23. Santa Cruz, 1907; 1911. 24. Santa Monica, 1907. 25. Palo Alto, 1909. 26. Richmond, 1909. 27. Modesto, 1911. 28. Monterey, 1911. 29. Petaluma, 1911. 30. Pomona, 1911. 31. San Luis Obispo, 1911. The outlines of charters appearing in the following pages are arranged in the same order as the cities to which they apply are arranged in the above list. The date of each charter is given, as well as the dates of all important amendments. 1. Oakland, 1911 Officers elected at Large: Mayor, Auditor-Assessor, four Commissioners, and six School Directors. The term of office is four years. The Board of Education consists of the six School Directors and the Commissioner of Revenue and Finance. Elections: A nonpartisan direct primary election is held on the third Tuesday in April of odd years. The general municipal election is held on the third Tuesday after the primary. Names are printed on the primary ballot on petition of from 50 to 250 voters. Mayor: A member and president of the Council. Has a vote but no veto power. Enforces laws and ordinances. Is at the head of the Department of Public Affairs. Appoints five Library Directors, five Playground Directors, three Park Directors, and three Civil Service Commissioners. The Council must confirm these appointments. Members of these boards serve six years. Council: Consists of the Mayor and the four Commissioners. It is the center of all municipal authority. Meets daily. Appoints a City Attorney and Clerk. Departments: Five Departments are provided for: Public Affairs; Revenue and Finance; Health and Safety; Public Works; and Streets. The Mayor has charge of the department of Public Affairs; and the Council selects one of its number, other than the Mayor, to serve as commissioner of each of the other departments. Officers appointed by the Commissioners and confirmed by the Council : By the Commissioner of Public Works, the City Engineer; by the Commissioner of Revenue and Finance, the Treasurer-Tax-Collector; by the Commissioner of Public Health and Safety, the Chief of Police, Fire Chief, Health Officer, and Superintendent of the Electrical Department; by the Commissioner of Streets, the Superintendent of Streets and an Assistant Superintendent. Other Officers, inspectors, and employees, when authorized by ordinance, are appointed by the Commissioners without confirmation by the Council. Many of these, however, are appointed according to civil service regulations. Powers granted the People: Initiative (5 per cent, 15 per cent); Referendum (10 per cent); Recall (15 per cent). Police Court: Established by state law. Consists of two judges elected at county elections for four years. Special Provisions: (1) Power is given the Council to provide pensions for persons who are sixty-five years of age and who have been employed by the city for twenty-five years. Policemen may be pensioned at sixty, and members of the fire department at fifty-five. (2) Renewals of franchises for public utilities must be approved by the people. (3) A person wishing to be a commissioner or school director must become a candidate for Commissioner No. 1, 2, 3, or 4; or for School Director No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. The contest in each case is between the persons selecting the same number. This is to make the practice called "plumping " impossible. These numbers have no significance after the election. 2. Stockton, 1911 Officers elected at Large: Mayor, four Councilmen, and five School Directors. The term of office is four years. Elections: A municipal election is held on the first Tuesday in October of even years. Names of candidates are printed on the ballot alphabetically for each office, each on petition of from twenty-five to thirty-five voters. A candidate receiving a majority vote for any office is elected. If any office is not filled at this election, a second election is held two weeks later to choose between the two receiving the highest vote. In case more than one is to be elected to any office, the number of candidates equals twice the number. Mayor Has general supervision over all the departments. Is a member and president of the Council, having a vote, but no veto power. Council: It is the center of all municipal authority. Appoints Clerk, Assessor, Tax Collector, Attorney, Engineer, Chief of Police, Fire Chief, Street Superintendent, Health Officer, Five Library Trustees, and all other necessary officers and employees. The Library Trustees are appointed for five years to serve without pay. Other appointive officers serve during the pleasure of the Council, at such salaries as the Council establishes. The Council may provide for and appoint a Civil Service Board. Departments: Four departments are provided for: Finance, Revenue, and Public Supplies; Public Health and Safety; Public Works; and the Department of Audit. Each Councilman is assigned by the Council to serve as head of a department. Powers granted the People: Initiative (10 per cent, 20 per cent); Referendum (10 per cent); Recall (20 per cent). Police Court: Established by state law. Consists of one judge elected at county elections for four years. Special Provision: No franchise may be granted for a longer term than twenty-five years. 