1998 Alameda City Charter]
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Adopted
April 29, 1937
Approved
May 5, 1937
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 75
Amended to November 3, 1998
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c H AR T E R
0 F T H E
C I T y 0 F A L AM E D A
c A L I F 0 R NI A
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ARTICLE I
Incorporation and Powers
Sec. 1-1. The existing City of Alameda, hereinafter
referred to as the "City," shall continue its corporate existence
under this Charter with the same property rights and the same
boundaries as existing at the time this Charter takes effect, or as
such boundaries may be changed thereafter in the manner authorized
by law.
Sec. 1-2. The City shall have and exercise the
following rights and powers, subject to the express limitations
herein expressed:
(A) To have perpetual succession.
(B) To adopt and use a corporate seal.
(C) To sue and be sued.
(D) To make and enforce all laws and regulations in respect to
municipal affairs, subject only to the restrictions and
limitations provided in this chapter.
(E) To exercise all rights, powers and privileges heretofore or
hereafter granted by the Constitution and general laws of the
State of California.
(F) To act pursuant to procedure established by general law unless
a different procedure is established by ordinance.
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ARTICLE II
Officers
Sec. 2-1. The following elective officers are hereby
established: The Mayor and four (4) Councilmembers, who shall
constitute the Council; Auditor; Treasurer.
Sec. 2-1.1. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Charter to the contrary, the matters contained in this Section
shall be controlling as to the office of the Mayor. Commencing
April 20, 1971, and thereafter, the Mayor shall be an elective
officer of the City, and shall hold office for a term of four years
and untii his successor is elected or appointed and qualified,
unless sooner removed from off ice pursuant to Article XX of this
Charter or otherwise. The method of nomination and election of the
Mayor shall be as provided in this Charter for the nomination and
election of other elective officers of the City. The office of
Mayor shall be a separate off ice and be arranged on a ballot in a
separate column and shall be first in order of arrangement.
Eligibility for office of Mayor shall consist of the qualifications
set forth in this Charter for other elective officers. The
provisions of this Charter which provide for the manner of
selecting a candidate to fill off ice in the event of a tie vote
shall apply to the office of Mayor. A vacancy in the office of
Mayor shall be filled in the manner set forth in Section 2-7 of
this Charter. The Mayor shall receive a monthly compensation of
Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00), payable at the time and in the
manner as fixed by the Council, and shall be in addition to that
provided in Sections 2-4 and 6-4. The intent of this section is
hereby declared to be only to make the Mayor an elective officer of
the City and to provide the compensation therefor, as set forth
herein. Except to the extent they are inconsistent with the
provisions of this section, other provisions of this Charter
relating to the Mayor shall apply to the Mayor provided for by this
section.
Sec. 2-2.
(A) The following off ices are hereby established and the
incumbents thereof shall be appointed or removed by a vote of
a majority of the full Council: City Manager, city Attorney,
City Clerk.
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(B) During a period of ninety days immediately f~'llowing the date
of installation of any person newly elected to tbe Council at
a regular or special municipal election or of any)>erson newly
appointed to the Council, the Council shall take 'ho action,
whether immediate or prospective, to remove, suspend,'request
the resignation of, or reduce the salary of, .the incumben't.s in
the aforementioned appointive offices.
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Sec. 2-3. The City Council shall establish by
ordinance offices for the administration of departments of the city
and the incumbents thereof shall be appointed by and hold office at
the pleasure of the City Manager. Once established those offices
may be changed, deleted or new ones added by vote of a majority of
the Council.
Sec. 2-4. The salary attached to the following
offices shall be fixed by the Council at not less than the
following amounts per annum: Auditor, $3, 600. 00; Treasurer
$3,600.00; City Manager, $4,000.00; City Attorney, $3,ooo.oo; Cit~
Clerk, $2,400.00. Each Councilmember shall receive $50.00 for each
meeting of the Council which he shall attend; provided, that no
Councilmember shall receive such fees for more than two meetings in
any one calendar month.
Sec. 2-5. Every elected officer of the City shall be
a registered voter of the City at the time of filing nomination
papers and for a period of thirty days immediately preceding the
date of filing. Every elected officer and every officer appointed
to a Board or Commission shall be a resident of the City during his
tenure of office. Employees of the City, other than such officers,
shall reside within the City, or within such distance of the City
limits thereof as the Council may by ordinance prescribe.
