Eighth Edition Model City Charter A Publication of the National Civic League National Civic League National Headquarters 1445 Market Street, Suite 300 Denver, Colorado 80202-1717 Office: 303-571-4343 Fax: 303-571-4404 Web: www.ncl.org Washington D.C. Office 1319 F Street N.W. Suite 204 Washington, D.C. 20004 Office: 202-783-2961 Fax: 202-347-2161 Model City Charter, Eighth Edition Copyright © 2003 National Civic League, Inc All rights reserved; unauthorized duplication by any means is a violation of applicable law. To obtain additional copies, contact: National Civic League Press 1445 Market Street, Suite 300 Denver, Colorado 80202-1717 Office: 303-571-4343 Fax: 303-571-4404 Web: www.ncl.org Email: [email protected] DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF Betty Jane Narver Table of Contents Acknowledgements......................................................................................................... i Introduction.................................................................................................................. iii Model Building: A Continuing Process .......................................................................vii PREAMBLE .................................................................................................................. 1 Article I – POWERS OF THE CITY .................................................................................. 2 Section 1.01 Powers of the City........................................................................... 2 Section 1.02 Construction.................................................................................... 3 Section 1.03 Intergovernmental Relations............................................................ 3 Article II – CITY COUNCIL ............................................................................................ 5 Section 2.01 General Powers and Duties.............................................................. 5 Section 2.02 Eligibility, Terms, and Composition................................................ 6 Section 2.03 Mayor ........................................................................................... 10 Section 2.04 Compensation; Expenses............................................................... 12 Section 2.05 Prohibitions................................................................................... 13 Section 2.06 Vacancies; Forfeiture of Office; Filling Vacancies ........................ 14 Section 2.07 Judge of Qualifications.................................................................. 15 Section 2.08 City Clerk ..................................................................................... 16 Section 2.09 Investigations ................................................................................ 16 Section 2.10 Independent Audit ......................................................................... 16 Section 2.11 Procedure...................................................................................... 17 Section 2.12 Action Requiring an Ordinance ..................................................... 17 Section 2.13 Ordinances in General................................................................... 18 Section 2.14 Emergency Ordinances.................................................................. 19 Section 2.15 Codes of Technical Regulations .................................................... 20 Section 2.16 Authentication and Recording; Codification; Printing of Ordinances and Resolutions ......................................... 21 Article III – CITY MANAGER ....................................................................................... 22 Section 3.01 Appointment; Qualifications; Compensation ................................. 22 Section 3.02 Removal....................................................................................... .24 Section 3.03 Acting City Manager ..................................................................... 24 Section 3.04 Powers and Duties of the City Manager......................................... 25 Article IV – DEPARTMENTS, OFFICES, AND AGENCIES........................................................26 Section 4.01 General Provisions ........................................................................ 26 Section 4.02 Personnel System .......................................................................... 27 Section 4.03 Legal Officer ................................................................................ 28 Section 4.04 Land Use, Development, and Environmental Planning .................. 29 Article V – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ....................................................................... 30 Section 5.01 Fiscal Year .................................................................................... 30 Section 5.02 Submission of Budget and Budget Message................................... 30 Section 5.03 Budget Message ............................................................................ 31 Section 5.04 Budget........................................................................................... 31 Section 5.05 City Council Action on Budget..................................................... .32 Section 5.06 Appropriation and Revenue Ordinances......................................... 34 Section 5.07 Amendments After Adoption......................................................... 34 Section 5.08 Administration and Fiduciary Oversight of the Budget .................. 36 Section 5.09 Capital Program ............................................................................ 36 Section 5.10 City Council Action on Capital Program ....................................... 37 Section 5.11 Independent Audit ..................................................................... …38 Section 5.12 Public Records .............................................................................. 39 Article VI – ELECTIONS .............................................................................................. 39 Section 6.01 City Elections................................................................................ 39 Section 6.02 Council Districts; Adjustment of Districts (for use with Alternatives II, III and IV of § 6.03).............................................. 42 Section 6.03 Methods of Electing Council Members.......................................... 46 Section 6.04 Initiative, Citizen Referendum, and Recall .................................... 48 Article VII – GENERAL PROVISIONS........................................................................... 53 Section 7.01 Conflicts of Interest; Board of Ethics............................................. 53 Section 7.02 Prohibitions................................................................................... 54 Section 7.03 Campaign Finance..............................................................………55 Article VIII – CHARTER AMENDMENT........................................................................ 56 Section 8.01 Proposal of Amendment ......................................................... …...56 Section 8.02 Election........................................................................................ .57 Section 8.03 Adoption of Amendment ............................................................... 58 Article IX – TRANSITION AND SEVERABILITY ............................................................ 58 Section 9.01 Officers and Employees ................................................................ 58 Section 9.02 Departments, Offices, and Agencies .............................................. 58 Section 9.03 Pending Matters ............................................................................ 59 Section 9.04 State and Municipal Laws ............................................................. 59 Section 9.05 Schedule........................................................................................ 59 Section 9.06 Severability................................................................................... 61 Appendix – OPTIONS FOR MAYOR-COUNCIL CITIES .................................................. 61 Change with Continuity in the Values of Local Government Reform ...................... 69 Citizen-Based Government: A Process to Engage Citizens in Charter Revision...... 73 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS It is with great pride in the accomplishment that we present the eighth edition of the Model City Charter, one that is truly a model for the 21st century. A number of important changes have been made in accordance with the changing needs of communities in this new century. The Model itself is now over a century old but its importance as a guide for communities remains as relevant as ever. The 8th Edition Model City Charter Revision Committee was appointed on March 29, 2001. The National Civic League’s Board approved the new edition of the Model on November 16, 2002. Betty Jane Narver, Director of the Institute for Public Policy and Management of the University of Washington, first chaired the committee. Her untimely passing left far more than just the revision committee bereft of her wisdom and understanding. We were exceedingly fortunate to benefit from the admirable talents and leadership contributed by Bob O’Neill, who succeeded Betty Jane as chair of the revision committee. Bob is the executive director of the International City/County Management Association, a long-standing partner with the National Civic League in the charter revision process. We also benefited enormously from the continued