3. San Diego, 1889, 1901, 1905, 1909 1 Officers elected at Large: Mayor, Treasurer-Tax-Collector, five Councilmen, and five members of the Board of Education. The Mayor is elected for two years; the others for four. Elections: The municipal election is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in April of odd years. A nonpartisan direct primary is held two weeks before the municipal election. Fifty signatures are required for a candidate's name to be printed on the primary election ballot. Mayor: Enforces laws and ordinances. Has the veto power. Supervises other officers and must report negligence or malfeasance to the Council. Appoints, with the approval of the Council, three Library Trustees, three Park Commissioners, five members of the Board of Health, three Cemetery Commissioners, and an Auditor-Assessor. Council: Consists of the five Councilmen. The legislative authority of the city; and acts as a Board of Public Works, and as a Police and Fire Board. Appoints an Attorney, Clerk, Engineer, Fire Chief, Chief of Police, and may provide for and appoint other necessary officers and assistants. The Council may provide that the work of the Assessor, Tax Collector, and Treasurer, or either of them, shall be done by the corresponding county officers. Departments: The following administrative departments are provided for: Finance, Ways and Means; Police, Health, and Morals; Streets and Buildings; Fire and Sewers; and the Water Department. The Council appoints one of its members to serve as head of each department. Powers granted the People: Initiative (5 per cent, 15 per cent); Referendum (7 per cent); Recall (25 per cent). Police Court: Established by state law. Consists of one judge elected at county elections for four years. 4. Napa, 1893, 1903 Officers elected at Large: Mayor; Engineer-Superintendent-of-Streets; Clerk-Treasurer-Tax-Collector; Attorney-Auditor; and Marshal-Asses sor-License-Collector. 1 The 1909 amendment changed the charter to the commission type. Officers elected by Wards: One Councilman by each of the five wards. The Councilmen are elected for four years; the others, for two. Elections: The municipal election is held on the first Monday in May of odd years. No provision is made for primary elections. Mayor: President of the Council. Has the veto power, but no vote except in case of a tie. Enforces laws and ordinances. Appoints five Library Trustees, with the approval of the Council. Receives no compensation. Council: Has general charge of the city government. Acts as a Board of Public Works, and is charged with the duty of providing for Police, Fire, and Health departments. Appoints a City Attorney and prescribes the duties of all city officers. The members receive no compensation. Public Schools are not provided for by the charter. Police Court: Any Justice of the Peace having his office in the city is by the charter given the powers of a police judge for the city. 5. Sacramento, 1911 Officers elected at Large: Five City Commissioners, who are ex officio members of the Board of Education. The term of office is five years, one Commissioner being elected each year. Elections: A municipal election is held on the first Saturday in May each year. Names of candidates are printed on the ballot alphabetically, each on petition of from one hundred to three hundred names. Any candidate receiving a majority vote is elected. In case no one receives a majority, a second election is held the second Saturday after the result of the first is announced, to choose between the two candidates receiving the highest vote. Mayor: The charter provides for no Mayor, but the President of the Commission performs many duties that devolve upon a mayor in other cities. In all that he does he is subject to the Commission. Commission: It is the legislative and executive authority of the city. Appoints the following officers of the first class : Attorney, Assessor, Treasurer, Auditor, Collector, Clerk, Engineer, Police Judge, and Purchasing Agent; and the following of the second class: Librarian, Superintendent of Streets, Health Officer, Chief of Police, Fire Chief, Municipal Employment Agent, Machinist, Building Inspector, Electrician, and Engineer of Water Works. Officers of either class serve during the pleasure of the commission. The commission also appoints a Civil Service Board, of three members, each for six years; and four Playground Directors, and four Park Directors, each for eight years. The Commissioner of Education is a member and presi dent of the Playground Board, and also of the Park Board. The city library is under his supervision. Departments: Five departments are provided for: Public Works; Streets; Public Health and Safety; Education; and Finance. One commissioner is placed in charge of each department. Powers granted the People: Initiative (5 per cent, 15 per cent); Referendum (10 per cent); Recall (10 per cent). The percentages are based on the total registration at the time of the last municipal election. Police Court: Established by the charter. pointed by the Commission. Consists of one judge ap Special Provisions: (1) No franchise may be granted for a longer term than twenty-five years. (2) The City Clerk must issue once a week an "Official Gazette" in which all the proceedings of the Commission, and other official matter shall be published. 6. Grass Valley, 1893, 1909 Officers elected at Large: A Mayor; a Marshal, who is ex officio Chief of Police, Tax Collector, and Superintendent of Streets; a Treasurer; a Collector and Superintendent for the Water System; seven City Trustees, one from each election precinct; and eight School Directors, one from each precinct, and one from that portion of the school district outside of the city. The term of office is two years. Elections: The municipal election is held on the third Monday in May of odd years. The school election is held each year at the time set by state law; that is, the first Friday in April. Half of the School Directors are elected each year. No provision is made for primary elections. Board of Trustees: Consists of the Mayor and Trustees. The Mayor is president and may vote, but has no veto power. The Board has general charge of the city government. Appoints a Clerk, who is ex officio Auditor and Assessor; and five members of the Board of Health; and employs an Attorney and Surveyor when necessary. Acts as a Board of Public Works and has general control of the Police and Fire Departments. Police Court: Any Justice of the Peace of Grass Valley Township is by the charter given the powers of a police judge for the city. 7. Berkeley, 1909 Officers elected at Large: Mayor, Auditor, four Councilmen, and four School Directors. The Board of Education consists of the School Directors and the Commissioner of Finance and Revenue. The Mayor and Auditor are elected for two years; the others, for four. |