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Council directs staff to draft charter and ordinance changes for nomination documents and contract approvals
Summary
Council asked the law director and staff to prepare language to remove a required letter accompanying candidate nominating petitions, to place a service director/fire chief ballot item on May, and to allow some contracts to proceed by resolution rather than ordinance; drafters will return text for May agenda.
Council instructed staff and the law director to prepare proposed changes related to election nomination paperwork, service‑director/fire‑chief provisions and the way certain contracts are authorized.
Council members discussed prior charter‑review work and requested that staff draft an ordinance or charter amendment removing the requirement for a candidate’s signature letter that currently accompanies nominating petitions (discussion referenced charter section 9.01). Members noted it would be appropriate to address that change before the next election cycle.
Separately, staff advised that the service director and fire chief ballot language and related charter items are ready to be placed on the May ballot through ordinance; staff said that ordinance will be before council at the next meeting for approval to put the item to voters.
Council also signaled consensus to allow some contracts to be authorized by council resolution rather than by ordinance to reduce the use of emergency legislation and speed routine contracts; staff said they would draft the specific language to add a resolution option for certain contract approvals and return it to council.
No charter amendment or ordinance was adopted at the meeting; the council asked staff to draft the appropriate language for review at the next meeting so the items could be placed on the May ballot or agenda as appropriate.
