Are city council members more effective advocating for the city attending out-of-town conventions or actually voting on issues?
The absence of Fresno councilwoman Esmeralda Soria last Thursday spotlights the issue of council members missing votes.
David Taub
Opinion
Soria started Thursday on the dais. She left about 90 minutes later, not to return. She missed most votes on budget motions, as well as the regular agenda items.
Where was she?
Attending a National Association of Latino Elected Officials policy conference in Miami, representing the city.
Soria said that the final votes on the budget take place this Thursday. Her office said she could not catch a red-eye flight to Miami to allow her to stay longer at the council meeting.
On Facebook, Soria posted photos of herself and other Valley lawmakers smiling on the convention floor.
Not the Only One
Lest anyone think I’m picking on Soria, other city council members have missed all or parts of meetings
Nelson Esparza missed an important vote on an anti-panhandling ordinance in March because he left early for a scheduled trip out of town. At the time, Esparza noted that STOP ordinance was added with 72 hours’ notice.
Garry Bredefeld missed a May 2 meeting. He did not give a reason. However, he was able to have an important vote on regulating liquor licenses moved to a special meeting a day earlier so he could vote on it.
Council president Paul Caprioglio left the June 3 budget hearing after the lunch recess and didn’t return. He instead attended the televised town hall hearing of presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg at Fresno State.
Charter Vague on Council Responsibilities
To say, as I do, that council members have just one job — attend meetings — may not be technically accurate. That’s because the city’s charter is somewhat vague on the exact job duties.
The charter, which is the city’s version of the constitution, grants power to govern to the council. It says the council shall hold regular meetings, but it’s up to the body to decide when and how often.
There is nothing that dictates meeting with constituents, studying issues, walking the neighborhoods, or anything else a competent councilmember is expected to do.
However, there is a charter provision dictating meeting attendance. Removal is allowed if a member “is absent from the State without leave for more than sixty consecutive days, or fails (to) attend the meetings of the body of which he or she is a member for a like period without being excused therefrom by such body.”
But You Do Have One Job
So missing one meeting isn’t going to get a member removed.
But, the point is, you have one job — voting on issues.
To me, that trumps any reason to attend a meeting that takes you away from the chambers and that includes vacations.
In the past, Caprioglio missed meetings during the summer months. Members can still “attend” and vote at meetings remotely as long as it’s properly noticed. In Cap’s case, last year he attended the meeting via a Conoco gas station in Big Sky, Montana. He did the same in prior years as well. Theoretically, anyone can participate in the city council meetings at the same location.
I’m sure that would be a sight to see — Caprioglio handing over his cell phone so some vacationer filling up a gas tank in Montana can chime in on an issue during public comment.
But attending the meetings via conference call isn’t the same as being there live. Phone calls can be garbled or lost. Deliberation and debate are best done face to face.
No Excuses
Council meeting dates are set by the prior December. The council votes to approve those dates.
There’s no excuse for taking a vacation, or other avoidable absences, on council days. As you can see by clicking this link, the council schedule isn’t so taxing as to leave members without ample options.
For me, there are only three excuses allowable to miss a meeting: illness, family emergency, or military service.
Have an official conference out of town during a Thursday council meeting? Don’t go. Or arrive the next day. Attending to the people’s business is more important than attending a get-together in Sacramento, Washington, or Miami.
Want to take a vacation? Plan for it on a week the council isn’t meeting. You have plenty of time to book a room.
Have some other meeting you need to take on a Thursday? Book it for before, during the lunch break, or after the council meeting. And cancel it if city business runs long.
The city’s democracy depends on its elected leaders voting on issues. That gets lost when they don’t vote in person, or don’t show up at all.
And they just got a pay raise.
Let’s face it folks….these are politicians who are always moving their agenda ahead while building their base. Also, most people don’t pay attention to what our council members do at these meetings. Most people would not take time to watch the meetings as they air on CMAC. No, unless there is some furor over homelessness or gang shootings ‘we’ give the council members waaaaay too much license to go about the ‘people’s business’ while vacationing.
It seems her ‘AOC’ agendas take precedence over The City of Fresno! Either, you’re in our your out, and she has shown her colors, she needs to be recalled!
David Taub, I am generally a supporter of Council member Soria’s positions. I was at the City Council meeting on June 20, 2019, where a number of important budget issues were discussed. I was very angry when I saw her leaving before the vote on issues that were important to me. Her input on these issues would have been appreciated. She knew way in advance of the City Council meeting which should take precedence over any and all non-City political business.
So, again we have examples of our City Gov running amok. We threaten parents with court action if their children miss too many days or have unexcused absences. And I’ve never heard of a career or job simply accommodating an employee so that they can do their life and actively seek alternative employment. Literally we are paying for their actions to look for a different job that doesnt help us now at all. Our citizens are used for painting streets and background bodies for videos declaring their loyalty to us (fingers crossed behind back while speaking).
Shameful. No repercussions. I suppose they see criminals losing fear from obviously absent repercussions so why not.
So who is willing other than Slatic at Bullard is willing to stand up and say enough is enough. Those of you had your 15 minutes of running this town whether it be holding a school staff hostage via generous donations that may or may not be given if Becky (fictional name reference) doesnt get her way or passive aggressive for the people city representatives sit down. Times are changing and people are frustrated because you are effecting their pockets and their homes with all of your unreasonable actions. It’s time to truly stop bullying. Starting with the adults in city gov.