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All council members were present for the two special council meetings on Dec. 9 and Dec. 13. Open session started at 6:48 p.m. on Dec. 9 and at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 13. Here's what you missed:
Newly elected City Clerk resigns day after being sworn in. Council vote to appoint Dr. Khaleah Bradshaw as replacement. Both the Dec. 9 and Dec. 13 special meetings were primarily held to declare the City Clerk’s position vacant and determine how to fill the vacancy. The winner of the Nov. 2021 City Clerk special election, Myla Rahman, was sworn in during the Dec. 7 regular City Council meeting, and suddenly sent a letter of resignation the very next day. Councilmember Arleen Rojas motioned to appoint the runner up of the election, Monette Gavino, stating that Gavino had won seven out of twelve precincts. Councilmember Jawane Hilton offered a substitute motion to appoint Dr. Khaleah Bradshaw. the Associate Director of External and Community Relations for California State University Dominguez Hills. Ultimately the council voted for Hilton’s substitute motion in a 3-2 vote with Mayor Pro Tem. Jim Dear and Councilmember Arleen Rojas voting in opposition. If Dr. Bradshaw chooses to not accept the position, the council will have until Feb. 7, 2022 to appoint someone else. The council may also choose to hold a special election in June or wait until the term ends in Nov. 2022 and hold a regular election then.
City Manager placed on Paid Administrative Leave. The council met in closed session during the Dec. 9 special council meeting and authorized placing the City Manager, Sharon Landers on paid administrative leave. City Attorney Sunny Soltani announced the news in her summary of closed session items and later in the meeting, Councilmember Arleen Rojas, clarified the decision. “I did remember there was a comment that during oral communications they said that the City Manager was suspended and for the record she was not,” said Rojas, “she was put on administrative paid leave.” David Roberts was appointed as acting City Manager while Landers is on leave.
Council discusses sending letter stating opposition to splitting the City into two Assembly Districts. The council added a subsequent need item during the Dec 13 special meeting to vote on the authorization to draft a letter in opposition of the recently proposed state assembly district map that would split the City of Carson. The Nov. 2021 newly drafted redistricted Assembly maps places city into two Assembly districts: Assembly District 69 and Assemblymember Gipson’s AD 65 (formerly known as AD. 64). Councilmember Jawane Hilton emphasized the letter’s premise, “I want to make sure that we were firm in saying that we want to be in one district,” he advocated remaining in Assemblymember Gipson’s district only, “That we are not on the fence, we would like to be in our Assemblyman’s district.” However, after council deliberations, no vote was taken.
The newly approved congressional, state senate, assembly, and board of equalization draft maps can be found by www.wedrawthelinesca.org/draft_maps. The 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC) has a community input form where visitors can provide feedback, comments, and other suggestions to border drawings at www.wedrawthelinesca.org/contact.
Events:
Carriage Crest Park Re-Opening - Saturday Dec. 18, 10 a.m. - noon Carriage Crest Park.
Winter Fest - Saturday Dec. 18, 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. The Carson Event Center. Register here.