Bellflower Local Charter
Item 11-D
1 Background
Overview
The City Council established a resident committee comprised of two Council Members and seven Bellflower citizens representing a cross section of the community.
Based on community input, the subcommittee drafted charter language and recommended a draft Charter document to the City Council.
City Council held two special meetings to gather additional input on the draft Charter.
City conducted a resident survey on draft measure.
Survey results were presented to the City Council and the community in 2022.
Due to noticing and time constraints, the City Charter was not able to make it on the November 4, 2022, ballot.
City Charter Ad Hoc Committee Members
Larry Wehage
Chrissy Padilla Birkey
Cheryl Williams
Mosheh Chanan
C.J. Nord
Bob Snow
Michelle Worley
Juan Garza
Ray Hamada
2 General Law City v. Charter City
Charter City
Powers derived from a locally adopted City Charter approved by voters Maintains autonomy over local municipal affairs.
Granted supremacy over "municipal affairs" by Article XI, § 5(a), of the California Constitution.
General Law City
Powers derived from the State’s general laws
Subject to State action regardless of whether the subject concerns a municipal affair.
Subject to all limitations imposed by California law.
Only exercise powers conferred by the California Constitution and law.
3 Municipal Affairs vs. Matters of Statewide Concern
Planning Zoning, and Land Use
Public Works Projects
Municipal Contracting
Economic Development
Public Safety and Local Law Enforcement
About one-quarter of California cities are charter cities, including Downey, Cerritos, Long Beach, Whittier, and Signal Hill.
Traditional Local Municipal Affairs
School systems
Regulating traffic and vehicles
Licensing of members of a trade or profession
Claims against a governmental entity
Exercise of the power of eminent domain
Traditional Matters of Statewide Concern
4 Benefits of a Local Charter
Increasing efficient management of city government finances Bellflower can establish local priorities and procedures for contracting Allows the City to choose the most qualified contractors, instead of being forced to select the lowest price.
Reduces costs for maintenance and on call type services for which the City contracts by eliminating many requirements to pay prevailing wage for these services Maintains worker protections for traditional public works projects like street improvements and new public construction projects.
Addressing homelessness and affordable housing
Allows greater resident input and local control in land use decisions and allows the City to approve projects that expedite development of needed housing and services.
Maintaining crime prevention, reduction and 911 response times Keeps priority setting and decision making in the hands of Bellflower residents.
Can potentially identify and enforce quality of life issues that directly affect our residents’ day to day lives.
Retaining and attracting local businesses
Additional flexibility in economic development without triggering prevailing wage requirements.
Maintaining core services like garbage pickup, yard waste, and recycling Provides increased efficiency in contract procedures.
5 Tonight’s Recommendation
Open the public hearing, take testimonial and documentary evidence, and after considering the evidence, direct staff to draft the necessary documents to add a City Charter ballot measure to the November 5, 2024 Election ballot; and
Schedule a 2nd Public Hearing on May 13, 2024; or
Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
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