Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007

Modesto council may change wording of City Hall measure

Modesto City Council members today can take another crack at adjusting a ballot measure designed to make them more accountable to voters, but this time with an eye on making the initiative as understandable as possible.

The council a week ago asked Santa Rosa attorney Richard Rudnansky to review the "Accountability in City Hall Measure of 2008," which the council has voted to send to the February ballot.

Rudnansky didn't criticize the language the council approved, but he said the council can revise it for "style and preference."

City Attorney Susana Alcala Wood wrote the first draft by trying to describe the eight ways the measure would change Modesto's charter within a 75-word limit. The council approved it unanimously Oct. 9. Councilwoman Kristin Olsen missed the meeting and did not vote.

Some of its points appeared vague and were criticized by members of the volunteer group that studied city government for more than a year and recommended the concepts identified in the accountability measure.

Its most significant charter changes include:

• Mandating the mayor's early involvement in city budget planning
• Appointing a commission to review salaries for the mayor and council
• Requiring the council to hire an independent auditor

Rudnansky is scheduled today to give the council two new ways to phrase the ballot language. One follows the course Wood used for the first draft; the other describes the measure in a more general sense.

Rudnansky's first alternative reads:

"Shall Modesto City Charter be amended for more city government accountability to include:

"Citizen commission to publicly recommend council compensation;

"New mayoral powers and responsibilities to improve accountability;

"City auditor as charter officer with specified duties;

"Revised budget process with priorities;

"Policy statements used in annual evaluations of charter officers and department heads;

"Potential new disciplinary authority for specified employees; and

"Designation of certain employees, including deputy directors and deputy attorneys as unclassified employees?"

Rudnansky's second alternative reads:

"Consistent with the recommendations in 'Accountability in City Hall Measure of 2008,' shall Modesto City Charter be amended to increase city government accountability and council oversight of a variety of matters; ensure the mayor and council members have an active role in establishing city budget and other decision-making processes consistent with council-established priorities; create a commission to recommend council compensation; create an independent city auditor's office; and define specified employees as unclassified employees?' "

The meeting will be held at 2 p.m. in council chambers, 1010 Tenth St.

Bee staff writer Adam Ashton can be reached at aashton@modbee.com or 578-2366.