AgdaPkt 2011-06-27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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7.13. - Page 1 REPORT To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the Charter Ad Hoc Committee June 27. 2011 SUBJECT Receive Recommendations from the Charter Ad Hoc Committee Regarding Proposed Charter Amendments RECOMMENDATIONS Provide Direction Regarding Proposed Charter Amendments BACKGROUND In California, a city is either a general law city or a charter city. A charter city is regulated by state law in matters of statewide significance and acts under its charter authority with respect to matters of local significance. There are approximately 120 charter cities in California. The Charter of Redwood City was adopted by the voters in 1929 and it has been amended fifteen times since then, most recently in 2009. Proposed amendments to the Charter must be placed before the voters, and require a majority vote to proceed. Periodically, the Council directs its Charter Ad Hoc Committee to review the Charter and determine if any changes or updates are required. After a thorough review, the Ad Hoc Committee has concluded that the Charter is in need of a substantial update. The Charter lacks functionality in that the language is outdated, related sections are dispersed throughout the document, some parts are superseded by state law, and other parts impair the City's ability to protect appropriate development or disposition of its assets. For example, Section 3 % of the Charter, which applies to property under the jurisdiction of the City Council and also to property under the jurisdiction of the Port, inhibits the City's development of City property by making the highest bid the sole factor for disposition of its property. It does not allow the City to set development parameters to ensure that the property is developed in a manner that best serves the community. The same procedure for selling property is also required for leasing of property making it difficult to maximize revenue potential on City property because of the cumbersome nature of the process. This section in particular impairs the City's use of its property for the maximum benefit of the public. Accordingly, the Charter Ad Hoc Committee makes the following recommendations: 1. Commence work with the City Attorney to accomplish an overall update and revision to the Charter for consideration by the voters in November, 2013, and consider concurrent re- organization of the Municipal Code to ensure consistency between these two regulatory documents; and 2. Address the immediate limitations of Section 3 % and submit the proposed amendments for voter approval in November, 2011. A draft of the resolution revising Section 3 % is attached for review, and if satisfactory to the City Council would be placed on the July 11, 2011, City Council agenda, subject to some revisions, and placed before the voters at the November 8, 2011 election. The revision would retain the existing section but limit its application to the Port and add a new section that applies to City property under the jurisdiction of the City Council. Consideration of