Council Issues

City Council annual mayoral rotation:
Is Mr. Hernandez denial of holding the position of Mayor just or legal?
Many of the resident of West Covina argued that Mr. Hernandez should assume the
 mayoral position because he had been passed over in the council’s normal rotation
 without ever being charged or convicted of any crime. The District Attorney’s Office
 has stated that there is no legal reason why Mr. Hernandez cannot assume this position. 

On November 18, 2008 Councilman Roger Hernandez became the new mayor of
West Covina, after being passed over for the position twice. Mr. Hernandez is also the youngest person to hold this position in West Covina.

A New Initiative Measure for Councilmanic District Submitted
Resident wish to establish Councilmanic District in West Covina. The City of West Covina approved an initiative measure to start a petition within West Covina to establish Councilmanic District. Residents to start circulating petition.

 A legal notice has bee posted in the legal section of SGV Tribune.
Ccirculation of the petition started, Sunday, December 14, 2008.
Per California election Code Section 9207:
    The proponents may commence to circulate their petition among the registered
    voters of the City by any registered voter of the City (see case of
    Shorecliff Homeowners v. City of San Clemente for the constitutional status
    in the State of California on residency and the petition circulators) after
    publication.

Why a Councilmanic District Petition?

The reason is revealed when West Covina residents have an issue that is under local Government control and they go to City Council meetings and City Hall to find out what is the issue. After attending numerous City Council meetings we might have concluded:

• The residents of West Covina are Under Represented!
• How to acquire a more fair and equal Voice/Plea to City Hall for governance and City resources?
• Geographically, Financially or Socially we all want to have fair and equal representation! North, East, South and West, no matter where you live or who you are in West Covina, you will have improved representation.
• How did we get into City contracts that are reminiscent of Indentured Servitude? Seven (7) and 14 years of dedication from the residents and City (plus an Evergreen Clause) to a particular company(s); bound by the owner of the contracts decisions and method of operation!
• How do we stop our City from being used as a Financial Tool by some companies and some of our representatives (conflict of interest)?
• How do we stop our parks and green spaces from being sold, devalued, defaced and used for commercial use and personal enrichment by some of our representatives?
• 57.1 Million Dollars of mortgage debt for six (6) beer league baseball fields?
• How do we obtain more transparency from West Covina Government? How do we restore the live broadcasts and internet access of the West Covina City Council meetings?
• How do we make our representatives more accountable and more mindful of fiduciary responsibility?
• How to improve the interaction, inclusiveness, participation and trust between the residents and their local Government?
• How do we get the young, the old and most if not all the residents excited, proud, intuitive and working together for a better West Covina!

Listed above are only a few reasons for Councilmanic Districts, please look around there are many more reasons why West Covina needs Councilmanic Districts.

INITIATIVE MEASURE (AT LARGE vs DISTRICTS)

PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE OF CITY COUNCIL

On April 21, 2009 the City Council received a Certificate of Sufficiency from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. This Certificate certified the signatures on a petition to establish Councilmanic District within West Covina. This Petition was signed by at least 14% of the registered voters of West Covina. On May 5, 2009, the City Council voted 5-0 to submit the initiative to the voters, with out alteration at the next regular election, schedule for November 3,2009. A preliminary report prepared by the city staff pointed out the following points:

1. Fiscal Impact?    Could not be determined at this time.

2. Effects on City’s General & Specific Plans?  No effects identified.

3. Effect on Land Use/Housing Needs?  No effects identified.

4. Impact On Funding of Infrastructure All Types?  No effects identified.

5. Impact on Business & Employment?  No effects identified.

6. Impact on vacant land?   No effects identified.

7. Impact on open spaces, Traffic, & Business Districts? No effects identified.

8. Procedure to fill council set if no candidate runs in district? Per Election Code Section 10229, Council may appoint any eligible elector

Ref: MEMORANDUM AGENDA ITEM G-1, May 5,2009

Ref: MEMORANDUM AGENDA ITEM G-1, June 2,2009

To see the complete / unaltered initiative, click on the following: Petition12-11-08.doc

 
One council member lives in area A.
Four council member live in area B.
With over 90% of the population living out side this area, is there true representation in the council for all.
Would district be a better option for equal representation?

All but one of the councilmen is located in the South Hills area. The four members appear to vote against issues that negatively impact this area and approve issues that negatively impact outside this area. Examples of this are the attempt to sell park property is the Woodside Village area to developers for multi-unit development. The same Council purchased a section of land, now known as Ridge Rider Park, to prevent multi-unit development in the back yard of one of the councilman. The present council also went against their own Planning Commission's denial of a developer desire to build Town homes in a single family /single story residential area, and granted the approval. This is a classic case of NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) so lets put it in someone else's back yard.
Although it is felt that the present council has done a good job in the past, it is the present and future out look of the city that is of concern. The present city council appears to ignore the request of communities where there is a low voter turn out. It a system of take care of those who put you in office and to whom ever provides the most political contributions.
The West Covina councilmanic district plan, is just, fair and provides all residents with equal and improved representation. There are currently 105,080 residents in West Covina, per the 2000 census. By creating districts for each of the five City Council seats, the ordinance will allow 20% of the electorate in any proposed district of the City to have a greater representation in the political process of West Covina.
The proposed ordinance will reduce the distance between the average resident and his/her City Council member. Political consultants indicate that the closer an elected official is to his/her constituents, the better the representation. This ordinance will give residents of all districts equal representation for their diverse interests. The passage of this ordinance will encourage capable candidates, familiar with their own neighborhoods( challenges and idiosyncrasies, to bring comprehensive ideas to the West Covina City Council.
This ordinance will reduce the amount of money spent by City Council candidates. They will only need to obtain the votes of one-fifth the number of voters currently required by the at-large system. The present City Council members will remain in office for the duration of their current terms and will be free to run again to represent their own districts.
As West Covina continues to grow, this ordinance will allow the City Council to reapportion the districts so that each Council Member will continue to serve nearly the same number of constituents.
Your support in creating individual City Council districts will insure that the City of West Covina is in complete compliance with Federal Voting Rights Act (U.S. Code: Title 42: Section 1973), improve representation and accountability for all residents of West Covina.
See the attached map for the proposed councilmanic districts