This ballot measure removes the requirement that people serving on city commissions be electors while still requiring a residency requirement. It is an improvement over the similar 2008 measure because it provides consistency throughout the Charter when the city commission members’ qualifications are mentioned. However, this measure seems to be in conflict with this year’s 2E measure! The Human Relations Commission requested that City Council place this measure on the ballot.
Recommendation: leaning against
Concerns that I had in 2008 have not been addressed: What about commissions with quasi-judicial authority? What about commissioners swearing an oath to uphold the Constitution?
Currently, the only diversity requirement for most city commissions is gender balance. When putting this measure on the ballot, why wasn’t there a requirement that a majority of each commission be electors?
Under ballot measure 2E, municipal utility customers who live outside of the city may serve on the utility advisory board. Similarly other people, even electors, living outside of the city use city services and might like to serve on commissions, but are currently not allowed. Note that if both 2E and 2G pass, then there are two different proposed amendments to section 185 of the Charter.
FYI – The city has a Youth Opportunities Advisory Board with members ages 14 to 18 appointed by the city manager. Members of city commissions under consideration in this ballot measure are appointed by City Council.
Registered Issue Committee for the For side (Yes on 2G)
No known website
No known Issue Committee or website for the Against side
City of Boulder Ballot Question 2G (Approved Ballot Language)
Qualifications for Appointment to City Commissions
Shall section 130 of the Charter be amended pursuant to Ordinance No. 7914 to provide that city residents may be appointed to serve on city commissions even if they are not city electors, if they are at least eighteen years old and if they have resided in the city of Boulder for at least one year immediately prior to their appointment, and shall related changes be made to Charter sections 74, 157, 172 and 185 so that qualifications for service on the Planning Board, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the Open Space Board of Trustees and the Electric Utilities Board be consistent in this respect?
- For the measure
- Against the measure
See Ordinance 7914 to refer 2G to the voters.
https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/Ordinance_7914_Charter-1-201308271457.pdf
Recommendation: leaning against
Concerns that I had in 2008 have not been addressed: What about commissions with quasi-judicial authority? What about commissioners swearing an oath to uphold the Constitution?
Currently, the only diversity requirement for most city commissions is gender balance. When putting this measure on the ballot, why wasn’t there a requirement that a majority of each commission be electors?
Under ballot measure 2E, municipal utility customers who live outside of the city may serve on the utility advisory board. Similarly other people, even electors, living outside of the city use city services and might like to serve on commissions, but are currently not allowed. Note that if both 2E and 2G pass, then there are two different proposed amendments to section 185 of the Charter.
FYI – The city has a Youth Opportunities Advisory Board with members ages 14 to 18 appointed by the city manager. Members of city commissions under consideration in this ballot measure are appointed by City Council.
Registered Issue Committee for the For side (Yes on 2G)
No known website
No known Issue Committee or website for the Against side
City of Boulder Ballot Question 2G (Approved Ballot Language)
Qualifications for Appointment to City Commissions
Shall section 130 of the Charter be amended pursuant to Ordinance No. 7914 to provide that city residents may be appointed to serve on city commissions even if they are not city electors, if they are at least eighteen years old and if they have resided in the city of Boulder for at least one year immediately prior to their appointment, and shall related changes be made to Charter sections 74, 157, 172 and 185 so that qualifications for service on the Planning Board, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the Open Space Board of Trustees and the Electric Utilities Board be consistent in this respect?
- For the measure
- Against the measure
See Ordinance 7914 to refer 2G to the voters.
https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/Ordinance_7914_Charter-1-201308271457.pdf
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for your comments. Please only make comments that add to a fruitful discussion.