Charter advisory committee unanimously approves recommendations to send Fremont charter language to City Council

The Fremont Charter Advisory Committee voted unanimously April 27 to approve its summary of recommendations and draft charter language and to direct staff to present the package to the City Council at two public hearings and a final council meeting this summer.

The committee’s recommendations call for maintaining a council‑manager form of government with a charter designation; considering a limit of three consecutive four‑year terms for both City Council members and the mayor; preserving part‑time status for elected officials while recommending a health benefit allowance aligned to the City’s full‑time represented employees; and allocating 1.5 full‑time‑equivalent staff positions to support the mayor and council. Staff also proposed that the city manager retain appointment authority for department heads while executive appointments would be subject to council confirmation.

Why it matters: the committee’s package frames the core governance, staffing and compensation choices that the City Council will decide whether to place on the ballot. The recommendations include both structural items (form of government, appointment/confirmation mechanics) and financial items (staffing and benefits) that have fiscal and political implications if placed before voters.

City Attorney counsel told the committee that state law allows closed‑session review of finalists and candidate materials to protect privacy, but stressed that final confirmation must occur in public. “It’s not final until it happens in public,” counsel said, explaining that closed sessions may be used to review a top candidate list and provide direction to the city manager, but may not substitute for a public confirmation vote.

Committee members questioned how closed sessions and a public confirmation would affect recruitment and candidate willingness to apply. Staff estimated a national executive recruitment could range from $25,000 to $35,000 depending on scope, which drew questions about the fiscal impact of adding staff and expanded benefits. Staff and counsel also repeatedly told the committee that California government code limits health benefit allowances for part‑time elected officials to what similarly situated non‑safety City employees receive; by contrast, salary changes would require separate legal consideration.

A member of the public, Keith Parker, urged the committee to address voter concerns about taxation in the charter materials. “The first, last, and only thing that every comes out of every voters mouth on this is how will this impact my taxes,” Parker said, adding that voters are more likely to support a measure if language reassures them it will not raise taxes. Parker also recommended a formal pathway for council action if executives fail to meet expectations.

Staff noted the committee’s work plan did not include tax policy and encouraged public commentators to raise taxation or youth‑voting proposals at the upcoming council hearings. Staff also told the committee the estimated cost of placing a measure on the November ballot would increase if additional measures (such as a sales tax) are added to that same ballot; roughly, adding measures would multiply the election cost.

Votes at a glance • Approval of minutes (April meeting): motion by Committee member Sankaran, seconded by Committee member Jones — unanimous. • Approval of recommendations and draft charter language: motion by Committee member Yi, seconded by Committee member Sankaran — unanimous. The committee directed staff to present the package at two public hearings, followed by a final council meeting where the council may decide whether to place any charter language on the ballot.

What’s next: staff will present the committee’s recommendations to the City Council in two public hearings and a final council vote over the summer; the committee and staff noted a procedural deadline (August 7 for charter placement on a November ballot) and asked members to consider timing and outreach given simultaneous discussions about a possible revenue measure.

The committee adjourned after thanking staff and the city clerk for their work.