Title
Public Hearing on proposed Charter Amendments to Ordinance to Change the Form of Government
Action
Action:
Conduct a public hearing on Council’s adopted resolution of intent to consider changing the form of government by amending the City Charter by ordinance to:
– Increase the terms of the office of Mayor and City Councilmembers from two years to four years,
– Stagger the election terms,
– Add an additional district member, and
– Adopt the Ordinance amending the City Charter by Ordinance be effective upon approval by a vote of the people.
Body
Committee Chair:
Dimple Ajmera, Budget, Governance and Intergovernmental Relations
Staff Resource(s):
Patrick Baker, City Attorney’s Office
Lina James, City Attorney’s Office
Explanation
§ On February 13, 2023, City Council voted to adopt a resolution of intent to change the form of government by amending the city charter by ordinance to increase the terms of office of the Mayor and Councilmembers from two years to four years; stagger the election terms; add and additional district member and to make any such amendments to the City Charter subject to a vote of the people.
§ On February 13, 2023, Council also voted to call a public hearing on the proposed amendments to the City Charter and the hearing must be held within 45 days of adoption.
§ A public hearing is required by law when City Council adopts a resolution of intent to consider changing the form of government. A notice of public hearing shall be published at least once not less than 10 days before the public hearing and shall contain a summary of the proposed amendments.
§ As required by law, the city published notice that a public hearing will be held on March 13, 2023.
§ The published notice states that the public will take notice that the City Council will conduct a public hearing concerning a proposed ordinance amending the Charter of the City of Charlotte, as set forth in Chapter 2 of the Session Law 2000-26 of North Carolina and N.C.G.S. §160A-101 and §160A-102, as amended:
1) To change the length of terms of office of the members of the Charlotte City Council from two years to four years;
2) Term of office of the mayor; at least two years, but no more than four years (N.C.G.S. 160A-101 (8));
3) Term of office of Councilmembers; from two to four years (N.C.G.S. 160A-101 (4); and
4) If staggered election terms, bifurcate by office and set timeframe for when staggering begins (i.e., mayor, at-large, or districts) (N.C.G.S. 160A-101(4)).
§ It is proposed that at the regular municipal election to be held in 2025, that the (Mayor and At-large or all District Councilmembers) candidates shall be elected for four-year terms, while the (district Councilmembers or the Mayor and At-large) candidates shall be elected for two-year terms. At the regular municipal election to be held in (2027), and every four years thereafter that the (Mayor and At-large or the District Councilmembers) candidates shall be elected to serve for four-year terms. At the regular municipal election to be held in (2029) and every four years thereafter, the Mayor and all City Councilmembers shall be elected for four-year terms; and to change the number of Councilmembers from 11 to 12 per N.C.G.S. 160A-101.
§ Following the public hearing, the City Council may consider adoption of the proposed City Charter amendments by Ordinance to implement what is proposed in the resolution of intent at its next regular meeting to be held on Monday May 8, 2023 at 5:00 pm in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center.