Two ballot initiatives make November cut

For voters who take politics seriously, this November portends to be a busy one.

In addition to the presidential election, which could be a historic one if the nation elects the first woman as the leader of the free world, there is also the U.S. Senate campaign race to replace four-term Sen. Barbara Boxer, plus a variety of congressional races.

And then there’s local politics.

Two ballots initiatives will be part of a special election in Culver City, including a ballot measure that would reconfigure a portion of the city’s charter, which was revamped and approved 10 years ago. The City Council voted to approve the measures for the Nov. 8 election on July 11, setting the stage for Culver City to equal or exceed its highest vote total in modern history, which it reached on the April 12 municipal election at 23%.

Perhaps the most noteworthy measure is a proposal to allow the city manager to select the heads of the police and fire departments— a duty that is currently under the city council’s purview. When the new charter was approved and Culver City switched from a chief administrative officer form of government to a city manager style of governance, the city manager was given the authority to appoint all department heads with the exception of the city attorney and police and fire chiefs.

Previous councils have been criticized for choosing certain police chiefs in the past, and allowing the city manager, who is in charge of the city’s day to day municipal functions, to select the public safety chiefs would ostensibly take politics out of the selections.

On the other hand, cities across the nation are reluctant to release civilian authority over police budgets and who leads their law enforcement agencies.

“The city manager is far more aware of what’s going on with a police or fire chief than we are,” said Mayor Jim Clarke after the meeting.

Voters will also have the opportunity in the fall to vote on a parcel tax to pay for necessary stormwater infrastructure.

But proposals to change term limits for members of the council from two terms to three and disallow a member of the council who has resigned from the city governing body to run for a council for two years were rescinded in the face of opposition by some members of the audience.

According to city staff report, private citizens, selected members of the council and civic organizations will be allowed to submit arguments for or against each ballot proposal.

City officials are seeking to consolidate the special election with the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder’s office at a cost of $100,000.

At the July 25 meeting, the council will hear details regarding how commercial properties will be assessed for the parcel tax. It is estimated that homeowners will pay $99 a year.

Gary Walker contributed to this story.