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The Livermore City Council is set Monday to continue the process to fill the open council seat vacated by Bob Woerner upon his ascension to mayor by whittling down the applicant list to advance a select few to the interview phase.
Last month, the four-member council voted unanimously to fill the vacancy by appointment as opposed to a special election with an estimated cost of $1.1 million to $1.2 million. The city received 21 applications during the submission period from Dec. 16 to Jan. 1, according to staff.
During Monday night’s regular meeting, the council will review and select applicants who will advance to participate in an interview process set for Jan. 19 during a special, public council meeting.
Among the nearly two dozen applicants are two residents who ran for city office but lost in the Nov. 3 election — Realtor and former Livermore police officer Mony Nop, who ran against Woerner for mayor, and medical account manager and Livermore native Pete Patterson, who ran against now-Councilwoman Brittni Kiick in the District 3 race.
Once selected, the newly appointed council member would finish out the remainder of the at-large term vacated by Woerner, ending in December 2022. Woerner won re-election to the council in November 2018, the city’s final election before switching to district-based elections for council seats.
By keeping the vacant council at-large, the city opened the application process to all city residents; however, the seat will be assigned to District 1 (northwest Livermore) starting in 2022, so the appointee would have to reside in District 1 (or District 2) to run for re-election in 2022.
Based on staff’s recommended timeline for filling the seat, the new council member would take the oath of office during a regular council meeting on Jan. 25.
Also on the agenda for Monday night’s meeting is an update on the work of the city’s Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee.
The subcommittee, co-chaired by Woerner and Vice Mayor Trish Munro, along with the 48-member working group, has participated in brainstorming meetings to develop projects to help the group “foster equity and inclusion in Livermore through diverse community engagement that will result in a welcoming city, exemplified by equity of opportunity and just treatment for all.”
Last month, however, the group became the center of controversy after an article circulated on social media by pro-police website Law Enforcement Today suggested that the city group was debating whether the Thin Blue Line flag — which is used to express support for law enforcement, but is considered by others as a symbol of intimidation — should be labeled as a symbol of hate.
City officials wrote in a Dec. 13 statement that the notes from a Nov. 17 Equity and Inclusion subgroup meeting — which were published on the city’s website and referenced in the Law Enforcement Today article — were “taken badly out of context.”
As a result of the debate, several community members denounced the group and called for it to be disbanded during the Dec. 14 council meeting. Others have requested that the city reopen the application process to join the group to allow more members of the community to participate in the meetings.
City staff is seeking direction from the council on whether to begin accepting new applicants for the working group in an application period that would run from Jan. 12-22.
The virtual council meeting will take place via Zoom and stream live on Youtube at 7 p.m. Monday (Jan. 11). For access links and the full agenda, visit here.
“City officials wrote in a Dec. 13 statement that the notes from a Nov. 17 Equity and Inclusion subgroup meeting — which were published on the city’s website and referenced in the Law Enforcement Today article — were “taken badly out of context.” As a result of the debate, several community members denounced the group and called for it to be disbanded during the Dec. 14 council meeting. Others have requested that the city reopen the application process to join the group to allow more members of the community to participate in the meetings.”
Disband it. The reason for its creation was based on the inflammatory and unsubstantiated accusation from those on the far left that the City of Livermore (and the nation itself) is “systemically racist”. This is divisive (not “equitable” or “welcoming”) and has become a convenient “explanation” to complex economic and social problems that the nation currently faces. It is also be used to stifle freedom of expression. Any new applicants are going to be expected to share the same position/views of “systemic racism” – or otherwise they would not be selected to serve as members.
If individual residents feel they have been discriminated against or unfairly treated, they are free to come forward to present their arguments and/or seek a legal solution.