To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
Title
Update: Charter Citizen Committee Recommendations
Body
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Executive Summary
A citizen committee was formed per Resolution 2017-104 that was passed on December 5, 2017. This committee will present their recommendations to Town Council for ballot questions for a Spring 2018 special election.
Notification and Outreach Efforts
A request went out to citizens via a postcard mailed to residents, news releases, social media and the website asking citizens to apply to be on the seven-person committee. There were 50 applications received as of the deadline of December 22; and interviews were performed by Councilmembers Teal and Bower along with Legal staff on December 18, 21, 26 and January 4.
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, or Other Discussions
On November 7, 2017 a citizen-initiated ballot question passed to elect a Mayor at large and to reduce the number of Council districts from seven to six. In order to implement this measure, there are further Charter changes needed that require the vote of citizens.
On December 19, 2017 Town Council passed Resolution 2017-104 to form a citizen committee to provide recommendations to Town Council for these ballot questions for a special election in the Spring of 2018.
Discussion
A committee meeting consisting of 7 citizens, Councilmembers Teal and Bower, and Legal staff was held on January 9 to develop recommended ballot questions to Town Council. These ballot questions will address issues that were not included in the citizen-initiated ballot question that passed on November of 2017 that are required in order to implement a Mayor at large election.
The two immediate areas that need to be voted on in order to hold a Mayor at large election are the qualifications of the Mayor, how to implement redistricting prior to the redistricting scheduled in 2021 as per the Charter, and when the Mayor at large election will initially take place.
Committee Recommendations
Attached is a memo reporting on the committee recommendations.
Attachments
Attachment A: Committee Recommendations Memo
Attachment B: Resolution 2017-104 Establishing Citizen Advisory Committee
Attachment C: Minutes from Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting