Discussion of Potential Charter Amendments for the March 5, 2024 Statewide Primary Election Special Meeting of the City Council
September 14, 2023 @ 6pm
Background
A charter is akin to the U.S. Constitution – it is a city’s foundational document that lays out the big picture policies for how a city should operate.
Sample policies: election of Council Members, roles and duties of City representatives, fiscal administration, etc.
Approximately 121 out of 482 California cities have Charters; the rest are General Law cities.
Charter cities have the authority to establish many of their own rules and regulations, giving them more autonomy in governing themselves.
Background
The first recognized Huntington Beach Charter was established in the 1930s. Since then, it has been amended several times to reflect the evolving priorities of the community and changes that occur over time.
All Charter amendments must be approved by a majority of voters at an election.
Background
Last amended in 2010
Last completed review in 2021-22 by the Charter Revision Citizen Committee, which recommended several amendments to City Council.
The City Council approved some of the amendments, added a few and voted to place them across 3 ballot measures on the November 2022 General Elections.
All 3 measures were defeated.
Timeline Leading Up to Today
June 6, 2023: City Council formed the Charter Review Ad Hoc Council Committee (comprised of Mayor Strickland, Mayor Pro Tem Van Der Mark, and Council Member Burns) to recommend Charter amendments for the 3/5/24 Statewide Primary.
Summer 2023: Committee worked with the City Attorney to prepare 7 amendments.
August 1, 2023: City Council approved the 7 amendments, added 3, and directed the City Attorney to prepare all materials necessary to place them on one or more ballots.
August 2023: City Attorney’s Office prepared the required materials to place the amendments across 3 ballot measures.
September 5: Following discussion of the 3 ballot measures, City Council voted to host 4 Special Meetings to gather more public feedback before taking any further action.
September 14, 21, 28 and October 5: Special Meetings to gather public feedback and propose Charter amendments.
2023 Charter Review Process
SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 (TONIGHT)
During public comments (before and after discussion), City Council will gather feedback from the community on any Charter amendments; staff will document them.
Staff will provide a Charter overview and the steps required to amend it.
Afterwards, Council will discuss potential amendments, based on the feedback received. 4 Special Meetings on September 14, 21, 28 and October 5 at 6PM in the Council Chambers to discuss the Charter and consider amendments for placement on the 3/5/2024 ballot.
Community can attend all meetings and provide public comments (90 seconds per speaker) both prior to and immediately after City Council discussion.
2023 Charter Review Process
SEPTEMBER 28, 2023
City Council will consider the amendments and use “straw votes” to identify those that should be placed on the March 2024 ballot.
City Council will bundle the amendments into ballot measures, and direct staff to prepare ballot measure language and other materials for consideration.* SEPTEMBER 21, 2023
Council will continue discussion on feedback shared to date and recommend amendments.
Proposed language for Council-identified amendments will be drafted and other information will be assembled and returned to City Council at the 9/28/23 meeting.* *City Council may suggest any Charter amendment to be categorized into one of the following:
(a) place on the March 2024 ballot (b) consider for a future ballot or (c) address through other legislative means like ordinances/resolutions.
2023 Charter Review Process
DECEMBER 8, 2023
From October through November, staff will gather the Resolutions, Impartial Analyses and Arguments and submit them to the Registrar of Voters before their 12/8/23 filing deadline.
OCTOBER 5, 2023
City Council will review the ballot measure materials for the March 5, 2024 elections and conduct formal votes to place them on the ballot.
Council will then identify City representatives to prepare the Impartial Analyses and Arguments and Rebuttals.
2023 Charter Review Process
MARCH 5, 2024
HB residents will vote on the Charter amendment ballot measures.
If approved, they will be incorporated into the Charter after the County certifies the election results.