Honorable Mayor and City Council From
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STAFF REPORT TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: MARTIN D. KOCZANOWICZ, CITY ATTORNEY SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF POLICY FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF "MAYOR EMERITUS" TITLE BACKGROUND At the July 6 and August 17. 2009 Council meetings, the possibility of establishing a Mayor Emeritus title was agendized for discussion. Shortly before the August meeting Council received a request from a proponent of the potential policy, withdrawing his request for consideration. Council tabled the item. Recently Council has again asked to have the matter agendized for further discussion. Attached to this staff report are the prior staff reports and research materials obtained by staff at that time. (Attachment 1) By agendizing the item for this meeting, the Council may discuss the proposed policy and, depending on the outcome of such discussion, provide additional direction to staff. DISCUSSION As a summary of prior research the title of "Emeritus" is generally associated with the field of academia. According to a dictionary definition, it is an adjective that is used in the title of a retired professor, bishop or other professional. The term is used when a person of importance in a given profession retires, so that his/her former rank can still be used in his/her title. This is particularly useful when establishing the authority of a person who might comment, lecture or write on a particular subject. The word originated in the mid-18th century from Latin as the past participle of emereri, meaning to "earn ones discharge by service". It is customarily bestowed by educational institutions on retiring/retired faculty members or administrators in recognition of their long-term service. Included in Attachment 1 are a couple of Academic Policies that set forth the processes and requirements connected to the title. The title of Mayor Emeritus has been adopted by a few cities in California and other states. Among them are the Cities of Camarillo, Lancaster (Henry Hearns 20 years), San Leandro(20 years of service), Pico Rivera (Garth Gardner 8 years of service), Los Angeles (only for Mayor Bradley who served 5 terms and is now deceased), Novato (for Ernie Grey after 20 years of public service and 4 terms as mayor), Glendora (16 years of service), Gardena, Santa Clarita, and as far back as the 1940s for Samuel Carson after apparently 50 years of public service for Jamestown. Also included in Attachment 1 is a list of Grover Beach public officials with their dates of service. APPROVED FOR FORWARDING Please Review for the Possibility of a Ps>tential Conflict of Interest: ~ None Identified by Staff 0 Lee o Peterson 0 Marshall o Bright 0 Nicolls BER ERRAULT CITY MANAGER Meeting Date: July 15. 2013 Agenda Item No. ___ Staff Report: Mayor Emeritus Page 2 July 15, 2013 If the City Council wishes to explore the policy of a Mayor Emeritus title further, there are certain concerns that should be considered. Would this be an ad hoc appointment without any criteria and simply on the vote of the Council? If not, what criteria would entitle someone to request or be given such title? Would it be subject to appOintment for consideration by a Council Member, or could someone simply request to be considered? Would the bearer of such title have any official or other function in the absence of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem? Would he or she be entitled to the use of City letterhead and how would the content of his or her letters be monitored? Staff is concerned that unless objective criteria is established, the policy would be difficult to administer and would potentially put the Council in a position of being accused of "playing favorites" if one applicant is granted the title and not another. ALTERNATIVES The City Council has the following alternatives to consider: 1. Receive the staff report and public comment; based on majority vote, provide additional direction to staff for future agenda placement. 2. Receive the staff report and public comment and choose to take no further action regarding the concept of establishing a Mayor Emeritus policy without further direction to staff. RECOMMENDED ACTION It is recommended that Council consider the staff report and any testimony from the public and by majority vote provide direction to staff. