Report Prepared by: John Tresidder, Assistant City Clerk, City Clerk’s Office
Title
SUBJECT: Citizens Advisory Charter Review Committee Final Report to City Council to Place Possible Amendments to Sections 400, 402, 604, 7XX, 707, 711, and 1112 of the City of Merced Charter on the March 2020 Primary Ballot
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers the final report from the Citizens Advisory Charter Review Committee for possible placement of recommended amendments to the City of Merced Charter on the March 2020 Primary Ballot.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Accepting the final report and recommendations of the Citizens Advisory Charter Review Committee to amend various sections of the City of Merced Charter and directing staff to return to the October 7, 2019 City Council Meeting with the ballot question(s) and Resolutions for calling an election; or,
B. Accepting the final report with Council suggested changes to the recommendations of the Citizens Advisory Charter Review Committee to amend various sections of the City of Merced Charter and directing staff to return to the October 7, 2019 City Council Meeting with the ballot question(s) and Resolutions for calling an election.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Adopt option A or B; or,
2. Continue this item to a future meeting (specify date in motion); or,
3. Take no action.
AUTHORITY
Section 200, City of Merced Charter
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Placing potential amendments to the Charter on the March 2020 Primary Ballot.
DISCUSSION
Mayor Murphy initiated the conversation on possible amendments to the City of Merced Charter at the meeting of March 18, 2019. Council directed staff to bring back a brief report outlining the steps for the review.
At the April 1, 2019 City Council meeting, staff reported on a timeline and set of milestones that would need to be met in order to place possible Charter Amendments on the March 2020 Primary Election. At the same meeting, Council directed staff to begin the process that would lead to that end.
The Council agreed 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. The City Council made appointments to the Citizens Advisory Charter Review Committee at the May 20, 2019 meeting.
The Citizens Advisory Charter Review Committee met 5 times over the course of two and a half months to complete the charge of the Council and also reviewed some additional Charter sections recommended by individual committee members. Attached is the final report of the committee for City Council review.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
The City Council has budgeted $20,000 for election expenses in the FY 2019/2020 Budget.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Final Report of the Citizens Advisory Charter Review Committee
2. Committee Meeting Minutes