The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutRes2017-041 Sponsored by: Hunt CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA RESOLUTION 2017-041 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA,SUBMITTING A PROPOSITION TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS AT THE OCTOBER 3,2017 REGULAR MUNICIPAL ELECTION WHICH WOULD AMEND THE SEWARD CITY CHARTER, SECTION 3.1 AND SECTION 3.2 TO ELECT COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR TO THREE YEAR TERMS WHEREAS, the Seward City Charter Section 3.1 specifies the length of terms for elective offices of the mayor and council, and Section 3.2 describes the expiration of terms; and WHEREAS,currently the terms of three council members expire each year,and the term of the mayor expires every other year; and WHEREAS, currently half of the council could potentially turn over every year; and WHEREAS, with the City's biennial budget,a council member's only budget vote of their term could be shortly after swearing in, without having any input into the development of that budget; and WHEREAS, fewer seats to be filled each year will require a smaller number of qualified candidates to present a full slate to the voters; and WHEREAS,the steep learning curve sometimes associated with being an effective council member, along with a shorter term of office, may deter potential candidates; and WHEREAS,large turnover in the elected legislative body can result in increased dependence on and in the influence of the administration; and WHEREAS,currently the terms of all City of Seward boards and commissions are for three years; the terms of other city councils within the Kenai Peninsula Borough are for three years, and the terms of the Borough Assembly and School District are for three years; and WHEREAS,if the voters approve the Charter change,an ordinance would be introduced to the City Council to make corresponding and necessary changes to Chapter 2.10 of the Seward City Code. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA that: Section 1. The City Council hereby proposes that if approved by voters at the October 3, 2017 municipal election, Seward City Charter Sections 3.1 and 3.2,relating to the length of council and mayoral terms of office, be amended in substantially the following form: (Strikeout= deletions; Bold Italics= additions): CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA RESOLUTION 2017-041 • 3.1. - Composition; powers and duties generally; term of office. The council shall consist of the mayor and six council members. The mayor and each council member shall be elected from the city at large. The term of office of an elective officer shall be two three years and shall commence immediately before the council organizes following the officers election. The council shall exercise all of the legislative and policy-making powers of the city and shall provide for the performance of all duties and obligations imposed upon the city by law. • 3.2. - Expiration of terms; qualification of appointees to fill vacancies. The terms of three two council members shall expire in each year,except that in each second third year, beginning in 2019 counting from 1959, the terms of the mayor and of three two council members shall expire. When appointments are made to fill vacancies in the manner provided by section 2.13(a) of this Charter, appointees shall qualify for and assume the duties of office within ten days after appointment, unless such time be extended for not more than sixty days by council. Section 2. The City Clerk is hereby directed to submit Proposition No. 1 to the qualified voters at the October 3, 2017 regular municipal election which would amend the Seward City Charter Section 3.1 and Section 3.2 in substantially the following form: PROPOSITION NO. 1 Shall the Seward City Charter 3.1 and 3.2 be amended to elect council members and the mayor to three year terms rather than two year terms? Yes No A "YES" vote approves the proposed amendments to Seward City Charter 3.1. - Composition; powers and duties generally; term of once and Seward City Charter 3.2. - Expiration of terms; qualification ofappointees to fill vacancies,electing the council and mayor to three year terms,and would be implemented as follows: in 2017 all seats would be elected for two years; in 2018 there would be one two-year council seat and two three-year council seats elected,and in 2019 there would be one one-council year seat and two three-year council seats elected, as well as a mayor seat for a three year term. A"NO"vote rejects the proposed amendments to Charter Section 3.1 and Section 3.2,and maintains the current two year terms of office. CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA RESOLUTION 2017-041 Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption. Section 4. The amendment set forth in Section 1 shall become effective upon its approval by a majority of the qualified voters at the October 3, 2017 municipal election, as provided in Section 14.7 of the Charter of the City of Seward. PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska, this 24th day of July, 2017. THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA / !/ 4 an Bardarson, Mayor AYES: Casagranda, Keil, Squires, McClure, Altermatt, Bardarson NOES: None ABSENT: Slater ABSTAIN: None ATTEST: - (h ( -Ad_ J hanna Ki CIF MC ity Clerk — (City Seal) p..kpF SF....... It�' C,�,Go Rar••., O V SEALw • • .t •1 Agenda Statement Meeting Date: July 24, 2017 of r City Mayor, C ty Council tAN • From: Jim Hunt, City Manager '4tAs0 Agenda Item: Proposal to change the Seward Charter, electing Council members and the mayor for three year terms BACKGROUND & JUSTIFICATION: The City Charter establishes the terms for mayor and members of the City Council. Currently three council seats are up for election every year,with the potential for a 50%turnover in the composition of the Council. That has not been the case recently; voters have re-elected some incumbents and replaced others, selecting from a pool of qualified candidates. That may not always be the case, as the City experiences a situation more and more common throughout the state, that of finding qualified candidates willing to serve on Councils,Boards and Commissions. Seward has experienced vacancies on Boards and Commissions,but so far none on Council due to a lack of candidates. Other cities have, or have had a number of candidates equal to the number of vacancies, in which case the person on the ballot getting the most and the least votes is elected. The proposed question to voters would be to change the Charter so that instead of three council seats up for election every year(for two year terms),two seats would be elected every year(for three year terms), so that turnover could be limited to one third of the Council seats in any given year. The mayoral term would also become three years.The reasons for the proposed change include requiring a smaller number of qualified candidates each year,reducing the likelihood of"bullet voting"with the potential for election by less than a full vote, consistency with all appointed boards and commissions of the City and with other elected bodes throughout the Kenai Peninsula, council members voting on at least two budgets, strengthening Council's role in policy making through experience,reducing reliance on the administration,and hopefully encouraging more participation in the process. If approved by the voters,the change would be phased in as follows:in 2017 all seats are elected for two years;in 2018 there would be one two-year seat and two three-year council seats elected,and in 2019 one one-year seat and two three-year council seats, as well as a mayor for a three year term. If the voters approve the proposed Charter change,the administration will then submit a subsequent Ordinance to make corresponding and necessary changes to Chapter 2.10 of the Seward City Code. The question to voters would be: "Shall the Seward City Charter Section 3.1 and Section 3.2 be amended to elect council members and the mayor to three year terms rather than two year terms?" INTENT: To put before voters the question of changing the City Charter to elect the mayor and council members to three-year terms of office. CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST: Yes No N/A 1. Comprehensive Plan (document source here): X 2. Strategic Plan (document source here): X 3. Other(list): FISCAL NOTE: There is no fiscal impact associated with the passage of this Resolution or proposed Charter change. Approved by Finance Department: ATTORNEY REVIEW: Yes No X RECOMMENDATION: Council approve Resolution 2017-041, placing this issue before the voters as a Proposition at the October 3, 2017 regular city election.