Camarillo council revises abstention rule, approves ‘traditional’ treatment of non-conflict abstentions

The Camarillo City Council on October 7 approved an amendment to City Council Policy 1.05, changing how non-conflict abstentions are recorded. The council voted 5-0 to adopt the traditional or Rosenberg rule, under which non-conflict abstentions are treated as non‑votes in most circumstances.

Council member Martinez Bravo had requested the review after a prior meeting in which her non‑conflict abstention was recorded as a “yes.” She said she abstained because she lacked information needed to decide and that the prior recording did not reflect her intent.

Council discussion ranged from preferences that elected officials should make yes-or-no decisions to acknowledgement that the earlier policy (adopted in 2008) aimed to discourage non‑participation. Several council members said abstentions are rare in practice and that either the traditional rule or the proposed non‑conflict‑as‑present approach would function similarly in the council’s current practice.

After brief debate, the council made and seconded a motion to adopt the traditional rule consistent with Rosenberg’s guidance; the measure passed on a verbal roll call with all five council members voting yes.

City Attorney Rachel explained the change was within municipal discretion because the Political Reform Act addresses only conflict-of‑interest abstentions, not non‑conflict abstentions.