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
BACKGROUND
On June 18, 2019 (RTC No. 19-0362), the City 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.
On September 10, 2019 (RTC No. 19-0798), staff provided an overview of necessary revisions to Article VI and highlighted three key policy issues requiring Council direction- mayor term, total term limits, and redistricting. The Council approved staff's general approach for the charter amendments 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.
On October 8, 2019 (RTC No. 19- 1009), the Council further discussed the policy issues and conducted straw polls on the policy issues. Five Councilmembers (Fong, Goldman, Hendricks, Larsson, Smith) indicated preferences for a four-year term for the Mayor, and five Councilmembers (Klein, Fong, Goldman, Hendricks, Larsson) preferred a total limit of three-terms.
On October 29, 2019 (RTC No. 19-1133), the Council discussed a variety of issues and reached a consensus that the Charter draft should clarify (1) a residency requirement prior to filing candidacy papers, and (2) that the three-term total limit is also limited to service in a single position (mayor or councilmember) for no more than two full terms. In addition, four members (Klein, Hendricks, Larsson, Melton) tentatively indicated interest in addressing redistricting with a charter amendment section authorizing the Council to enact an ordinance addressing all matters ...
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