Green Party of Los Angeles County
County Council minutes

May 15th, 2005
UCLA Downtown Labor Center
675 S Park View St, Los Angeles, CA 90057-3306
4:30pm - 8:15pm

County Council members present: Richard Chacker (District 4), Joe Crompton (District 3) (replaced by David Tait at 7:38), Mike Feinstein (District 3), Genevieve Marcus (District 3), Kevin McKeown (District 3), David Moore, (District 4)
Council members not present: Sara Amir (District 3), Jeff Drummond (District 2), Gabrielle Weeks (District 4)
Alternates: Zack Beatty (for Tera Little, District 5), Annie Goeke (arrived at 5:05pm, for Jeff Drummond, District 5), David Tait (replaced Joe Crompton at 7:38),
Will Yeager (arrived at 5:20pm for Gabrielle Weeks, District 4).
Observers:
Green Party members Linda Piera-Avila, Doug Barnett, Marla Bernstein, Tom Bolema, Eugene Hernandez, Jan Holle, , Glenn Hopkins, Ron Lipshultz, Ellen Maisen, Shakti Maisen, Roz Mandelcorn, Ceil Sorensen, Al Sheahen, Bob Smith,Russell Sydney, Perias Pillay, Shane Que Hee, David Tait, Lisa Taylor, Bernice Tollefson, Donald Tollefson, Donna J. Warrren, Mike Wyman (GPCA State Treasurer, Marin County). Others - Leticia Anderson (identified herself as decline to state), Michael Doran (Ms. Anderson's attorney, unknown registration), Israel Feuer (Peace & Freedom Party)

Facilitator: Bob Smith     Notetaker: Linda Piera-Avila
Time Keeper: Sara Amir       Vibeswatcher: Tom Bolema



1. Welcome
- Sara Amir
Two Minutes


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2. Introductions  - All attendees
Introductions brief and to role w/County Council or otherwise with Green Party, or as outside observer
Seven Minutes


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3. Reviewing our process - Bob Smith
Four Minutes

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4. Opportunity to amend agenda and/or add emergency items - Bob Smith

Relevant By-Law: 7.5.2.3
The agenda may be amended by a 3/5 vote of County Councilmember present. Emergency and/or late items may be added to the agenda by a 2/3 vote of County Councilmembers


Proposal: Add "Green Cabinet" item (Hopkins)
It was announced that the item was going to be voted by the Count Council on line, so Hopkins withdrew his proposal.

Proposal: Move Item 13 til after agenda items for the GPCA state meeting were discussed (McKeown)
Yes: Chacker, Crompton, McKeown, Moore
No: Amir, Beatty, Feinstein, Marcus
Proposal failed 4 - 4


Proposal: Move Items 5,11,16 and 18 to the end of the agenda (Crompton)
Yes:Crompton, McKeown, Moore

No: Amir, Beatty, Chacker, Feinstein, Marcus
Proposal failed 3 - 5


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5. Action:  Approve Minutes from January 23rd and April 3rd meeting

Proposal: Approval of January 23rd minutes, as submitted in agenda packet (Feinstein)

Yes: Amir, Beatty, Feinstein
No: Chacker, Crompton, McKeown, Moore
Abstain: Marcus
Approval of minutes failed 3 - 4 - 1


Proposal: Approval of April 3rd minutes

Amendment offered by McKeown to add outstanding concerns from tape recording. Accepted by Feinstein as friendly.
Approved by Consensus

Proposal: Approval of January 23rd minutes, alternative version, as taken by Robb and Little (McKeown)
Yes: Crompton, McKeown, Moore
No: Amir, Beatty, Chacker, Feinstein
Abstain: Marcus
Proposal failed 3 - 4 - 1

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6. Report:  Report from Green locals (ON-LINE)


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7. Report: Treasurer's report (ON-LINE)
Presenter: Doug Barnett

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8. Report/Discussion: Data Base coordinator's report (ON-LINE)
Presenter: Michael Rochmes

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9. Report: Mediation Update (ON-LINE)

Presenter: Philip Koebel


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10. Action: Election of one County Co-coordinator (male seat)

Mike Feinstein nominated himself.
Joe Crompton nominated himself.

Feinstein: Amir, Beatty, Chacker, Feinstein, Goeke, Marcus
Crompton: Crompton, McKeown, Moore

Feinstein chosen County Co-coordinator 6 - 3

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11.  Action:  Election of one GPCA State Coordinating Committee representative (regional rep)

Tom Bolema was nominated by Annie Goeke.
No one else was nominated.

Bolema: Amir, Beatty, Chacker, Feinstein, Goeke, Marcus
No Other Candidate: Crompton, McKeown
Bolema chosen State Coordinating Commitee representative 6 - 2

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12.  Action: Consideration of any Applicants for Vacant County Council seats

Nominated for one open seat in District 3 were: Annie Goeke, Will Yeager

Goeke: Amir, Beatty, Chacker, Feinstein, Goeke, Marcus,
Yeager: Crompton, McKeown, Moore, Yeager
Goeke appointed to County Council
6 - 4

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13. Action: Selection of GPLAC delegates (17) to GPCA State Meeting

Nominations from the floor, discussion, vote.

