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10.A. - Page 54 <br />REPORT <br />To the Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />From the Charter Review Sub -Committee <br />June 25, 2018 <br />SUBJECT <br />Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to the City Charter <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />1. Hold a public hearing regarding charter amendments proposed by the Charter <br />Review Sub -Committee <br />2. By motion, direct staff to prepare a resolution and other documents necessary to <br />subject the proposed charter amendment to the voters at the November 6, 2018 <br />general election <br />BACKGROUND <br />In California, a city is either a general law city or a charter city. A charter city is a city <br />that has adopted a charter by majority vote of its electors. Under the California <br />Constitution, charter cities have authority to make and enforce all laws related to local, <br />municipal affairs. Charter cities are, however, regulated by state law in matters of <br />statewide significance. Redwood City is one of approximately 120 charter cities in <br />California. Often referred to as the "constitution" of a charter city, a charter sets out the <br />foundational governing structure and laws for a charter city. Charter provisions can only <br />be amended by majority vote of a city's electors, and they cannot be superseded by City <br />Council action. The Redwood City Charter was adopted by the voters in 1929 and has <br />been amended sixteen times since then, most recently in 2011. Periodically, the Council <br />directs its Charter Review Sub -Committee ("Committee") to review the Charter and <br />determine if any changes or updates are required. The Committee holds meetings open <br />to the public in order to consider the changes and updates. As such, all agendas are <br />posted within 72 hours and all materials are made available to the public. <br />If the Council determines changes are required, the Committee may draft proposed <br />amendments for review by the Council. The Council may vote to submit the <br />amendments to the voters at the next established statewide general election. The next <br />established statewide general election is on November 6, 2018. <br />On January 23, 2017, the Committee was tasked with considering several Charter <br />amendments. These included potential amendments setting term limits on members of <br />Page 1 of 8 <br />