About 99 percent of the time that candidate Chris Armenta opened a stump speech before a campaign audience during January, February and March, he would open with a clear and direct line that all 8 rivals soon memorized and kidded about.
“I am your elected City Clerk. For the last 6 years, I have been your eyes and ears at every meeting of the City Council.”
Candidate Armenta was speaking from the depth of his heart, which some cynics may have overlooked.
For the 300 Monday nights that the outgoing, smartly dressed Mr. Armenta sat at the Clerk’s desk, he considered himself part of the Council team.
“The only things I was missing,” he said, “were a voice and a vote.”
When he ran a strong second one month ago today and actually was elected to the City Council, he merely considered it the logical progression in his professional life.
“I saw it as a movement of chairs,” Mr. Armenta said. “By moving to the dais, I was getting a better view of the room.”
Between Mr. Armenta and another freshman, Mehaul O’Leary, the dais is rockin’ with more youthful energy than it has seen in years.
Both are in the 40s, and the Council has not had a member that young since 2001.
“I have had a completely different feeling since moving to the dais,” Mr. Armenta said with the enthusiasm that is a natural derivative of his sparkling personality.
Perpetual Motion
“You are really busy. You’re working. You’re operating the equipment, watching all around you, casting votes. You really have to be on your toes. Constantly thinking.
“I am telling you, it’s tiring.”
Last week, the Council finished at 1:30 and this week at midnight. Mr. Armenta does not have the luxury of pushing back his starting time on his day job.
After two meetings, he is flirting with a perfect score, having dropped one bombshell at the end of each meeting.
Last week it was the Entrada Office Tower, and this week he perked up flagging ears when he suggested that Council meetings should be completed by 11 o’clock.
Motivations
“After that, it is too late,” he reasoned. “It’s a case of diminishing returns. It is tough on everyone, the staff, the Council, the public. We all have day jobs, and we have to be on time.”
Mr. Armenta will not try to have an 11 o’clock finish formally instituted as policy. He will leave it up to the conscience of each gentleman.
“Finishing in a timely manner is a matter of personal responsibility,” he said. “What I can do is take responsibility for myself.
“I know that it is not practical to say that we can complete every week’s meeting by 11, but my goal is to move in that direction.”
Wind-Driven Answers
Sounding like a veteran of hundreds of Council meetings where members performed as if they were being paid by the word, Mr. Armenta said, “This is not Star Search. Some people become extremely aggressive when making a point. They turn their responses into a speeches. There is no need for longwinded speeches. You make your point and you move on.”
Next on Mr. Armenta’s agenda is to create interest in adopting an idea his ally, Vice Mayor Gary Silbiger, has been pushing for years.
“It is not necessary to meet every Monday night,” said Mr. Armenta.
Making a Case
Simply put, he believes there is not enough business to justify convening weekly. Some Monday agendas are loaded, guaranteeing a meeting will run at least until 1 o’clock. Others are packaged to finish within 2 or 3 hours.
With a meeting every week, Council or the Redevelopment Agency, city staff is being overworked, constantly in motion and, in the process, getting worn down.
Slow down, says the Councilman.
Control of this area is not up to the Council but to City Manager Jerry Fulwood, says Mr. Armenta.
In addition to neither loading up nor starving agendas, said the Councilman, the City Manager also tends to place hot items lower on the agenda so that popular decisions often are rendered late at night, when all are worn out and Council Chambers has been emptied.
During his campaign, Mr. Armenta promised voters he would be prolific and productive. His early reviews are favorable.
