What does the measure actually say?
“This measure is skating into very dangerous territory...”
“what is at stake here is the balance of power intended by our Charter and City Council/City Manager form of government. ... I urge you to Vote No”
- Mayor Russ Axelrod
The West Linn City Council recently voted 3-2 to ask the voters to weigh in on Measure 3-552 (with Mayor Axelrod and Councilor Walters voting against). The measure would change our City Charter with respect to
Proponents say that a Charter amendment is necessary in order to bring legal costs under control, but the measure actually does something much different.
Read on about some of the problems with Measure 3-552...
IS THERE REALLY
A PROBLEM?
Myth:
Fact:
The City's current model of legal services has been making costs go up!
Costs haven't been going up! Although the City has spent more on legal services, when we look at the whole picture, that has helped total personnel costs go down. Costs have been steadily trending downward.
IS A CHANGE TO THE
CHARTER NEEDED?
Myth:
Fact:
A Charter amendment is the ONLY way to limit the City Manager from hiring a staff attorney.
This is not true. The City Council is fully able to set such limits through a simple resolution. This was confirmed in legal advice provided to the City Council in April.
WHAT DOES 3-552
ACTUALLY DO?
Myth:
Measure 3-552 would clarify the Council’s direct authority over all of the City's legal services.
Fact:
No, it won't! Measure 3-552 says absolutely nothing about the City Council’s relationship to the City Attorney.
In fact, the only thing that Measure 3-552 clearly does is eliminate oversight of the City Attorney!
The actual text of Measure 3-552 is not in your Voter Pamphlet! > Read it here.
“We are concerned this measure is ambiguous and could create unnecessary conflicts if passed.”
- City Councilor Jules Walters, and
former Councilors Brenda Perry & Bob Martin