Transcript Charter Review Recommendations Presentation Title Subtitle (optional) Date Vancouver City Council Workshop/Public Hearing June 16, 2014 Staff, Title Workshop City Council Staff, Title Jeanette (Jan) Bader Program & Policy Development Manager Bronson.

Charter Review Recommendations
Presentation Title
Subtitle (optional)
Date
Vancouver City Council Workshop/Public Hearing
June 16, 2014
Staff,
Title Workshop
City Council
Staff, Title
Jeanette (Jan) Bader
Program & Policy Development Manager
Bronson Potter, Chief Assistant City Attorney
Esther Schrader, Charter Review Committee
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Presentation Overview
• Charter Review Process
• Review of Charter Recommendations to
Council
• Review of Other Issues
• Next Steps
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City Charter
• 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
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Charter Review Committee
• 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
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Charter Review Committee
• 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
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Charter Recommendations
Mid-Term Run for Mayor/Council
A Councilmember running for Mayor or Council at midterm would:
• Give notice of intent 30 days prior to filing deadline
• Be required to resign their seat at the end of the year
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Charter Recommendations
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
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Charter Recommendations
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• Current language is superseded by state law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
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Charter Recommendations
Boards & Commissions
Add a section outlining:
• Importance of Boards/Commissions
• How they are established
• How appointments are handled
• How they can be dissolved
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Charter Recommendations
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.
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Other Issues Reviewed
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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
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Items for Further Consideration
• 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
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Council Action
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
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Citizen Action
Citizen Action
If Council decides not to place an issue on the ballot,
citizens have the option of an initiative petition.
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Timing Recommendation
• 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
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Process & Timeline
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
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Questions and Discussion
Jeanette (Jan) Bader
(360) 487-8606
[email protected]
Bronson Potter
(360) 487-8521
[email protected]
To request other formats, please contact:
City Manager’s Office
(360) 487-8600 | WA Relay: 711
[email protected]
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