SR 12-19-2023 16B
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: December 19, 2023
Agenda Item: 16.B
1 of 1
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Denise Anderson Warren, City Clerk, Records and Election Services
Department
Subject: Request by Mayor Brock for Council to approve providing the Mayor Pro
Tempore the working title of “Vice Mayor” for ceremonial purposes.
Prepared By: Denise Anderson Warren, City Clerk
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Written Comments
16.B
Packet Pg. 927
1
Xavier Mota
From:Ellis Raskin <ellis.raskin@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, December 19, 2023 10:40 AM
To:councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Lana Negrete; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Caroline
Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Cc:Douglas Sloan; David White; Clerk Mailbox
Subject:Agenda Item 16.B: "Vice Mayor" v. "Mayor Pro Tempore"
EXTERNAL
Dear Hon. Councilmembers,
Government should be accessible and understandable to the people. For that reason, I support using titles of public
office that are easily understood.
While Latin may be a lingua obscura in today's world, I do think it's worth noting that there is a good reason why the City
uses the title "pro tempore." The Latin term "pro tempore" means "for the time being." Accordingly, the title of the
position correctly reflects the fact that the Mayor Pro Tempore's only official function is to assume the duties of the
Mayor in the Mayor's absence. Charter Section 604(b) lists the official duties of the position as follows:
Mayor Pro Tempore. The City Council shall also designate one of its members as Mayor Pro Tempore.
The Mayor Pro Tempore shall perform the duties of the Mayor during the Mayor’s absence or disability.
But to the extent we can make government and official titles more comprehensible to the public, we should aspire to do
so.
Best,
Ellis Raskin
ITEM 16.B.
December 19, 2023
ITEM 16.B.
December 19, 2023
16.B.a
Packet Pg. 928 Attachment: Written Comments (6184 : Vice Chair)