Pass: 52 / 100.0% Yes votes ...... 0 / 0.0% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Impartial Analysis from Michael B. Montgomery Interim City Attorney

Measure B, if passed, will amend the Vernon City Charter to mandate Vernon's continued compliance with California's prevailing wage laws for public works projects, no matter the outcome of pending litigation challenging the applicability of these laws to charter cities.

The state's prevailing wage laws, as codified in California Labor Code Section 1770 et seq., ensure competitive wages for workers engaged in works projects funded in whole, or in part, with City funds. Although the City of Vernon has long supported and has a longstanding policy of complying with California law requiring the payment of prevailing wages for public works projects, the Vernon City Charter currently does not mandate such compliance. Recent litigation unrelated to the City of Vernon has raised questions about the applicability of the state's prevailing wages provisions to charter cities.

Measure B would add a new provision to the Vernon City Charter mandating the City's continued conformance with the prevailing wage requirements in California Labor Code Section 1770 et seq., as now existing and as may be amended over time, for City public works projects no matter the outcome of the pending litigation.

A "yes" vote on Measure B approves the Charter amendment mandating that Vernon continue to abide by the prevailing wage requirements of California law, no matter the outcome of the pending litigation challenging the applicability of the prevailing wage laws to charter city public works projects.

A "no" vote on Measure B opposes this amendment to the Charter. If Measure B fails, compliance with the prevailing wage regulations would not be required by Vernon's Charter. Depending on the outcome of the pending litigation, the state's prevailing wage requirements may be deemed to not apply to charter cities. In that event, Vernon public works projects would not be required to adhere to prevailing wage requirements.

This Impartial Analysis is hereby submitted in conformance with Section 9280 of the Elections Code of the State of California.

City of Vernon