El Cerrito Council’s Evasive Tactics Undermine Public Transparency

Posted byeccrgPosted inBudget, City Council Meetings, City Staff, Financial Crisis, Financial MismanagementTags:, , ,

In yet another example of the El Cerrito City Council’s evasive approach to accountability, the Mayor and city manager placed a discussion on the consent calendar—effectively avoiding meaningful public engagement and absolving themselves of any responsibility for their decision-making.

None of other four council members asked to pull it off consent. Instead, they said they had questions for city staff.

Because it was on consent, the public was not allowed to participate in the discussion at all. This move undermines the very purpose of transparency, which is to allow for public valid questions and comments and input on key financial decisions.

As it turns out, the city already had the funds allocated, but what they were actually doing was awarding spending authority for $400,000. Instead of treating this as a consent item, this expenditure should have been presented as a separate agenda item. By failing to do so, the council effectively limited public valid questions and comments and ensured that community members could not directly participate in the decision outside the predictable and often superficial questions council members tend to ask.

Had the public been allowed to ask questions, they might have inquired:

  • What are the upcoming forecasted costs for the next 12 months?
  • Are there any cost overruns anticipated, and if so, what are they?

This pattern of behavior is concerning. True transparency requires an open dialogue with the public—not just a performative discussion among council members and staff. When substantial financial decisions are made, the residents of El Cerrito deserve the opportunity to engage in meaningful discourse, not just to witness a choreographed exchange that skirts real accountability.

The council’s responsibility is to ensure that every dollar spent is justified, necessary, and in the public’s best interest. That responsibility includes fostering a process that invites real input, not one that tactically limits community participation. If they are confident in their fiscal management, they should welcome robust public engagement rather than confining it to procedural formalities that do little to challenge their decisions.

El Cerrito residents deserve better. If transparency is truly a priority, it’s time for the City Council to stop hiding behind technicalities and start allowing real, unfiltered public discourse on how our tax dollars are spent.

For those who wish to demand accountability, here are the contact emails for El Cerrito’s City Council members and City Clerk:

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