DRAFT
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FREMONT ESTABLISHING A MAYOR- APPOINTED CHARTER
ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT THE COUNCIL -DRAFTED
PROCESS TO PLACE A PROPOSED CITY CHARTER ON THE
NOVEMBER 3, 2026 BALLOT
WHEREAS, Fremont is one of California's largest, most diverse, and fastest-growing cities, and the City Council desires to evaluate adoption of a City Charter to become a charter city and to determine the most effective governance structure for the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council is initiating a Council-drafted charter process to consider submitting a proposed City Charter to Fremont voters at the November 3, 2026 election; and
WHEREAS, the City Council seeks structured community input to inform governance options, checks and balances, term limits options, compensation considerations, and Council office support needs; and
BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Fremont does hereby establish a Mayor appointed Charter Advisory Committee as shown on the attached Exhibit A.
ADOPTED _______________, 2026 by the City Council of the City of Fremont by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
______________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________
City Attorney
EXHIBIT A
Sample Implementing Resolution
Section 1. Establishment
The City Council hereby establishes a Charter Advisory Committee ("Committee") to provide advisory input to the City Council and City staff as part of the Council-drafted charter process.
Section 2. Status and Authority
A. The Committee is advisory only and shall have no decision-making authority.
B. The Committee shall not have authority to bind the City or direct staff.
C. Staff support shall be coordinated through the City Manager's Office.
Section 3. Composition and Appointment
A. The Committee shall consist of seven (7) members.
B. Members shall be appointed by the Mayor and ratified by the City Council.
Section 4. Timeline for Formation
A. Time is of the essence. The City Council intends for the Committee to be seated promptly following adoption of this Resolution.
B. If this Resolution is considered on March 3, 2026, the Committee shall be seated no later than March 17, 2026, or as soon as practicable thereafter consistent with Council direction.
Section 5. Scope of Work
The Committee shall review and provide written recommendations to the City Council on the following topics to inform preparation of a proposed City Charter:
A. Governance Structure Options
• Strong Mayor forms of government, including variations in executive authority, appointment authority, and checks and balances.
• Hybrid forms of government, including models that blend executive and legislative roles and alternative accountability structures. • Comparative considerations including accountability, speed of execution, stability/continuity, and transparency.
B. Executive/Legislative Roles and Meeting Structure
• Options regarding who presides at Council meetings.
• High-level principles and clear lines of authority.
• Consideration of veto/override frameworks (if proposed in draft charter options).
C. Term Limits
• Recommended term-limit structure and implementation approach, and any transition provisions intended to ensure fairness, continuity, and clarity.
D. Compensation and Council Office Support
• High-level considerations for Councilmember compensation in a charter context, consistent with applicable law.
• A recommended Council office staffing framework, including the Committee's assessment of an adequate level of staffing support for the Mayor and Councilmembers, and recommended principles for scaling staffing over time (e.g., workload triggers, shared vs. dedicated staff, service expectations, and budget accountability), for City Council consideration.
E. Implementation and Guardrails
• Recommended safeguards to preserve a professional, merit-based workforce, including civil service/merit system considerations.
• Transparency, ethics, and accountability guardrails.
• Transition and implementation considerations to minimize disruption and maintain service continuity.
Section 6. Deliverables
A. The Committee shall produce two written deliverables:
1. Interim Recommendations Memorandum due April 28, 2026.
2. Final Recommendations Report due May 12, 2026.
B. Deliverables shall be submitted to the City Clerk for posting in the public record.
Section 7. Meetings and Transparency
The Committee shall conduct its meetings subject to Brown Act and consistent with open meeting principles, including agendas posted in advance, opportunity for public comment, and minutes maintained and posted.
Section 8. Staff Support
A. The City Manager shall designate a staff liaison to support the Committee, coordinate meeting logistics, and facilitate access to non-confidential information.
B. The City Clerk and City Attorney shall provide process and legal guidance as needed through the staff liaison.
Section 9. Sunset
The Committee shall sunset automatically upon the earlier of:
A. Submission of the Final Recommendations Report; or
B. June 19, 2026, unless extended by City Council action.
Section 10. Severability
If any provision of this Resolution is held invalid, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
Section 11. Effective Date
This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.