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CASE # / <br /> <br />CITY COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP AND .TERMS <br />By: William K. Goodrich, City Attorney <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />As the Commission is aware, the two Charter questions presented to the voters at the November 7, <br />2000 election passed. These two Charter questions are enclosed. <br /> <br />The Charter has therefore been amended to increase the number of Council members fi.om four to <br />six. If no other Charter amendments become effective between now and November, 2002, there <br />will be an election for four Council members each having a four year term. Th/s means that the <br />majority of the Council will be elected in 2002, a non-Presidential election year. In the year 2004, a <br />Presidential election year, a minority of the Council, two Council members and the Mayor will <br />stand for election. <br /> <br />The advisory question affirmatively voted on at the November, 2000 election advised that the <br />electorate would like to see the majority of the Council stand for election every two years: <br /> <br />The Charter Commission's present task is to determine if it desires to implement the result of the <br />advisory question. Assuming it does, a Charter amendment will be necessary. <br /> <br />Perhaps the easiest way to accomplish the amendment would be to permanently assign a two year <br />term to one of the new Council positions coming on for election in 2002. This would assure that a <br />majority of the Council will be elected every two years, including the Presidential election years. In <br />this scenario, candidates would file either for a four year term seat or a two year term seat. <br /> <br />An alternative to specifically filing for the two year seat would be for the two year seat to go to the <br />person receiving the fourth highest number of votes in those election years when four Council <br />members are up for election and to the person receiving the third highest number of votes in those <br />years when three Council members are up for election. This alternative seems a bit confusing. <br /> <br />The Commission should discuss these two alternatives and direct staffhow to proceed. <br /> <br />Enclosure: <br /> <br />November 2000 Charter Questions <br /> <br />Commission Action: <br /> Based on discussions <br /> <br />Review Checklist: <br />City Administrator <br />City Clerk <br /> <br /> <br />