Sec. 2-6. The term of each elective officer shall
commence at 8:00 o'cloc~ p.m. on the third. Tuesday of the month
following the general municipal election at which such officer was
elected and continue for four years thereafter and until his or her
successor is elec"ted and qualified. The term of each elective
officer holding office as of June 2, 1992 shall be shortened
approximately four to five months to 8:00 o'clock p.m. of the third
Tuesday of the month following the November 3, 1992, general
municipal election and shall be considered a complete term.
Sec. 2-6.1. Two Councilmembers, exclusive of the
Mayor, shall be elected at every general municipal election. If
for any reason two vacancies do not occur prior to the election,
the term of the person receiving the lowest number of votes for
Councilmember in the last general municipal election shall expire.
Sec. 2-7. Every vacancy in an elective office,
arising otherwise than as provided in Article XX, shall be filled
as follows: ' '
' (A) Vacancies caused by the election of a Counciline~ber to the
office of Mayor shall be filled by the candidate not elected
for a contested Council seat who received the highest number
of votes, provided said candidate received votes from at least
10 percent (10%) of the total number of voters.
(B) Vacancies occurring within six (6) months of any election
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shall be filled in the same manner provided by (A).
(C) All other vacancies shall be filled by the Council within 60
days or the compensation paid Councilmember pursuant to
Section 2-4 shall be forfeited until the appointment is made.
(D) In the event that vacancies exist in a majority of the offices
of Councilmember, such vacancies shall be filled by the two
members of the Alameda School Board receiving the highest
number of votes at the last election and the President of the
Board of Library Trustees.
Sec. 2-8. The term of any person appointed to fill
a vacancy in an elective office shall commence upon appointment and
qualification and continue until 8:00 o'clock p.m. on the third
Tuesday of the month following the next General Municipal Election,
at which election a successor shall be elected to serve for the
remainder of the unexpired term.
Sec. 2-9. If any officer of the City who shall
remove from the City or absent himself therefrom for more than
thirty days consecutively without the permission of the Council, or
shall fail to qualify by taking the oath of off ice and filing his
official bond, whenever such bond is required, within fifteen days
from the time his certificate of election or appointment is mailed
or delivered to him, or shall resign, or be convicted of a felony,
or be adjudged insane, his office shall be vacant.
Sec. 2-10. In the event of a vacancy in the office of
Auditor, Treasurer, City Attorney, or city Clerk, the Council
shall, within twenty-one days thereof, designate someone to perform
the duties of the vacant off ice until such time as a successor may
be appointed. Until a successor is appointed, the City Manager
shall provide for the performance of the duties of the vacant
off ice and is authorized hereby to execute documents required
thereof to continue normal operations.
Sec. 2-11. Any incumbent of any elective Federal,
State or County office shall be ineligible to hold any elective
office or office of member of any board created by this Charter.
' ' Sec. 2-12. The persons occupying " the offices set
forth or provided for . by Sections 2-1, 2-2 ""~nd 2-3, their
assistants and deputies and members of all boards provided for in
Section 10-1 shall be officers of the City. ~~
Sec. 2-13. All off ice rs, boards and the 'certified
Public Accountant appointed pursuant to Subsection 3-7(C) shall
have power to administer oaths and affirmations, to exam~ne
witnesses and compel their attendance by subpoena in all matters
affecting their respective offices and positions.
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Sec. 2-14. No person shall be eligible for the office
held by that person for two complete consecutive terms immediately
prior to the term for which the person seeks election or
appointment. This section shall not apply to the office of Auditor
or Treasurer or prevent persons in off ice from completing their
terms.
Sec. 2-15. All references to Councilman herein shall
hereby be changed to Councilmember.
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ARTICLE III
City Council
Sec. 3-1. All powers of the City and all powers
vested in city councils (except the powers reserved to the People
or delegated to other officers or boards by this Charter) shall be
vested in a Council consisting of five Councilmembers.
Sec. 3-1.1. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Charter to the contrary, this section shall control as to the
matters herein contained. The Council shall consist of the Mayor
and four Councilmembers, elected in the manner set forth in Section
2-1. l and elsewhere in this Charter. All provisions of this
Charter which are inconsistent with the provisions of this section
shall be deemed, amended or repealed whichever is appropriate.
