City Charter Amendment Articles 1-4 Review Presentation

Ryan Peters
Strategic Initiatives Director
City Charter Amendment 
Resident Advisory Committee 
August 13, 2025

Agenda
Article Review:
•
Article I. Powers of the City
•
Article II. City Council
•
Article III. City Manager
•
Article IV. Administrative Departments
Review and Discussion of Proposed Updates to Articles I-IV
Public Comment

Committee and Charter Amendment Process
Review Charter
&
Identify Opportunities to 
Revise
Committee Consensus on 
Proposed Updates and Direct 
Staff to Prepare Draft 
Language
Draft Language Prepared for 
Consideration by Committee
Committee 
Recommendations on 
Proposed Amendments
City Council Work Session to 
Review Proposed 
Amendments
City Council Meeting to 
Consider Action to Place 
Proposed Amendments on 
Ballot
Election
Governor Approval
Committee Sunsets Nov 
3, 2026 or Upon 
Completion of 
Committee’s Work

Review and Discussion of Proposed Updates to 
Articles I–IV of the City Charter
General & Technical Updates
• Out-of-date language
• Capitalization & Punctuation
• References to gender
• General clean-up for consistency and 
clarity

Article I. Powers of the City
1.01 Name of the City
1.02 Construction of Powers
•
Extends all powers granted by the Arizona Constitution and laws
•
Assumes powers not specifically enumerated by the Charter
1.03 Powers
•
Authorizes the City to:
•
acquire, manage, and dispose of property inside or outside city 
limits
•
contract with other governments and entities
•
construct, maintain, and operate public infrastructure and 
services
•
Reiterates that enumerated powers are not exclusive and that 
additional lawful powers are applicable
1.04 Boundaries
•
Maintains boundaries as established by the Charter
•
Allows for boundary changes as permitted by law

Article II. City Council
2.01 Composition, Eligibility, Terms and Election
•
Establishes City Council comprised of a Mayor and 6 Councilmembers 
elected at-large
•
Must be qualified electors and City residents for at least 2 years
•
4-year terms for Mayor and Councilmembers
•
Maximum of 2 consecutive terms (subject of November Charter election)
•
Elections held each even-numbered year
2.02 Compensation and expenses
•
Council sets annual salaries by ordinance
•
Salary increases do not take effect until after the next election and must 
be adopted at least six months prior to the election*
•
Mayor and Council are reimbursed for actual expenses incurred while 
performing duties
 
*Proposed Update: Increase becomes effective following the next election 
 
 
(eliminate 6-month lead time requirement)

Tucson
•
Increase effective 
only upon the 
approval of voters
Tempe
•
Increase effective 
after next election
Mesa
•
Increase effective 
after next election
Requirements of other Charter Cities
Glendale
•
Increase effective 
only upon the 
approval of voters
Phoenix
•
Increase effective 
upon approval by 
Commission and 
voters

Article II. City Council
2.03 Mayor and Vice-Mayor
•
Mayor has equal powers and responsibilities as Council
•
Mayor is the presiding officer of Council and the ceremonial head of 
the City
•
Requires Council to select a Vice-Mayor within 31 days of taking office
•
Vice-Mayor will act as Mayor during Mayor’s absence or disability
•
Specifies that Mayor and Council do not have administrative duties
2.04 General Powers and Duties
•
Vests Council with policy making power and all other lawful powers of 
the City
•
Charges Council with performing their lawful duties and obligations

Article II. City Council
2.05 Prohibitions
•
Councilmembers must resign to run for Mayor if their term extends beyond 
the next Mayor’s start date. Such resignation must occur upon the earliest of 
the following events:
•
When nomination papers are taken out; or
•
105 days prior to the primary election
•
Former Mayors and Councilmembers are ineligible for paid City jobs for 2 
years post-term
•
Councilmembers cannot:
•
hold another elected office or city job during their term
•
direct the appointment or removal of certain City officers and employees
•
give orders to City officers or employees under the City Manager’s 
supervision
•
Strikes by City employees are strictly prohibited
•
Requires utilization of “Meet and Confer” process under specified 
circumstances
*Proposed Update: Require resignation when nomination papers are filed, rather than taken 
out, and modify primary election resignation trigger

