REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Discussion and Possible Direction on Proposed Amendments to Charter Article VI (The Council) to be Submitted to Voters in the March 2020 Election to Implement City Council By-District Elections
Report
REPORT IN BRIEF
On June 18, 2018 (RTC No. 19-0362), the Council voted 6-2 to direct staff to prepare a ballot measure for the March 2020 election amending the City Charter to change the City's electoral system from seven at-large numbered City Council seats to six district seats and an at-large, directly elected mayor. The Council held a study session on September 10, 2019 (RTC No. 19-0798) at which staff provided an overview of necessary revisions to Article VI and highlighted policy issues requiring Council direction. This report provides information requested by the Council at that study session, as well as sample language for further discussion and potential direction.
DISCUSSION
As noted in prior reports, staff is drafting proposed Charter amendments based on the principle of adding provisions necessary to implement district elections for six council districts and one at-large mayor, while maintaining existing concepts and principles in the Charter to the extent possible and/or as otherwise directed by the Council.
For the study session on September 10, 2019, staff grouped the Charter language changes into three basic categories: (1) "No change" required; (2) "Administrative updates" to implement the Council's prior direction for six districts and one at-large mayor that require no further direction to staff to prepare; and (3) "Direction Needed" for outstanding policy issues that do require additional direction from the Council. (See Attachment 1). The Council generally indicated approval of this approach and the Charter sections identified for "administrative updates," and requested that staff return with sample language. Attachment 2 is a sample draft of possible Charter amendments. Each section identifies the type of ch...
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