Background
A city charter functions as the city's local constitution by establishing the city's form of government and certain rules for its operation.
Proposal
If approved, the amendments would correct typographical errors, replace gender-specific terms with gender-neutral language, improve consistency throughout the Charter, update outdated terminology, and revise provisions to better reflect current state law and City practices. In addition, the measure would make the following specific changes to the Mountain View Charter:
- clarify that the term "qualified elector" as used on the Charter has the same meaning as the term "elector" under California law;
- extend the period for the City Council to fill a vacancy on the Council by appointment or calling a special election from 30 days to 60 days;
- remove the requirement that ordinances and resolutions, or their titles, be read before adoption;
- revise Charter Section 515 to require a roll-call vote on ordinances only when requested by a Councilmember or otherwise required by law;
- update Section 709 to remove outdated references to maintaining "books" and instead refer generally to City records;
- authorize the City Council to establish membership qualifications for boards, commissions, and committees that are created by ordinance or resolution while retaining existing membership requirements for the boards and commissions established by the Charter;
- clarify the staggered-term requirements for boards, commissions, and committees in 15 Section 902;
- clarify that action by a board, commission, or committee shall be taken by majority vote of the members then in office, excluding vacant positions, provided that the number of members then in office is not less than a quorum of the entire membership;
- revise one provision in the Community Stabilization and Fair Rent Act to update references to the Mountain View City Code.
Source: Measure E Impartial Analysis