Tempe
• Must resign at least 90 days 
prior to primary election
Mesa
•
Must resign at least 90 days 
prior to primary election to 
run for Mayor, unless in last 
term of current elected office
Requirements of other Charter Cities
•
Ordinance is posted or 
read in full 72 hours 
before meeting
•
One publication in full

Article II. City Council
2.06 Vacancies; forfeiture of office; filling vacancies
•
Vacancies occur upon death, resignation, forfeiture or lawful removal 
from office
•
Forfeiture of office mandated under the following circumstances:
•
Loss of qualifications during term
•
Violation of Charter prohibitions
•
Conviction of crime involving moral turpitude
•
Unexcused absence from 3 consecutive regular Council 
meetings
•
Council must make an appointment within 30 days of a vacancy*
•
If a vacancy is not filled within 30 days, a special election must be 
held within 120 days*
•
Permits temporary vacancies and appointments for specified military 
and medical purposes
*Proposed Update: Expand time for filling vacancy

Scottsdale
31 days
Tempe
30 days
Mesa
30 days
Requirements of other Charter Cities
Tucson
30 days

Article II. City Council
2.07 Judge of Qualifications
•
Renders Council the judge of election and qualifications of its members
•
Entitles members subject to forfeiture of office to a public hearing
2.08 Administrative Offices and Departments
•
Directs Council, by ordinance, to create, organize, and assign duties to City 
Offices and Departments*
•
Council appoints City Clerk, City Attorney and City Magistrate
•
City Manager appointed as outlined in Article III
•
Requires City Officers to report to Council regarding their Departments
•
Appointed officers may request public hearing if dismissed
*Proposed update: Eliminate ordinance requirement, and instead authorize City 
Manager based on necessity of operations

Scottsdale
Requires Ordinance
Tempe
No ordinance 
required
Mesa
Requires Ordinance
Requirements of other Charter Cities
Glendale
No ordinance 
required

Article II. City Council
2.09 Appointive Officers
•
Council appoints City Clerk, City Attorney and City Magistrate
•
City Manager appointed as outlined in Article III
•
Appointed officers may request public hearing if dismissed
2.10 Disposal of Impounded Goods
•
Authorizes Council to adopt an ordinance allowing the public sale of lost, 
found and impounded items
2.11 Investigations
•
Permits Council to investigate City affairs and conduct
•
Valid investigation requires affirmative vote of 5 Councilmembers
•
Classifies, as a misdemeanor, failure to comply with Council’s lawful 
investigatory authority
2.12 Procedure
•
Requires Council to meet at least twice per month
•
Allows for Special Meetings
•
Permits Council to meet in Executive Session 
•
Prescribes Council voting procedures

Article II. City Council
2.13 Action Requiring an Ordinance
•
Outlines actions that require action by ordinance, including:
•
Adopting or amending a city code
•
Change or eliminate a city department*
•
Creating taxes
•
Appropriating public monies
•
Leasing city land and property for 3 years or more*
•
Creating or changing fire limits*
*Proposed update: Eliminate ordinance requirement, and instead authorize 
City Manager based on necessity of operations
2.14 Conduct of the Council As to Powers Authorized by Charter…
•
Requires that Council establish procedures by ordinance, if granted a 
power or duty to act as prescribed by state law, but no state law exists.

Scottsdale
Requires Ordinance
Tempe
No ordinance 
required
Mesa
Requires Ordinance
Requirements of other Charter Cities
Glendale
Requires Ordinance

Article II. City Council
2.15 Ordinances in General
•
Establishes formatting, single-subject, and enacting clause requirements for 
proposed ordinances
•
Permits any Councilmember to introduce an ordinance at regular or special 
meetings 
•
Ordinances must be published by title 30 days prior to public meeting for 
Council consideration
•
If altered by Council, the altered portion of the ordinance is again subject to 
the prescribed notice and publishing requirements prior to adoption by 
Council.
•
Requires two separate publications of adopted ordinances, with the 2nd 
occurring at least 6 days after the 1st.
•
Adopted ordinances become effective 30 days after adoption
*Proposed update: Streamline process into one action, one publication. Publication 
by title with the agenda, and then full publication as soon as practicable after 
adoption.

