City of Carlsbad

Measure C Ordinance - Majority Approval Required

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE C

Appoint Carlsbad's City Clerk

State law requires all cities to have a City Clerk.

The City Clerk position can be either elected or appointed.

According to the City Clerks Association of California, the City Clerk's Office is a service department within a local government which the City Council, all departments and the public rely on for information. The City Clerk is not a legislator or policy maker. Appointed City Clerks are non-partisan and ensure actions by the City Council are in compliance with all statutes and regulations as well as properly executed, recorded and archived.

80% of California cities appoint their City Clerk rather than having them elected by voters.

Of the 18 cities in San Diego County only Carlsbad, Oceanside and National City elect their City Clerk.

Role Requires Technical Skill

Since 2012, city staff handle the day-to-day duties of the City Clerk's Office as the Carlsbad elected City Clerk position is more ceremonial than administrative.

In addition, the job duties, requirements and legal responsibilities of a City Clerk have become more complex and technical requiring specific training, certifications and skills. Elected City Clerks typically do not have these credentials when they take office and may take up to four years to obtain the credentials. The city can require an appointed City Clerk to have these credentials before appointment. 

Vacant since August 2021

The previous Carlsbad City Clerk resigned in August 2021. Since then, all responsibilities of the Carlsbad City Clerk have been performed by professional, credentialed staff with no impact to services provided to residents.

Measure C will make the City Clerk an appointed position, ensuring an appropriately qualified individual fills this role. The city will maintain the same level of service and will save approximately $40,000 a year by converting the role from elected to appointed.

Please join over 80% of cities throughout California and make the City Clerk appointed in Carlsbad.

(signed)

MARIA TRESA ACOSTA
District 4 City Council Member

PEDER NORBY
District 1 City Council Member

KEITH BLACKBURN
District 2 City Council Member

MATT HALL
Mayor

PRIYA BHAT-PATEL
District 3 City Council Member

ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE C

The City Clerk is the keeper of the City Records. This includes documenting work product of the City Manager and City Council. A 'yes' on this Measure means the City Clerk would report to the City Manager who works for the City Council. The City Clerk needs to be INDEPENDENT of the City Manager and City Council, NOT DEPENDENT on the hierarchy for their employment. The only way to ensure the City Clerk remains independent is to VOTE NO, allowing VOTERS to choose the City Clerk.

The City Clerk ensures that the City follows proper procedure and laws, INCLUDING LOCAL ELECTIONS. The Clerk must be independent and free from interference by the City Manager and City Council.

WE MUST RETAIN THIS POSITION AS ELECTED so the City Clerk can use their own judgement INDEPENDENT of the City Council and City Manager, ENSURING THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTION PROCESS.

Vote NO to KEEP our City Clerk, a public watchdog as an ELECTED official. Vote NO to keep the City ACCOUNTABLE - residents want TRANSPARENCY! No more appointed positions!

VOTE NO to PRESERVE our democracy and PREVENT corruption!

VOTE NO to ensure Carlsbad residents maintain our publicly elected WATCHDOGS!

Don't give up your right to vote for an elected official!

(signed)

LANCE SCHULTE
Past Carlsbad City Planner

SIMON ANGEL
72 Year Resident of Barrio

LELA PANAGIDES
Member of Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce

PAIGE DeCINO
Retired Carlsbad High School Teacher

MARY ANNE VINEY
Founder/Pres. local Carlsbad non-profit

REBUTTAL TO THE ARGUMENT FOR MEASURE C

The City Clerk's responsibility is to "serve as the local official for elections, local legislation, the Public Records Act, the Political Reform Act and the Brown Act" (open meeting laws) based upon California state law. "The City Clerk also ensures that the decision-making process is transparent to the public, complies with federal, state and local regulations and all are properly recorded."

This is NOT a "ceremonial" position.

A NO vote would allow the voters to select the City Clerk who would be responsible to CITIZENS of Carlsbad to maintain government transparency and integrity.

A YES vote would allow the City Manager to choose the City Clerk who, as an employee, can be fired if they don't "follow along" with the wishes of the City Manager or City Council. Make no mistake, a YES Vote creates the distinct possibility of CORRUPTION in City Hall.

Your NO vote allows the City Clerk to continue to oversee the Office without being beholden to anyone except the VOTERS. As a WATCHDOG, the City Clerk must remain INDEPENDENT from the City Council and the City Manager.

The citizens of Carlsbad have twice rejected the appointment of the City Clerk - in April, 1980 and November, 1990. The citizens of Carlsbad overwhelmingly voted for an ELECTED City Clerk...TWICE! Why the change now? This isn't about money. It's about ensuring we have INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT.

Honesty and Transparency are critical for Carlsbad's City government. Let's keep it that way.

Please VOTE NO!!!

(signed)

LANCE SCHULTE
Past Carlsbad City Planner

LELA PANAGIDES
Member of Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce

SIMON ANGEL
72 year resident of Barrio

MARY ANNE VINEY
Founder/Pres. Local Carlsbad Non-Profit

REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT IN OPPOSITION TO MEASURE C

What do National City and Oceanside have in common with Carlsbad?

They are the only 3 cities in the region with elected City Clerks. City Clerks are not legislators or policy makers, and having an elected City Clerk is no longer the standard for efficient local government operations in California.

Measure C Makes Sense for Carlsbad!

Cities throughout California have appointed professional City Clerks.

80% of cities in California appoint their City Clerks, saving tax dollars and removing politics from an important service position within city operations.

Measure C Means a Professional City Clerk.

To assure competency in performing vital tasks, City Clerks must have years of training and experience.

Cities with elected City Clerks risk many important tasks falling into the hands of unprepared individuals who might struggle learning on the job.

City Clerk responsibilities:

• Keeping accurate records of proceedings
• Recording, publishing and certifying ordinances
• Working with the Registrar of Voters during elections to assure compliance with all laws
• Ensuring compliance with the state's open meeting laws and Political Reform Act
• Responding to public record requests
• Retaining Statements of Economic Interests for the entire organization

Unqualified City Clerks can disrupt government operations.

Some elected City Clerks have failed to manage even the most basic parts of the position, including preparing council minutes.

City Clerks Must be Impartial - Not Beholden to Politics or Special Interests.

A City Clerk must be an impartial, well-trained professional that can be held accountable by the organization. 

Carlsbad should join the 15 other San Diego County cities who recognize the City Clerk position should be an unbiased, experienced and trained professional serving the community and organization.

(signed)

MARIA TERESA ACOSTA
City Councilmember, District 4

MATT HALL
Mayor

KEITH BLACKBURN
Council Member D-2

PEDER NORBY
Council Member, District 1

PRIYA BHAT-PATEL
Council Member D3