HomeMy WebLinkAbout- - Ballot Decription Exhibit A Attachment 3 - 7/31/2012EXHIBIT A
Ballot Description, Summary, and Enumeration of Powers:
A vote in favor of Measure changes the City of Costa Mesa from a general law
city to a charter city. If passed, Costa Mesa will have authority over municipal affairs as
defined by California's Constitution and courts. This includes:
1. Form of Government: The Proposed Charter requires that the City continue to use
the "council-manager" form of government, just as general law cities do.
2. Purchasing and Contracting: The Proposed Charter allows the City to engage in
contracting/purchasing different from general law cities (e.g. prevailing wages not
required and no -bid contracts permitted in certain cases for municipal Public
Works Projects funded solely with City funds).
3. Voluntary Employee Political Contribution: The Proposed Charter does not allow
the city to collect political contributions through payroll deductions from city
employees, which would be allowed in a general law city.
4. Public Employee Pension Benefits: The Proposed Charter requires a vote of City
voters before any increase of employees' or officers' retirement or post-retirement
benefits, other than cost of living adjustments. Under the general law, retirement
benefits can be increased by vote of the Council.
5. Council Compensation: The Proposed Charter requires that the City continue to
follow general law regulating the compensation of Councilmembers.
6. Elections: The Proposed Charter requires that elections continue to be governed
by general law.
7. Management of Adminstrative Officers: The Proposed Charter requires that the
City follow general laws as they relate to the appointment/removal of the Chief
Executive Officer and City Attorney.
8. Interference with City CEO's duties: The Proposed Charter prohibits
Councilmembers from attempting to influence/coerce the City CEO in conducting
his/her duties under applicable law. Except for the City Attorney, City Council
members, must deal with the administrative functions of the City through the City
CEO except for making inquiries of senior managers. City Council members, are
prohibited from giving direct orders to subordinates of the City CEO. No
Councilmember, or any officer, or member of any board or commission, is
permitted to participate in the appointment to any office or employment of the
City if the candidate is related by blood, or by marriage, to that officer or member.
This codifies a provision of the City's municipal code into the Charter.
9. Adoption of Ordinances: The Proposed Charter requires the City to continue to
follow general law in considering ordinances for adoption.
EXHIBIT A
10. Taxes and Assessments: The Proposed Charter prohibits taxation of property
sales.
11. The Proposed Charter also authorizes the City to take actions and pass ordinances
consistent with the City's status as a charter city in connection with its municipal
affairs.
If the Charter is approved by a majority vote of the people, no changes can be made
to the Charter without a majority vote of the people.
IF YOU DESIRE A COPY OF THE PROPOSED CHARTER, PLEASE CALL
THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AT (714) 754-5225, AND A COPY WILL BE
MAILED AT NO COST TO YOU.