Attachment 1
August 9, 2022
Dear Honorable Mayor Talamantes and City Council Members:
Article 14, Section 1400 of Burbank’s City Charter (Charter) requires that every five (5) years a citizenry review of the Charter occur.
On March 15, 2022 you each selected a Burbank resident to convene as a municipal charter review committee (Committee) . The Committee was tasked to review the Charter and to advise you whether (1) no review is advised , (2) a full and comprehensive review is recommended, or (3) a limited and focused Charter review is proposed.
The initial Committee meeting took place on March 31, 2022. The first four meetings took place virtually with subsequent meetings taking place in -person. The final Committee meeting took place on June 16, 2022. City Attorney Joseph McDougall, Assistant City Manager Judie Wilke and Administrative Analyst Viviana Garz on were present at the meetings with Assistant City Attorney Iain McMillan substituting in for City Attorney McDougall for the April 27 , 2022 meeting. All agendas and minutes from each meeting were recorded and are available to the public on the Burbank City website.
The members of th e Committee each submitted a list of the Charter Sections to be discussed , together with a list of possible deletions or additions to the Charter . The subject of discussion among the members were many and varied, including, in part:
• Election of full time Mayor;
• Creation of districts;
• Forfeiture of council office for failure to attend three consecut ive meetings without prior permission;
• Term limits for Council Members and Board and Commission members; • Frequency of Council meetings;
• Continuation of hybrid public comment period;
• Social inequity and discrimination clauses;
• Creation of an Ethics, DEI and Women’s Advisory Board/CSW; • Police Commission authority.
A complete list of the various topics of discussion are attached as Attachment 2.
Assistant City Manager Judie Wilke and City Attorney Joseph McDougall provided information and a historical framework for many of the topics of discussion.
Burbank City Clerk, Zizette Mullins, provided the Committee with in-depth information on topics such as current City Council model, districts, eligibility to run for council and independently elected mayor.
Burbank Chief of Police, Michael Albanese, appeared together with members of the Police Commission who appeared on their own behalf to request greater authority.
These presentations gave the Committee a greater understanding of the functions, operations, responsibilities and obligations of the city government, its employees and its Police Commission.
The Committee offers guidance to the Council as follows:
Recommendations on the Charter:
Term Limits: A full review of term limits for City Council members and Board and Commission members.
The Council should receive a report from the City Clerk on the issue of term limits and then consider whether Charter Sections 305 and 700, The City Council and Boards, Commissions and Committees, respectively, in addition to the Burbank Municipal Code, should be amended to provide term limits.
Social Inequity and Discrimination Clauses: In light of the possibility that the City may be tasked to create a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program in the future, the Committee recommends that the Charter be amended to include social inequity and discrimination clauses. For example:
“It shall be unlawful for any employee of the City to discriminate against any individual because of age, race, color, religion, sex, disability, national origin, familial status, sexual orientation, transgender, gender identity or gender expression in any manner.” and
“The City shall coordinate efforts to eliminate rac ial, ethnic, and gender disparities in criminal justice, economic development, education, governance, health, housing, and transportation.”
Municipal Charter Review: The Committee recommends that the Charter be amended to allow for a citizen committee to be appointed every eight (8) years, and at a minimum one year prior to an election year, rather than every five (5) years to consider the Charter and make recommendations for its revision, if necessary.
As shown in Attachment 2, the Committee considered a wide array of topics as presented in the Charter; however, those few listed above deserve a full review. We strongly recommend to City Council that it give strong consideration to the Committee’s recommendations.
The Committee members expended time and effort in discussing the various aspects of the Charter and very much appreciate the opportunity and honor to serve the City in this capacity.