Council to form internal charter review work group to vet compliance and recommend updates

Council received a proposal on June 9 to create an internal charter-review work group to examine the city charter, flag outdated provisions, check compliance with state law and propose prioritized amendments for later public consideration.

Staff recommended a small advisory group composed of the mayor, four council members (one per district), the city manager, city attorney, city clerk and rotating subject-matter staff (finance, personnel, planning) to keep the review focused and administratively efficient. The work plan is phased: an initial flagging pass across charter articles, followed by deeper reviews on governance and election provisions, legislative procedures, personnel/administration, finance/public improvements and a final compilation of prioritized recommendations.

Staff noted that substantive charter changes require public hearings and broader engagement; the group’s report would document rationales and recommended prioritization. The proposed timeline set an organizational meeting in August and a draft report to council in early next year, allowing council to schedule additional public outreach before any charter amendments were adopted.

Council members supported a focused scope for legal compliance and best-practices updates while preserving flexibility to recommend additions or substantive changes if gaps were identified. The group will return with a prioritized list of proposed charter updates and proposed public-engagement steps before any ballot or ordinance action.