Scottsdale
•
Ordinance is posted or 
read in full 24 hours 
before meeting
•
One publication in full 
within 15 days after 
adoption
•
1 vote
Tempe
•
Notice of consideration 
published at least 7 
days before action
•
One publication in full 
as soon as practicable 
after adoption
•
2 votes
Mesa
•
Notice of consideration 
published at least 6 
days before action
•
One publication in full 
within 2 weeks after 
adoption
•
2 votes
Requirements of other Charter Cities
Glendale
•
Ordinance is posted or 
read in full 72 hours 
before meeting
•
One publication in full
•
1 vote

Article II. City Council
2.16 Emergency Ordinances
•
Outlines criteria and procedures for adopting emergency ordinances
•
Requires 6 votes for adoption
2.17 Codes and Public Records
•
Permits the adoption of standard codes and public records by reference
•
Requires that copies of adopted standard codes and public records be made 
available by the City Clerk
2.18 Authentication, recording, codification, printing
•
All ordinances and resolutions are recorded by the City Clerk
•
City Code must be kept up-to-date and made accessible to the public

Article III. City Manager
3.01 Appointment, Compensation, Qualifications
•
Authorizes Council to appoint a City Manager and determine 
compensation 
•
Question on November Ballot – Prop 411
3.02 Removal of City Manager
•
Allows for the removal of the City Manager by a majority vote of the 
Council
•
Entitles a removed City Manager to 2 months’ severance pay
•
Question on November Ballot – Prop 411
•
Authorizes Council to fill vacant City Manager position
3.03  Acting City Manager
•
Requires the City Manager to designate an acting City Manager, 
subject to Council approval.

Article III. City Manager
3.04 Powers and Duties of the City Manager
•
City Manager is the chief administrative officer of the City*
•
Delineates the City Manager’s powers and duties, including:
•
Appointment, suspension, and removal of city employees
•
Direction and supervision over City departments, offices, and 
agencies
•
Annual preparation and submittal of the budget
•
Advising Council pertaining to the City’s financial condition and 
future needs
*Proposed update: Grant the City Manager the authority to lease City property

Article IV. Administrative Departments
4.01 General Provisions
•
Assigned department functions are continuous and may not be assigned 
to another unless otherwise provided by the Charter
•
Each department must be administered by an officer appointed by the 
City Manager
•
Allows the City Manager or appointed officer to serve as the head of more 
than one department
4.02 Merit System
•
Specifies that Council appointees are not subject to the merit system, and 
stipulates that all appointments and promotions of city employees must 
be made on merit
•
Requires the City Manager to appoint a personnel officer to administer 
the City’s personnel system
•
Establishes the Merit System Board
•
Directs the personnel officer to prepare personnel rules, and delineates 
required provisions of City personnel rules

Article IV. Administrative Departments
4.03 Strike or Work Interruption
•
Asserts that it is unlawful for any City employee to participate in a strike 
or any other form of work interruption
•
City employees who participate in such activities are considered to have 
abandoned and terminated their City employment 
•
Restricts Mayor and Council from granting amnesty to any employee who 
violates the strike and work interruption prohibition

Committee Member Proposed Update to Article II. 
Forming Council Districts
2.01 Composition, Eligibility, Terms and Election
•
Mandates election of 6 Councilmembers by district, rather than by election at-
large
•
Maintains at-large election of Mayor
•
Requires that candidates for Council be residents of the district they seek to 
represent
•
Establishes 6 separate City Council Districts and provides criteria for 
established districts
•
Delineates staggered terms for Councilmembers subsequent to the adoption 
of the proposed Charter amendment
•
Establishes an Independent Redistricting Commission

Questions?