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Voters in Los Alamitos are tasked this November election with deciding on multiple city government-related changes, from councilmembers’ term limits to how the City Council awards public works contracts.
Measure X, should voters approve it, would restrict councilmembers to no more than three consecutive terms in office.
Councilmembers are currently subjected to the same term limits, but can run again after a one-year break that resets the clock. If Measure X is approved, that reset would be eliminated.
The new term limits will only apply to those elected in this upcoming election and after.
The measure would also restrict local campaign contribution limits to $500 per contributor per election, superseding the state’s limit of $5,500 per contributor per election, which Los Alamitos currently follows. And it would require anyone “attempting to influence city decisions” by lobbying the city manager, councilmembers or other city officials to register with the Los Alamitos city clerk.
Additionally, Measure X would increase the threshold for when the City Council would need to initiate a public bidding process for a public works contract, which includes construction or improvements made on public buildings, drains, parks or playgrounds, sewers, streets and utilities. The threshold is now $10,000 for requiring a public bidding process; if Measure X is approved, that would increase to $125,000.
If Measure X is approved, the City Council would also “adopt a procurement policy in order to ensure spending oversight and publicly disclosed warrant registries,” said City Manager Chet Simmons.
The ballot measure is backed by Mayor Jordan Nefulda, Mayor Pro Tem Shelley Hasselbrink, resident volunteer Pedro Carvajal and Evan Flynn, president of the Los Alamitos Police Officers Association. They argue that Measure X would result in more government transparency and quicker fixes to the city’s roads and other issues.
“It is not often that business people, community volunteers, and elected leaders agree,” their ballot argument in support of Measure X says. “However, when it comes to Measure X, there is a resounding consensus that it delivers a much-needed update to the Los Alamitos charter.”
But opponents argue that there wasn’t a “resounding consensus” for the changes the measure would bring about. They say there wasn’t a public hearing, and current councilmembers could end up serving on the dais for 24 years total because of how the new term limits would be imposed.
Opponents also argue that the measure would effectively eliminate competitive contract bidding.
“This charter amendment is not designed to benefit the residents,” the ballot argument against Measure X says.
The measure is opposed by four residents: Dean Grose, Wendy Grose, Norman Trute and Shauna Trute.
A simple majority of voters in favor is needed to pass Measure X.