GARDEN GROVE : Council Decides to Quit League of Cities

The City Council has decided to drop out of the League of California Cities because of dissatisfaction with the organization and to save $28,000 in annual membership dues.

Councilman Bruce A. Broadwater, a critic of the organization, said during Tuesday’s council meeting that the league had become a “social club not interested in listening to our concerns.”

Broadwater also complained that Garden Grove has to pay higher membership fees than most other cities because of its population (149,700), but has only a vote equal in value to smaller cities that pay less dues.

Arguing against the pullout, Councilman Ho Chung said the league has performed valuable services for Garden Grove and that tough economic times make it an especially bad time to withdraw.

“All cities should be working together more than ever,” Chung said.

The council voted 3 to 2 to drop out of the organization.

Mayor Frank Kessler, who joined Chung in casting a dissenting vote, said the decision makes Garden Grove an outcast among cities.

“We are like a little boat that’s stuck in the water without an engine,” he said after the council meeting.

Garden Grove is the second of the state’s 470 cities to leave the league, officials said. Redlands withdrew last year because of money problems but is planning to rejoin later this year, a Redlands City Council spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Garden Grove City Manager George L. Tindall recommended renewing membership, claiming that the league provides the city with valuable services, including legislative advocacy, legal information and municipal training services.

William E. Hodge, executive director of the Orange County division of the League of California Cities, said Wednesday it was unclear how long Garden Grove will be permitted to participate in local division matters because of its decision to not renew its membership at the state level. The city has paid local dues through June 30.

Hodge said he is hopeful that Garden Grove will rejoin the league when city officials realize that it’s a valuable resource, particularly in dealing with major economic matters.

The Orange County division works on countywide and regional issues on behalf of cities. The division is made up of 154 city council members from the county’s 31 cities.