Politics & Government

Councilman Jim Vreeland Says He Will Resign

Two hearings had to be rescheduled because Councilmen Jim Vreeland and Peter DeJarnatt were absent, and now Vreeland has told the Tribune he will resign because of medical problems.

 

As Pacifica Patch first reported last week, the Pacifica City Council had to reschedule two hearings because it couldn't make a quorum due to councilmember absences.

Now, the San Jose Mercury News has picked up on the story with Jane Northrop reporting. Councilmember Jim Vreeland, frequently absent from meetings, told Northrop he is planning to step down.

Find out what's happening in Pacificawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Vreeland told the Tribune he has had medical issues over the past year and has recently been admitted to a hospital. He said he is planning on resigning his seat on City Council because of these ongoing medical issues," Northrop reported.

When he will resign, however, is unclear.

Find out what's happening in Pacificawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Feb. 27 council meeting will be extremely important, as the council is set to take a series of votes about a possible half-cent sales tax increase measure for the June ballot. But if Vreeland and DeJarnatt are absent again, or if Vreeland resigns before votes can be taken, the tax increase would have to be pushed back to the November ballot.

If the general sentiment of the council is that they want the sales tax increase on the June ballot, all city councilmembers should attend, or at least four, because one vote necessary to get the tax increase on that ballot (a declaration of a fiscal emergency) requires four yea votes.

That, of course, is assuming that all councilmembers support a sales tax increase. Councilman Stone said at last week's Financing City Services Task Force meeting that he doesn't favor the move, although he wouldn't say how he would vote.

Councilman Pete DeJarnatt has also said recently he wouldn't like to go toward a new tax.

As we near the Feb. 27 meeting, what are your thoughts about these absences?

What about Vreeland saying he will resign?

Do you think he'll show up at the next meeting?

What do you think about the sales tax increase?


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