HomeMy Public PortalAbout2004-106 (06-15-04)RESOLUTION NO. 2004.106
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LYNWOOD ESTABLISHING A POLICY FOR ELECTRONIC
MEDIA ALLOWANCE
WHEREAS, the City of Lynwood is a public body, corporate and politic,
established as a General Law city (the "City") and is governed by an elected body of five
council members ("Council Members"); and
WHEREAS, the City of Lynwood manages its municipal affairs through
established agencies or corporate entities (all jointly referred to as the "Constituent
Entities") on which Council Members serve as directors, and said agencies are
dependencies of the City; and
WHEREAS, the responsibilities for the Council and Constituent Entities require
of Council Members the ability to maintain constant communications with city staff, the
ability to receive documentation at any time and wherever they travel, to monitor and
observe city services provided by franchisees of the city such as cable service providers;
and
WHEREAS, Council Members have access to a considerable amount of
resources through the League of California Cities web site but without the appropriate
means of access they are unable to maintain themselves informed about the present
budget issues, funding opportunities, extended education and learning possibilities. The
appropriate hardware and software will serve to open up these resources to the Council
Members and will make it possible, from time to time, for them to reduce related
expenditures such as travel or expenditures resulting from consultation with service
providers such as attorneys and other professionals; and
WHEREAS, over the years the Council has in practice and by action adopted a
number of procedures to assist in the performance of their obligations as elected officials
which practices to date have served current and prior councils in an adequate manner; and
WHEREAS, initial evaluation by staff of certain of the costs associated with the
provision of such items as cell telephone service clearly indicate that more economical
means to deliver a complete package for electronic media and telecommunications
service are available; and
WHEREAS, staff inquiries, reviews and audits of communication bills use staff
time that can be more productively dedicated to the service of residents and members of
the business community in Lynwood; and
WHEREAS, Council Members are aware that the setting of a flat communication
allowance may, at times, result in city-related expenses for which reimbursement may not
be obtained from the City, but Council Members are willing to trade the possible loss of
such reimbursement for the convenience of a flat communication allowance in order to
relieve staff from the accounting and inquiry effort, and disputes associated with what
may or may not be "city business" in determining what may be allowed as an expense
related to the city's business.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of
Lynwood hereby finds, orders and resolves as follows:
SECTION 1. The Council hereby adopts this resolution providing for a
communication allowance (the "Communication Allowance") to be paid to Council
Members to facilitate city operations and free staff to direct its energies to the service of
residents and the business community.
SECTION 2. The Communication Allowance shall permit the City to pay for the
items enumerated below and more specifically in Attachment "A" to this resolution. A
Council Member may decline any or all of the provisions contained in the
Communication Allowance:
A monthly payment not to exceed the sum of $400. This payment shall
be in lieu of the acquisition for a Council Member by the City of any
telephone, electronic and print media or other equipment except as
provided in this resolution, and the payment or reimbursement for any
telephone call, Internet access fees, or similar expenditures.
One fax machine to be located at the Council Member's principal
residence with a dedicated telephone line to be used for fax machine or
DSL service for computer access to the Internet. At no time will the City
pay for any use of the telephone line beyond the basic rate for DSL
service.
3. Council Members shall not be required to present any documentation for
payment of the sum set out above, other that to verify that they have obtained
appropriate equipment and service that will permit the City to reach the
Council Member with the utmost dispatch, and that will permit the Council
Member the ability to access the City's web site and communicate via email
with staff, council members and other entities and individuals providing
services to the City, as well as provide full Intemet access.
SECTION 3. It is the Council's intention in adopting this resolution to relieve
City staff of the review and audit function presently associated with expense
reimbursement requests from Council Members relative to media associated with Council
Member communications. Notwithstanding said intent, each Council Member shall
verify to the City not less than annually that he or she maintains the necessary telephonic
and electronic mail means of communications for which this allowance is provided.
SECTION 4. Council Members may elect to continue the practice of
reimbursement for actual expenses or subscribe to the policy provided for in this
Resolution. An election to subscribe to this Resolution shall preclude any future claim
for reimbursement of any costs associated with the items identified in this Resolution that
a Council Member incurs regardless of the reason for the disbursement.
SECTION 5. The provisions of this resolution shall in no way limit a Council
Member's choice of service, service provider, equipment, or media by which the
communications subject of this resolution may be accomplished.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this __ltl_th_ day of dune ., 2004.
ATTEST:
Andrea L. Hooper, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Amoldo Beltran, City Attorney
Section 1. That the City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this
Resolution and shall deliver a certified copy thereof in his own records.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 15th day of June 2004.
ATTEST:
ANDREA L. HOOPER, CITY CLERK
I certify that the above and foregoing Resolution No. 2004.106 was duly
adopted by the City of Lynwood at a regular meeting thereof held on the 15th day
of June 2004.
AYES: COUNCILMEN PEDROZA, RODRIGUEZ, SANTILLAN,
VASQUEZ AND BYRD
NONE
NONE
NONE
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT: