Ongoing talks regarding proposed changes to the City charter gained a preliminary thumbs up from the City Council on Tuesday. The council voted to approve preliminary language for several changes to the charter, pending final approval from voters during an election in April.
In October, the council began discussing recommendations by City staff that potential changes to articles 2, 3, 4 and 16 of the governing document were needed. To implement changes to the city charter, the City Council must approve the changes and set the matter for election, and eligible Bartlesville voters must pass the measure.
The proposed language changes include:
Articles 2, 3
Shall be amended to provide changes to council terms, election dates, and other miscellaneous items.
- Council terms shall be extended from 2 years to 3 years.
- Council terms shall be staggered, so that no more than 2 council members’ terms are expiring at the same time.
- Council election dates shall be moved from November to April.
(Previous proposed language that clarified that elections and campaigns are to be held on a non-partisan basis was struck based on council feedback on the item.)
Article 4
Shall be amended to clarify requirements, provide a reasonable timeline for completion, and other miscellaneous items.
- All signatures on a recall petition must be obtained within 180 days of the filing of the petition with the city clerk (this was extended from 90 days based on Council discussion).
- City clerk shall have 30 days to fulfill his legal duties (described in the charter).
- Council members cannot be recalled in the first or last four months of their term.
Article 16
Shall be amended to make purchasing and contracting more efficient and consistent throughout the organization.
- Authorizes council to set a limit for City Manager’s purchasing and contracting authority.
- Authorizes staff to utilize purchasing consortiums that have been approved by council to make purchases.
- Authorizes city manager to sign contracts that do not exceed the limits established by council.
Outside counsel is reviewing the proposed language to ensure there are no unanticipated errors in the documents and will prepare the necessary documents to place the items on the April 2024 election schedule.
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