1979-09-19 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • Regular Meeting 9/19/79 4 4. JOINT PUBLIC HEARING WITH CHARTER REVISION COMMITTEE.. (CONTINUED) The proposed .new Charter proposes three year terms of office rather than two.. The law states that the districts must be substantially uniform in population. The proposed districts on the map, shows that this has been done. The law also says that the districts must be compact and contiguous. It was the feeling of the Charter Revision Committee that the .three year term of office would give the official an opportunity to be orientated the first year and them two years to work. Two would be elected one year, two the next and three the year when the Mayor was elected. • For the four proposed districts, the voting places would be "B", the City Hall, "A", the High School, "D", Baker School, and "C" to be possibly placed on the North Side Civic Center. The districts would be .balanced every ten years with the federal census. There may be a change to do a census every five years, pending legislation. Also with any consolidation or annexation, redistricting would have to be done at that time.. Any annexation of consolidation must also have clearance from the Justice Depart- ment. The Attorney further stated that the hearing was on the entire Charter which-had been rewritten wholly. Some of the sections were essentially the same and some were completely rewritten such as the section on bonds. He further stated that the hearing also should consider the City Manager form of government and other procedures that had been placed in the proposed new Charter. The Charter Revision Committee had hoped that this would modernize and bring up to date the way of the City doing business. In considering the size of the budget for our City, it is now big business and it should be managed in a professional manner. It was also the thought of the Charter Revision. Committee that the proposed form of government would be a great improvement. The time table is this: .The basic Charter has already been sent to the Justice Department for approval; when the Commission approves a map, then that will be submitted separately to the Justice Depart- ment. They must approve the concept as well as the districts. The time table is for a proposed election by the people in January, 1980. The two hold over Commissioners would serve out their one year, then the phase in would start. The Mayor,. Councilmen at large and district Councilmen would start on the three year term. •