Measure I, if approved by the voters, would amend the City Charter to: (1) add the Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices to the Charter; (2) remove the requirement that members of the Planning, Civil Service, and Salary Setting Commissions be electors and/or citizens; (3) remove gender-specific language; and (4) require the City Council to adopt equity values, standards, and assessments in making certain decisions.
The Board of Fair Campaign and Political Practices (Board) monitors compliance with campaign and ethics ordinances, as authorized by the City Council under Title 12 of the Municipal Code; reviews and investigates alleged violations of the City’s campaign and ethics laws when authorized under Title 12 of the Municipal Code and takes enforcement action where appropriate; and makes recommendations to the City Council regarding campaign and ethics regulations and policies. The Board is established by ordinance and its duties are codified in the Municipal Code. Measure I would establish and codify the Board’s existing duties in the Charter.
Currently, the Charter requires members of the Planning Commission to be both a citizen of the United States and a City resident for at least one year immediately before the start of their term, and a registered elector of the City when appointed and throughout their term. The Charter also requires members of the Civil Service and Salary Setting Commissions to be qualified electors of the City throughout their term. A qualified elector is a person who is eligible to vote. To be eligible to vote in a jurisdiction, a person must be a United States citizen, at least 18 years of age, and a resident of the jurisdiction.
Measure I would remove the requirement to be an elector and/or citizen to serve on the Planning, Civil Service, or Salary Setting Commissions. Instead, members of the Planning Commission would only need to be a City resident for at least one year immediately before the start of and throughout their term; and Civil Service and Salary Setting Commissioners would only need to be City residents throughout their term.
Measure I would also replace gender-specific language in the Charter with gender-neutral language.
Finally, Measure I would add a provision to the Charter that would require the City Council to adopt and maintain a statement of values, as permitted by law, promoting racial and social equity, inclusion, and racial and social justice which will provide guidance to City officers and employees in their conduct while discharging their public responsibilities, including development and implementation of decisions, policies, budgets, programs, and practices. Measure I was placed on the ballot by the City Council.
Source: City Attorney's Impartial Analysis of Measure I
