CHARTER PANEL OKS PROPOSAL; ELECTED GROUP WILL BACK UNIFIED DRAFT.Byline: Rick Orlov Orlov (Орлóв) is the name of a Russian noble family which produced several distinguished statesmen, diplomatists and soldiers. The family first gained distinction in the person of four Orlov brothers, of whom the senior was Catherine the Great's Daily News Staff Writer After 20 months of deliberations, hearings and controversy, the elected Charter Reform Commission on Saturday Saturday: see week; Sabbath. agreed to back a unified proposal pending before the Los Angeles City Council  The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States. . After a four-hour meeting and a 12-0 vote, commission Chairman Erwin Chemerinsky Erwin Chemerinsky (born 1953) is a well-known professor of Constitutional law and federal civil procedure, has recently accepted a position at the University of California, Irvine, in the new Donald Bren School of Law, beginning in 2009. declared, ``We did it,'' and the group broke out in a round of self-congratulatory applause. However, the commission's approval contained a clause that it would back the measure only if the City Council approves placing it on the June 8 ballot without major changes by Wednesday. The council is expected to approve the package, without alterations, on Tuesday. ``It is not a matter of distrust,'' Commissioner Bill Weinberger said. ``If we didn't trust the council, we wouldn't have approved this at all.'' Commissioner Janice Hahn Janice Hahn is a member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 15th district. Hahn was elected in 2001 and reelected in 2005, running unopposed. The 15th District encompasses the Los Angeles communities of Watts, Wilmington, Harbor Gateway, Harbor City, Athens on the referred to the clause as ``a contingency plan A plan involving suitable backups, immediate actions and longer term measures for responding to computer emergencies such as attacks or accidental disasters. Contingency plans are part of business resumption planning. .'' The final proposal gives the mayor more authority in hiring and firing department heads and general managers, as well as in serving as executive of the city. The council would have a more strictly legislative role as well as overseeing departments. The proposal removes several departments from the City Charter so the council could make changes more easily. It also calls for the creation of an Office of Neighborhood Empowerment em·pow·er tr.v. em·pow·ered, em·pow·er·ing, em·pow·ers 1. To invest with power, especially legal power or official authority. See Synonyms at authorize. 2. to develop a series of advisory neighborhood councils Neighborhood councils are governmental or non-governmental bodies composed of local people who handle neighborhood problems. They can be found in many cities throughout the world. around the city. The proposal presents two amendments to voters to decide whether to increase the 15-member council to either 21 or 25 members. The meeting on Saturday was longer than expected because of a nearly two-hour, closed-door session to discuss negotiations with city unions. The session was required because of changes the proposal makes in working conditions. There was a brief discussion about opening up the proposal to make more minor changes, but Chemerinsky talked commissioners out of it. ``At some point we have to let go,'' Chemerinsky said. ``We have left archives of our deliberations, and it will be up to people in the future to make corrections.'' But he noted the elected commission will remain impaneled until June 15 - a week after the election - when it can make further recommendations, which would have to be placed before voters. The panel could also start working on another charter if this one is rejected by voters. Chemerinsky also said the commission will continue working until the election to discuss other issues that could lead to amendments to place before voters after the election. |
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