(A) Charter Review Commission. Not later than the last day of March in 1977, and every five years thereafter, the Council shall appoint, by a majority vote of its members, a Charter Review Commission consisting of not less than five electors of the City. Such Commission shall review the Charter of the City and, within the time designated by the Council at the time the members are appointed, or within any extension thereof granted by the Council, recommend to Council such alterations, revisions and amendments if any, to this Charter, as in its judgment are desirable. After consideration of the recommendations of the Charter Review Commission, the Council may submit any or all of such proposed alterations, revisions, or amendments to this Charter to the electors of the City in the manner provided by Article XVIII, Section 9, of the Constitution of Ohio. The terms of the members of the Commission shall terminate at the end of the period designated at the time of their appointment, or any extension thereof, by the Council. The Council may also appoint by written motion a Special Charter Review Commission at any time to study and report recommendations to the Council with respect to specific matters. Special Charter Review Commissions shall be composed of not less than five nor more than nine members. The Council may accept or reject the recommendations of Regular Charter Review Commissions and Special Charter Review Commissions, and may submit amendments recommended by the Regular Charter Review Commission or Special Charter Review Commissions to the electors in their original or revised form.
(B) Charter Amendment by Council. City Council may submit a proposed Charter Amendment to the electors without a Regular or Special Charter Review Commission if said amendment is to address an issue in the Charter that has been determined to be immediately hindering the City or City related operations. This amendment must not change the intent of the Charter section at issue, only adjust it. The proposed amendment to the Charter shall be read at two (2) separate Council meetings, one of which shall have a public hearing. The proposed Charter amendment would require a super majority of six (6) Council members voting in favor of the measure for passage.
(C) If the Council desires to submit amendments recommended by a Regular Charter Review Commission or a Special Charter Review Commission under Paragraph A of this Section or amendments under Paragraph B of this Section to the electors, the Council shall pass an ordinance approving the proposed Charter amendments. The City Clerk shall file the amendments with the Butler County Board of Elections for the next available election so the proposed amendments may be voted on by the electors of the City of Trenton. The City Clerk shall advertise that the proposals are available for public viewing and will provide the public with avenues to inspect the proposals.
(Amended 11-8-22)