November 04, 2009
El Centro Voters Approve Measure G
The city of El Centro will adopt a charter form of government after voters in that city approved Measure G in yesterday's election.
The passage of Measure G will mean a major change in the way the city of El Centro is governed. The charter form of government will give the city its own "constitution" that would guide city officials in governing the city. The passage of Measure G will mean a major change in the way the city of El Centro is governed. According to the California League of Cities website, cities not governed by a charter are called "general law" cities, and are governed by state and federal statutes. Currently, out of 478 cities in California, 112 are charter cities.
Voter turnout was light. Only 2,440 voters weighed in on Measure G, with 1,473 people voting “Yes” and 967 people voting “No”. There are over 45,000 people who live in the city. According to the Imperial County Registrar of Voter's office, only 19 percent of registered voters in the county voted in the election.
The primary difference between a charter city and a general law city is the city itself will now have the ultimate authority over what are called "municipal affairs". City charter law covering a municipal affair would supersede state law on the same subject. General law cities must follow the state law with respect to municipal affairs.
Some areas that a charter would dictate policy for the city include local election laws, land use and zoning, expenditure of tax dollars, and the bidding process for municipal contracts.
While El Centro voters wanted to change the way the city is governed, they also wanted to keep the people who are currently in office in the same positions.The vote now means that the city will not necessarily have to pay what is called “prevailing wage” to contractors on city projects that are funded solely with local tax dollars. The prevailing wage is the basic hourly wage paid on public works projects to a majority of workers in a particular occupation. It is used to ensure that a contractor's ability to get bids for public works projects is not based on paying lower wage rates than a competitor. All bidders are required to use the same wage rate when bidding on public works projects. California law requires that if a charter is not in place, a prevailing wage must be paid to workers on public works projects.
While El Centro voters wanted to change the way the city is governed, they also wanted to keep the people who are currently in office in the same positions. Both Ben Solomon and Cheryl Viegas-Walker both won re-election to seats on the El Centro City Council. Viegas-Walker got 33 percent with 1,343 votes and Solomon received 35 percent of the vote with 1,435. Challenger Jason Jackson just missed unseating one of the incumbents. He took 30 percent with 1,237 ballots cast
In the Brawley City Council race, Imperial County Workforce Development Director Sam Couchman took the most votes. Couchman got 1,308 votes for 42 percent of the total. In a mild upset, Miguel Miranda took the second seat with 1,028 votes for 33 percent of the vote. Former Brawley City Councilperson Toni Carrillo finished third with 697 votes for 23 percent of the vote.
For a complete look at the Nov. 3 election at the Imperial County Registrar of Voter's Web site, click HERE.
The passage of Measure G will mean a major change in the way the city of El Centro is governed. The charter form of government will give the city its own "constitution" that would guide city officials in governing the city. The passage of Measure G will mean a major change in the way the city of El Centro is governed. According to the California League of Cities website, cities not governed by a charter are called "general law" cities, and are governed by state and federal statutes. Currently, out of 478 cities in California, 112 are charter cities.
Voter turnout was light. Only 2,440 voters weighed in on Measure G, with 1,473 people voting “Yes” and 967 people voting “No”. There are over 45,000 people who live in the city. According to the Imperial County Registrar of Voter's office, only 19 percent of registered voters in the county voted in the election.
The primary difference between a charter city and a general law city is the city itself will now have the ultimate authority over what are called "municipal affairs". City charter law covering a municipal affair would supersede state law on the same subject. General law cities must follow the state law with respect to municipal affairs.
Some areas that a charter would dictate policy for the city include local election laws, land use and zoning, expenditure of tax dollars, and the bidding process for municipal contracts.
While El Centro voters wanted to change the way the city is governed, they also wanted to keep the people who are currently in office in the same positions.The vote now means that the city will not necessarily have to pay what is called “prevailing wage” to contractors on city projects that are funded solely with local tax dollars. The prevailing wage is the basic hourly wage paid on public works projects to a majority of workers in a particular occupation. It is used to ensure that a contractor's ability to get bids for public works projects is not based on paying lower wage rates than a competitor. All bidders are required to use the same wage rate when bidding on public works projects. California law requires that if a charter is not in place, a prevailing wage must be paid to workers on public works projects.
While El Centro voters wanted to change the way the city is governed, they also wanted to keep the people who are currently in office in the same positions. Both Ben Solomon and Cheryl Viegas-Walker both won re-election to seats on the El Centro City Council. Viegas-Walker got 33 percent with 1,343 votes and Solomon received 35 percent of the vote with 1,435. Challenger Jason Jackson just missed unseating one of the incumbents. He took 30 percent with 1,237 ballots cast
In the Brawley City Council race, Imperial County Workforce Development Director Sam Couchman took the most votes. Couchman got 1,308 votes for 42 percent of the total. In a mild upset, Miguel Miranda took the second seat with 1,028 votes for 33 percent of the vote. Former Brawley City Councilperson Toni Carrillo finished third with 697 votes for 23 percent of the vote.
For a complete look at the Nov. 3 election at the Imperial County Registrar of Voter's Web site, click HERE.