Elected (17): Sara Amir (7), Doug Barnett (7), Zack Beatty (6) ,Tom Bolema (7), Mike Feinstein (6) ,, Annie Goeke (6) ,, Eugene Hernandez (10), Shakti Maisen (6) , Genevieve Marcus (6),, David Moore (7), Linda Piera-Avila (7), Dave Rasmussen (6), Al Sheehan (9), Jeff Sklar (6), Ceil Sorensen (8), Lisa Taylor (7), Don Tollefson (6)
Not Elected (8): Joe Crompton (4), Kevin McKeown (4), Ellen Maisen (4), Roz Mandelcorn (4), Russell Sydney (4) David Tait (3), Donna Warren (4), Will Yeager (4)...plus Bob Smith (withdrew, but received 3 anyway), Richard Chacker (withdrew)

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14. Action: Set next meeting location, date, and time
http://cagreens.org/bdem4/messages/14.html

Proposal: Hold next meeting July 10th, at the Quaker House in Los Angeles.
Approved by Consensus


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15. Action: GPCA Plenary Consent Calendar Items
CONSENT ITEM - GPUS Vacancy Elections
CONSENT ITEM - Bylaw Proposal - Alternate Regional Reps
CONSENT ITEM - Endorsement of SB 840

http://cagreens.org/bdem4/messages/15.html


No concerns heard.

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16. Action: Proposal to Direct Sara Amir and Mike Feinstein to make a presentation at plenary on behalf of LA County on the LA County-related agenda item "LA Rep Election & Structure", and to request specific timing from the GPCA to this effect

Yes: Amir, Beatty, Chacker, Feinstein, Goeke, Marcus
No: Crompton, McKeown, Moore, Yeager
Proposal passed 6 - 4

Outstanding concerns:
McKeown: The 6 to 4 vote shows we are far from unanimity. This refusal to acknowledge or honor the multiplicity of points of view within our county is yet another example of the centralized domination the county council majority favors, in defiance of the Ten Key Values
Crompton: I feel the presenters are too close to the situation and cannot make an objective presentation

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17. Action: GPCA PLENARY PROPOSAL - LA Rep Election and Structure

Proposal: non-binding vote on proposal before upcoming GPCA General Assembly
Yes: Crompton, McKeown, Moore, Yeager
No: Amir, Beatty, Chacker, Feinstein, Goeke, Marcus

Proposal not supported 4 - 6

Combined with

18. Action: Proposal to recommend to GPCA an alternative procedure to review CC regional rep elections


Proposal: Approve as agendized
Yes: Amir, Beatty, Chacker, Feinstein, Goeke, Marcus

No: Crompton, McKeown, Moore, Yeager
Stand Aside: Amir

Proposal passed 5 - 4 - 1

Outstanding concerns
McKeown: Once again, there was no real attempt at consensus, despite a suggestion from the floor on a potential solution. Instead, once again, we're presented with a detailed demand to "do it my way," instead of trusting process and turning to the group mind and conscience of the General Assembly
Crompton: Mike's solution isn't any better than the problem itself

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19. Action: GPCA PLENARY REQUEST for Guidance on a Question of Reporting
http://cagreens.org/bdem4/messages/31.html


Proposal to oppose this item and support removing it from the upcoming General Assembly agenda (Goeke)
Yes: Amir, Beatty, Feinstein, Goeke, Marcus
No: Crompton, McKeown, Moore, Yeager
Stand Aside: Chacker
Proposal passed 5 - 4 - 1

Outstanding concerns:
McKeown: can't support this County Council's going on record against compliance with state campaign finance law
Crompton: can't support any County Council or the Green Party of California putting themselves on record in defiance of state law

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The following four items were heard together, due to their related subject matter.

22. Action: GPCA PLENARY PROPOSAL for Instituting Internal Democracy in the GPUS
http://cagreens.org/bdem4/messages/34.html

23. Action: GPCA PLENARY PROPOSAL for Delegate Selection to the National Convention
http://cagreens.org/bdem4/messages/35.html

24. Action: GPCA PLENARY PROPOSAL for Green Party Declaration of Independence
http://cagreens.org/bdem4/messages/40.html

Proposal: Adopt all three of the GDI proposals in the plenary packet (McKeown)
Amendment: Support in
concept, with the anticipation that they will undergo modifications, fine tuning and caveats (Feinstein accepted as friendly by McKeown)
Approved by Consensus

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The following six items were not heard, due to lack of time.

20. Action: GPCA PLENARY PROPOSAL - Bylaws Change Establishing a Financial Reserve Proposed by Finance Committee

http://cagreens.org/bdem4/messages/32.html

21. Action: GPCA PLENARY PROPOSAL - Bylaws Change to Budget Approval Process Proposed by Finance Committee

http://cagreens.org/bdem4/messages/33.html

25. Action: GPCA PLENARY ELECTION of Liaison to Secretary of State
http://cagreens.org/bdem4/messages/36.html

26. Action: GPCA PLENARY ELECTION of GPCA Coordinating Committee Members (At-Large)
http://cagreens.org/bdem4/messages/37.html

27. Action: GPCA PLENARY ELECTION of Treasurer
http://cagreens.org/bdem4/messages/39.html

28. Action: GPCA PLENARY ELECTION of GPUS Delegates
http://cagreens.org/bdem4/messages/38.html