Charter Amendments
Public Hearing
May 6, 2024
Prasanna W. Rasiah
City Attorney
Purpose of Public Hearing
Receive public comment regarding draft revisions to the City Charter. No new revisions are proposed.
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Filling Council Vacancies – Pt. 1
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.
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Filling Council Vacancies – Pt. 2
The An appointee shall hold office until the next general election, when a successor shall be chosen by the electors for the unexpired term. 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.
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Mayoral Rotation/ Council Meeting Start Time – Pt. 1
(a) 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. 5 of 15
Mayoral Rotation/ Council Meeting Start Time – Pt. 2
(b) The selection of the mayor and deputy mayor shall follow a rotational sequence as further specified by ordinance. 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 list shall be kept by the city clerk.
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Mayoral Rotation/ Council Meeting Start Time – Pt. 3
(c) The regular meetings of the council shall be held on the first and third Monday of each month at a time specified by resolution 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. The council may, in its discretion, change the date of any regularly scheduled Monday council meeting which would fall on a holiday or other inconvenient day to the nearest convenient day subsequent to the regularly scheduled Monday council meeting. 7 of 15
Board & Commission Qualifications
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 be a resident of the city unless otherwise provided by the council, and be at least 18 years of age. 8 of 15
District Elections
There shall be a city council of five members elected by the voters of the city at large at large by districts. Any recall election or special election or appointment to fill a vacancy shall also be by district. Following each decennial federal census, and at other such times as provided by law, the city council shall, by ordinance, adopt boundaries for all council districts so that all of the districts shall comply with state and federal law.
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Councilmembers Elected in 2017
Provisions applicable to the councilmembers elected
at the general municipal election held in 2015 and the
councilmembers elected at the general municipal
election held in 2017.
• Would remove language extending Council member
terms by one year for those elected in 2015 & 2017
• Five-year terms are complete. No longer needed.
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Emergency (Urgency) Ordinances
In lieu of publishing the full text of an emergency
ordinance, a summary thereof may be published in the
same manner as other ordinances. Every such ordinance, except one for emergency appropriations or calling an
election, shall automatically stand repealed as of the
ninety-first day following the date on which it was
adopted, but this shall not prevent reenactment of the
ordinance if the emergency still exists.
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Verified Statement of Candidates
Amendment would remove
1922-era language requiring
certain information to be
filed with the Clerk
Specified biographical information,
business/ civic group involvement,
experience, photograph, etc.
Candidates would instead rely on
mailings, Internet, social media; can also
submit statement in voter information
guide.
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Dates Purpose
October 16, January 2, March 4 Council Study Sessions – Done April 1, 2024 First Public Hearing – Done
May 6, 2024 Second Public Hearing - Tonight
June 3, 2024 Council submits measure(s) to voters
August 9, 2024 88 days before election
November 5, 2024 Election Day
Current Schedule
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Timing Question -
Future Discussion
Item
❑ Whether to place Charter amendments on the ballot in November 2024 or November 2026
❑ A Measure Y amendment is likely to be placed on the Nov. 2024 ballot ❑ Council will be asked to consider whether to present three measures to the voters on one ballot – future agenda item on May 20, 2024 14 of 15
Purpose of Public Hearing
Receive public comment regarding draft revisions to the City Charter. No new revisions are proposed.
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