[Sosfbay-discuss] Notes From Plenary Agenda Review Meeting Novenber 16th

[WB4D23 at aol.com]

GPSCC PLENARY AGENDA REVIEW -- NOVEMBER  16, 2005
 
Participants:  Warner Bloomberg,  Jim Doyle, Fred Duperrault, Valerie Face, 
Gerry Gras, Cameron Spitzer, Jim  Stauffer
Note taker:  Warner
Following the Draft Agenda as previously  forwarded from the GPCA CC email 
list decision items were discussed with the  following recommendations:
 
*****************************
TITLE:  Yolo General Assembly  Agenda
 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10,  2005
 
Campaign Finance (Clean Money) -  ERWG
Proposal: [That the GPCA approve the] Proposed Amendment to AB 583 / The  
California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act / Prepared by Trent Lange, Vice  
President of the California Clean Money Campaign in consultation with members of 
 the Green and Peace & Freedom 
Parties (would provide partial public  funding to smaller parties in primary 
and general elections for partisan office,  but less than the public financing 
provided to candidates in the "big parties"  until candidate for a party in a 
statewide office or district receives 10% of  vote; then larger public 
funding would be provided in the following election  cycle if that party has a 
candidate for the same office). 
 
Comments:  Proposal is unclear  about what it is requesting.
Recommendation:  All support GPCA approval  of the proposed amendments to 
this legislation.
 
Election Code - ERWG
PROPOSAL:  The  ERWG requests that this proposal be approved as draft text to 
present  to the California legislature for introduction as legislation and 
that the ERWG,  through its Co-Coordinators and other members, are authorized to 
represent the  GPCA in dealings with legislators and their staff.
 
Recommendation:  Consensus that  the proposal should be approved -- i.e., the 
draft GPCA Elections Code text with  the ERWG to have authority to deal with 
further changes.
 
Fair Wage Initiative - Green  Issues
PROPOSAL That the GPCA support one of the three initiatives. All three  would 
be 
presented because all three have their merits.
Funding: The GPCA  will raise funds for the initiative of its choice.
 
Comments:  Proposal unclear  because it does not designate preferred version 
of a proposed initiative.   Also is unclear about how much funding from GPCA 
is expected.  Also is  unclear about what happens if version GPCA prefers is 
different from that  preferred by other coalition members.  Recommended order of 
preference 1,  2, 3 in order presented (lowest increase to start #1; highest 
increase to start  #3)
 
GPUS delegation elections [delegate and  alts on one ballot] -- 
GDI Participants:  Mary Beth Wurtheimer Cat  Woods Jan Arnold 
Currently GPCA CC Members  Mary Beth Wurtheimer Cat  Woods David Silva 
Currently International Protocol Committee Co-Co Fred  Hosea
 
Concerns:  GDI an ideological  faction and additional members not desirable 
on the GPUS Delegation.  GPCA  CC members already have a large workload if they 
are doing their job properly;  likewise GPUS Delegates are expected to be 
involved in GPUS Committees and  communications -- issue whether anyone should 
hold both kinds of offices.   Concern that David Silva has issues working with 
other people.  Affirmation  that Fred Hosea has been active regarding 
international  issues.
Recommendation:  GPSCC will vote for Fred Hosea (1st ranking)  and No Other 
Candidate (NOC) as second ranking.
 
Two-year Workplan -  Bylaws
Proposal:  The following GPCA Bylaw language would be  approved:
 
7-1.13 Strategic Plan
 
The CC shall establish a two-year  strategic plan annually, using 
input from a brainstorming plenary session  and draft work plans from  the 
standing committees and working groups. The  proposed plan shall  be presented 
and affirmed at the subsequent General  Assembly.
 
The two-year strategic plan shall be  reviewed and refocused by the 
CC and presented to the General Assembly  annually. As part of the 
strategic plan, the CC shall develop a two-year  schedule, including 
potential agenda items, for the General Assemblies and  Gatherings, 
with input from each standing committee and working group work  plan.  The 
two-year schedule shall be revised annually, with General  
Assembly agenda and scheduling remaining flexible.
 
Recommendation:  Agreement that  GPCA CC should create a two-year work plan.  
However...
Comments:   Warner -- Bad idea to have General Assembly using plenary time in 
two sessions  each year to create a two-year work plan.  Jim Stauffer:  Make 
the  plenary language a procedure rather than a Bylaw.
 
Coordinator Funding - CCWG
 
PROPOSAL:  That the GPCA General  Assembly affirms its prior budget 
authorization for the CCWG Campaign  Coordinator position and authorizes advance 
funding for that position in the  2006-2007 Fiscal Year in the sum of $8,000 for 
monthly compensation, plus $1,200  for expenses reimbursements.  Further, the 
CCWG and Finance Committee  Coordinators are authorized to negotiate a 
modification of the Campaign  Coordinator job description to include fund raising and 
the GPCA Coordinating  Committee is delegated authority to increase the 
compensation for the position  consistent with increased activities and 
responsibilities submitted by the CCWG  and Finance Committee Coordinators.
 
Recommendation:  All  approve.
 
GPUS Affiliation Agreement -  CC
PROPOSAL: 
 
The GPCA approves its affiliation  agreement with the GPUS, with the 
recognition that the GPCA bylaws stipulate  that “No decision of the GPUS is binding 
on the GPCA without its consent”  (Paragraph 11-1.1).
 