Sec. 3-2. The Council may confer upon any board or
officer powers and duties additional to those set forth in this
Charter.
Sec. 3-3. The Council may, on its own motion, submit
to the electorate by initiative or referendum any proposed
resolution or ordinance which could be enacted by the Council.
Sec . 3 -4 • The vote of three members of the Counc i 1 ,
except as otherwise provided, shall be necessary for any act of or
by the Council.
Sec. 3-5. The Councilmembers present at any meeting
regularly held may compel the attendance of absent members in such
manner and subject to such penal ties as the Council may have
prescribed by ordinance.
Sec. 3-6. In the event that any Councilmember shall,
without being excused by the Council, absent himself from four or
more consecutive regular meetings of the Council extending over a
period of not less than thirty days, his office shall be vacant.
Sec. 3-7. The Council shall:
(A) Meet at 8:00 o'clock p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month
next succeeding the month in which the Ge~eral Municipal
Election is held, and organize by selec ~ing from its
membership, a Vice Mayor of the Council, whose term shall
commence upon selection and continue until the s ~l~ction and
qualification of the successor following the next· General
Municipal Election.
(B) Hold regular meetings at least twice in each month as fixed by
ordinance. Its meetings shall be public and held in the
Council Chamber of the City Hall. Special meetings may be
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{C)
(D)
(E)
(F)
(G)
(H)
(I)
called by the Mayor or three Councilmembers by serving the
Councilmembers personally with written notices of time and
purpose of the meeting or as required by general law.
Contract and fix the compensation for the services of a
Certified Public Accountant, who shall at lease annually
investigate the transactions and audit the accounts of all
officers having the collection, custody or disbursement of
public money, or having the power to approve, allow or audit
demands on the treasury. Said Auditor shall have free access
to all records, books and papers in all departments of the
City. Said Auditor may at any time visit any of the public
offices and make examinations and investigations therein
without hindrance. Said Auditor must examine the official
bonds of all City officers and employees and investigate the
sufficiency and solvency of the sureties thereon. At the
close of the investigation said Auditor shall file with the
Council a written report containing recommendations. If
during said Auditor's examination and audit it shall appear
that a public offense has been committed, or that any officer
or employee is in default, or that the surety on any bond is
insufficient, said Auditor shall immediately report to the
Council, which shall take proceedings as are authorized by
law.
Provide for annual vacations with pay for all. city employees.
Fix the amounts and determine the officers and employees who
shall give bonds to the City for the faithful performance of
their duties. All such bonds shall be executed by surety
companies qualified to do business . in the State of California
and be subject to approval by the Council and shall be filed
with the City Clerk, except that the bond of the city Clerk
shall be filed with the Auditor. The premiums on all such
bonds shall be paid by the City.
Prescribe the form of oath of off ice and require that every
officer shall, before entering upon the duties of his office,
take and file such oaths with the City Clerk.
Establish and abolish offices and positions of employment and
fix the compensation and duties thereof, except as herein
otherwise provided.
' Designate the person to perform the duties of City Manager in
the event of his absence or disability. '
Establish on or before July 1, 1938, a retirement, pension and
insurance system for City officers and employees based on
sound actuarial principles, which system once adopted shall
not be amended except by the vote of five Members of the
Council and shall not be repealed except by the People. such
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system shall provide for the support thereof by deductions
from the compensation of officers and employees of the City
and contributions from City funds and funds under the control
of the respective boards.
Sec. 3-8. The Council shall act by ordinance,
resolution or motion, and the vote of each member of the Council on
ordinances and resolutions shall be entered in the jotirnal.
Sec. 3-9. No member of the Council shall, during his
term of office, be eligible to appointment to any board created by
this Charter.
Sec. 3-10. All acts of the Council imposing
penalties, prescribing public regulations, granting franchises, or
providing for the acquisition, transfer or lease for a period
longer than one year, of real property, shall be by ordinance;
provided, however, that the acquisition of real property, or any
interest therein, may be authorized by resolution when the purchase
price to be paid, together with any obligation imposed on the City
in connection with any such acquisition, does not exceed the sum
provided by the general law for cities requiring competitive
bidding for the purchase of supplies and materials, or when such
acquisition is to be accomplished by condemnation in eminent domain
proceedings, or in connection with public improvements proceedings
taken under some law.
