Members of the Tulare City Council admitted violations of California’s Public Records Act and the Brown Act, the state’s open meeting law, and the vice mayor resigned as part of the settlement of lawsuits filed against the city and two members of the council. -db
Tulare Advance-Register
October 11, 2010
By Staff
Vice Mayor Phil Vandegrift stepped down from the Tulare City Council as part of a preliminary settlement agreement of three lawsuits levied against the city and two council members alleging violations of California election laws, the Brown Act and the Public Records Act.
Vandegrift, the top vote-getter in the 2008 election, was serving his second turn in the council. He was on the council from 1975 to 1983, completing a four-year tenure as mayor from November 1979 to November 1983.
In a prepared statement, Vandegrift wrote:
“In order to achieve global settlement for all, all had to give something to move our community forward and start the healing for our council and community,” he said. “I found it necessary to do my part and only want what’s best for Tulare and all the wonderful people I had the pleasure to work with and serve.”
Visalia-based attorney Michael Lampe, who filed the lawsuits, said the vice mayor made a tough choice.
“This was no doubt a difficult decision for the vice mayor, but his resignation was in the best interest of both himself and the citizens of Tulare,” Lampe said.
Mayor Craig Vejvoda lamented Vandegrift’s resignation.
“It’s a sad day for Tulare,” he said. “Phil has been a tremendous community servant for 40 years. I will miss him on the Tulare City Council. He has been an active, positive force for most of the citizens of Tulare.”
According to the lawsuit, Vandegrift received $200,000 from a land transaction the city paid to a developer, part of a $5.2 million deal. As part of the lawsuit settlement agreement, Vandegrift resigned but did not admit any wrong doing.
Also, part of the settlement calls for city officials to admit violations of the Brown Act, also known as California’s open meeting laws, and the Public Records Act, Lampe said.
“While we recognize that many of your readers may not view such violations as a serious matter, we will simply note that there are important public policy issues at stake when public agencies fail to follow the law,” Lampe said. “In this regard, we hope that the city has learned a valuable lesson, and that history will not repeat itself.”
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