Charter Review
March 24, 2026
Discussion Items
• Civil Service Amendments
• Council-Manager Governance
• Elected vs. Appointed City Clerk/City
Treasurer
• Council Districts & Directly Elected Mayor
• Council Compensation
• Miscellaneous Items
• Future Committee Discussions
2 Civil Service Amendments
Proposed Changes: Committee
Recommendations
• “Rule of Three” to “Rule of Three Whole
Scores”
• Length of Probationary Period – 18 mos.
Maximum
• Promotional Reallocations
(Note: Associations Support Changes; IBEW – opposed to
Length of Probationary Period and Promotional Reallocations) 3 Rule of Three Whole Scores Example
4 Candidate Score Eligibility (Whole Score)
Lila 96.9 ✔ Eligible
Antonio 96.2 ✔ Eligible
Christina 94.9 ✔ Eligible
Carlos 94.3 ✔ Eligible
Eve 89.7 ✔ Eligible
Frank 85 ✘ Not Eligible
Council-Manager Governance
• Department Heads in Civil Service
• Hiring/Discharge of Department Heads Subject to
Council Approval
• Non-Interference in Administrative Function
5 Council-Manager Governance
Non-Interference Provision
Councilmembers shall not:
• Give orders to any subordinates of the city manager,
either publicly or privately.
• Direct or request the appointment of any person to, or their removal from, office or employment.
6 Council-Manager Governance
Committee & Civil Service Commission
• No changes relative to Department Heads in Civil
Service or Council approval for hiring/discharge
• Support Non-Interference Provision
Staff Recommendation
• Amend Charter to Make Department Head Positions “At
Will”
Applicable to New Department Heads
• City Manager Authority and Accountability for
Hiring/Discharge of Department Heads
• Non-Interference Provision
7 Council-Manager Governance
Options
• Committee Recommendation: No changes except to add
non-interference provision
• Staff Recommendation: Change Department Heads to
At-Will, Provide City Manager with Sole Authority to
Hire/Remove Department Heads, Add Non-Interference
• Change Department Heads to At-Will; Carve-out for
Police Chief or Safety Chiefs (GPOA Alternate Rec.)
• Change Department Heads to At-Will But Maintain
Council Authority to Approve Hires/Removals (IBEW)
8 Appointed City Clerk and City Treasurer
• Appointed City Clerk and City Treasurer:
Committee Recommends No Change to
Elected Positions
• Committee Still Reviewing:
– Qualification/Certification Requirements for
Clerk/Treasurer
– Limitations to Modifications of Clerk/Treasurer
Salaries
– Potential Term Limits for Clerk/Treasurer
9 Election Timing and Costs
• Civil Service Amendments
– Statewide general election (November 2026,
2028)
– “alter any procedural or substantive right,
protection, benefit or employment status of
any local government employee”
– November 2026 election: Council must place
measure(s) on or before August 4, 2026
• Estimated Cost - $525,000 to $585,000
10 Election Timing
• Council Districts
– Council District/Directly Elected Mayor
Charter Provisions With Map
– Council Districts/Directly Elected Mayor
Charter Provisions Without Map
– Take No Action/Defer
11 Other Issues
• Council Compensation
– Committee Recommendation: Adhere to State
Law Limits; Two Year Review
– Other Options Considered: Area Median
Income, Compensation Committee
• Miscellaneous (meeting location, obsolete
titles, compensated employment during
and after Council service)
12 Future Considerations by Charter
Review Committee
• Committee: Independent, Charter-
Authorized Audit Commission
• Staff: Update of Outdated Fund
Accounting Provisions & Additional
Cleanup
13 Feedback/Direction
• Civil Service Charter Amendments
– Rule of Three Whole Scores
– Length of Probationary Period
– Promotional Reallocations
• Council-Manager Governance
– Department Heads in Civil Service
– Council Approval of Hiring/Discharge of Department Heads – Non-Interference Provision
• Council Districts/Directly Elected Mayor
• Council Compensation
• Elected vs. Appointed Clerk/Treasurer
• Completion of Committee’s Work
– Independent Audit Commission
– Outdated Fund Accounting – Non-GAAP compliant
• Timing for November 2026?
– Civil Service?
– Other Matters?
14 Civil Service Amendments
Committee Recommendations
No changes to:
• Duration of Eligibility Lists
• Duration of Layoff and Reinstatement Lists
• Bumping Rules During Layoffs
16 Department Heads in Civil Service
At Will Department Heads Department Heads in Civil Service Beverly Hills Torrance
Burbank Inglewood
Long Beach
Pasadena
Santa Monica
Anaheim
Garden Grove
Huntington Beach
Santa Ana
Ventura
17 Department Head Appointment
Authority
Council Approval Not Required Council Approval Required Torrance Beverly Hills
Burbank Anaheim
Long Beach
Pasadena
Santa Monica
Garden Grove
Huntington Beach
Santa Ana
Ventura
18 Council compensation
No later than one year following each general
municipal election, and no less frequently than
once every two years, the council shall
determine at a public meeting whether and the
extent to which compensation for council
members shall be changed in accordance with
the Government Code. Any such determination
shall be supported with written findings setting
forth the basis for the decision, including any
reasons for maintaining the current
compensation.
19 Appointed Clerk & Treasurer
Election Results
Year Votes Percentage
1943 Clerk & Treasurer: 1,643 –
Yes; 4,827 - No
74.2% No
1972 Clerk & Treasurer; 18,830 -
Yes, 22,842 - No
54.81% No
1979 – City Clerk 3,287 – Yes; 14,804 – No 81.8% No
1979 – City Treasurer 3,249 – No; 14,278 – Yes 81.5% No 2013 – City Treasurer 4,726 – Yes; 13,812 – No 74.5% No 20