Bellflower Local Charter
Item 13-A
July 8, 2024
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 has held multiple special meetings to gather additional input on the draft Charter, and held two required public hearings.
City conducted various resident surveys on draft measure.
Survey results were presented to the City Council May 13.
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
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Resident Concerns
4 General Law City v. Charter City
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
5 How does being a Charter City impact local services?
Puts decision making back in Bellflower instead of Sacramento. Allows the City and our residents to decide how and where housing can be built that meets the needs of our residents, and allows it to be built more quickly and more efficiently.
Provides for more local authority over land use decisions
Gives the City more ability to support and build up our local small businesses. We have shown we can be successful when we can get business the support they need without the roadblocks Sacramento puts in place.
Allows more flexible and efficient financing of public projects and services and removes red tape.
Maintains all of the core services and structure our residents need – Public Safety, Trash, Water, Sewer services, and
6 Tonight’s Recommendation
Adopt:
Resolution No. 24-40 – A Resolution adding a proposition to the ballot for the previously called November 5, 2024, Special and General Municipal Election pursuant to Elections Code § 9222; and
Resolution No. 24-41 – A Resolution requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles to add a proposition to the previously consolidated Special and General Municipal Election to be held on November 5, 2024, with the General Election to be held on that date pursuant to Elections Code § 10403; and Resolution No. 24-42 – A Resolution directing the City Attorney to prepare an impartial analysis of the proposition seeking voter approval for a City Charter; and Resolution No. 24-43 – A Resolution establishing requirements for ballot arguments filed with the City Clerk to be included with voter information for the Special and General Municipal Election on November 5, 2024.
If desirable, designate one or more Council Members to draft an argument in favor of the ballot proposition; or Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
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