Foothills Sentry August 2021

Page 3 Foothills Sentry August 2021 7540 E. Chapman Ave. Orange, CA 92869 (714) 639-9792 MEAT&DELI, PRODUCE, BAKERY, FRESH FISH, GIFT BASKETS, WINE MON-SAT: 8am - 9pmSUN: 8am - 8pm www.Paci�icRanchMarket.com $ OFF Excluding alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. With coupon only. May not be combined with any other offer or discount. Limit one coupon per customer. Valid only at Paci�ic Ranch Market. When You Spend $25 or More * EXPIRES: 8/31/21 5 OC’s Premier ProduceMarket Rick Nelson and Pat Machado were named Tustin’s Man and Woman of the Year by the city’s Chamber of Commerce. Nelson is active in the Foothill Communities Association, the Legacy Foundation, FCA Charitable Corporation, Tustin Citizens’ Oversight Committee for Measure S, Tustin Chamber of Commerce and the Tustin Community Foundation. Machado’s contributions to the community include vol- unteering with Tustin Dollars for Scholars, Tustin Area Foundation for Fine Arts, the Tustin Community Foundation, Tustin Tiller Days, the Tustin chili event and the Old Town Sip n’ Stroll event. The Orange City Council ap- proved two ordinances that allow councilmembers to be reimbursed for travel and provide a monthly stipend. It rejected an ordinance that would have enabled health benefits for members. Orange electeds have not re- ceived compensation or reim- bursement since 2011, when the then-council voted to forego any payments, as a nod to city staff who had been denied raises. The subject was revisited last fall by Councilmen Chip Monaco and Mike Alvarez, and again in December by Councilman Jon Dumitru. At the July 13 meeting, Kathy Tavoularis pointed out that only two cities in Orange County – Or- ange and Villa Park -- do not offer stipends to councilmembers. Monaco stressed that lack of compensation might prevent qualified people from running for office. Dumitru agreed, saying compensation would “help put us in a better spot for the future.” Councilmember Kim Nichols, acknowledging that Tustin voters had reinstated compensation for their council, asked if it could be put on a future ballot for Orange voters to decide. Mayor Mark Murphy explained that the state was not allowing other items on this September’s recall ballot, and the next chance would be in 2022. Reimbursement for city-related travel expenses was the least de- bated ordinance, as it would en- courage councilmembers to rep- resent the city at regional meet- ings, where it has admittedly been lacking. That ordinance passed, 5-2, with Murphy and Arianna Barrios opposed. The government code estab- lishes stipends based on popula- tion. For Orange, it is $600 per month. Orange City Council agrees to reinstate compensation Monaco and Dumitru asked the city attorney to confirm that re- imbursement, stipends and health benefits are optional, and a mem- ber could decline to accept any or all of them. The stipend ordinance passed 4-3, with Murphy, Barrios and Kim Nichols voting "no." The health and welfare ordinance that would have provided $2,115 a month for insurance failed by a 3-4 vote, with Murphy, Bar- rios, Nichols and Ana Gutierrez against. “Timing and perception is im- portant,” Murphy said. “I’m not ready to make any changes.” City Attorney Gary Sheatz re- iterated that the ordinances sim- ply paved the way for payment “policies” to be determined by the council, and that none are manda- tory. Compensation/reimburse- ment will be effective following the November 2022 election.