Voting on the "Strong Mayor" Issue Measure CC Factual Statement

by Helen Hutchison

In 1998 voters passed an initiative for a six-year trial Charter change that took the Mayor off the City Council and put the Mayor in charge of city administration and public services, the "Strong Mayor" form of government.

When the Mayor was part of the City Council, an appointed city manager was in charge of the city administration and city services. The city manager was answerable to the Council. Now the city manager is answerable to the Mayor. The Council enacts policy and ordinances and controls the budget.

Other changes included the position of city attorney becoming an elected position in 2000, a two term limit on the office of Mayor, and voter approval of salary increases for the City Council members. There is a "sunset clause" that would change the City Charter in 2004 back to the Council/City-Manager form of government that we had, unless the voters chose to retain the Strong Mayor form of government.

Measure CC proposes to make the changes from the Strong Mayor initiative permanent now instead of waiting until 2004 to decide. Proponents of Measure CC say that the four-year trial has been long enough and that the trial has been successful. Opponents of Measure CC say that there are inconsistencies in the Strong Mayor initiative, and they would like to take the next two years to look at the changes, addressing such questions as:

Are there defined responsibilities for the Mayor and City Council, with appropriate checks and balances?

Is the Council working well with an even number of members?

Do we want a two-term limit for the Mayor?

A YES vote on Measure CC will make the present situation permanent now, and will accept the changes as-is with a four-year trial period.

A NO vote will leave in the sunset clause, and the vote to retain the Strong Mayor would come in 2004.