Title
Resolution to Order Election, Approve Charter Amendment of the Ann Arbor City Charter Sections to Establish Non-Partisan Nomination And Election For The Offices of Mayor and Council And Determine Ballot Language for this Amendment (7 Votes Required)
Memorandum
MCL 117.21 of the Home Rule City Act provides that amendment to an existing city charter may be proposed by the legislative body of a city on a 3/5 vote of the members-elect.
Each ballot question presented to the voter must, under Michigan election law, is limited to a single subject.
The proposed amendment would:
* provides for nomination of candidates for the those offices by nominating petitions
* updates the filing date for those petitions to comply with current election law
* removes the provision requiring City Council Members canvas votes for all City primary elections [this provision has been superseded by MCL168.24a which abolished City boards of canvassers]
* eliminates any reference to party affiliation on the election ballot.
If the ballot question to adopt non-partisan nomination and election of Mayor and Council is approved by the voters, non-partisan candidates for five Council seats would appear on the November 2017 ballot.
Staff
Prepared by: Mary Joan Fales, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Sponsor: Councilmembers Westphal, Warpehoski and Lumm
Body
Whereas, Section 21(1) of the Home Rule City Act (HRCA), MCL 117.21(1), authorizes a city council to adopt a resolution proposing to amend the city charter by three-fifths vote of its members-elect and the resolution proposing to amend the city charter must set forth the exact wording of the proposed amendment to be submitted to the city voters for approval at a regular or special election:
Whereas, The resolution must set forth the ballot language for the proposed charter amendment with each proposal being limited to a single subject,
Whereas, Section 21(2) of the HRCA, MCL 117.21(2), requires that t...
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