City charter review committee in place

A developer, a former mayor and the city’s disaster preparedness

coordinator were among the residents chosen Tuesday by the City

Council to serve on the committee reviewing the city’s operations and

governmental organization.

The 15-member Charter Review Committee will begin its task of

reviewing city functions and organization and potentially reform city

government in January.

The committee will meet twice a month for a year and then make

recommendation for changes that must be approved by voters.

How the charter spells out filling a vacancy on the City Council

-- such as the one created by the Tuesday resignation of Stacey

Murphy -- shows the importance of the document, Mayor Jef Vander

Borght said.

“Without the charter, some of these critical issues would not be

addressed,” Vander Borght said.

Carolyn Jackson, an analyst with the city of Los Angeles

Department of Transportation, was chosen as the committee’s

chairwoman.

The committee’s work will not be a disappointment to the city,

Jackson said.

“We’ll be looking at charters of similar-sized cities, what their

differences are and whether those differences would help our city

run better,” Jackson said.

Jackson also serves as the chairwoman of the city’s Park and

Recreation and Community Services Board.

The city has not reviewed its charter in more than 20 years,

although attempts since then to form a committee have not met with

success. The current committee will receive a $40,000 budget for a

consultant, clerical support and other supplies and materials it

might need.

The committee was originally to have 11 members but was expanded

to 15 to get more broad input, Assistant City Manager Mike Flad said.

“Staff is really pleased with who they picked,” Flad said. “They

are good community members who will give quality input.”

Councilman Dave Golonski was the board member most supportive of

having 15 members on the committee.

“Their work is a review of the charter and to discuss it and

different viewpoints would be good,” Golonski said. “Looking at the

quality of candidates, I’m confident we can manage a group of 15.”

Among those chosen to serve on the committee are Vincent Stefano,

an attorney who served on the City Council from 1973 to 1977 and was

mayor from 1974 to 1975; Rich Baenen, the Fire Department’s disaster

preparedness coordinator; Claudia Bonis, a real estate agent; David

Ahern, economic development manager for Glendale; Susan Robles, a

training coordinator and Chris Carson, president of the League of

Women Voters of Glendale/Burbank. Because it has been so long since

the charter was last reviewed, the document needs to be changed to

help government run smoother, Stefano said.

“There needs to be increased flexibility,” Stefano said. “For

instance, the charter says the council must meet on Tuesday at 6:30

p.m. That’s very rigid. That and things like that need to be looked

at.”

The committee will also look at whether certain city positions,

such as treasurer, should remain elected.

The four council members each chose a candidate to serve on the

committee and then voted as a group on the remaining 11 members.

Three members were appointed without having submitted applications

or being interviewed by the full council -- Vic Georgino, Bob Olson

and Alfred Aboulsaad.

Georgino, a developer, is the husband of Community Development

Director Sue Georgino. He was chosen by Vice Mayor Todd Campbell.

Garen Yegparian was the choice of Mayor Jef Vander Borght to serve

on the committee.

Lynn Kronzek, a consultant; Robert Frutos, a Los Angeles Police

officer; Hagop Hergelian, a graduate student; and Celeste Francis

were the other appointed members.

Michael Bergfeld, an appellate attorney who ran for the council in

the spring elections, and Howard Rothenbach, a regular speaker at

council meetings, were among the candidates turned down for the

committee.