Monday Morning Bullpen: Relax on Item 3B

Today’s meeting is the last City Council meeting of the year, but that doesn’t mean the City Council or its subcommittees are avoiding deep waters this week.

For my money, two of the three biggest items are coming out of the City Council.

The third one comes out of the City Council’s Municipal Services Committee.

Let’s do the City Council first.

Some background info, my phone started blowing up on Friday as it usually does to some degree when eagle-eyed locals begin reading the Council agenda.

Item 3b is the one that raised eyebrows. That resolution would allow Interim City Manager Cynthia Kurtz to hire CalPERS retirees as interim police chief, interim human resources Director and interim director at water and power.

The concern came from supporters of Deputy Chief Cheryl Moody, who many believe will be the next interim chief. Moody certainly has been speaking for the department regarding the spike in violence.

Taking a deep dive into the language of the staff report — again you have to read them — it appears the resolution is just about keeping all the options open at this point.

Here’s some key information on the item from Monday’s agenda.

“A possible source for an interim appointment is a retiree who has the requisite experience to hit the ground running upon appointment.”

Key words: “Possible source.”

The agenda also says that if a retiree is not chosen, the resolution is null and void. Again, it’s an option.

This item is not just about the interim police chief. The resolution also allows Kurtz to appoint CalPERS retirees as interim heads of PWP and Human Resources.

Of course, I’m not the interim city manager, and yes you should be happy I’m not, but this is about flexibility.

Also, keep in mind Kurtz is only appointing interim department heads to fill vacant positions. She is not hiring permanent replacements.

There are too many vacant positions that carry a lot of responsibility day to day and those positions have to be filled with experienced people quickly so that the city can continue to provide services to local residents. All avenues have to be open.

By the way, because someone always says it, no, the City Council cannot direct Kurtz who to hire.

Section 411 (b) of the City Charter prohibits the City Council from interfering with the administrative service under the City Manager, including not attempting to direct or influence subordinates.

That created a disparity between CalPERS rules, which requires the appointee be approved by the City Council, and the City Charter which gives the City Manager the power to hire all but the Big 3: City Attorney, City Clerk and of course the City Manager.

The two sides talked and here we are.

I appreciate the phone calls, but relax and let them do the business under the dome. There will be plenty of time and space to question and examine the final decisions.

The next item to watch is police cameras.

I still think this one is a no-brainer. The cameras automatically come on when police officers draw their weapons providing more accountability.

Calling in and saying vote no on every action that allows police officers to do their job, while at the same time providing more accountability, is not activism.

You can believe in law and order and believe in police accountability.

Finally, at Municipal Services Committee, the leaf blower ordinance is up for discussion.

The ordinance would ban gasoline-powered two-stroke leaf blowers at its meeting Monday.

Two-stroke engines lack an independent lubrication system so the fuel has to be mixed with oil. It takes about four ounces of oil per every gallon of gas to run the engine, but all of that oil does not combust properly resulting in the release of air pollutants escaping from the engine in large quantities.

Earlier this year, the city of South Pasadena voted to prohibit gas-powered leaf blowers effective Oct. 1, 2022. The citywide prohibition also bans that city’s use of leaf blowers and places the onus on the property owner who authorized the work.

That ordinance is included in Tuesday’s agenda.

Monday Morning Bullpen is printed every Monday when the City Council is scheduled to meet.