Model City Charter Revision Committee

Convened by the National Civic League, June 11-12, 2002, Kansas City, Missouri
Summary of Meeting #4

I. Attendance

Committee members present: Linda Barton, Jackie Byers, Mony Flores-Bauer, Chris Gates, Bill Hansell, Bob Kipp, Ron Loveridge, David Miller, John Nalbandian, Bob O'Neill, Tanis Salant, Phil Schenck, David Schultz, Jim Svara, Henry Underhill

NCL Staff: Matt Krumme, Derek Okubo, Bill Schechter

Organizations represented: Academic representatives (Hamline University, North Carolina State University, University of Kansas), American Society for Public Administration (University of Arizona), Association of State Municipal Leagues, International City/County Management Association, International Municipal Lawyers Association, League of Women Voters, National Academy of Public Administration, National Association of Counties, National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (University of Pittsburgh), National Civic League

II. Topics and Decisions

At the fourth meeting of the Model Charter Revision Committee, the Committee reviewed each of the nine articles of the charter. It discussed new material for possible inclusion in the 8th edition and rewrites of the 7th edition.

1. Preamble
   1. Decision: Add home rule and representative democracy to list of principles/values (council-manager govt./unification of powers, professional management, strong political leadership, citizen participation, regional cooperation). NCL will circulate Model Preamble language that will include the seven principles/values.
2. General Provisions (Article VII)
   1. Ethics
      1. Decision: Proposed ethics reforms will appear in commentary as part of a "could include" list, except for statement of purpose and citizen complaint, which will stay as charter language.
      2. b. Other points: Clarify binding advisory opinions; provide for education of board and candidates about ethics; refer to ICMA code of ethics.
   2. Campaign Finance
      1. Decision: Proposed language stays with minor edits.
      2. Other points: Timeliness of disclosure in commentary; let each city adopt a $ threshold for disclosure.
   3. Egovernment
      1. Decision: No separate provision on egov. Refer to web sites, where appropriate, as place to publish city documents.
3. Charter Amendment (Article VIII)
   1. Decision: Change the signature requirement to read "______ [5 to 10] percent of registered city voters."
4. Transition/Separability Provision (Article IX)
   1. Decision: No change regarding effect of state law.
5. An Elected Chief Executive (Appendix I)
   1. Decision: The Model should describe a preferred option where a strong mayor shares appointment power with the council over a chief administrative officer. The Model will prefer this structure in a strong mayor city. The existing language describing a strong mayor and no CAO will continue to be listed as an option.
6. Other Appendices
   1. Decision: Performance measurement will appear in Finance and Audit sections linking outcome to budget, rather than as appendix. Citizen participation will appear in introductory essay and may appear in charter, with commentary.
7. Powers of the City (Article I)
   1. Decision: Rewrite accepted with minor edits.
8. City Council (Article II)
   1. Decision: Rewrite accepted with minor edits.
9. City Manager (Article III)
   1. Decision: Rewrite accepted with some edits, including additional manager responsibility provisions on regionalism, performance management/measurement, and citizen participation.
10. Departments, Offices, and Agencies (Article IV)
    1. Decision: Rewrite accepted with minor edits.
11. Finance (Article V)
    1. Decision: David Miller, Bill Hansell, and Ron Loveridge will supplement the finance provisions by adding language related to performance management/measurement and financial statements.
12. Elections and General Provisions (Article VI)
    1. Decision: Rewrite accepted with some edits, including adding a recall provision and changing the initiative and referendum signature threshold to read "______ [5 to 10] percent of registered city voters." The redistricting section will remain the same. Update P.R. commentary with description of how P.R. works.
13. Other Documents
    1. Model County Charter: Reasons to update the Model County Charter include the need for an extensive and comprehensive rewriting of the county charter that reflects the emerging importance of county government and the fundamental differences between municipal and county governments; the roughly 1,000 of 3,000 counties that are unreformed; and, that many large counties have an elected county executive who hires an administrator, making the current Model less relevant.
    2. Guide for Charter Commissions: If updated, this document should be done in an accessible "how to" style. Actual charter commission members should be interviewed in preparation. It should have cross-references to the Model City Charter.
    3. Handbook for Council Members: Change the title to "Handbook on the Council- Manager Form." The physical format should be more visually inviting. Should be available on web with hyperlinks to related documents. There should be a diagnostic checklist for charter reform, e.g., in cities where state law requires a review every ten years.
14. Other Points
    1. The title of the 8th edition will be along the lines of "The Model City Charter, Eighth Edition: Defining Good Government in a New Millennium."
    2. The 8th edition may have an afterword projecting future trends. The introduction should be subdivided into portions written by individual committee members.
    3. The 8th edition should be marketed along lines of "here is a new way of looking at local government." Can Neal Peirce mention the new Model in an article? Governing magazine could have an article profiling the revision process. Model will be available on NCL web site. NCL should provide a rollout plan that will advise liaison organizations how to promote the model.

III. Next Meeting

The next meeting will occur on Friday, September 27, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Saturday, September 28, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, immediately preceding the International City/County Management Association annual conference.