HomeMy WebLinkAbout- Item 1 - First Public Hearing on Proposed Charter - 4/22/2014CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: APRIL 22, 2014 ITEM NUMBER: 1
SUBJECT: FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED CHARTER
DATE: APRIL 16, 2014
FROM: CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
PRESENTATION BY: KIMBERLY HALL BARLOW
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brenda Green, City Clerk @ 714-754-5221
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Hold the first public hearing on the proposed charter to receive the public's input; and
2. Provide direction on public outreach.
BACKGROUND:
At the March 18, 2014 meeting, Special Counsel presented a draft of the charter that
was prepared by the Charter Committee. Going forward, the City Council is required to
hold at least two (2) public hearings in order to receive the public's input regarding the
proposed charter. This meeting is the first of those public hearings.
ANALYSIS:
As mentioned in the March 18, 2014 staff report attached for your reference, the
Facilitators, Special Counsel and staff worked with the thirteen (13) member Charter
Committee to consider a charter governing municipal affairs. From those discussions
and sharing of information, the draft charter attached hereto was created.
Now that the Charter Committee has completed that process, in order to consider
placing a proposed charter on the ballot, the City Council must hold two (2) public
hearings (at least thirty days apart) to receive the public's input regarding the proposed
charter. This meeting is the first of those two (2) public hearings. Upon receiving the
public and the City Council's input, staff will make the appropriate changes, if any,
and/or obtain any additional information sought.
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At least thirty (30) days following the first public hearing, the City Council must hold a
second public hearing to receive additional input from the public, review any changes
that were proposed and/or made, and discuss any other outstanding issues.
Following the two public hearings, the draft charter will be brought back to the City
Council for its decision whether or not to place the measure on ballot. The City Council
meeting to decide whether to place the draft charter on the ballot must be timed so that
it takes place at least twenty-one (21) days after the second public hearing.
In anticipation of this first public hearing, the City Clerk's office published and posted
notice of the meeting in three (3) different places in accordance with California
Government Code Sections 6066 and 34458. In addition to the statutory noticing
requirements, staff seeks the City Council's direction on any additional public outreach,
i.e. mailers, to ensure transparency and full participation in the process.
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED:
The City Council can choose not to proceed with a proposed charter.
FISCAL REVIEW:
Whether or not a proposed charter is placed on the November ballot, in the
normal course of business, the City would consolidate its scheduled city elections
with the statewide election in November. If the proposed charter is placed on the
November 2014 ballot, the estimated additional cost is $12,880. The total
estimated cost of a consolidated election including the charter is $78,500 -$97,500.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney's office has reviewed this report and attachments.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, the purpose of the meeting is to hold the first public hearing on the
proposed charter, review and discuss its provisions and propose any changes to be
brought back to the second public hearing. Staff also seeks direction from the City
Council regarding public outreach on the proposed charter.
THOMAS P. DUARTE
CITY ATTORNEY
Attachments: 1) March 18, 2014 Staff Report
Q Draft charter
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