Measure EE would clean up outdated language in Santa Ana’s charter, give the city attorney and city clerk limited spending authority, and give the city council the authority to adopt new rules for investigating ethics violations.

Official title on the ballot: Measure EE

Understanding Measure EE

Cities that have a charter, which is like a constitution for cities, can only amend that charter with majority approval by the city's voters. Many cities periodically review their charter to suggest changes such as removing outdated language and procedures, or to reflect new priorities.

Most of the amendments contained in Measure EE fall into the former category. For example, the measure calls for eliminating a section of the charter that calls for a capital improvements fund, in other words, money for maintenance, repairs and renovations of city property. The city currently already funds this kind of work through its regular budget and capital improvement plans go through the planning department and are reported to city council.

The amendment regarding purchasing power for the city clerk and city attorney would give these officers the ability to cut checks — within the limits of the city's purchasing policies — in the same way the city manager is currently able to cut checks up to $50,000 without getting prior approval from the city council.

Proponents say all of these changes will "save taxpayer time and money." Some other O.C. cities also give city officials besides city managers a spending threshold. For example, the city attorney in Huntington Beach can spend up to $100,000 on outside counsel without city council approval.

As for the ethics provision, the city's current charter calls for forming an ad hoc city council committee to study individual reports of ethics violations from certain city officers. For other types of city officials, the city manager reviews the alleged violation.

In her report on the charter amendments proposal to city council, City Attorney Sonia Carvalho said the idea of having an ad hoc committee to study individual ethics violations "seemed like a good idea in theory but there have been inefficiencies in practice."

The ethics amendment up for a vote in Measure EE would allow the city council to adopt a new process for investigating ethics violations.

The history behind it

Earlier this year, the city convened an ad hoc committee of three city council members to discuss potential tweaks to the city's charter. The amendments contained in Measure EE are a result of that work.

The Santa Ana City Council unanimously agreed to put the amendments on the Nov. 5 ballot.

What people who support it say

Councilmembers Thai Viet Phan and Phil Bacerra authored the official statement in support of the ballot measure. They said the proposed charter amendments would "modernize and clarify outdated provisions, ensure conformance with applicable law and practices, and save taxpayer time and money."

What people who oppose it say

There is no opposition on file.

Potential financial impact

None reported.

Further reading

Read the city attorney's impartial analysis of the measure and the argument in favor on the city's website.

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