209773 / 51.43% Yes votes ...... 198097 / 48.57% No votes

See Also: Index of all Propositions

There may be a fiscal impact related to the establishment of an Office of Independent Budget Analyst. The cost of the establishment of this office will depend on its composition, staffing level, and operational requirements, which have not been determined as yet. Any budgetary adjustments would have to be approved by the Mayor and City Council.

If adopted, this measure would amend the Charter to suspend certain provisions of the Charter to create a Mayor-Council form of government for a five-year trial period, beginning January 1, 2006, and ending December 31, 2010. Voter action would be required to extend or make this change permanent; otherwise after the December 31, 2010, sunset date, all changes implemented by this measure are repealed and all provisions of the Charter suspended by this measure are revived.

Approval of this measure would remove the Mayor from the Council by providing for an eightmember Council. The eight Council Districts would not be affected by this measure. The Mayor would have the authority to give direction to all City officers and employees, except those in departments and offices recognized in the Charter as being independent, such as the Council offices, City Attorney, Personnel, Retirement, and the Ethics Commission. The Mayor retains the power to veto those resolutions and ordinances adopted by the Council establishing policy. The veto power would not extend to matters of internal governance of the Council or to the application of existing municipal rules to specific decisions of the Council, such as the issuance of land use permits. The Mayor would be responsible for preparing the annual budget for the Council's consideration and adoption. The Council would appoint an Independent Budget Analyst to review and provide budget information to the Council, independent from the Mayor. It would take the affirmative vote of five Councilmembers to take any action, and five votes to override any mayoral veto.

The Council would establish its own rules, elect a presiding officer, establish committees, and set the legislative agenda for the City, including establishing procedures for docketing matters in open session. The Mayor, City Attorney, and presiding officer of the Council would jointly set the agenda for closed session meetings, and, when present, the Mayor would preside over those meetings, but the Mayor would have no right to vote.

The Mayor would appoint the City Manager with Council confirmation. The City Manager would serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. The Mayor would appoint the City Auditor and Comptroller, Police Chief, and Fire Chief, subject to Council confirmation. All other managerial department heads formerly under the City Manager would be appointed by the Mayor and serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. As under the current Charter, the Mayor would appoint all other members of City Boards and Commissions, subject to Council confirmation.