HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-06-01; City Council; Minutes Council Chamber
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
CITY COUNCIL Special Meeting
CALL TO ORDER: 9 a.m.
ROLL CALL: Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Luna.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council Member Acosta led the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM:
Kelly Le Berthon expressed her concerns regarding implicit bias, racism and the Implicit
Association Test.
Mike Borrello spoke regarding changing the order of the meeting to allow for additional
opportunities for public comment.
Tamara Dixon spoke regarding implicit bias and changing the way people are seen.
DEPARTMENTAL AND CITY MANAGER REPORTS:
1. RECEIVE A PRESENTATION REGARDING IMPLICIT BIAS, REVIEW THE CITY COUNCIL CODE OF
ETHICS AND PUBLIC SERVICE VALUES, AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK FOR CHANGES TO CARLSBAD
MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 1.20 – MEETINGS – 1) Receive a presentation from Jennifer Coyle,
Founder/President of North Star Consulting, regarding implicit bias and fostering a culture of
inclusion; and
2) Review and discuss the City Council Code of Ethics & Public Service Values and recommend
revisions as appropriate; and
3) Provide feedback to staff regarding any desired changes to Carlsbad Municipal Code
Chapter 1.20 -Meetings. (Staff contact: Sheila Cobian, City Manager’s Department)
City Manager’s Recommendation: Receive the presentation and provide recommendations
and feedback as necessary.
City Manager Scott Chadwick introduced founder and President of North Star Consulting
Jennifer Coyle and explained that she would be facilitating the first portion of the workshop.
Facilitator Coyle reviewed a PowerPoint presentation titled “Understanding Implicit Bias –
Fostering a culture of inclusion” (on file in the Office of the City Clerk).
Council participated in the workshop and in the discussion exercises focused on the topics of
implicit bias and diversity.
Tracy Carmichael expressed her concerns regarding the lack of consequences if the adopted
policy and ethics code is not followed, and requested that the role of the Council Members be
described in the policy.
June 1, 2023, 9 A.M.
Minutes
June 1, 2023 Carlsbad City Council Special Meeting Page 2
Mayor Blackburn declared a recess at 10:36 a.m.
Mayor Blackburn reconvened the meeting at 10:48 a.m.
Legislative & Constituent Services Director Sheila Cobian introduced the item and requested
Council Member feedback in making any needed changes to the City Council Code of Ethics
& Public Service Values.
In response to Mayor Blackburn’s inquiry, City Attorney Cindie McMahon explained that the
standards in the ethics code are aspirational and if a Council Member does not live up to
those aspirations, the solution is to talk to that person and resolve the issue.
Hearing no requested changes, Legislative & Constituent Services Director Cobian explained
that the date will change on the current documents and all Council Members will sign the
Code of Ethics & Public Service Values with the revised date reflecting their agreement.
City Attorney McMahon suggested bringing back a resolution to reaffirm the new Code of
Ethics & Public Service Values.
Motion by Mayor Blackburn, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bhat-Patel, directing staff to return
with a resolution for City Council to reaffirm the Code of Ethics & Public Service Values.
Motion carried unanimously, 5/0.
Legislative & Constituent Services Director Cobian explained that the next step was to review
Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 1.20 - Meetings and obtain any feedback for staff from the
City Council.
Mayor Blackburn suggested limiting the time of Council Comment at the end of each item to
streamline the meetings. Council Member Burkholder inquired about the use of a timer to
keep track of the comment times. Council Member Acosta was not in favor of using a timer.
Mayor Pro Tem Bhat-Patel agreed on the use of a timer if the entire Council agreed.
Motion by Mayor Blackburn, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bhat-Patel, directing staff to return
with an item for City Council discussion regarding timing of final City Council comments.
Motion carried unanimously, 5/0.
Mayor Blackburn suggested limiting the number of proclamations being given at City Council
Meetings and instead having the person pick them up or going out in the community and
presenting them at an event. Mayor Pro Tem Bhat-Patel explained that some of the
proclamations are for awareness for the public. Council Members Acosta suggested
presenting proclamations early before the meetings. Council Member Burkholder agreed and
also expressed that staff seems to be receiving too many awards/proclamations and that
those should be done separately as well. Council Member Luna suggested reviewing the
guidelines and agrees with her colleagues to present proclamations before the business
meeting.
Motion by Mayor Blackburn, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Bhat-Patel, directing staff to return
with an item for City Council discussion regarding proclamations. Motion carried
unanimously, 5/0.
June 1, 2023 Carlsbad City Council Special Meeting Page 3
Council Member Luna suggested that the board and commission appointments be moved to
earlier on the agenda instead of the very last item.
Motion by Mayor Blackburn, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Bhat-Patel, directing staff to return
with an item for City Council discussion regarding moving board and commission
appointments to earlier on the agenda. Motion carried, 5/0.
COUNCIL REPORTS AND COMMENTS: Mayor Blackburn and the City Council Members shared
their thoughts on participating in the day's workshop.
Minute Motion by Council Member Acosta, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Bhat-Patel, directing
staff to return at the next potential City Council meeting with an item for discussion regarding
flying the Pride flag despite not having a flag policy.
City Manager Chadwick explained that the June 6, 2023 City Council Regular Meeting agenda had
already been published, so this item would not be able to be brought back until the June 13, 2023
City Council Regular Meeting.
In response to Council Member Burkholder's inquiry asking if the agendized item would be to fly
a Pride flag even though there is no flag policy, City Attorney McMahon confirmed that was her
understanding of the motion.
Mayor Blackburn expressed that he would not be supporting this item due to the number of flags
that exist and the potential issues that could cause in the future.
Minute Motion by Council Member Acosta, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Bhat-Patel, directing
staff to return at the next possible meeting, for a discussion regarding flying the lntersectional
Pride flag. Motion carried, 3/2 (Blackburn, Burkholder -No).
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: None.
CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS: None.
ADJOURNMENT:
By proper motion, the Special Meeting of June 1, 2023, was adjourned at 11:13 a.m. in memory
of past employee Bobbie Hoder.
~ J.£1~
Tamara R. McMinn, CPMC, CMC
Senior Deputy City Clerk