City of Pinole: Political Rep

City Clerk - Patricia Athenour, MMC
Tel: (510) 724-8928 - Fax: (510) 724-9826
Email: pathenour@ci.pinole.ca.us

The City Clerk is an appointed officer of the City and is responsible for:

conducting City elections in compliance with the election laws of California;
scheduling and preparing council meetings and producing and maintains the official records of Council / Agency Board decisions;
maximizing public access to municipal government and is the official custodian of the records of the City;
maintains a depository of contracts, agreements, and official Council/Agency actions; and insures the timely availability of these records to the Council/Agency, public, other agencies and staff;
maintaining the Pinole Municipal Code
administer liability claims

The City Clerk’s role is to serve as the elections official, legislative administrator and records manager for the City in an efficient, professional and friendly manner; to provide outstanding support to the Council; and to serve the citizens of Pinole as an accessible and responsive representative of transparent and open government.

ELECTIONS & VOTER REGISTRATION

The City Clerk is the City Elections Official and is responsible for administering the City’s general municipal elections and special elections for both candidates and measures; and processing petitions relating to initiatives, recalls and referendums.

Council Members are elected at large to staggered four-year terms. The City of Pinole consolidates its General Municipal Election with the statewide election held in even-numbered years. Pinole will conduct its next Municipal Election on November 6, 2012, at which two Council seats will be open.

2010 Election Results

On November 2, 2010, Pinole voters elected three City Council Members. Debbie Long, Tim Banuelos and Phil Green were sworn in on Novemer 30, 2010 and will serve four year terms. For further information on the November 2, 2010 election results, the Contra Costa County Elections website and can be accessed by clicking here.

Pinole Ballot Measure S - Utility User Tax Extension was defeated on November 2, 2010. The ballot measure language is contained below.

Measure S:
To continue essential public services to the residents of Pinole, shall an ordinance be adopted to amend Section 3.26.180 of the Pinole Municipal Code to extend the existing Utility User Tax of eight percent for an additional eight years, until December 31, 2020 and to include a new utility users tax on water utility services at the existing tax rate?

Candidate Requirements
To hold an elected office in the City: the person must be:
(1) a registered voter of the City when nomination papers are issued (Government Code § 36502); and
(2) an elector of the city when he or she assumes office.

An “elector” is a United States citizen, 18 years of age or older and a resident of the election precinct at least 15 days prior to an election (Elections Code § 321).

Voter Registration

A person, 18 years of age or older and not imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony, may register to vote at anytime; however, registration for a specific election closes 15 days prior to that election. Registration is permanent and a new affidavit of registration need only be executed if you have changed your name, address or wish to change your political party affiliation. Voter registration forms can be obtained at the City Clerk’s Office, the Contra Costa County Election Division, online through the California Secretary of State or by calling the City Clerk’s Office to have a form mailed to you

The City Clerk administers Campaign Financial Disclosure Statements and Statements of Economic Interests, as required by State law. Form 700 -Statements of Economic Interest are available on the FPPC website at www.fppc.ca.gov.

Elected officials and candidates, Planning Commission members, City Treasurer, City Manager, and City Attorney are required by G.C. Section 87200 to file Form 700 statements annually.

Statements of Economic Interest , Forms 700, are public documents and may be viewed at the City Clerk’s Office during regular business hours. Attached are the annual filings by the office holders/staff referenced above, which were due on April 1, 2010.

Campaign Financial Disclosure Statements, filed semi-annually and during the pre-election periods may be viewed at the City Clerk's Office during regular business hours. Attached are Form 460's* filed for the period of July 1 through December 31, 2011.

* The addresses of private citizens have been redacted to insure privacy provisions when posted on the web. Campaign contribution forms are public record and are available, unredacted, for review during business hours in the City Clerk's Office. Copies are available upon request; the copying charge is ten cents per page.

FORM 801 - GIFT TO AGENCY REPORT

The FPPC regulations require that any time a public agency receives a gift, a report must be filed on the agency's website. The Form 801 is for use by all state and local government agencies to disclose payments which result in a gift to the agency. The payments must be used for official agency business and must meet other requirements as set forth by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).

Form 801 Postings

Mann Urrutia Nelson	.	.

PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS

The California Public Records Act (GC § 6250-6270) provides the public rights to obtain access to recrods held by public agencies in the State. Public records are open to inspection during regular City business hours, and may request and pay for a copy of any identifiable public record. The City of Pinole encourages public record requests to be filed in writing in order to assist staff in responding efficiently to your request. A public records request form is available at the City Clerk's Office or by clicking here.

It is not always practicable to provide an immediate copy for review or duplication; therefore you will be notified within 10 days when the record(s) may be available. If your public record request cannot be granted, you will be nofified within 10 days of the receipt of the request, pursuant to GC§6256.

CLAIMS

If you believe that the City of Pinole or its employee(s) has caused damage to you, your personal property or real property, you have the right to file a claim against the city for damages. Claim forms are available at City Hall through the City Clerk's Office during normal business hours or by clicking here. Claims take approximately 45 days to process. Please follow the instructions on the claim form and attach any documentation (e.g. photographs, reports, witness statements or estimates) that you feel may support your claim. You may mail or personally deliver a claim form to:

Pinole City Clerk’s Office
2131 Pear Street, 2nd Floor
Pinole, CA 94564
Please complete the form in its entirety or risk having it returned to you as insufficient.

If you need additional information regarding the filing of a claim, please contact the City Clerk at (510) 724-8928. Please note that the City does not provide legal advice.