City Council
MEETING DATE: 5/13/2015
TITLE:
Title
City Charter Election Discussion
End
FROM:
Charlie McClendon, City Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
This item is presented for discussion and direction only.
Body
BACKGROUND:
On February 11, 2015 City Council adopted a resolution establishing priority goals for the upcoming fiscal year. The goals were developed at the Council's planning retreat held on January 24, 2015. Among the adopted goals was an item covering governance issues: "Hold a series of study sessions on governance issues and develop a plan to move toward a fall election on those requiring voter consideration." Among the topics listed under the goal were the following:
Adoption of a City Charter
Elimination of direct election of the Mayor
Elimination of the elected City Clerk position
Possible elimination of the elected City Treasurer
Expansion of allowed uses of Public Arts Funds
Annexation into the Desert Recreation District
DISCUSSION:
Council has already held a study session on uses of Public Arts funds and subsequently approved an ordinance revising the allowed uses of the funds. Staff has met with the Desert Recreation District staff and will be bringing a review of the process required to annex into the district to the Council later this year. The remaining items on the above list will be discussed at this study session.
Council will discuss the pros cons of asking the voters to establish Charter government in the City. Attached is a document prepared by the City Attorney comparing General Law government and Charter government. A sample charter from the City of Rancho Mirage is also attached. Staff has found that Article 3 of the California Elections Code provides that Charter elections can only be held at a statewide general election, which means that a Charter election could not occur until November 2016.
Items to consider as part of a City Charter could include the following items, which have been suggested by individual Councilmembers either at the planning retreat in January or in subsequent discussions:
-Elimination of direct election of the Mayor. In cities operating under this structure the Mayor is typically selected by the Council from among the five Councilmembers. The Mayor elected in 2016 could serve the first rotation, with a process for selecting the Mayor after that time being defined in the Charter. Rotation could be based on seniority on the Council, or the Council could simply select from among their ranks each year or two years with no requirement that the position rotate among the members.
-At-large election of Council. This could be explicitly stated in the charter, perhaps with a provision to change to district elections at a specified population threshold (100,000 perhaps).
-Provide for a local preference for vendors in the purchase of goods or in service contracts.
-Include a prevailing wage provision.
-Include a provision to automatically adjust Council salaries by a certain percentage each year to avoid having to adopt catch up provisions.
-Include a provision to reduce Council salaries in the event that other staff salaries are reduced.
A measure proposing to eliminate the elected City Clerk position could be considered in 2015 if Council chooses. This topic came to Council on June 11, 2014 at which time Council directed staff to return the item to Council for action in time for a 2016 ballot question. The staff report from that meeting is attached, which indicates that the anticipated savings from elimination of the elected City Clerk position would be approximately $25,000 annually and that the duties of the position would be absorbed into an existing position currently titled Deputy City Clerk.
A measure proposing to eliminate the elected City Treasurer position could also be considered in 2015 if Council so chooses. This topic has not been the subject of a Council discussion in recent years, but the savings would be approximately the same as with the City Clerk - $25,000 annually. Likewise, the duties would be absorbed by existing positions in the City Administrative Services Department. Council may wish to discuss the advisability of having both questions on the ballot at the same election.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Elimination of the elected City Clerk and/or City Treasurer positions would result in an annual savings of approximately $25,000 each.
ATTACHMENTS:
Comparison of General Law and Charter government
Sample City Charter - Rancho Mirage
Staff report from June 11, 2014 regarding elimination of the elected City Clerk position
Recently adopted Charters from California cities