Section 1. [MAYOR TO FORMULATE].

   The Mayor shall formulate the city's operating budget and the biennial capital improvement budget in consultation with the Council. The budgets shall be consistent with this Charter, the city's adopted goals and objectives, city legislation, and the Comprehensive Plan.

Section 2. [COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE TO PARTICIPATE].

   A representative of the Council shall be allowed to participate in all meetings and have access to all information relating to the formulation of the budget.

Section 3. [PROPOSAL AND APPROVAL DATE].

   The Mayor shall propose the operating budget to the Council by April 1. The Council shall approve the operating budget as proposed or amend and approve it by May 31 after it is proposed by the Mayor.

Section 4. [PUBLIC HEARINGS].

   During the deliberation by the Council, the Council shall hold at least three public hearings on the proposed budget. The Mayor, or the Mayor's representative, shall be present at the hearings on the proposed budget to answer questions about the budget.

Section 5. [FAILURE OF COUNCIL TO APPROVE].

   If the Council fails to approve an operating budget by May 31 after it is proposed to the Council by the Mayor on April 1, then the operating budget as proposed by the Mayor is deemed approved by the Council.

Section 6. [PROCEDURE ORDINANCE].

   A procedure for formulation of the annual operating budget shall be established by ordinance adopted by the Council, after consultation with the Mayor, consistent with this provision of the Charter. The ordinance shall establish a conference committee comprised of six members, three of whom shall be designated by the Mayor and three of whom shall be designated by the Council, for the resolution of any disagreements between the Mayor and the Council that arise concerning the operating budget during the period between April 1 and May 31.

(Article VII adopted at Regular Municipal Election, October 3, 1989, and repealed former Article VII as part of Proposition #4. Article VII amended at Regular Municipal Election, October 6, 2009.)

ARTICLE VIII. [HUMAN RIGHTS]

   The Council shall preserve, protect and promote human rights and human dignity, shall promote and encourage the recognition and exercise of human responsibility and shall prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry, age or physical handicap. To effect these ends the Council (City Commission) shall take whatever action is necessary and shall enact ordinances and shall establish appropriate Commissions, Boards or Committees with jurisdiction, authority and staff sufficient to effectively administer city policy in this area.

(Adopted at Special Election, June 29, 1971.)

ARTICLE IX. [ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION]

   The Council (City Commission) in the interest of the public in general shall protect and preserve environmental features such as water, air and other natural endowments, insure the proper use and development of land, and promote and maintain an aesthetic and humane urban environment. To effect these ends the Council shall take whatever action is necessary and shall enact ordinances and shall establish appropriate Commissions, Boards or Committees with jurisdiction, authority and staff sufficient to effectively administer city policy in this area.

(Adopted at Special Election, June 29, 1971.)

ARTICLE X. MERIT SYSTEM