8-17-17 Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

He stated that he would always remind them that the City had a Council-Manager form of Government; that the Mayor is elected at-large; has one vote, and no one member of Council can take official actions or pronouncements. However, during the recent Town Hall Meeting,he realized that MSD may have also been confused about the Mayor's authority and based on their assumption that she was the chief elected official, invited her to attend one of their meetings. And then when the recent News From City Hall section of the newsletter contained the Mayor's confirmation that in fact, as chief elected official of U City shehad been invited to a meeting, he realized that this was an important conversation that needed to take place. CouncilmemberMcMahon stated his review of Article I, Section 2, of the City's Charter substantiates thatU City is a Council-Manager form of government. Council enacts legislation, adopts budgets, determines policy and appoints a City Manager. The City Manager executes the laws and administers the government. As such, Article I of Section 2 does not give the Mayor power as a chief elected officer. Article VIII of Section 2, outlines the limited power of the Mayor. The Mayor presides at meetings, has the title of Mayor and is recognized as the head of City Government for all ceremonial purposes, and by the Governor for military law. So clearly, a meeting with a government agency wanting to put in sewer storage tanks would not be considered ceremonial. ArticleIII, Section 19; The powers of the City Manager. The City Manager has the authority to implement and administer the laws, ordinances, and regulations of the community. CouncilmemberMcMahon stated the only place in the City's Charter and Ordinances where he found the term "Chief elected official,"was Section 4.10(2)(6)(c); floodplain management. And here it defines the chief executive officer, or chief elected official, as the person who administers or implements the law. As previously noted, that role belongs to the City Manager and not the Mayor. Council Rule 31 prevents any single member of Council from taking a position on a political issue unless voted on by Council. And based on his understanding, Council did not grant approval for the Mayor to act in the capacity of chief elected official. CouncilmemberMcMahon stated political issues are very importantsince they impact the very nature of the Charter and how the City operates. Council Rule 32 prevents a Councilmember from making it appear as though their personal views are formal positions of the City. So when the Mayor states in the News From City Hallsection that she is the chief elected official for the City of U City, at best, it seems to mislead the community; and at worst, it oversteps the Charter. CouncilmemberMcMahon stated based on the aforementioned comments he would make a motion to reaffirm that U City has a Council-Manager form of government as outlined in Article I, Section 2; that the limits of the Mayor's power under Article II, Section 8, are set out;that the powers of the City Manager, as discussed in Article III, Section 19, are also set out and should be followed; and that each member of Council must work to ensure that they do not make official statements outside the bounds of Council Rules 31 and32. Specifically, that any manager now, or in the future, has been granted the authority to act in the capacity of chief elected official for U City.Seconded by Councilmember Carr. Councilmember Carrstated another rulethat Council should be aware ofis the Rule of Interference. Except for the right of inquiry, i.e., questions, Council may not interact with City staff, except through the City Manager. Page 10 of 16