Millbrae may extend council term limits

This can make it challenging for local Millbrae officials to establish themselves on the regional boards they serve on, multiple councilmembers said June 25, when they decided to bring the topic back for an official vote at an upcoming meeting.

“I’ve been quite blunt on this,” said Councilmember Ann Schneider, who introduced the topic. “Because Millbrae has two two-year term limits, it is very difficult for anyone representing Millbrae to get into the leadership roles on regional committees.”

Cities like Millbrae and Pacifica have the lowest financial funding metrics, Schneider said, which she attributed in part to the role their particularly restrictive term limits play in not placing local electeds in leadership roles on boards like City/County Association of Governments.

Mayor Anders Fung, who serves on the Peninsula Clean Energy surplus fund committee, also testified that it can take time to reach leadership role status on regional boards — which often mete out important funding or grants — that Millbrae councilmembers can’t establish.

“Other cities also see that as sort of a detriment to Millbrae. It puts us in a majorly disadvantaged position. That is a fact,” he said.

At one point, a councilmember was in line to chair C/CAG, Councilmember Gina Papan said, but because of the city’s rotating mayoral system, was unable to take the position.

“That put us at a disadvantage too,” she said. “Consistency has some benefits to the public and the region as a whole here.”

Millbrae previously discussed the possibility of reverting back to at-large elections in March — which was dismissed due to threat of legal action at the time — as well as the possibility of moving to an elected mayor.

Although districting and the mayoral system was not on the agenda for discussion, some councilmembers felt further conversation was needed on the topic. The district system means that councilmembers are required to sit out for four years, rather than two, before running again, Papan said.

“I think we do need further discussion on districts overall. If districts remain here, it does throw it off,” she said.

Vice Mayor Maurice Goodman broached the idea of a study session or other community workshop to better understand resident opinion on term limits, and said it was important the City Council had a clearly defined reason for putting the term limit question to voters.

“There might be other reasons why individuals aren’t being chosen for leadership positions. If that is the case, we should also have a clearer understanding of our ‘why,’ on paper. It should not just be two terms. It should possibly be three terms,” he said.

The City Council will discuss what specific term limit regulation solution would be best at its upcoming meeting.