Agenda - Charter Commission - 07/18/1996

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Case #2: Review Ordinance Amending Mayor's Term Chairperson Ste primaries versus is proposing the invited participal Councilmember Beahen expressed being in favor of the Mayor's term being lengthened. reasoned that yoa are just becoming familiar with everything the fin'st year. ffen summarized that the Charter Commission has been discussing, at length, ino primaries, wards versus at large, and the term of the Mayor. The Commission i)nly change be that of the term of the Mayor - from two years to four years. He ~on from the audience also. She Chairperson Steffen inquired how the others felt about this commencing with the election year 1996. Commissioner S~okowski inquired what the advantages/disadvantages would be to have the Mayor election iri off-presidential years. Commissioner Iqiefer felt it made a difference from the standpoint of higher voter turnout. The people voting wi!l be more representative of who they want for mayOr. Commissioner D~novan added that it does not mean they will be more educated on issues of the mayor; however, ~there will be more people voting in presidential years. Chairperson Steffen commented that you can lose a mayoral election in terms of attention paid to it and questioned i! the issue of getting it started see the Charter Commission as favoring or not favoring incumbents. Mayor Hardin stated he is neutral on two or four year terms and added that there are plusses and minuses for both.: His concern is when this might take effect in relationship to the political climate right now. He c/~ffered to support th~s lengthening of the term if it would take effect at a future date. Commissioner Swokowski suggested that if this would be put into effect this year, some people who are planningito run for mayor may or may not run because of it. He questioned if a longer term would be a deterrent. Mayor Hardin stated he did not know if it would be a deterrent or not; however, in light of things that have happen 'eld in the last couple of years that the City continues to be partially absorbed in - whatever recommendauon is made by the Charter Commission, someone may say it was made because of this ortthat. Setting a future date might be perceived as favorable. Commissioner Donovan suggested commencing with election year 2000. Commissioner Ki~fer expressed a concern of the change being forgotten in the meantime. Commissioner Donovan explained he is not saying to delay the action, just delay the date the action will take place. Chairperson Steff~n inquired if there was any problem or opinion on the electoral process itself. Does it make a difference in terms of how the City does its processes. Mr. Schroeder responded that it would still be the same. Chairperson Steffen stated he believes we are dealing with a politically sensitive issue with a Council that is not[unanimous. If we are looking for an "unvote" of the Council, it would be by making it effective right away.