If a GPUS decision or nomination  impacting the GPCA is contested by the GPCA 
membership, the General Assembly  shall convene to grant or withhold its 
consent. Among the issues delegates may  wish to consider and assess, during this 
process, is whether the decision or  nomination was arrived at by a fair, 
proportionate and accountable democratic  process.
 
Comments:  If the affiliation  agreement is not approved, then GPCA has no 
right to send delegates and  participate in GPUS decisions.  GPCA consent should 
be considered as made  by its GPUS Delegates.
Recommendation:  Approve GPUS Affiliation  Agreement.  [Note:  Second Clause 
not expressly discussed, but  comments infer it should be opposed.]
 
Consent Calendar Items: Remove Eco-Net  reference and replace with the GPCA 
website in the GPCA Bylaws as follows  --
 
5-6.2 f) In a timely manner, a copy of  the draft minutes will shall 
be sent to each region and posted on the GPCA  website.
 
5-8.7 a) The committees shall post  proposals in the pre-meeting 
agenda package on the GPCA  website.
 
Recommendation:  All  agree.
 
Make Liaison to SoS an ex officio  member of the ERWG instead of 
Clearinghouse -- Change GPCA Bylaws as follows  --
 
7-6.2 Ex Officio Member
A Webmaster,  appointed by the committee, is an ex officio member of 
the Clearinghouse  Committee.
 
8-3.2 Ex Officio Member
The Liaison  to the Secretary of State is an ex officio member of the 
Electoral Reform  Working Group.
 
Recommendation:  All  agree.
 
Update GPCA Bylaws describing  International Protocol Committee mission, etc. 
 
Recommendation:  All  agree.
 
[Write-in Threshold -  CCWG]

Proposal:  The following GPCA Bylaw language would be  approved

In order to advance to the General Election as the Green  Party nominee in an 
election for partisan office, a Green Party write-in  candidate must be

a) a registered Green Party member in the  District in which they seek to 
run, at least 25 days before the commencement  of the write-in 
declaration period,
b) must receive the most votes in the  primary, and
c) must received a number of write-in signatures equal to or  greater 
than the number of nomination signatures necessary to qualify for  the 
ballot in the first place (40-60, varies by district) or 1% of the  
number of registered Greens in that legislative district, at the count  
of the close of registration for that primary, which ever is  greater.
 
Recommendation:  (b) and (c) ok;  Concerns that (a) should require one-year 
registration in the Green Party before  the write-in candidate deadline filing 
(which is later than the candidate filing  deadline for someone whose name 
will appear on the primary ballot). 
 
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2005
 
Voting Threshold - Bylaws  Committee
PROPOSAL FOR DISCUSSION: 
Decisions of the Green Party of  California shall be made at General 
Assemblies and governing committees of the  Green Party of California using a 
consensus-seeking process as outlined in the  Bylaws section 5-8.1 (a-c), and section 
5-8.9 (a - j). When consensus cannot be  reached on a business or policy item, 
the presenters of the item shall have the  right to call for a vote. The item 
will only be only adopted if it is approved  by [a 2/3 majority] of the 
voting delegates.
 
The following changes would be made to  the GPCA bylaws to accommodate this 
proposal:
 
Section 5-8.1 d shall be rewritten as  “Voting will be on business and 
procedural questions will require the support of  [a 2/3 majority] of the General 
Assembly members to pass.”
 
Section 5-8.9 k (4) shall be rewritten  as “A [2/3 majority] vote is 
necessary to approve a business or policy  item.”
 
Section 5-8.9 k (5 - 6) shall be  removed
 
Section 5-8.9 k (7) shall be rewritten  as “Abstentions are not counted in 
calculating the percentage  vote.”
 
The Bylaws Standing Committee is  instructed to make these and any other 
changes to the bylaws to make them  consistent with this proposal. 
 
Comments:  Everyone except Fred  felt that the 80% voting threshold for 
policy issues should be kept (instead of  reducing it to 2/3ds).  Jim Stauffer also 
noted that this proposal attempts  to do away with abstention voting -- 
contrary to the following proposal.   Since there was not consensus, this item 
needs discussion at the December 6th  GPSCC monthly meeting.
 
Abstention Anomaly - Bylaws  Committee
PROPOSAL:
 
Existing language:  5-8.9 k) 7.  Abstentions are not counted in calculating 
the percentage 
vote, however if  20% or more of those voting abstain, the proposal fails.
 
Option A: remove altogether.
5-8.9  k) 7. Abstentions are not counted in calculating the percentage  vote.
 

Option B: add minimum affirmative  vote requirement
5-8.9 k) 7. Abstentions are not counted in calculating the  percentage vote. 
The minimum number of affirmative votes required to pass a  
proposal shall be the voting threshold times the decision-making  quorum.
 
Comments:  Consensus to oppose  option A (loss of the abstention option in 
voting0.  No consensus regarding  Option B.  Some difficulty understanding 
Option B.  Further discussion  needed at December 6th GPSCC monthly meeting.
 
Platform plank #1  Health Care  Plank.  Minor rewrites.  General sense, ok; 
but people should submit  their proposals for further editting.
 
Platform plank #2  Rewrite of  Unions statements in the Social Justice & 
Liveable Communities Section of  the GPCA Platform.
Comments by Jim Stauffer:  More concerns about  specialized and unclear 
language in this proposal.  Written comments need  to be forwarded to the Platform 
Committee.  

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