HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8715INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
SUBJECT: CHARTER REVISION PROCESS
No. 8715
September 13, 2005
Page 1 of 1
This report provides a summary of the items discussed at the City Council Charter Review Workshop held
on September 6, 2005. The major items discussed by the Council included the overall review and public
input process and schedule, committee charges and committee composition. These items are addressed
below.
Charter Review Committee and Charges
There was Council consensus to establish a nine (9) member Charter Review Committee and structure. In
order to list the names of the Charter Review Committee nominees in the Resolution that will be included
in the September 20, 2005 council meeting packet, Council members are asked to submit the names
of their nominees by noon Thursday September 15.
go e Council also expressed consensus for the specific charges to be issued to the Charter Review
ttee. The proposed charges, as delineated in the attached draft resolution, are as follows:
a) Mayor and Council pay
b) Mayor and Council terms
c) Staggered terms for Council members
d) Term limits
e) Number of required City Council meetings annually
f) Technical and other amendments that may be brought forward to the Committee by the City
Manager or City Attorney
It was also suggested that the Charter Review Committee consider the potential for multi -year budgeting.
Under Chapter 102 of the Texas Local Government Code, a municipality must prepare and adopt a budget
on an annual basis. State law therefore dictates the frequency in which the operating budget must be
adopted. Notwithstanding this statt" requirement,, staff will research alternative budgeting cycles for
Council consideration during Fiscal Year 2006.
General Election costs
Lastly, questions were raised regarding the cast of condueting an election. The City Secretary's Office
advises that the cost of an election at ranges from $250,000 to $263,000; however, there acre variables
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c to each parficular election which unpawt the actual casts. For example, cost fib inclu&, but are
ti htmted to, the mm�ber of loc�ti�uns, the ntm be ot'workers `
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ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TENS
I
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS NO. 8715
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 13, 2005
de'1111- Page 2 of 2
SUBJECT: CHARTER REVISION PROCESS
If a City election is held in conjunction with another political subdivision, it is estimated that a savings in
the range of S 50,000 to $ 80,000 could be realized. Again final costs are dependent on a number of
variables and it is conceivable that minimal to no cost savings could be realized in some circumstances. As
the Charter Review Committee explores the categories related to term limits and staggered terms, the cost
impacts of such term structures will be identified
•
Attachments
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
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The Committee is charged with considering and making recommendations to the City
Council on the following Charter amendment issues*
3. The Committee shall hold public meetings and hearings during its deliberative process in
substantially the manner as set forth in Exhibit A;
4. The Committee may from time to time request that the City Council authorize additional
items to be added to the Committee's charge as set forth in Section 2, above. The City
Council may amend the Committee's charge at any time.
5. The Committee may adopt bylaws to govem the conduct of its meetings and hearings.
6. Committee members shall serve at the pleasure of the City Council and shall serve unless
or until replaced by the City Council. The Committee shall be subject to rules applicable
611,11-1 generaRy to citizen advisory committees and shall cease to exist upon the accomplishment
of the purpose for which it was created, or unless earlier abolished by majority vote of the
City Council.
7. The Committee shall by majority vote • all of its members, make recommendations to the
City Council concerning the issues in the Committee's charge. The City Council shall
make the final determination concerning whether and when to hold a charter amendment
election and the propositions to •® submitted to the voters at the election.
Adopted this day of 2005.
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