OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
SEPTEMBER 11, 2023
ITEM 19:
PROVIDE DIRECTION ON (1) PROPOSED TOPICS
FOR POSSIBLE CITY CHARTER AMENDMENTS TO BE STUDIED;
(2) CHARTER REVIEW PROCESS; AND/OR (3) SCOPE AND
CHARGE FOR A CHARTER STUDY TASK FORCE, IF DESIRED
Office of the City Clerk
2 BACKGROUND
• City of Pasadena’s City Charter serves as the “constitution” of the City
• Any changes to the City Charter requires a vote of the people • For matters of significant complexity, Charter Study Task Force utilized in the past
> Allows for focused study of issues
> Appointed residents to provide City Council with recommendations on potential charter amendments
• For topics of narrow focus, or more straightforward in nature, Council has studied on its own
Office of the City Clerk
3 CITY GOVERNANCE TOPICS
• Current list of Possible City Governance Topics:
> Vacancy Appointment Process – Amend to Allow Option of Special Elections to Fill Council Vacancies
> Mayor and City Council Term Limits
> Timing of Mayoral Election in Relation to Council District Elections
> Review of Vice Mayor Appointment Timing and/or Length of Term
Office of the City Clerk
4 OTHER POSSIBLE TOPICS
• List of Possible Topics Suggested by City Staff:
> Light & Power Fund Transfer Language – Amend to Use
Current Accounting Terminology
> Consideration of Raising City’s Procurement Limits
> Clean-Up/Corrections to City Charter
• City Council (Charter Study Task Force, as
authorized) Suggested Topics
• Solicit Input from Pasadena Rental Housing Board
on any suggested Charter Amendments for
Article XVIII – Pasadena Fair and Equitable Housing
Charter Amendment (2022)
Office of the City Clerk
5 CHARTER STUDY TASK FORCE
• Although not required, a Charter Study Task Force provides the opportunity for additional public input and vetting of complex issues
• Suggested Charge of the Task Force:
> Study and fully examine issues; provide recommendations on amendments > Provide recommended ballot language to submit to voters > Provide amended City Charter language to be codified
• Potential Timeline:
> October 2023 – Charter Task Force appointments
> November 2023 through May 2023 – Task Force to Review Issues and Approve Recommendations for City Council Consideration
> May/June 2024 – Final Report on Recommended Charter Amendments Submitted to City Council
> June/July 2024 –Council’s Opportunity for Review and Consideration Office of the City Clerk
6 CONSULTANT SERVICES AND
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
• Consultant Request for Proposals Completed – One
Responsive Proposal Received:
> Baker Tilly – Prior work with City (formerly Management Partners), prior Charter Study experience with other cities, familiarity with City Charter governance structure
> Staff prepared to return with professional services agreement • Possible Task Force Composition:
> One per Council District
> One Mayoral
> One At-Large (Mayor to Choose from Council Recommended) • Timing of appointments (October)
• Funding allocation from City Clerk Election Budget: estimated $150,000 can be set aside to support work of the Task Force Office of the City Clerk
ALTERNATIVE APPROACH
7 • City Council Consideration in Lieu of Charter Study Task Force:
> City Council Consider Charter Topics – Study Sessions > Refer Specific Topics to Council Committees for Further Review/Discussion/Recommendation
City Governance Topics – Legislative Policy Committee Procurement Topic – Finance Committee
Light and Power Fund Transfer Topic – Municipal
Services Committee
Office of the City Clerk
APPOINTMENT/SPECIAL ELECTION
8 • Attachment A is provided as sample topic for Charter Amendment consideration:
> Includes Examples from Other Charter Cities
> Staff can work with Legislative Policy Committee to
finalize and recommend for City Council Consideration
Scenarios for Special Elections vs Appointments
Options to Address Mayoral Vacancy Scenarios
Return with Charter Amendment and Ballot Question
Language
• Ultimately, voters to decide on changes to the
City Charter – 50%+1 majority vote
Office of the City Clerk
DECISION POINTS
9 Determine slate of topics to be studied:
• City Governance Topics
> Vacancy Appointment Process – Amend to Allow Special Election to Fill > Mayor and City Council Term Limits
> Timing of Mayoral Election in Relation to Council District Elections > Review of Vice Mayor Appointment Timing and/or Length of Term • Topics Suggested by City Staff:
> Light & Power Fund Transfer Language – Amend to Use Current Accounting Terminology
> Consideration of Raising Procurement Limits at Staff Level > Clean-Up/Corrections to City Charter
• Other Topics??
Office of the City Clerk
DECISION POINTS
10 City Council/Council Committees vs. Task Force
Approach
• If City Council, City staff to return to City Council with periodic discussions…or
• Proceed to Council Committees
City Governance Topics – Legislative Policy Committee Procurement Topic – Finance Committee
Light and Power Fund Transfer Topic – Municipal
Services Committee
Office of the City Clerk
DECISION POINTS
11 • If Charter Study Task Force, approve scope to be studied:
> City Governance Topics
> Other Suggested Topics
• Approve charge:
> Study and fully examine topics submitted to Task Force by Council
> Provide recommendations on those topics, yes or no to amend Charter
> Provide recommended ballot question(s) for Charter
Amendment(s)
> Provide recommended City Charter language to be codified Office of the City Clerk
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
12 It is recommended that the City Council:
(1) Find that the proposed action is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (“Common Sense Exemption”);
(2) Provide direction to staff on general topics that should be studied and potentially submitted to voters as changes to the City Charter; (3) Provide direction to staff on how best to proceed with Charter Study, including, but not limited to, the following options:
a. Discuss Charter amendment matters at the City Council level, as part of a series of City Council workshop/study session discussions; b. Refer specific matters to the Legislative Policy Committee (or other City Council committee) for study and recommendation to the City Council; and/or c. Refer specific matters to a separate, appointed Charter Study Task Force with a specified scope and charge established by the City Council for study and recommendation to the City Council.