charter review recommendations - 1 presentation title subtitle (optional) date vancouver city...
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Charter Review Recommendations - 1
Presentation TitleSubtitle (optional)
DateVancouver City Council Workshop/Public Hearing
Staff, TitleStaff, Title
Charter Review Recommendations
June 16, 2014City Council Workshop
Jeanette (Jan) Bader Program & Policy Development Manager
Bronson Potter, Chief Assistant City Attorney
Esther Schrader, Charter Review Committee
Charter Review Recommendations - 2
• Charter Review Process• Review of Charter Recommendations to
Council• Review of Other Issues• Next Steps
Presentation Overview
Charter Review Recommendations - 3
• Serves as the “constitution” for City government• Approved by voters in 1952• Amendments can be proposed by City Council or
through citizen petition• Last amended November 3, 2009• Charter is required to be reviewed every 5 years
City Charter
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• Charter requires committee of 15 residents• Committee’s role is to “review and recommend” to
Council any charter change or amendments (Section 11.17)
• Current members appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by Council on December 9, 2013
Charter Review Committee
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• Committee held 7 meetings between January 23 & May 1
• Meetings taped by CVTV • Public invited to submit suggestions for review
and to comment on recommendations
Charter Review Committee
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Mid-Term Run for Mayor/CouncilA Councilmember running for Mayor or Council at mid-term would: • Give notice of intent 30 days prior to filing deadline• Be required to resign their seat at the end of the year
Charter Recommendations
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Updating Access to Ordinances Language• Requires ordinances be posted on the City’s website• Provides copies of ordinance as indicated in notice of
hearing (via mail or e-mail)• Removes the provision for a full reading of ordinance
upon request
Charter Recommendations
Charter Review Recommendations - 8
Update Anti-Discrimination Language• Current language is from 1952• Current language is superseded by state law• New language would be consistent with state and
federal law
Charter Recommendations
Charter Review Recommendations - 9
Boards & CommissionsAdd a section outlining:• Importance of Boards/Commissions• How they are established• How appointments are handled• How they can be dissolved
Charter Recommendations
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Initiative Petitions• Clarifying/defining timelines for steps in the process• Requiring City Attorney to provide an opinion as to
whether the proposed initiative is within the legally permissible scope
• Remove offering the option of gathering additional signatures once the petition has been certified to have insufficient signatures
These three issues may need to go as separate ballot measures.
Charter Recommendations
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• Full vs. part-time mayor• Strong mayor vs. city manager form of gov’t• Electing councilmembers by ward/district• Standing Charter Review Committee• Allowing Charter Review Committee to place
items directly on the ballot• Variety of administrative clean-up/changes
Other Issues Reviewed
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• Adding two, non-voting student positions to Council• Develop a brochure of FAQ’s on initiatives and referendums• Provide a legal opinion regarding two-year residency
requirement to run for Council clarifying when that period begins
• Policy prohibiting post City employment with firms doing business with the City
• Policies and procedures to offset the impact of economic discrimination
• Policy of placing future charter changes on the ballot during years when there are councilmember elections
Items for Further Consideration
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Possible Council Action• Place issue on ballot for binding vote• Place issue on ballot as advisory vote*• Decide not to put issue on the ballot
Advisory Vote*
If an advisory vote passes, Council can choose to:• Put the issue on next general election ballot • Take no action
Council Action
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Citizen ActionIf Council decides not to place an issue on the ballot, citizens have the option of an initiative petition.
Citizen Action
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• Charter for Clark County will be on the November 2014 ballot
• Committee recommends Council consider delaying vote on City Charter changes until November 2015 to avoid confusion
Timing Recommendation
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7/7/14 Public Hearing on Proposed Charter Changes
8/5/14 County Auditor’s Office notified of proposed ballot measure(s)
8/15/14 Voter’s Pamphlet material due to Auditor’s Office
11/4/14 General Election
Process & Timeline
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Jeanette (Jan) Bader
(360) 487-8606
Bronson Potter
(360) 487-8521
Questions and Discussion
To request other formats, please contact:City Manager’s Office(360) 487-8600 | WA Relay: [email protected]