Report Prepared by: John Tresidder, Assistant City Clerk, City Clerk’s Office
Title
SUBJECT: Approval of Replacement Appointment to the Citizens Advisory Charter Review Committee for Vacant District 1 Seat
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers the appointment of an individual to the Citizens Advisory Charter Review Committee to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of Bernadette Soares.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion accepting nomination and appointing one individual to the District 1 seat as a replacement on the Citizens Advisory Charter Review Committee.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve and appoint individuals as recommended by staff; or,
2. Continue to a future meeting and direct staff to continue recruitment of applicants; or,
3. Deny the item.
AUTHORITY
City of Merced Charter, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Placing Charter Amendments on the March 2020 Primary Election.
DISCUSSION
At the March 18, 2019 City Council Meeting, Mayor Murphy brought forward an item to discuss possible amendments to the City Charter. Council directed staff to return with a timeline and list of milestones in order to place possible amendments on the March 2020 Primary Election.
The Council agreed at the April 1, 2019 meeting that a Citizens Advisory Charter Review Committee should be used, similar to the last comprehensive Charter review in 2007. This committee would have the sole purpose to carry out the charge of the City Council in reviewing all or part of the City of Merced Charter and making a recommendation to the City Council when the task is complete.
At the City Council Meeting of April 15, 2019 Council discussed the makeup of the committee and directed staff to recruit for applicants with the use of newspaper publications, radio spots, a social media campaign, and connecting with local service groups and organizations.
At the May 20, 2019 Council Meeting, the City Council made appointments to the newly created Citizens Advisory Charter Review Committee with representatives from each Council District and additional at-large members.
The committee held its first meeting on June 18, 2019 and decided on the remaining dates to hold meetings in order to complete the charge of the City Council.
District 1 appointment Bernadette Soares was unavailable for the first meeting and reached out to staff regarding her limited availability for the remaining scheduled meetings. Ms. Soares ultimately decided to resign from the seat to allow for another applicant to take her place.
Staff reached out to Stephanie Butticci to find that she was still interested in the committee and confirmed that the meeting dates selected by the committee would work with her schedule.
The matter of appointment is now before the Council.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Staffing will be the primary impact with members from the City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk’s Office assisting the committee.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Citizens Advisory Charter Review Committee Roster
2. Application of Stephanie Butticci (District 1)