtain and spend funds. Dunek was fired by the city council less than a month later. “Criticism is not illegal, and there’s nothing in the San Clemente municipal code that outlaws criticism.”, “Tonight the city council wants to censure based on rules that do not exist.”. Ward did not return requests for comment after the meeting. San Clemente, CA, 92673 (949) 361-8200 Click on the following links to email individual council members. At the top of this page is a list of our current City Council Members. San Clemente, CA, 92673 (949) 361-8200 San Clemente City Council Member, Seat 3. Meetings are telecast live on Channel 854 and are rebroadcast the following Saturday at 12:00 noon and on Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. Click here for a Map to City Hall. Join the open conversation on our Facebook page. “City employees have rights of confidentiality and they should not be discussed by councilmembers in public.”. For further information, you are invited to contact the City Clerk's Office at (949) 361-8345 or access the City of San Clemente's website at www.san-clemente.org. Ferguson, a longtime public information officer for the city now turned elected official, has repeatedly clashed with city staff in the public square over transparency issues. Have an opinion on this story? The City Council represents you, the citizen. San Clemente City Council Candidate Endorsement Process The candidate endorsement process was established to provide a service to the community through the Chamber’s evaluation of each candidate’s qualifications as they align with our current community’s needs, with a focus on the Chamber’s business members. Many people share credit for these accomplishments. You may contact the City Council at (949) 361-8322 during regular business hours. The physical address of the City Clerk's Department is 100 Avenida Presidio, San Clemente, California 92672. City Council Members Many people share credit for these accomplishments. Nov 08, 2022. Brenau University. However, after that announcement, Sund told San Clemente Times in an email Thursday, Aug. 27, that “multiple City Council members reached out … He has taken the time to learn about the issues that matter to the community of San Clemente. Speakers are allocated three minutes in which to express their views. a longtime public information officer for the city now turned elected official, , has repeatedly clashed with city staff in the public square, Earlier this year, Ferguson held a press conference outside city hall to, criticize then-interim city manager Robert Dunek’s decision, against holding in-person city council meetings, She also criticized city staff for putting up a fence along the beachfront as a response to the homelessness crisis, a sign that also triggered. Looking forward, Ferguson said she would be interested in potentially overturning the censure in court but that she would have to confer with her attorneys. The San Clemente Times. ASIS. Copies of the statements of economic interests filed by these officers may be obtained by visiting the offices of the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) or the City Clerk. Who is on the City Council and how are the positions filled? San Clemente looked to impose term limits on their city council members with measure Bb - which was leading with 78.14 percent of the vote at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. “She’s alienated each and every person she’s been expected to work with from day one,” Hamm said. Give Gene a Call. City of San Clemente. Councilmember Laura Ferguson shows a memo from city staff instructing the council to meet via Zoom on their May 19 meeting. CLOSED SESSION San Clemente City Council members have censured their colleague, Councilwoman Laura Ferguson. I promise to bring my team spirit to City Council Chambers. Nearly 20 candidates are running for office on the San Clemente City Council, setting up a crowded race that will determine the future political balance of what has been a divided council. Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option, Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFR), Environmental Documents for Current Projects, Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency. Description. It was approved . city of san clemente ordinance no. The council could not agree on who to appoint as the new mayor, leaving her in charge of running the meetings as mayor pro tem. The statements of economic interests for some state and local government agency elected officers may be available in electronic format on the FPPC's website at http://www.fppc.ca.gov/" target="_blank">http://www.fppc.ca.gov. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Member of the City Council… Members of the public may address the City Council on matters within the jurisdiction of the City of San Clemente, regardless of whether or not the item appears on the meeting agenda. Public commenters were split over Ferguson’s actions, with many former city staff members and residents praising her decisions and calling for freedom of speech while others asked the council to censure her and strip her title of mayor pro-tem. Support the news you depend on today to triple your donation. CORONAVIRUS: The latest Orange County news and information. DONATE. Paid for by Gene James for City Council 2020 ID# 1413366. 