Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
The City Council voted late Tuesday to seek a court’s opinion on the constitutionality of Measure A, the conflict-of-interest measure approved by voters March 6.
Several city commissioners told the council they would probably resign if the measure takes effect.
“This measure makes it very difficult for any professional to serve on any commission and vote,” said Architectural Commission Chairman Patrick Stout.
Stout said he and at least three of the other six architectural commissioners would be forced to resign.
City Attorney Sonia Carvalho urged council members to seek a court’s opinion on the law’s constitutionality.
University of La Verne law professor Irv Prager, a Claremont resident who worked on the campaign for the measure, urged the council to heed voters’ sentiments.
“The electorate has spoken,” Prager said. “We are speaking here today as if this was not the law. This is the law in Claremont.”
Measure A limits contributions to city officials from people or organizations receiving valuable contracts from the city. The initiative, proposed by the Santa Monica-based Oaks Project in six California cities, was adopted by voters in five cities.
The initiative failed to gather enough signatures to make the ballot in Irvine. While Vista voters adopted the measure, a competing city-sponsored ordinance won more votes, taking preference over the Oaks Project initiative.
Voters in Santa Monica and San Francisco adopted the measure in November, while Pasadena voters approved the initiative this month.
