Council Watch for the Week of January 8, 2012: Mayor Reed Turning Over a New Leaf?

At this Tuesday’s meeting, the Council will likely vote to accept the Certificate of Sufficiency for the referendum petition to repeal the medical marijuana ordinance.  Once accepted, the Council will have until March 6 to either repeal the ordinance in its current form or call for a special election to approve the ordinance as written.

Mayor Reed, who characteristically pushed the ordinance through with little attempt to work with stakeholders, has now indicated he may now be willing to compromise. Though this highly unusual willingness to bargain from our Mayor likely comes from a desire to ensure a more favorable electorate for his desired evisceration of public pensions this June.

Also happening at Tuesday’s meeting, the Council will vote on whether to approve extending the SJPOA’s 10% pay cut through the next fiscal year. Late last month, the POA membership approved an agreement to extend the cut through fiscal year 2012/13. The Council is expected to approve the extension which will save the city as much as $30 million over the next fiscal year.

The Council will also vote on whether to accept the Independent Police Auditor’s audit of SJPD and to implement new health care trusts for the police and fire retirement plan.