1. Gresham City Charter Review Commission Recommendations for Review Process2011-2012 Submitted by Richard Strathern Gresham Citizen at Large

2. Contents Key Facts Council Directives Four Types of Local Government Options Research and Public Policy The Role of the Charter Commission Citizen and Stakeholder Engagement No Form is Perfect Discussions on Form Background Material Hamiltonian Model / Strong Executive Recommended Charter Review Process2 Gresham City Charter Committee 201112/31/2011 3. Key Facts Current City Charter was adopted May 2, 1978 Charter may be amended, repealed, or replaced 60 % of citizens must pass a ballot measure toapprove any changes The current charter has been revised nine times The City Council appoints the charter reviewcommittee3 Gresham City Charter Committee 201112/31/2011 4. Council Directives Goals : Identified City Council concerns and city needs tobe addressed by the charter committee resulting inrecommendations to City Council for its action Hold open forum for suggestions from Council members both current and past. Insure that staff has authored a research summary for committee members on alternative forms of city government outlining strength, weaknesses and opportunities of change This information should be shared with general public soliciting their input and recommendations4 Gresham City Charter Committee 2011 12/31/2011 5. Four Type of Local GovernmentOptions 1. Mayor - Council (Strong Mayor) 2. Council - Manager (Weak Mayor) 3. Council - Manager ( Traditional) 4. Council - Manager (Hybrid)5 Gresham City Charter Committee 2011 12/31/2011 6. Research and Public Policy Key Question: Will a specific form of government by itself address community needs, issues, and concerns? The Charter Committee should start with a discussion on Form of Government. The expressed intent of this discussion is to seek consensus and address the needs, concerns and issues of City Council and the citizen community.6 Gresham City Charter Committee 201112/31/2011 7. The Role of a Charter Commission (1) the need to identify and respond to the changingenvironment and (2) the utility of using the Form of Governmentdiscussion as a starting point to addressCouncil/Citizen needs Over time, communities change. Issues change. Needschange. As a consequence, our charter needs to berevised, depending upon the kind of issues that surfacein your voting community. It is the committees job togather the ideas and information from people in ourcommunity, and put a charter together and to present itto the citizen for a vote. Kenneth Verburg Michigan State University7 Gresham City Charter Committee 2011 12/31/2011 8. Citizen and Stakeholder Engagement Objectives: Within current financial constraints, the committee should seek the opinions and input from Gresham residents and community stakeholders. Outreach activity should include a wide range of citizens, community organizations, businesses, not- for-profit organizations, religious, organized labor, past and current government leaders, including special public services announcements and appeals from current Mayor and former Mayors to encourage citizen and stakeholder input8 Gresham City Charter Committee 201112/31/2011 9. No Form is Perfect Arguably, issues of abuse and personnel influencesof private resources for private gain can and do occurin all forms of government. The selection of a government structure in of itselfdoes not enhance or reduce or create a barrier toprevent individual or machine basedinfluenced, citizen abuse or inappropriate use ofprivate resources to advance the interests of privatepeople Researcher Curtis Wood, University of Kansas (2010)indicates that the best protection against violation ofpublic trust is a strong involved community.9 Gresham City Charter Committee 2011 12/31/2011 10. Discussion on Form Research studies see a definite relationship between form of government and voter turnout in city elections and citizen engagement. Why is this? It may be helpful to focus on two questions, as opposed to deciding upon a governmental type as a single exercise: What type of city do you envision What type of defects or corrections are you addressing, the Form of Government discussion inevitable flow from these critical questions.10 Gresham City Charter Committee 201112/31/2011 11. Examples of Citizen Objectives Curb abuse of public funds and resources Create a more effective city that responds to the priorities of the citizenry Plan for a city to attract jobs and other opportunities that current and potential citizens and stakeholders can take full advantage Create opportunities for older as well as younger Gresham citizens11 Gresham City Charter Committee 2011 12/31/2011 12. Background Material for Charter Committee International City/County ManagementAssociation (ICMA) Model City Charter andstatistical survey of 3,864 cities, 2006. Itcompares Mayor - Council with Council Manager: Main Features % of cities using this form by population Mayoral Powers Council Powers Arguments For Argument Against Examples12 Gresham City Charter Committee 201112/31/2011 13. Background Material Continued Current Mayoral Models in Municipalities Appointment Powers Chart: Form of Government Mayor - Council Council Manager Commission Town Meeting Population size Geographic Metro Status (Central, Suburban, Independent)13 Gresham City Charter Committee 2011 12/31/2011 14. Background Material Continued Beyond Stereotypes: Socio-economicCharacteristics of Modern Council-Manager Cities This is a (5) part series of articles by Kevin Carter, Management Fellow (January 31, 2011) ICMA Article Part (1) Structure, Brief History Part (2) Previous Academic Work Part (3) Overview of Theory, Socio-economic Characteristics of Communities by Impact of demographics on Form of Government Part (4) Questions of Research Part (5) Final Findings14 Gresham City Charter Committee 201112/31/2011 15. A Hamiltonian Model of Municipal Power in Action Strong Argument for Mayor-Council: A Primer on Governance Unplanned City? Yes and No. Sources of Change in City Government Looking Below the Radar The Underside of CityGovernance Storm Clouds: Reasons for Citizen Concern AboutLocal Governance Scorecard Postscript: Three Suggestions for ImprovingGovernance15 Gresham City Charter Committee 2011 12/31/2011 16. Strong Executive Dr. Richard Murray, University of Houston, is the author of A Hamiltonian Model of Municipal Power in Action. (See Blog) He quotes Federalist Paper # 70: Energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government A feeble executive implies a feeble execution of the government. A feeble execution is but another phase for a bad execution; and a government ill executed, whatever it may be in theory, must be in practice, a bad governmentThe ingredients which constitute energy in the executive are unity; duration; an adequate provision for its support; and competent powers (Alexander Hamilton)16 Gresham City Charter Committee 201112/31/2011 17. Recommended City Charter Review Process 2011/2012 Line by Line Review Based on history in city archives Names and Boundaries Powersreview rational for pass changes Form of Governmentto City Charter Review current best practices City Councilin city governance Powers/Duties of Officers Perform a SWOT analysis of Electionscurrent Charter based oncitizen, stakeholders and past Vacancies in Officeand present City Councilors andOrdinancesMayor(s) Public Improvements Perform Decision Analysis anddraft recommendations forMisc Provisionspresentation to City Council Ordinances Power, Initiatives, Referendum and Recall Council approves final proposalfor citizen approval17 Gresham City Charter Committee 2011 12/31/2011