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Charter Review Committee defers decision on minimum qualifications for clerk and treasurer
Summary
The committee debated whether to place minimum qualifications (degrees, experience, or professional credentials) for the elected clerk and treasurer in the charter, heard mixed views about enforceability, and voted to table the matter for staff or member drafting and further study.
Glendale's Charter Review Committee on April 2 discussed but did not adopt charter language setting minimum qualifications for candidates for city clerk and city treasurer. The committee voted to table the item and asked members and staff to draft potential, objective language for the next meeting.
Staff presented examples from other charter cities. Redondo Beach was the only surveyed city with specific educational and experience requirements for the city clerk; staff explained Redondo Beach's clerk has explicit authority to review city expenditures, which is why Redondo's charter lists accounting coursework and experience as prerequisites. Several committee members said they could support a modest, objective floor (examples: a bachelor's degree or a few years' experience, or a list of acceptable professional credentials) to avoid unopposed candidates who lack relevant experience. Others warned that prescribing technical qualifications in the charter risks being either too subjective to administer or quickly outdated.
Members suggested approaches: staff-proposed exemplar language listing broadly acceptable credentials (CPA, certified municipal treasurer certificates, CFA, or equivalent) or a minimal experiential/education floor. The chair and others recommended drafting minimally prescriptive, objective criteria and returning with a concrete proposal rather than continuing open-ended debate. The committee voted to table qualifications discussion to the next meeting and requested staff or a small member subgroup produce draft language for review.
What happens next: Staff and committee volunteers may produce sample charter language that sets an objective, minimally prescriptive floor for qualifications; the item is carried over to a future agenda for deliberation and possible recommendation to City Council.
