CHARTER

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section

Article I
Establishment of City Government

1.   Establishment of city

2.   Legislative and governing authority

3.   General powers - particular powers

4.   Provide for public peace, health, safety

5.   Definition of qualified elector and registered elector

Article II
Form of Government

1.   Commission - Manager - powers

2.   Members; non-partisan

3.   Qualified electors

4.   Terms of office

5.   Reasons for creating vacancy

6.   Elective office - filling vacancies

7.   City Commission judge of election

8.   Oath of office

9.   Mayor, election, term; Vice Mayor

10.   Duties of Mayor - Vice Mayor

11.   Commissioners; compensation

12.   Commissioners, expenses; statement required

13.   Commissioners, returns all city property

14.   Commissioners: recall by voters

15.   Organization meeting, time, place, special meetings, notices, quorum, minutes

16.   Commissioners: employment other offices, appointments by City Manager, rules dealing with other employees; conflict of interest, disposal of park property or river frontage

Article III
Administrative Officials

1.   Administrative officials

2.   Appointments; promotion on merit

3.   City Manager; appointment; qualifications

4.   City Manager; removal from office; procedure

5.   Appointment of Acting City Manager during vacancy

6.   Assistant City Manager; appointment; duties

7.   City Manager - duties

8.   City Clerk - appointment, duties; journal of proceedings, ordinances

9.   City Attorney - appointment, duties

10.   City Treasurer - appointment, duties; City Assessor - appointment, duties

Article IV
Nominations and Elections

1.   Holding city elections; time, registration, state law

2.   Nominating petition, form, filing

3.   Challengers at polling places

4.   Votes for Commission

5.   Special election; resolution by Commission

Article V
Ordinances

1.   Commission; legislature

2.   Legislation by ordinance, resolution

3.   Resolution, official action of Commission

4.   Ordinance, form, publication of summary, public hearing, publication, effective date

5.   Emergency ordinance - definition, form, votes required; repeal

6.   Same; penalties

7.   Record of ordinances, signatures

8.   Codification of ordinances, time required, copies required

Article VI
Initiative and Referendum

1.   Initiative; referendum; elector's power to reconsider adopted ordinance

2.   Petition; Clerk to provide form

3.   Petition - signatures required, form, filing time

4.   Certification by Clerk, presentation to City Commission, final determination

5.   Referendum petition; procedure

6.   Consideration by Commission, submission to voters

7.   Adoption by electors; repeal

8.   Amendments by Commission; time required

Article VII
General Finances

1.   Fiscal year

2.   Capital budget; date required, estimates; methods for financing

3.   Review previous budget

4.   Publication; copies available, time, place

5.   Adoption; date required

6.   Annual operating budget, submission to Commission

7.   Annual operating budget; contents

8.   Public hearing required, notice, copies available

9.   Adoption, date, appropriation for current expenses

10.   Budget; adjustments during year

11.   Balances not encumbered revert to general fund

12.   Emergency appropriations by City Commission

13.   Provide by resolution appropriate methods and safeguards for expenditure of funds

14.   Designate depositories - provide security for deposits

15.   Audit required

16.   Accounting system conform to laws of state

17.   Prescribe methods for financial - contractual dealings, bidding

Article VIII
Taxation

1.   Power to assess taxes, methods

2.   Subjects of taxation

3.   City taxes collected according to state law

4.   Power of taxation not surrendered

5.   Assessment roll; prepared by City Assessor

6.   Board of Review; authority and duties

7. - 12.   Deleted

13.   Endorse statement confirming assessment roll

14.   Adoption of budget; Clerk certifies

15.   Assessment roll; Assessor certifies

16.   Tax roll, collection, Treasurer's powers

17.   Lien on property

18.   Unpaid taxes; sale of lands

19.   Taxes, due date, penalties

20.   Notice to taxpayers; publication; statement to taxpayers

21.   Unpaid taxes; return to County Treasurer

22.   Tax or public sale; power

23.   Assessing and collecting taxes; state law

24.   Enforcement of tax laws, City Commission

Article IX
Special Assessments

1.   Public improvements; resolution required

2.   Adopt ordinance, assessment procedure

3.   Petition objecting, percentage required by owners, vote required to confirm

4.   Excess roll; method of refund

5.   Lien on property

6.   Ordinance; necessary procedure

Article X
Borrowing Power

1.   Bonds, issuance, ordinance or resolution required

2.   Borrowing in anticipation of special assessment

3.   Notice required, contents

4.   Bonded indebtedness

5.   Bond; require statement of purchase, Mayor and Clerk signatures, record by Clerk

6.   Unissued bonds; limit number of years for selling

Article XI
Franchises

1.   Franchises; authority to grant

2.   Franchises; ordinance required, exclusive franchise prohibited, duration

3.   Franchise ordinance, renewal, conditions for same, subject to change by City Commission

4.   Franchise ordinance, renewal, conditions for same, not subject to change by City Commission

5.   Enumeration not limitation: Commission authority

6.   Public utility franchise, restrictions

7.   Public utility, franchise, rate adjustments

8.   Grantee to pay cost of improvement, maintenance of streets, etc.

9.   Ordinance, terms, fees

10.   Use of streets, etc., compensation

Article XII
Municipal Utilities

1.   Municipal utilities; right to acquire; operate

2.   Utility disposal; vote required

3.   Rates and charges; Commission to fix

4.   Ordinance required; collection of rates and charges; lien on property; collection

5.   City Manager; power to appoint employees

6.   Financial accounting; publish report

7.   Municipal utility services outside city

Article XIII
Planning

1.   Creation

2.   Planning Commission; composition; members; terms

3.   Powers; provided by Act 285 Public Acts 1931

4.   Ordinance; authorizing granting building permits

5.   Zoning ordinance; City Commission prescribes

6.   Hazardous property; weed control; procedures; notice to owner

Article XIV
Miscellaneous

1.   Acquiring property for public use; city authority

2.   Condemnation; procedure

3.   Records; available to public

4.   Official representations or recitals in city agreement prohibited

5.   Members of various boards; qualifications; notices

6.   Campaign financing; restrictions, adopt ordinance

7.   Marihuana

Article XV
Transition

1.   Purpose

2.   Proposed Charter; submission to electors

3.   Ballots; form; content

4.   Effective date

5.   First Commission; election; term

6.   Vacancy

7.   Officers and employees continued; exceptions

8.   Claims; orders; contents, etc.; continued

9.   Ordinances; resolutions, etc., continued; exception

10.   Boards; committees; etc., continued

11.   Taxes; assessments; no change; exception

12.   City Commission to adopt procedures for transition

13.   Charter amendment; number votes required for conflicting provisions

14.   Severability