[OldNorth] Re: Sycamore/Cornell Q Zone Lessons

[Valerie Vann]

John Lofland wrote:
> 
> Even worse, the one Council member we can rather count on owns property in
> the Old North and cannot participate in Council decisions regarding our
> area. So, we are essentially without a Council person on our side. (Argument
> here for district elections?)
> 

I'm beginning to have a real problem with the above, both for council
members and city staff. 

What actually is the rule on "conflict of interest"? 

I can see a need for recusal if the council is voting on a property
that belongs to a member (council or staff), or within the 500 foot
notification limit even, so that the member could be assumed to have
a direct financial interest in the matter, but I really can't see it on 
issues affecting a whole neighborhood or district, just because 
the member lives there; still less if a meeting doesn't involve
a vote, but is a workshop, or for informational purposes, etc.

The same logic that is invoked against a member voting on 
an issue in their neighborhood would prevent anyone from voting
on an issue affecting the whole of Davis, if they live in Davis.

The problem I'm having is this: I vote for certain individuals because
I think they will support what is in my interest, as well as the
general public interest. But if the representatives I vote for
can't vote on those issues of most concern to me because they live
in the same neighborhood, what's the point of my supporting them
with my vote, etc.? They're forced into recusal when we need
them most. We end up NOT be represented by those we elected to
represent us.

So an issue can end up being voted on by members who would oppose
such an issue in their neighborhood, regardless of how our 
neighborhood (and a council member living here) feel about it.

In the current Council, one recusal is enough to lose a vote on
a crucial issue. We could be "strong supporters" of like minded
Council members, and what good would it do us? What would happen
if a whole council just all happened to live in the
same "neighborhood"? Flip a coin?

Similarly, it is ridiculous that a staff member can't attend
a meeting or make a staff presentation because of living in
the neighborhood in question, whether or not that person may
have more experience and expertise on the matter or not.

Maybe we do need district representation; or a bigger council,
so that where members live would be less important.  

Valerie Vann
valerie at vanngroup.com