Charter Amendments
Study Session
January 2, 2024
Prasanna W. Rasiah
City Attorney
Questions for Council
1. Does the Council agree with:
• Proposed language addressing Mayoral rotation?
• Recommendations for board and commission
compensation and qualifications?
• Other proposed changes?
2. Does the Council wish to adjust Council compensation? • If so, in what amount (from the current $600 to a
maximum of $1,900 per month)
Mayoral Rotation – Previously Proposed
• The council shall meet at the first regular council meeting in December following a general municipal election and
canvass the returns thereof.
• The new members shall then be inducted into office,
whereupon the council shall elect the mayor and deputy
mayor without continuing such action to a future date and time absent a unanimous vote of the Council, or a fire, flood, or other disaster.
Mayoral Rotation – New Language Pt. 1
• The selection of the mayor and deputy mayor shall follow a rotational sequence. The first person in the sequence shall be selected as mayor and the second person in the
sequence shall be selected as deputy mayor.
Mayoral Rotation – New Language Pt. 2
• The selection of the mayor and deputy mayor shall follow a rotational sequence. The first person in the sequence shall be selected as mayor and the second person in the sequence shall be selected as deputy mayor.
• Except however, a council member may decline to serve as mayor or deputy mayor, in which case the office would
pass to the next council member in the rotation, and the council member who declined would drop back one
position.
Mayoral Rotation – New Language Pt. 3
• The selection of the mayor and deputy mayor shall follow a rotational sequence. The first person in the sequence shall be selected as mayor and the second person in the sequence shall be selected as deputy mayor. • Except however, a council member may decline to serve as mayor or deputy mayor, in which case the office would pass to the next council member in the rotation, and the council member who declined would drop back one position.
• The rotational sequence shall be further specified by ordinance, and the rotational list shall be kept by the city clerk.
Council Meeting Time
• The regular meetings of the council shall be held on the first and third Monday of each month at a time specified by
ordinance not earlier than 6:30 p.m.
, but any regular
meeting may be adjourned to a date and time certain, which adjourned meeting shall be a regular meeting for all
purposes.
Filling Council Vacancies – (Previously proposed)
• A vacancy on the city council from whatever cause arising shall be filled by appointment by the council provided, that • if the council fails to agree or for any other reason does not fill such vacancy within 30 60 days after the same occurs, then the city clerk shall call a special election at once to fill such vacancy such vacancy shall be filled by the mayor
.
• The An appointee shall hold office until the next general election, when a successor shall be chosen by the electors for the unexpired term.
Board & Commission Qualifications &
Compensation (Current language) Pt. 1
• The members of all boards and commissions created by
ordinance or by this Charter shall be appointed by the
council, and shall at the time of appointment and while serving possess the same qualifications as required by this Charter for election or appointment to the council
Board & Commission Qualifications &
Compensation (Current language) Pt. 2
• The members of such boards and commissions shall receive no compensation for their services as such,
• but may receive reimbursement for their actual and
necessary expenses authorized by the city council and
incurred in performance of their duties of office upon
presentation of verified claims therefor on uniform forms to be prescribed by resolution of the city council.
Council Compensation – Current Language
• The mayor and other members of the city council shall each receive $600.00 per month compensation for their services as council
• Compensation may be adjusted in the manner authorized by the general laws of the State for general law cities of the same population as San Mateo
Council Compensation – SM County Cities Pt. 1
City Compensation/Month Last Adjusted
Atherton None n/a
Belmont $950 2023
Brisbane $400 2015
Burlingame $590 1999
Colma $961 2018
Daly City $1102.92 bi-weekly 2006
Foster City $496 2009
Half Moon Bay $1,056 $955.50 2021
Council Compensation – SM County Cities Pt. 2
City Compensation/ Month Last Adjusted
Hillsborough None n/a
Menlo Park $650 $640 2000
Millbrae $345 1999
Pacifica $700 2022
Redwood City $750 2001
San Carlos $560 2018
South SF $1000 2017
Woodside None n/a
Questions for Council
1. Does the Council agree with:
• Proposed language addressing Mayoral rotation?
• Recommendations for board and commission
compensation and qualifications?
• Other proposed changes?
2. Does the Council wish to adjust Council compensation? • If so, in what amount (from the current $600 to a
maximum of $1,900 per month)
Filling Council Vacancies – Part 2 (Previously
proposed)
• If for any reason the seats of a majority of the council become vacant, then the city clerk shall call a special election at once to fill the vacancies for the unexpired terms, and the same shall be conducted substantially in the manner provided for general municipal elections.
• The candidates receiving the most votes shall serve the longer, if any, of the unexpired terms, and in case of ties the terms shall be fixed by lot
.
Proposed Schedule
Dates Purpose
October 16, 2023 Council Study Session - Done
January 2, 2024 Council Study Session - Tonight
February 20, 2024 Council Study Session (if necessary)
April 1, 2024 First Public Hearing
May 6, 2024 Second Public Hearing
June 3, 2024 Council submits measure to voters
August 9, 2024 88 days before election
November 5, 2024 Election Day
Council Meeting Location
• All regular and adjourned regular meetings of the council shall be held in the City Hall, unless, by reason of fire, flood or other disaster, the City Hall cannot be used for that purpose, or the council determines that another location in the city would be more suitable due to the capacity or condition of the City Hall.