Council hears appeals to strengthen worker-retention ordinance; action held over one week

Council members heard emotional public testimony on a proposed amendment to the city's worker-retention ordinance before deferring final action for one week. At the public hearing on Item 9, Reverend Norman Johnson and USC employee Juan Marquez urged council to tighten protections for service workers whose jobs could be lost or contracted out. "Without any notice she was without a job," Reverend Johnson said of a congregation member; Marquez described a family at risk if his work were contracted away.

The administration's report, prepared by the CLA and the CAO, identified nine organizations that might be affected and estimated impacts to contractors. CAO staff told council the change would expand obligations beyond city funds to other money while city money remains committed; staff said the list includes seven nonprofits and two for-profit contractors. Judith (Judy) Schwarz, director of legislative affairs for the Central City Association, urged delay until a financial-impact study was completed: "This study has not been completed, and we don't understand the urgency of moving this forward this morning."

Council members debated legal thresholds and practical effects. One member noted that an ordinance requires 12 votes on first reading to become effective; with fewer members present the council could not finalize adoption. Council Member Sornage asked that the item be withheld one week so the necessary votes could be available. Miss Goldberg urged a vote on first reading rather than withholding. Ultimately the council took a roll call that produced 11 "yes" votes and held the matter over to the next meeting so the ordinance could be considered when a full complement of members was likely to be present.

Next steps: staff will supply the outstanding financial-impact information and other requested clarifications; the council expects the item to return for further consideration at the next regular meeting.