Green Party of Los Angeles County
Agenda for October meeting of the County Council
Saturday, 10/21/06, 5 - 8 p.m.,
8124 West 3rd St., Los Angeles

1. Welcome & Introductions (estimated time - 5 minutes)

2. Add to or change order/times on agenda (estimated time - 5 minutes)
Relevant By-Law: 9.5.5: Once distributed, the Agenda may not be changed until the meeting. The time and order of already agendized items may be amended by a 3/5 vote. New agenda items may be added by a 2/3 vote. (in the interest of time, suggested amendments and their rationale should be offered on-line before the meeting)

3. Approve Minutes for August 13, 2006 and September 17, 2006 meetings (estimated time - 10 minutes)

4. Choose date for November meeting (estimated time - 5 minutes)

5. Treasurer's report and selection of Assistant Treasurer - Donna Warren (estimated time - 5 minutes)

6. Update on Registrar Recorder's office - Gabrielle Weeks (estimated time - 10 minutes)
I'd like to list the goodies we have available there so the group knows.

7A. Proposal - Revisitation of policy that Mike Feinstein's conduct not be a subject of discussion within GPLAC-CC - Donna Warren (estimated time - 15 minutes)

7B. Proposal - Review of documents and records (if policy in 7A appropriately revised) - Donna Warren (estimated time - 30 minutes)
Background - On Wed, 19 Jul 2006, Councilmember Mike Feinstein emailed some "good news" letting us know that the GPCA resolved the money
situation which plagued the GPLAC for several years.
Report to the GPCA General Assembly regarding the Santa Monica Green office June 24th-25th, 2006 - "The Green Party of California Treasurer received documents and records related to the operation of the Green Party office in Santa Monica and found no reason to believe that the funds were used inappropriately or illegally. However, the paperwork does not meet the standards for FPPC filing. The Green Party of California CC and Treasurer received legal advice from an FPPC attorney. With this information GPCA Coordinating Committee concluded that there is no need for an amended FPPC filing."
The GPLAC however was not privy to those documents. In order that we can be supportive of the decision in an informed manner, we request the Green Party of California Treasurer provide full disclosure to the GPLAC of what he saw to come to his decision of no impropriety, such as printed report(s) of amounts and access to copies of the checks and receipts. The review of these records at this time may close a critical omission and perhaps heal the ongoing schism in Los Angeles County.

7C. Resolution - Censure of Michael Feinstein (if policy in 7A is appropriately revised)- Glenn Hopkins (estimated time - 15 minutes)
" Be it hereby resolved by this body that former Santa Monica Mayor Michael Feinstein is hereby censured by this body for creating the appearance of financial impropriety." If adopted, further discussion of other levels with in the party that might also adopt this resolution

8. Discussion - Relationship between GPLAC and GPCA - Donna Warren (estimated time - 20 minutes)
Background: The GPCA is contemplating drafting a process to disaffiliate counties -- I'd like to know what the process entails. What are the duties of parties affiliated with each other? What is our duty to the State and what is their duty to us? Are they in their power to disregard a decision of the GPLAC and if so, what consequences will occur to the State because of that disregard? Why are we affiliated with the State? What does it mean to us? Do we need the State to perform what we perceive as the duties and responsibilities of the GPLAC?

9. Request for all decisions during the 2004-2006 GPLAC period - Donna Warren. (estimated time - 5 minutes)
The secretary of the GPLAC with the help of the 2004-2006 co-coordinators, is requested to submit a copy of all decisions (only) to the 2006-2008
GPLAC to ensure we are working on decisions made by the 2004-2006 GPLAC and to ensure we don't repeat proposing items proposed during 2004-2006.

10. Proposal - The Green Party of Los Angeles County Council rescind the actions taken by the previous Council at the June 11, 2006 meeting and subsequent online activity from June 11, 2006 through July 23, 2006 - and requests that these action items be reconsidered by the 2006-08 County
Council - Donna Warren - (estimated time - 15 minutes)
This rescinding includes but is not limited to an election of an Alternate Regional Representative, and rules and procedures changes. If passed, this proposal also directs the co-coordinators to notify, in writing, with a copy to all Councilmembers, the Green Party of California State Coordinating Committee in the change of their membership.
BACKGROUND: The 2006-08 County Council was not seated after the June 6, 2006 primary election and the first meeting held after the election on June 11, 2006 in accordance with the bylaws of the GPLAC, precedent with previous LA County Councils and the standard procedure with other county councils.
Action item: To rescind the actions, we must have a copy of the minutes for June 11, 2006 and a list of subsequent online activity from June 11,
2006 through July 23, 2006.

11. Proposal - Election Protection - John Wenger (estimated time - 15 minutes)
I would like to present an item on the agenda regarding Election Protection, and what the GP can do about it.

12. Proposal - Formation of committee to organize Town Hall forum on voting fraud and election monitoring - Michael Rochmes (estimated time - 10 minutes)

13. Discussion - Making sure adequate information and email contacts are posted online - Gabrielle Weeks (estimated time - 10 minutes)
The GPLAC site is way out of date. The email to reach the council is wrong. Bob Morris built the site, since he resigned it has always been a few months behind. Info listed for locals is wrong, and in April 2004 that new County Council dumped the email locals and activists knew and went to the current one which excludes. This means not only are activists prevented from communicating with the body they elected, but if I am at work I cannot email from a different account to give info to the rest of the GPLAC. Let's help Dianne set up something so dicsussions between GPLAC and activists like Francis, John or frequent alternates are allowed input.

