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Commission raises health department and 'toxic trespass' as possible charter referendum topics
Summary
Commissioners proposed drafting referendum language to add a city public health department and to address 'toxic trespass' (polluter accountability); the chair noted a previous petition with roughly 2,000 signatures and asked members to research state law before drafting proposals.
During discussion of long‑term charter priorities, several commissioners urged that the commission consider a charter amendment to create a local Department of Health and to add a "toxic trespass" provision to hold polluters accountable. "We need a health department," an unidentified commissioner said, and another commissioner framed toxic trespass as a public‑health and environmental priority tied to community cancer concerns.
The chairperson said prior petitioning had demonstrated community support: "In the survey that we conducted for the toxic trespass, there were 2,000 and some odd people that signed the petitions," the chairperson said, citing earlier petition work as evidence of public concern. Commissioners discussed the need to review existing state and federal laws to ensure any charter language would be legally viable; a commissioner identified as speaker 9 offered to share state law examples he had authored.
The commission directed members to prepare potential referendum questions and supporting justification and to submit drafts by Nov. 30 for discussion at the Dec. 4 meeting. Commissioners emphasized that drafting should be coordinated with legal staff and the legislative liaison so proposals can be assessed against state law before public hearings.
Next steps: compile proposed referendum text by Nov. 30, research legal constraints and present drafts for Dec. 4 internal discussion, then solicit public comment in hearings slated for Dec. 11 and Dec. 18.
