`Litigation intervention' discussed
Council tables cease-fire resolution
The Ukiah City Council held a special closed session meeting Monday to discuss what was only disclosed as “initiation of litigation.”
The first item on the agenda for the March 25 meeting, which began at 4 p.m. and was presided over by Vice-Mayor Doug Crane, was listed as “3a: Conference with Legal Counsel — Initiation of Litigation, 3 cases.”
At the end of the closed session, City Attorney David Rapport gave this report: “The City Council took action in closed session to authorize the initiation of an intervention in a pending proceeding.”
Rapport described the action as being initiated by a “motion by Council member ( Mari) Rodin, seconded by Council member (Juan Orozco),” and that it had received four votes in favor with Mayor Josefina Duenas absent.
“So the City Council has authorized the initiation of an intervention in a pending proceeding,” said Rapport, to which City Manager Sage Sangiacomo added, “that is related to 3a on the closed session agenda.”
At the previous City Council meeting on March 20, the board voted to table a resolution “Regarding an Israeli-Palestinian Cease-fire.”
“At our March 6 meeting, there was substantial comment, and council had some discussion about whether there was sufficient support to place this cease-fire resolution on tonight's agenda, and the motion did pass,” said Council member Susan Sher, explaining that the council planned to hear public comment and later “vote on the resolution itself.”
However, Vice- Mayor Doug Crane then moved to have the item tabled, explaining that for the council to “undertake this particular journey, in my view, was a mistake, (and) “I think it is in the best interest of our community, and this council, and the
people we serve, to table this.
“When it's an issue that the council has no real control over, it's my belief that those people who are bringing national and international issues before the council should not do so, and they should expend their time in writing to the representatives and senators of the nation to effect the change,” he said.
Council member Mari Rodin agreed, noting that while she previously supported having the council consider the resolution “because there were many constituents out here that requested it, and because in the event that our speaking out does make a difference, I wanted our voices to be heard — but I'm having second thoughts about this.
“Given the amount of time that it has taken, and the kind of intimidating calls that we've had, it is becoming more and more clear to me that this really isn't our business and we shouldn't be doing this,” said Rodin, adding that she seconded Crane's motion to table the resolution. “I honestly don't believe that a resolution from Ukiah is going to make an iota of difference in this war.”
The motion to table the resolution passed 3-2, with Mayor Josefina Duenas voting “yes” along with Crane and Rodin.
When Sher asked for clarification about what tabling the resolution meant, City Attorney Rapport said that it could be “brought back by a motion and a second and another vote of the council at a subsequent meeting.”