DRAFT: Minutes, GPLAC County Council meeting, June 28, 2020

DRAFT Green Party of Los Angeles County, County Council Meeting Minutes, Sunday, June 28, 2020
Teleconference information shared via County Council email list
Check in/socializing: 1:30pm to 2pm
Business meeting: 2pm to 5pm

County Council members present (9): Doug Barnett, Marla Bernstein, Mike Feinstein, Annie Goeke, Ava Kermani, Danielle Mead, Cordula Ohman, Linda Piera-Avila , Ajay Rai
County Council members not present (1):  Timeka Drew
Other Greens present (4) Diana Little, Shannel Pittman, Mike Powelson, David Rockello

Quorum reached at 2pm with 7/10: Barnett, Bernstein, Feinstein, Goeke, Kermani, Mead, Rai
Others present by 2:05
Pittman joined at 3:15

Facilitators: Timeka Drew, Ajay Rai
Minutes: Mike Feinstein
Time Keeper:  Linda Piera-Avila
Vibes Watcher: Cordula Ohman

1. Welcome and Introductions - All attendees (ten minutes)

Those present introduced themselves, including role w/GPLAC County Council or otherwise with Green Party, or as outside observer

2. Reviewing our process (two minutes)

Presenter: Rai presented Relevant Bylaw: Section 9.3 Participation

3. Decision: Opportunity to amend agenda and/or add emergency items 
Presenter: Facilitators

Proposal (Feinstein): Approve the addition of the items marked with an asterik * below as late items, 2/3 vote required.

Approved by consensus

4. Decision: Appointment of County Councilmember to fill vacant seat in State Senate District 25: Diana Little (fifteen minutes)

Proposal: That the in-person validation of nomination petition signatures for Diana Little be waived until such time as in-person validation is possible again at the office of the Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters.

Approved by consensus

Appointment:  Diana Little for County Council, State Senate District 25

Barnett  - yes
Bernstein  - yes
Feinstein  - yes
Goeke  - yes
Kermani  - yes
Mead  - yes
Ohman  - yes
Piera-Avila  - yes
Rai  - yes

Little appointed 9-0-0

5. Report: Treasurer’s report 

Presenter: Doug Barnett, GPLAC Treasurer

Barnett reported on the status of GPLAC finances and sent a written report to that effect to the County Council email list.

6. Decision: Food Security in LA County during COVID-19/Report from Healthy LA Coalition (ten minutes)

Sponsor/Presenter: Drew

Background:  The GPLAC approved a commitment to (1) utilizing outdoor space on public library and public parks properties in Los Angeles County for growing and distributing food, and organize and alliance-building around this issue and (2) to join the Healthy LA Coalition. This agenda item provides for a report back from Timeka Drew, who the Council selected to represent the GPLAC in these matters.

7. Discussion: Ongoing GPLAC response to Black Lives Matter LA, Peoples Budget for LA*

Sponsor/Presenter:  Feinstein

Proposal:  That the GPLAC update its statement supporting BLM LA Demands….to include support for Goals of LA Peoples Budget…and to reinvision public safety and support calls to divest funds from traditional law infocement and reinvest in community services; and that the GPLAC co-coordinators send a draft statement to this effect on the GPLAC email list for County Council discussion and input.

Approved by consensus

8: Discussion: Report on status of GPLAC Green voter registration data base and outreach  (ten minutes)

Sponsors/Presenters: Rai, Feinstein

Rai and Feinstein update on integration of new data in the GPLAC Green voter registration data base and outreach conducted/planned based upon earlier County Counci approval to publicize the opportunity to apply to join the County Council.

9: Discussion: Report from GPCA General Assembly and Standing General Assembly (ten minutes)

Sponsor: Drew, Rai

Those who participated spoke about their experiences. 

10: Decision: Rescheduling Choosing Delegates for 2020-2021 GPCA Standing General Assembly (ten minutes)*

Sponsor/Presenters: Drew, Rai

Proposal: Outreach all of July. That the GPLAC postpone choosing SGA delegates for the 2020-2021 SGA term until August, with an on-line decision ending August 16.

Approved by consensus

11. Decision:  Add GPLAC Meeting for July 19 or 26 (ten minutes)*
Sponsor/Presenters: Drew, Rai

Proposal (Feinstein): That the GPLAC add a county council meeting on either Sunday, July 19

Strawpoll revealed preference for July 19.  Proposal modified for July 19.

Approved by consensus

12 . Decision: GPLAC position on SB 625 (fifteen minutes)*
Sponsor: Feinstein
Presenters: Little

Proposal: That the GPLAC oppose SB 625 and send a statement to the appropriate committees in the state legislature

Approved by consensus 

https://losangeles.cagreens.org/legislation/oppose-sb625

13. Decision Planning Fall Endorsements - candidates and ballot measures*
Sponsor/Presenters: Feinstein

Discussion on fall endorsements for Los Angeles City Council and District Attorney races. 

14. Proposal: Approval letter to GPCA Coordinating Committee regarding GPCA voting page
Sponsor/Presenter: Rai, Feinstein

Proposal: Authorize the GPLAC Co-coordinators to send an email to the GPCA state Coordinating Committee asking the GPCA to return to the functional Standing General Assembly voting page.

Approved by consensus 

15. Discussion: Hearing from those seeking future appointment to County Council to fill unfilled seats from March primary election (fifteen minutes)*
No one spoke on this matter

16. Report: Top Two lawsuit - closed session, County Councilmembers only (ten minutes)

Update heard