Pasadena City Council
September 18, 2023

OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERKSEPTEMBER 18, 2023ITEM 15FOLLOW UP FROM SEPTEMBER 11, 2023 MEETING: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 Council discussed Charter Study on September 11thand requested additional information: >Updated Topic List for Potential Study>Final Report from 1998 Charter Study Task Force Office of the City Clerk
3 CITY GOVERNANCE TOPICS•Current list of Possible City Governance Topics:>Vacancy Appointment Process – Option for Special Elections to Fill Council Vacancies>Mayor and City Council Term Limits>Review of Timing of Mayoral Election>Review of Vice Mayor Appointment Process, Timing, and/or Length of Term •Added on September 11th>City Council compensation, and specifically, adding a dedicated childcare allowance for Councilmembers>Campaign contribution limits 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 Office of the City Clerk
5 CHARTER STUDY TASK FORCE•Establish Scope based on Approved Topics to Study•Suggested Charge of the Task Force:>Study and fully examine topics submitted by City Council to Task Force >Provide recommendations on those topics, including whether or not to amend the Charter, as part of a Final Report submitted to the City Council by May/June 2024>Provide recommended amendments in a priority topics list, keeping in mind the number of ballot measures that might create voter fatigue issues>Provide recommended ballot question(s) for Charter amendment(s)>Provide recommended changes/amendments/additions to City Charter text Office of the City Clerk
6 CHARTER STUDY TASK FORCE•Suggested Timeline for Task Force:>October 16, 2023 – Charter Task Force appointments>November 2023 through May 2024 – 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 – City Council to Review/Consider Recommended Charter Amendments •Possible Task Force Composition:>One per Council District>One Mayoral >One At-Large (Mayor to choose from applicants recommended by City Council) Office of the City ClerkTECHNICAL AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED BY STAFF 7 •Staff to Present Topics/Information to Council Committee and then to full City Council•Possible for Technical Amendments to be expedited and occur on March 2024 Primary:>October 2023 – Charter amendments presented to Council committee(s)>November 2023 – Council committee(s) to approve and forward recommendations to City Council, including ballot question(s) and amended City Charter text >December 4, 2023 – Last meeting for City Council can adopt resolutions submitting Charter Amendment measure(s) to voters for the March 5, 2024 Primary Election ballot>December 8, 2023 – California Elections Code Deadline – 88thDay prior to the March 5, 2024 Election Office of the City ClerkAMENDED STAFF RECOMMENDATION
8 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) Establish the Scope and Charge for a Charter Study Task Force to review City Governance Topics set by the City Council; and (3) Provide direction to staff on Technical Charter Amendment Topics for City Council consideration and action to place on the March 5, 2024 Primary Municipal Election ballot.