4. SCHEDULED ITEMS
4.1
EQUITY PRINCIPLES
The principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging remain in the
forefront of the Charter review process. This standing agenda item
provides the Committee with the opportunity, at the outset of each of its
meetings, to refine, reaffirm and recommit to its Statement of Principles.
The Statement of Principles regarding diversity, equity, inclusion and
belonging provides a procedural and substantive lens through which the
Committee undertakes all of its work.
Socorro Shiels, Diversity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Officer,
asked the Committee if there were any changes to the principles.
There were no changes made and Ms. Shiels stated they would be
finalized.
No public comments were made.
DIRECT ELECT AT-LARGE MAYOR
4.2
The City Council has recommended that, among other topics, the
Committee research and consider preparing a Charter amendment to
establish the position of an elected at-large Mayor, a Mayor elected by
a City-wide vote.
Currently, the City Council is comprised of seven Council members,
each elected by district. After each Council election, the Council itself
selects one of its members to serve as Mayor for a two year term. The
Mayor serves at the pleasure of the Council and can be removed from
the Mayorship by a vote of the Council.
Under this proposal, the City Charter would be revised to create the
new position of at-large Mayor. The City Council would likely be
reconfigured such that six Council members would be elected by district
and the Mayor would be selected by the voters in a single City-wide
vote. Under this scenario, the current seven Council districts would be
reduced and realigned into six districts. Other configurations, however,
may be considered, including, for example, retaining all seven district
Council members and adding an at-large Mayor as an eighth member of
the City Council.
This agenda item will outline the steps entailed in moving to a directly
elected at-large Mayor, the pros and cons of having a directly elected