The Charter Review Commission reviewed an itemized list of charter amendments spanning 2002 through 2023 and raised concerns about amendments that removed professional-qualification requirements for certain department heads.

Commissioners examined how some past amendments changed residency and credential requirements, and discussed the liability and oversight implications of removing minimum professional qualifications for technical roles such as the public works director. They also reviewed the charter board’s enforcement responsibilities and the board’s current vacancy status.

The commission read a chronological summary of amendments (2002–2023) that included items such as creation of the charter board (2002), a 2007 residency-definition amendment and budget-submission-date changes, the 2014 removal of a CPA requirement for the city auditor and later 2020 and 2021 adjustments that restructured departments and modified term limits. Commissioners focused on recent changes that removed a residency requirement for department heads and eliminated the requirement that the public works director be an engineer.

Commissioner Sheila and others raised practical concerns about operational risk, liability and continuity if technical minimums are removed. Solicitor Ed explained that the city has a separate city engineer whose role is to review plans and technical specifications while the public works director is primarily an operations manager. That distinction was offered as the rationale behind some prior amendments, but commissioners said the change still warrants review because of potential liability and the need for clear oversight.

Why it matters: removing credential requirements for technical positions may change how the city manages infrastructure projects, procurement and legal liability. Commissioners said those policy choices should be assessed publicly and, if desired, could be proposed as charter amendments for voter consideration.

Key points:
- Past amendments: commissioners reviewed amendments from 2002 through 2023 that altered department structure, residency rules and position qualifications.
- Professional-qualification concerns: the removal of the CPA requirement for the city auditor and the elimination of an engineering requirement for the public works director generated questions about operational responsibility and liability.
- Enforcement and oversight: the charter assigns enforcement duties to a charter board; commissioners noted the board had vacancies and that education and enforcement mechanisms should be clarified.

Next steps: commissioners asked staff to gather the original ballot language for prior amendments and to invite department heads to discuss practical effects. They also said the commission could draft an amendment to reinstate professional qualifications if the group decides that change is appropriate for voter consideration.