TUSTIN : Term-Limits Law Meant as Guideline

City Council members have decided to draft an ordinance that would limit their terms to eight years despite admitting that such a law could not be enforced.

General-law cities like Tustin cannot adopt an enforceable term-limits law, but Councilman Jim Potts said Monday that it will serve as a guideline that would be as effective.

“No incumbent has successfully run for a third term in any general-law city that has passed a term-limit ordinance,” Potts said. “The beauty is, it gives the people the final say.”

Potts is proposing that council members serve two four-year terms, but could run again after sitting out for two years.

But Mayor Thomas R. Saltarelli said that a term-limit law could backfire because Tustin representatives on county boards and commissions would remain junior members while those from cities with no term limits will get the leadership positions.

“Term limits is a great idea, “ Saltarelli said. “It’s politically correct and a prudent thing to do. (But) we’re legislating something that is bad for Tustin because many cities have no term limits.”

Saltarelli joined other council members in a unanimous vote directing city staff to prepare the term-limits ordinance that will come before the council May 16.

Under state law, cities with a charter can pass term limits. A general-law city, which usually has a small population, does not have a charter that allows it to adopt some laws that conflict with state laws.

The council Monday also endorsed a resolution supporting state legislation that would allow general-law cities to enact term-limit laws.

In addition to term limits, the council considered drafting an ordinance that would require council members not to accept free lunches and such gifts as green fees during golf tournaments.

Councilman Michael J. Doyle, who promised local political reform during the April 12 Tustin municipal election, asked City Manager William A. Huston to prepare a comparison between the county’s gift-ban ordinance and current city laws about accepting gifts.

“I don’t think it’s necessary to reinvent the wheel,” Doyle said. “The (current) gift ban does not include the council, only the staff. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.”