MEETING MINUTES
CLOSED SESSION/SPECIAL MEETING
LIVINGSTON CITY COUNCIL
JUNE 17, 2011
A Closed Session/Special Meeting of the Livingston City Council was held on June 17, 2011, in the City Council Chambers with Mayor Espinoza presiding.
CLOSED SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Espinoza opened the meeting at 4 :30 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The pledge of allegiance to the flag was recited.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Rodrigo Espinoza
Mayor Pro-Tem Margarita Aguilar
Council Member Frank Vierra
Council Member Theresa Land
Council Member Gurpal Samra
CITIZEN COMMENTS
None.
CLOSED SESSION
The City Council subsequently adjourned to the City Hall Conference Room at 4:32 p.m. for Closed Session to discuss the following matters:
1. Public Employee Appointment
(Government Code Section 54957)
Title: City Manager
2. Conference with Labor Negotiator: City Attorney Jose M. Sanchez
Unrepresented Employee: City Manager
(Government Code Section 54957.6)
OPEN SESSION
The City Council came out of Closed Session and returned to the City Council Chambers into Open Session for continuance of the Special Meeting.
CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Espinoza reported that the City Manager recruitment had come to an end. The majority of the City Council had decided to appoint Jose Antonio Ramirez as the next City Manager of the City of Livingston. The vote was 4-1, with City Council Member Vierra voting “No.” Mayor Espinoza noted that Mr. Ramirez’s employment was contingent upon approval and execution of an employment agreement which would be considered under Discussion and Potential Action items.
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS
3. Agreement for Employment of City Manager. The City Council will consider approval of an Agreement for the Employment and Appointment of the City Manager.
City Attorney Jose Sanchez provided an overview of the process and the key points of the employment agreement. Mr. Sanchez noted that the agreement was not complete at the time of the agenda distribution, but was available at the meeting and to anyone who wished to obtain a copy.
Mayor Espinoza opened the meeting for public comments.
Community Development Department Director Donna Kenney welcomed the new City Manager on behalf of her department.
City Clerk Tony Silva welcomed Mr. Ramirez.
Interim City Manager Vickie Lewis welcomed Mr. Ramirez and stated she looked forward to working with him.
Katherine Schell Rodriguez, P.O. Box 163 wished Mr. Ramirez the best of luck and stated that her blog contained a lot of history on the City.
Mayor Espinoza welcomed Mr. Ramirez and stated it would be a relief to Vickie Lewis to have someone come in and ease the workload. In addition, Mr. Espinoza stated it would be sad to see Ms. Lewis leave.
Motion: M/S Land/Aguilar to approve the Agreement for Employment and Appointment of Jose Antonio Ramirez as the City Manager and authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement. The motion carried 4-1 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Council Members: Aguilar, Espinoza, Land, Samra
NOES: Council Members: Vierra
ABSENT: Council Members: None.
Jose Antonio Ramirez, thanked the City Council and stated that he was excited and honored for being selected as City Manager. He was also looking forward to working with the City Council and getting to know everyone.
Council Member Samra stated he was looking forward to working with Mr. Ramirez and welcomed him to the City. Mr. Samra added that Mr. Ramirez would be working with a great staff.
Mayor Pro-Tem Aguilar thanked Mr. Ramirez for applying for the City Manager’s position and that she was also looking forward to working with him.
Council Member Land welcomed Mr. Ramirez and stated she too looked forward to working with him.
Mr. Ramirez stated that he understood diversity and looked forward to working with everyone. He thanked the City Council again for entrusting him with leadership of the City.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 5:16 p.m.
______________________________
City Clerk of the City of Livingston
APPROVED: July 5, 2011
_____________________________
Mayor or Mayor ProTempore
The written meeting minutes reflect a summary of specific actions taken by the City Council. They do not necessarily reflect all of the comments or dialogue leading up to the action. All meetings are digitally recorded and are an official record of the meeting’s proceedings. Digitally recorded verbatim minutes are available, upon request, and may be obtained at Livingston City Hall.
