(a) Membership. There is hereby established, effective January 1, 2004, a standing Charter Review Commission. The Commission shall consist of seven (7) members, four of whom shall be appointed by the City Council and three by the Mayor. The members shall be appointed for terms of five years each and shall serve without compensation. Upon expiration of said term of office of a member, his/her successor shall be appointed for a term of five years commencing January 1st, which successor appointment shall be made prior to the expiration of the then current term concluding December 31st. A vacancy occurring during the term of any member shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as authorized for the original appointment. The Mayor shall have the right to remove any appointed member for cause with the approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Council.
(b) Duties and Powers. The Charter Review Commission shall have the following duties and powers, which shall be performed at meetings held open to the public:
(1) In January, 2005, and every five (5) years thereafter, the Commission shall meet to review the City Charter and, not later than the 31st day of May in the year of review, shall recommend to Council such alterations, revisions, and amendments, if any, to the Charter as in its judgment are desirable. Council shall review the recommendations of the Charter Review Commission and, in its discretion, may thereafter submit to the electors any or all of the proposed alterations, revisions, and/or amendments in the manner provided for in Article XII of the Charter.
(2) In addition to the Charter review procedure set forth in paragraph (1) above, City Council shall refer to the Charter Review Commission for review and recommendation all ordinances and resolutions introduced before Council that propose amendments to the City Charter. The Charter Review Commission shall meet regarding any such amendments proposed by City Council, and, within sixty (60) days following referral from City Council, file a written report with the Clerk of Council containing a summary of the Commission's review of the proposal and the Commission's recommendations regarding the proposal. The City Council shall take no final action regarding any such ordinance or resolution during said sixty-day period.
(3) The Charter Review Commission shall have authority to promulgate rules for its proceedings, not inconsistent with any provision in the Charter or Codified Ordinances of the City, and shall further perform such other duties, consistent with its Charter function, as may be imposed upon it by ordinance of Council. (Amended 11-3-20)