00:06:50 Closed Session01:13:46 Call to Order01:15:15 1A. How can I present ideas and address issues to the City Council? Three San Clemente City Council members voted to censure their colleague, Mayor Pro Tem Laura Ferguson, after a nearly six-hour meeting on Monday, Nov. 23. I promise to bring my team spirit to City Council Chambers. that the documents and information she released were not subject to the protections of the Brown Act. It was approved . Jul 18, 2022 - Aug 12, 2022. A crowded field of nearly 20 candidates is fighting for two four-year terms on the council and one two-year term to finish out the remainder of Mayor Dan Bane’s term. “This is trial by sabotage…Laura Ferguson, Mayor Pro Tem has due process rights that have been violated left and right.” Malamud said. Have an opinion on this story? Employer / Organization. Dana Point City Council meets Tuesday December 1 2020 at 6:00pm. Both had … I support creation of a Local Coastal Plan so citizens who live in the Coastal Zone can have permits approved in San Clemente and not go through the more difficult permit approval process at the state level. This is about protecting our city. Send us a secure news tip. How can I obtain an agenda, administrative report, or minutes of the City Council Meetings? Next Election. “When you look around and everyone around you is the problem, sometimes you have to look in the mirror.”, “To be clear, this is not a First Amendment issue. Rancho Santa Margarita. Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News. Nearly 20 candidates are running for office on the San Clemente City Council, setting up a crowded race that will determine the future political balance of what has been a divided council. Give Gene a Call. The censure complaint, which was brought forward by Councilwoman Kathy Ward, took issue with a variety of decisions made by Ferguson over the past two years, but specifically pointed at over half a dozen instances where she publicly criticized city staff and the city manager. The Race for City Council. Altogether, the process is set to cost the city at least $3,000 in legal fees. “My first concern is that Mayor Pro Tem Ferguson has interfered in the power and duties of the city manager,” Ward said. “They violated my constitutional rights, and nothings’ going to change that. The meeting swiftly turned sour, when the rest of the council voted unanimously to remove Ferguson as chair for the hearing and replace her with Councilman Gene James to oversee the discussion in the first vote of the evening. At one point, the conversation broke down into a shouting match between Malamud, Hamm, and James, when James ruled that Malamud could not call witnesses to discuss the accusations against Ferguson. Agendas, agenda packets and minutes are available on line from the City's website. I support creation of a Local Coastal Plan so citizens who live in the Coastal Zone can have permits approved in San Clemente and not go through the more difficult permit approval process at the state level. Paid for by Gene James for City Council 2020 ID# 1413366. How can I express my opinion on an upcoming Council agenda item? and releasing public records to the public. He has taken the time to learn about the issues that matter to the community of San Clemente. After suggestions by city attorney Scott Smith, council members’ final censure focused on Ferguson’s criticisms of city staff but not the city manager, who Smith said was a public official and could be criticized by council members as a First Amendment right. I’m deeply troubled by the issues raised by Councilwoman Ward, we can’t just ignore them,” James said. Orange City Council District 3: Danett Abbott-Wicker. Message us via our website form or staff page. Tyler cares about this community and shows it through his involvement in Rotary and his participation as a City Council appointed member of the Human Affairs Committee. The physical address of the FPPC is 428 J Street, Suite 620, Sacramento, California 95814. Representing the City by serving on regional and County committees and boards whose policies may affect South San Francisco. She also criticized city staff for putting up a fence along the beachfront as a response to the homelessness crisis, a sign that also triggered a local protest where eight people were arrested. Malamud, one of Ferguson’s two attorneys present at the meeting, repeatedly called the proceedings a “kangaroo court,” and took aim at the fact that the city’s lack of rules surrounding the censure process, claiming it would all be thrown out in court if the censure was appealed. City Council Member at City of San Clemente Orange County, California Area 500+ connections. Why should I apologize?” Ferguson said. My experience, along with my knowledge of our City and its issues, will help me navigate the challenges that lie ahead. City Council Candidate. San Clemente.