At this Tuesday's (February 17) City Council meeting, there is an agenda item which goes back to one of the first meetings this new council had after the November election. This item will be another attempt for the Council to put their acrimonious political beginning into the past. They tried once before, on January 5, and could not muster a unanimous vote on what amounts to a feel good motion. They will try one more time.

The item up for a vote is called a "A New Vision for Los Alamitos 2009” Agreement/Covenant. Although passing this item would not appear to have any binding legal affect, Council Member Edgar requested the item be heard one more time by the Council because the first attempt was passed on a 4 to 1 vote. This second vote will give the Council an opportunity to pass the motion unanimously.

On the first vote, Council member Mejia voted against the motion because she "Had not been given adequate time to peruse the documents". She also indicated that she had reservations on the substance of the so called " Agreement/Covenant" between City Council and the residents of Los Alamitos.

The item is included as part of the Consent Calendar, which means that unless a Council Member requests a separate vote, the item will be approved without discussion along with several other items. Given the politics of the Council, your Editors believe a vote of this nature is unlikely.

The actual agenda item is called a ratification, which is recommended by the City staff. The full text of this more-controversial-then-it-should-be item follows:

“A New Vision for Los Alamitos 2009” Agreement/Covenant

Elected Officials, whether consciously or unconsciously, are Ambassadors for the constituents.
We resolve to be the most outstanding Ambassadors possible in how we live, work, worship and play all seven days of the week.

Elected Officials should never flaunt their position of public service.
We resolve to serve with the utmost humility.

Elected Officials should always work to earn and retain the public's confidence and trust.
We resolve to be faithful stewards of public resources, and manage them with the scrutiny that we manage our own finances and household matters.

Elected Officials should welcome examination, and be committed to the highest levels of character and integrity.
We resolve to avoid all appearances of improprieties.

Elected Officials should never forget who place them in office.
We resolve to always place the community's best interests above our own personal preferences.

Elected Officials should take their Oath of Office seriously and with all gravity.
We resolve to conduct all business openly and transparently in accordance with the Brown Act, City Municipal Code,
and all other laws of the land.

We the undersigned, do hereby pledge ourselves to honor the foregoing Covenant to the People and Businesses of Los Alamitos.