CHC 2000 FINAL DIGEST OF CHARTER AMENDMENTS

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FINAL DIGEST OF CHARTER AMENDMENTS 1. Nonpartisan Elections. Under Charter Amendment No. 1, all county eleccd officers --mayor, council, and prosecuting attorney --would be elected in nonpartisan elections. All candidates for a particular office would be on the ballot at an election held at the same time as the primary election. If one candidate received more than 50% of the votes cast for that office, not counting any blank or spoiled ballots, that candidate would be elected. If no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, the two receiving the most votes would run at an election held at the same time as the general election. No party identification would appear on the county ballot. The timing of elections would not change --the mayor and prosecuting attorney would continue to be elected for four-year terms, and the county council would continue to be elected for two-year terms. In the present charter, any county council vacancy is filled by the remaining council members appointing a member belonging to the same political party as the former member. If nonpartisan elections are adopted, it would no longer be required that the new member belong to the same political party. 2. Managing Director's Authority. At present, the managing director has supervisory authority over the public works, parks and recreation, and fire departments. Charter Amendment No. 2 would give the managing director supervisory authority over all county departments and agencies. As at present, this authority would be exercised under the ultimate control of the mayor. The managing director would also be the head of an office of management. County council confirmation of the managing director would be required. The managing director would be given additional responsibility for the budget. The managing director would have to meet additional qualifications. 3. Fire Commission. Charter Amendment No. 3 would create a fire commission. It would appoint and remove the fire chief. Under the present charter, the mayor has those powers. The fire commission would consist of nine members, appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the county council. One member would be a resident of each county council district. The fire commission would also advise the fire chief. 4. Department of Environmental Management. Charter Amendment No. 4 would transfer the county's solid waste, wastewater, and recycling programs from the department of public works to a new department of environmental management. The mayor would appoint the director of the department, with county council confirmation. There would be an environmental management commission to advise the department, and to have other powers which might later be delegated to it by ordinance. It would consist of nine members. One would be a resident of each county council district. The members would be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the county council.