Agenda - Council - 11/26/2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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lour 1111.1siion: To work together to reiposibty grow our community, and to provide quality, coat -effective, and efficient government ierrlcas. CC Regular Session Meeting Date: 11/26/2019 Submitted For: Jo Thieling, Administrative Services By: Jo Thieling, Administrative Services 6. 1. Information Title: Public Hearing to Consider Amending Chapter 4 of the City's Charter (Nominations and Elections) and Introduce Ordinance # 19-15: An Ordinance amending the City Charter by repealing and Replacing Chapter 4 - Nominations and Elections Purpose/Background: Purpose: The purpose of this case is for the City Council to review the recommendation of the Charter Commission to amend Chapter 4 of the City's Charter, Nominations and Elections, hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment and, if all of Council votes in favor, to introduce Ordinance #19-15 to formally commence the Charter amendment. In summary, the purpose of the ordinance amending the Charter would be to simplify and clarify City election procedures. Background: Chapter 4 of the City's Charter concerning election procedure has been problematic for some time, in part because it conflicts with State election law. The Charter Commission discussed Chapter 4 at length in February and provided direction to staff in terms of amendments. In October, the Commission discussed various options for replacement language with the intent to clarify and simplify election procedures and make them conform with current state law. The proposed ordinance (attached) contains the Commission's recommended replacement language for Chapter 4. Pursuant to State law, the Charter can be modified without going to a public vote if the ordinance receives unanimous approval by the Council. State law lays out the timeline as follows: Upon recommendation of the Charter Commission, the City Council may enact a Charter amendment by ordinance Within one month of receiving a recommendation to amend the Charter by ordinance, the City must publish notice of a public hearing on the proposal and the notice must contain the text of the proposed amendment. The City Council must hold the public hearing on the proposed Charter amendment at least two weeks but not more than one month after the notice is published. Within one month of the public hearing, the City Council must vote on the proposed Charter amendment ordinance The ordinance is enacted if it receives an affirmative vote of all members of the City Council and is approved by the Mayor and published as in the case of other ordinances. An ordinance amending a City Charter shall not become effective until 90 days after passage and publication or at such later date as is fixed in the ordinance The timelines have been met thus far. The recommendation was made by the Charter at their October 17 meeting. A public hearing notice was published on Friday, November 8 (attached). The public hearing is being held this evening, November 26, as is the introduction of the ordinance If the ordinance receives a unanimous vote to move forward, the ordinance will be on the December 10 City Council meeting for a roll call vote for adoption. The ordinance will then be published in the City's official newspaper on December 13, 2019, which will begin the 90 day effective period. With these timelines, the City's Charter will be amended effective on or about March 13, 2020.