Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Moreno Valley council adopts policy on excused absences for council members, sets 1‑hour notice standard
Summary
After debate and public comment, the City Council adopted a policy defining excused absences for council members and requiring at least one hours notice to the city clerk when possible; the measure passed 4–1.
The Moreno Valley City Council voted Feb. 18 to adopt a formal policy outlining when elected members may be excused from council meetings and to require, when practicable, at least one hours advance notice to the city clerk.
The resolution, adopted 4–1, establishes four categories of excused absences: illness; caregiving for a household member; attendance at an official city event; and other reasons granted by a two‑thirds vote of the council. Councilmembers must notify the city clerk in writing — by email or text — at least one hour before a meeting unless prevented by illness or technical problems. The policy will be added to the councils rules of procedure and codified in the city policies.
The proposal emerged after staff told the council it has been left in an unclear position when councilmembers seek excused absences. City Clerk Eddie Rodriguez provided a tally of recent absences: since 2023 the clerk reported Mayor Cabrera had two excused and one unexcused absence; Councilmember Bernard two excused and one unexcused; Councilmember Delgado three excused and one unexcused; and Mayor Pro Tem Baca Santa Cruz one excused and two unexcused; Councilmember Gonzales had none.
Mayor Pro Tem Brenton Baca Santa Cruz framed the policy as a matter of accountability. "I would like for us to adopt a resolution saying that unless we're on council business, then the absence is unexcused," he told colleagues during deliberations. Councilmember Delgado, who moved the motion to adopt the staff recommendation and set the notice period to one hour, said the change would reduce confusion and protect staff from being placed in the middle of disputes about excusal.
"We do have to take a look at, the ultimate cost," city manager Brian Mohan told the council earlier in the discussion, when responding to a public suggestion about purchasing locally; Mohan explained staff must balance local purchase preferences with the duty to get competitive pricing. (That remark concerned a different agenda item but was part of the consent calendar deliberations held during the meeting.)
After brief deliberation and public comment — including remarks urging clear rules and accountability — the council approved the resolution 4–1. Mayor Pro Tem Baca Santa Cruz cast the lone dissent.
The resolution requires the city clerk to notify the council, city manager and city attorney of approved excused absences and to record them in the minutes. Staff will incorporate the policy language into the citys rules of procedure and return materials as needed for formal codification.
Votes at a glance: adoption of excused‑absence policy — motion passed 4–1 (Yes: Bernard, Delgado, Gonzales, Cabrera; No: Baca Santa Cruz).
