What Happened to the Council’s ‘Germane to the City’ Resolution of 2008?

To the editor:

In 2008, during the huge controversy over Proposition 8, the La Mesa City Council was approached by groups on both sides of the issue to put measures on the council agenda both supporting and opposing the proposition.

Battle lines were drawn, sides were taken—and things got ugly.

The debate churned for weeks until the City Council meeting where a decision had to be made. At that meeting, the mayor did what I feel was the only logical thing to do in light of the volatile situation: endorse neither and back away from the issue completely.

In the speech announcing that decision, the mayor said that he would pursue a resolution to limit the business of the City Council to things “germane to the operation of the city.”

I applauded that idea because I think there is too much council time spent on superfluous issues that are not in the purview of the council.

Two and a half years ago, the council began a committee to formulate an implementation policy for eliminating use of plastic bags at the Farmers Market. We were told that we needed to get ahead of the curve and pass something, anything, NOW because the state was going to make them illegal soon anyway.

Two and a half years and there is still nothing from the state on that issue.

Around 2002, there was the “scorcher” tire crisis. What? You don’t remember it? Tires that had colored stripes in the tread and the council had to jump on it immediately to do something, anything, because gang members would mark their territory with skid marks or some such drivel. The tires are still available, yet I never heard another word about the resolution—or the tires. Somehow we made it through that crisis without any action from the council.

I watch most of the council meetings on TV and attend them occasionally. I feel it is the duty of a citizen to be aware of what is going on in his hometown. I invest my time and effort to be informed, but a large part of my time is wasted on said issues.

I have been approached to run for council a few times, but the thought of sitting through all those mind-numbingly boring meetings soon makes that decision easy.

A “business only” approach to the meetings might entice some talented and dedicated people to participate, run for office, or at least watch the meetings.

This recent flap over the “Fair Trade Town” resolution would have been avoided, and rightfully so in my opinion, if that resolution was in place.

The “Fair Trade Town” resolution had nothing to do with the operation of the city, a fact stated again and again by its supporters. It was repeatedly said that it would have no effect on the citizens of La Mesa and therefore, not germane to the operation of the city.

So my question to the mayor and council is:  What happened to that resolution?

Or did I miss it while I was nodding through one of the meetings?

Kevin George
La Mesa