14. Proposal - Creation of a "buddy phone list" - Donna Warren (estimated time - 5 minutes)
I propose each member take responsibility to keep in touch with at least one other county council member. I suggest we put names in a hat and randomly pull a name. That might help cement over some harsh feelings between current members

15. Proposal - South Central Proposal - Donna Warren (estimated time - 10 minutes)
The South Central Farmers were greatly aided by the Greens in Los Angeles County. We were able to do so through the efforts of some extraordinary people. Two of those persons were Linda Piera-Avila who brought Julia Butterfly Hill and celebrities to the South Central Farm Site and Dele Aileman who served as MC to many press conferences where the greens were afforded front and center positions. I therefore propose that the GPLAC present a certificate of appreciation to Linda Piera-Avila and to Dele Aileman for their extraordinary service to the South Central Farm and tothe GP of Los Angeles County.

16. Proposal - Limiting Time to speak in a GPLAC meeting - Patrick McBride (time permitting)

17. Proposal - Email to party members - [Proposer???] (time permitting)
Authorize the database committee to send an email in October to party members.

18. Locals report (time permitting)
These should be always be written for posting on our website as recruiting information for new Greens. Any locals that are present and wish to report orally also may do so.

19. Appointment of new County Council members (estimated time - 5 minutes)
Action: Consideration of Applicants for Vacant County Council Seats
Relevant By-Laws: Article 8 County Council Vacancies
All applicants are encouraged to submit their names for consideration including applicants who submitted their names to the prior county council. All applicants should submit their application to the co-cos for review prior to the meeting (are there previously submitted applications from Amanda Goeke and Craig Thorsen?).

20. Proposal - Standing Committees - Donna Warren (time permitting)
I propose we validate the standing committees of GPLAC. All Committees shall have a scope, purpose and mission statement approved by the Council, and shall have a County Council member approved as a liaison by the County Council, as part of its formation and approval. (time permitting)
According to our bylaws, ARTICLE 10, COMMITTEES, The County Council may establish Standing Committees and Standing Committees.
Background: According to the co-co’s report for 2004-2006, there are 4 active GPLAC Committees - Media, Tabling, Locals Support, and Data Base. The Media Committee now consists of Sara Amir, Mike Feinstein, Dan Hicks, Joe Zefran and Cres Velluci, observer (GPCA Media Secretary) An email list has been established for this Committee and is open to any GPLAC member.
The Data Base Committee consists of Sara Amir, Mike Feinstein, Sasha Karlik, Genevieve Marcus, Michael Rochmes, Denise Robb and Lisa Taylor.
The Tabling Committee is charged with facilitating tabling on behalf of the GPLAC, including through working with Active Green Locals.
The Locals Support Committee is charged with helping develop new Green locals and helping support existing Green locals.

21. Proposal - Handling of Old Business - John Wenger (time permitting)
This council should discuss and decide how it wants to handle old business.

22. Proposal - Vibes Watch - Genevieve Marcus (time permitting)
I am proposing the expansion of the "Vibes" function into a committee that will create and enforce norms that follow the 10 Key Values, especially Respect for Diversity and Nonviolence. There is abundant literature on the harmful effect of verbal violence. Who wants to spearhead this committee? Anyone else sick from all the vitriol that pollutes our meetings? I know several have resigned because of it in the past. Let's not let that happen again. There are better ways to handle disagreements.

23. Discussion - Affiliation between the locals and the county - Donna Warren
It is my understanding that only two locals are affiliated with the county.

24. Proposal - Fundraiser/GPLAC goals - Eugene Hernandez (time permitting)

25. Report from media committee - Mike Feinstein (time permitting)
This was ordered by council months ago for July/August

26. Proposal - Outreach work/committee - Jim Odling (time permitting)

27. Proposal - Bylaw Change- Section 12.3 [Eligibility for GPCA-CC] - John Wenger (time permitting)
Any GPLAC member is eligible to be a GPLAC representative to the GPCA Coordinating Committee. A Coordinating Committee member may not also be a County Co-Coordinator. However, a sitting Co-Coordinator may run for the Coordinating Committee and if elected, shall be considered to have immediately resigned their seat.

28. Proposal - Bylaw Change [Election of Co-Coordinators] - John Wenger (time permitting)
The voting procedure for the Co-Coordinators shall be by Proportional Representation through the Single Transferable Vote, or *PR-STV*, using the Droop threshold of votes for election (number of voters divided by the one more than the number of seats, and then rounded up to the nearest integer). For a 26 person council, this is 26 voters/(1 + 2 seats) = 8 and 2/3, rounded up to nine votes to elect each seat.

If gender balance is not achieved from this procedure, i.e., the first two vote getters are of the same gender, then, at this point, the STV procedure shall be modified to do eliminations from the bottom of the already electd gender. If this still does not elect the second gender to the second seat, then STV eliminations will continue from the bottom of the yet-unelected gender.

29. Proposal - Bylaw Change - Section 12.4 [Election of Representatives] - John Wenger (time permitting)
The voting procedure *for all the seats* shall be by **Proportional Representation through the Single Transferable Vote* or *PR-STV* *using a simple majority threshold, and including the No Other Candidate option, as referenced in the GPCA Bylaws (Section 7). If gender balance is not achieved from this procedure, i.e., the first three vote getters are of the same gender, then the third-place votegetter shall step aside to allow the first person of the opposite gender with the highest number of votes to take the third seat. The step-asider remains as the first alternate for an open seat of his/her gender. In the event of incapacitations, resignations, etc., the rest of the vote-getters ascend in order of their placement in the election, subject to this paragraph's gender-balance rule *that both genders shall be seated.*

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