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File #: 17-5706   
Type: Staff Briefing - Without Ordinance
In control: Governance Committee
On agenda: 10/18/2017
Posting Language: A Briefing regarding the status of the work of the Charter Review Commission. [Jeffrey Webster, Chair, Charter Review Commission; John Peterek, Assistant to the City Manager]
Date Ver.Action ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsVideo
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DEPARTMENT: City Manager                                                               

 

 

DEPARTMENT HEAD: John Peterek

                     

                     

COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-wide

 

 

SUBJECT:

 

Charter Review Commission

 

 

SUMMARY:

 

Charter Review Commission Chair Jeffery Webster will brief the Governance Committee on the status of the commission’s work, including public input process and discussions that have taken place regarding four policy areas.

 

 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

 

In 2014 the Mayor and City Council authorized by Ordinance a Charter Review Commission (CRC) to review the City of San Antonio’s Charter for any recommended changes in order to meet the needs of the citizens. The CRC is made up of 13 individuals: seven community members, two former elected city officials, one former City employee, and three individuals with expertise in municipal law, human resources management, and municipal finance. The last Charter election was held in May 2015. In that election, voters approved: a requirement for any future streetcar or light-rail plan to have voter approval; an annual salary for councilmembers; a requirement of a special election for council vacancies with more than 120 days in a term; and removal of outdated or superseded language in the Charter.

 

The CRC was reactivated in December 2016 to discuss potential further amendments to the Charter. In order to receive input from residents, the CRC held three public hearings on May 24, June 7, and June 14, 2017. The hearings were publicized through the City’s media channels, The Rivard Report, and San Antonio Express-News. Hearings were also live streamed, with the video archived online. In total, 66 citizens spoke during the hearings to voice their comments and concerns. Citizens were also able to submit comments and suggested amendments in writing. In July 2017, Mayor Ron Nirenberg asked the Commission to continue developing potential recommendations on a timeline to seek voter approval in 2018. 

 

 

ISSUE:

Upon reviewing all issues raised in the initial public comment period, the CRC members divided into four subcommittees to discuss and make recommendations to the whole committee. The subcommittees and the issues discussed are as follows:

 

Development Subcommittee

                     Planning Commission Composition

                     Recall, Initiative, and Referendum Thresholds

                     Historic Preservation/Burial Site Development

                     Indigenous Peoples Recognition

 

Bond Issuance Subcommittee

                     Affordable Housing

                     Financial Transparency

 

Ethics, Sunset, and Council Size Subcommittee

                     Ethics Reviews Board Composition

                     Other Ethics Revisions

                     Sunset of Boards and Commissions

                     Number of Council Districts

 

Governance Subcommittee

                     Form of Government

                     Term Length and Staggering

                     Election Date

                     Residency

                     Method of Voting (ranked, e.g.)

                     Public Campaign Finance

                     Council Attorney

                     Authority to File Suit Against Government Entities

 

The subcommittees met from June 29, 2017 through August 25, 2017 and discussed each of the issues put forth. The full Commission met six times between December 2016 and August 2017. The subcommittee reports have been preliminarily discussed by the full Commission but are not the final recommendation of the full commission.

 

 

ALTERNATIVES:

 

N/A

 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

 

No fiscal impact.

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

Memo is briefing purposes only.