CLOCK TOWER at Westminster Civic Center. (OC Tribune photo).
It was tried with censure. It was tried with sanctions. Now, it may become an ordinance.
When the Westminster City Council meets on Wednesday evening, its agenda will include consideration of an ordinance – a city law – “establishing the City of Westminster rules and decorum from the mayor and city council during city council meetings.”
The city already has guidelines for the conduct during meetings but there’s been continual uproars over controversial issues and controversial actions by city council members.
It all came to a head at the Oct. 9 meeting of the council when shouting, profanity and general disorder broke out, despite the efforts of Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen to restore order.
The proposed ordinance would state that anyone – including a member of the council – disrupting a meeting could be removed from the meeting and charged with a misdemeanor.
Three warnings would have to be given by the presiding officer, followed by a five-minute recess to “restore order.” If the disruption continued, the mayor shall ask the “offending council member” to leave. That’s followed by another recess and if that doesn’t stop the disruption, the mayor may either declare the meeting ended or require that the offending member be removed.
Although it’s not stated, the likely subject of the ordinance is Councilmember Amy Phan West, whom the council has previously been censured and sanctioned.
The council will meet in closed session at 5 p.m. and in open session at 6 p.m. in its chambers at 8200 Westminster Blvd.
Categories: Westminster
Anybody who attends Westminster council meetings, knows that the behavior problem is from two members. Notably Amy Phan West and Nam Quan Nguyen. West is known for her shouting and disruptive behavior, as well as leaving the dias during discussions, to go into the audience or outside the council building to talk to supporters.