BRIEFLY

Jennifer Kho

Costa Mesa City Council members decided Monday at a study session to

consider changing a 1972 ordinance that prohibits council members from

abstaining from votes unless they have a conflict of interest, and it

counts an abstention as a “yes” vote when no conflict exists.

The council will revisit the issue at a future, but as yet

undetermined, council meeting, when action may be taken.

The forgotten ordinance was rediscovered last week.

On Feb. 5, when the council selected commissioners in a messy process

full of substitute motions and “do-overs,” Councilwoman Karen Robinson

abstained several times because of the confusing process.

The ordinance discovery means several 2-2 votes in which Robinson

abstained should have been counted as “yes” votes.

The council will review the ordinance, as well as comments from

council members who approved the ordinance in 1972, to determine the

reason the ordinance was created and to decide whether it should be

changed.