[SDCBC] Fw: Rules Committee Charter change proposals

[J. W. Stump]

Rules Committee Charter change proposalsFrom: Carolyn Chase 
To: Chris Cameron 
Cc: SHPeters at sandiego.gov ; JMadaffer at sandiego.gov ; Brian Maienschein ; anthonyyoung at sandiego.gov ; donnafrye at sandiego.gov 
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 9:45 AM
Subject: Rules Committee Charter change proposals


RE: Rules Committee Agenda for Weds Sept 19, 2007


ITEM-1: Discussion of PROPOSED BALLOT MEASURES Submitted by Members of the
Public and Independent Departments for Placement on the February 2008 Ballot




Due to a prior commitment, I cannot attend the Rules Committee meeting.


Please consider the following suggestions.


With respect to Mr. Stumps proposals. I strongly urge you to support the proposal entitled,
"Increase City Transparency for Public; Employees must be truthful."


I know that you like to believe that employees always do tell the truth. But I feel it's my duty to inform you that sometime they feel that they cannot and then they do not. I have had the unfortunate experience while a Planning Commissioner of having to go back and see exactly where in a hearing I was misinformed. Sadly I must conclude that there should be some requirement in the Charter to tell the truth to help overcome the day-to-day pressures to produce a certain result that requires suppression of politically incorrect information. Employees must be able to point to the Charter to defend any displeasure that comes from honestly responding to questions from the Council or the public.


In addition to requiring prices for copying by public to be "comparable with the private market," I'd like to suggest that this proposal also require that copies be made available in electronic format if the City has electronic copies. In addition, I've had to copy some City document recently at private rates and I would like to inform you that the City's indiscriminate use of color and allowing such indiscriminate use of color by its consultants has led to the creation of documents that are now inordinately expensive to copy at any rates. The City should require all consultants to provide alternative copies that allow for less expensive copying. Just one binder I had copied cost $250. Another cost $100. Yes most documents are available online, but we are not yet to the point where this is a substitute for being able to print out reasonable quality black/white copy.


I support putting recycling into the City Charter. There's lots of talk about sustainability and reducing waste, but experience shows that talk is cheap and requirements matter.


As to the Mandatory Recycling Ordinance proposal, it directs the Council to "adopt a mandatory recycling ordinance" requiring "residents and businesses to recycle to the maximum extent practical and feasible."


I'm concerned that this language would not require recycling in public areas in private locations such as shopping malls and SeaWorld. Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't, but I want to make you aware that this is an issue that the Mayor's proposal is declining to address and I want to make sure that it gets addressed.


I'm also concerned that voters will not want to vote for a new fee without knowing how much it would be. It would be a shame to place such an important ballot measure before voters without knowing what it would take to ensure it passes.


Thanks for considering this input.


Carolyn Chase
Pacific Beach

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