Committee divides on charter amendment requiring council consent before mayor can remove top city officials; item postponed

The Public Works and Utilities Committee debated a proposed city‑charter amendment on June 30 that would require governing‑body consent before a mayor can remove the city manager, city attorney or city clerk. Sponsors framed the measure as a balance‑of‑powers reform; other councilors urged broader review by a Charter Review Commission, and the committee ultimately postponed the item to a later meeting.

Councilor Lee Garcia, a sponsor of the resolution, told the committee the measure is intended to create “a little bit more of a balance between the executive branch and the governing body branch” and said sponsors had discussed potential exceptions for a newly elected mayor to make initial appointments during an administration change. Councilor Pilar Faulkner, another sponsor, said the change is aimed at future administrations rather than any current officeholder and added, “We’re just we're giving the public the right to vote on something that we feel needs to be looked at and needs to be questioned.”

Opponents and members who pulled the item urged a more deliberative process. Councilor Romero Worth, acting chair, and others said the Charter Review Commission — a body the city convenes to review the charter — is the appropriate forum for broad structural changes. “I would like to see us constitute the Charter Review Commission and put these questions in front of them for their expertise and the public engagement that happens with it,” Romero Worth said. Councilor Michael Garcia asked that the sponsors consider an amendment exempting an incoming mayor’s initial appointment power; he said he would support such an amendment.

The committee considered multiple procedural motions during the discussion (motions to deny, to approve and to move forward without recommendation all failed for lack of majority). After more discussion, the committee voted to postpone the item to the committee’s next meeting (scheduled for July 21) so sponsors and staff can draft amendments and provide additional legal and procedural guidance regarding ballot deadlines and charter‑change mechanics.

No charter change was approved by the committee on June 30; the item remains active and will return to committee for further consideration.