San Fernando council declines to make agenda‑cosponsor pilot permanent after Brown Act concerns

The San Fernando City Council debated whether to keep a six‑month pilot that requires a second councilmember to cosponsor items before they appear on the council agenda, then voted against making the change permanent.

Staff said the pilot — and a revised request form adding a co‑sponsor field — was intended to reduce last‑minute or repetitive agenda items and encourage collaboration. The pilot began in April and was set to end at the close of September 2024.

Councilmember Victoria Garcia said she opposed the requirement, arguing each councilmember represents distinct constituents and should be able to agendize items without needing another member's permission. Some members worried that asking for a co‑sponsor could prompt off‑record conversations that might run afoul of the Brown Act. City Attorney Mr. Kimball advised that the approach can work in other cities but cautioned about how councilmembers approach conversations so they do not reach a substantive agreement outside public meetings.

"I am not in favor with this new way of requiring a second...the community votes for each member," Garcia said.

Councilmember Joe Fajardo said the pilot had curbed chaotic agenda additions and said he preferred to keep it, but acknowledged that the council should follow majority direction. With no motion, staff said the pilot would automatically revert to the prior procedure in the council's procedural manual (single‑member agendizing). Fajardo then moved to make the pilot permanent; the motion was seconded and failed in roll call: Garcia and Vice Mayor Mary Mendoza voted No, Council member Mary Salorio and Mayor Celeste Rodriguez voted Yes, leaving the motion short of passage.

Because the motion failed and no other action was taken, the pilot will revert to the previous rules unless the council brings the matter back for further discussion.