<p>Let’s say it straight out: I’ve never been more proud of serving with the Sacramento City Council than I was Tuesday night, February 23, 2010. The council took two major actions, neither of which were easy but both of which will help push Sacramento toward a prosperous future. We expressed our disagreements respectfully, made our positions known, and acted in the best interest of the city.</p> <p>I am speaking about the adoption of charter reform and the decision to appoint Gus Vina as acting city manager.</p> <p>The decisions were separate yet similar. In the charter reform action, the council voted to adopt the creation of an independent budget analyst.</p> <p>I first expressed the need for a budget analyst last year. In recent weeks, the independent budget analyst became part of my charter reform package, a five-point checklist of improvements and updates necessary for our city government.</p> <p>Today, there are just four points left on the checklist. I am confident the city council will place the remaining reforms before voters in November. And I’m confident voters will decide what’s best for Sacramento’s future.</p> <p>The specifics still must be discussed, but the package includes modified executive mayor, an ethics review committee, term limits and an opportunity for voter re-approval on the reforms.</p> <p>With the budget analyst now on the books, the momentum is moving ahead for reform.</p> <p>The independent budget analyst will bring accountability to our budget process and prudence to our spending.</p> <p>This is great news for Sacramento. There should be no turning back.</p> <p>As for the city manager, I was proud to see the council make a unanimous choice with Mr. Vina. He will have 30 days to settle in as acting city manager, with the next two weeks spent working alongside our current and departing city manager, Ray Kerridge.</p> <p>After 30 days, Gus will have the chance to win the job on an interim basis, serving through the calendar year.</p> <p>By then, Sacramento should have a clear path toward reform, with voters ideally creating a separation of powers in November: an executive mayoral branch and a legislative council branch.</p> <p>Then, the path to progress will be open. Sacramento will join the list of emerging cities, competing for jobs, economic development and prosperous future.</p> <p style="line-height: 1.5em; "> </p> <p> </p>
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