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION The agenda was posted in accordance with the Brown Act. Attachments 1. Prior staff reports and excerpts of meeting minutes (July 6 and August 17, 2009) and excerpt of minutes of June 8, 2009. Attachment 1 STAFF REPORT TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: MARTIN D. KOCZANOWICZ, CITY ATTORNEY SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF ESTABLISHING A MAYOR EMERITUS TITLE AND/OR POSITION AND RELATED POLICIES BACKGROUND At the first meeting In June, the City Council directed staff to agendize an item for discussion and consideration which would explore the possibility of establishing a position or title of "Mayor Emeritus". Staff was to conduct research regarding such position being utilized in the public agency arena and report to the Council. By agendizing the item, the Council may discuss the potential position and, depending upon the outcome of such discussion, provide additIonal direction to staff. DISCUSSION The "Emeritus" title is generally associated with the field of academia. According to a dictionary definition, it Is an adjective that is used in the title of a retired professor, bishop or other professional. The term is used when a person of importance in a given profession retires, so that his/her former rank can stili be used in his/her title. This is particularly useful when establishing the authority of a person who might comment, lecture or write on a particular subject. The word originated in the mid-18th century from Latin as the past partiCiple of emereri, meaning to "earn one's discharge by service. It Is customarily bestowed on retiring/retired faculty members or administrators In recognition of their long-term service. Included with the staff report as Attachment 1 are a couple of Academic Policies that set forth the processes and requirements connected to the title. The tile of Mayor Emeritus has been adopted by a number of cities In California and other states. Among them are the Cities of Camarillo, San Leandro, Pico Rivera, Los Angeles (apparently only for Mayor Bradley who served 5 terms and is now deceased), Novato (for Ernie Grey after 20 years of public service and 4 terms as mayor); Gardena, Santa Clarita, and as far back as the 1940s for Samuel Carson after apparently 50 years of public service for Jamestown. APPROVED FOR FORWARDING Please Review for the Possibility of a Potential Conflict of Interest: i:!l'None Identified by Staff CI Bright CI Shoals CI Mires CI Nicolls CI Peterson ROBERT PERRAULT CITY MANAGER Meeting Date: .,~r;/ Staff Report: Discussion of Mayor Emaritus Position Page 2 July 6,2009 Staff has reviewed Agenda Report and minutes from a meeting of the Camarillo City Council, regarding the bestowing of the Mayor Emeritus title on a particular Individual. The main concern expressed by some of the Council Members was the consistency in criteria or policy that would need to be adopted if such title was to be granted by the Council. The Council voted 3-2 to bestow the title on this particular individual, without establishing any policies or criteria for such actions in the future. (Attachment 2) If the City Council wishes to explore the idea of a Mayor Emeritus title further, and if the bearer of such title is to have any official function either in absence of the Mayor' and Mayor Pro Tem, or otherwise, staff recommends that further research be conducted regarding the validity of such functions in a Jurisdiction where the Mayor is elected rather than appointed by the Council. As of the date of this report, no data or precedence was revealed by research. ALTERNATIVES The City Council has the following alternatives to consider: 1. Receive the staff report and, based on consensus, provide additional direction to staff for further research and/or future agenda placement. 2. Receive the staff report and choose to abandon the concept of Mayor Emeritus without further direction to staff. RECOMMENDED ACTION Staff recommends that the Council consider the staff report and choose the alternative that is desired by the majority of the Council. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION This Item was posted In accordance with the Brown Act. Attachments 1. Academic Policies 2. City of Camarillo Agenda documents HR Related Policies & Procedures Eff. Date: Ootober 22, 2004 Revised: FSU·HRPP 04:47 Emeritus Policy COVERED EMPLOYEES • Full-Time Administrative • FFA Faculty http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/administration/trustees/boardpolicy/6sub6·0.htm BOT POLICY Sec. 6-1103. Emeritus Pollcv. Full·time members of the University's faculty and/or administrative staff, who qualify for retirement under the regulations of any of the retirement plans offered by the University, will be retired with the emeritus title which conforms to the title held upon retirement, or other appropriate title. In addition, the President of the University may, at his/her discretion, recommend to the Board any other members of the faculty, administration, or staff be awarded the emeritus title. The emeritus title involves no duties and provides no stipend. A person who holds the emeritus title is entitled to attend all appropriate assemblies with voice but without vote, to march in academic processions such as commencements, and to receive other courtesies and privileges that may be determined from time to time by the Board. The President, or his or her designee, will develop appropriate procedures for the administration of this subpart.