No real property of the city shall be leased for a period
in excess of one year or sold, except upon the affirmative vote of
four members of the Council. \
The provisions of this section shall not apply to the
acquisition or transfer of real property when, pursuant to
procedure established by ordinance or by any code or general law of
the State of California, such property has been acquired, or is
transferred or acquired in satisfaction, foreclosure or enforcement
of a lien for taxes or special assessments of any character.
Sec. 3-11. The enacting clause of every ordinance
passed by the Council shall be, "Be it Ordained by the Council of
the City of Alameda." Every amendment of an ,ordinance shall be
germane to the original purpose of such ordinance ~ Every ordinance
shall · be signed by the officer presiding at tQ.e time of -its
adoption and attested by the City Clerk. No ord inance shall be
passed by the Council within five days after its introduction,
except as provided in .the following section. "-,
Sec. 3-12. No ordinance shall become effective until
thirty days from and after the date of its final passage, except an
ordinance calling or otherwise relating to an election, or an
ordinance determining the amount of money necessary to be raised by
taxation, or fixing the rate of taxes to be levied, or an ordinance
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relating to a street improvement proceeding taken under some law,
or an ordinance relating to public improvements or work the cost of
which, or any portion of which, is to be borne by special
assessment against property benefitted thereby, or an ordinance for
the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety,
which contains a declaration of the facts constituting its urgency,
and is passed by a four-fifths vote of the Council, or an ordinance
enacted in the event of great emergency or necessity passed by four
votes of the Council and containing a statement of the emergency or
necessity. Ordinances for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health or safety and ordinances enacted in the event of
great emergency or necessity, when passed as aforesaid, may be
introduced and passed at one and the same meeting and at either a
regular or special meeting. No grant of any franchise, however,
shall ever be construed as an urgency or emergency measure.
Sec. 3-13. No ordinance shall be re-enacted or
amended by reference to its title only, or without setting forth
the amended or re-enacted sections or sub-sections thereof in full.
Sec. 3-14. Before final adoption of an ordinance, its
title, a digest thereof, a notice showing the date, time and place
of hearing on its final adoption, and notice that three full copies
thereof are available for use and examination by the public in the
office of the City Clerk, shall be published once in the Official
Newspaper of the City at least three days before said hearing date.
Notice of the adoption of an emergency ordinance, its title, and a
digest thereof shall be similarly published once within three days
after its adoption.
Sec. 3-15. When the expenditure required for the
purchase of materials or supplies, or for the making of public work
or improvements exceeds the sum of one thousand dollars, the same
shall be done by written contract and let to the responsible bidder
who submits the lowest and best bid, after advertising in the
Official Newspaper by at least one insertion for sealed proposals,
which advertising shall be made at least f .ive days prior to the
time for receipt of bids. Advertisements for bids may set forth
the general character of the work, materials or supplies · and refer
for details to specifications on file in the office of the City
Clerk. The Council may reject all bids. In case no bids are
received, the Council may make such public work or improvements
without contract or purchase such materials or supplies in the open
market. The Council may, by four votes, either with or without
prior advertising, as hereinabove set forth, determin'e .. that in its
opinion the public work or improvements · in question will be
performed more economically by the City without contract ~ or that
the materials or supplies can be purchased at a lower price in the
open market, or that great necessity or emergency requires
immediate action, and thereupon proceed to make such public work or
improvements without contract and to purchase such materials or
supplies in the open market.
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Sec. 3-15.1. Anything in Section 3-15 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the bid and contract procedure in said section
specified shall be applicable only when the required expenditure
exceeds the sum provided by the general law for cities for like
expenditures.
Sec. 3-16. A preference of not to exceed five percent
of the lowest bid may be allowed by the Council on all bids for
materials and supplies made by a person who, for more than one year
continuously preceding the making of such bid, had an established
place of business in the City manufacturing, processing,
wholesaling or retailing such materials and supplies.
Sec. 3-17. When entering into any contract for labor
or hiring any labor for public contract work, preference may be
given to contractors, mechanics, artisans or other laborers of any
class, who shall have actually resided in the City for a period of
six months preceding the date of their engagement to perform labor,
quality and price of work being equal.
Sec. 3-18. The Council shall annually, after
. advertising in the manner provided for the purchase of supplies,
award a contract to the responsible bidder who submits the lowest
and best bid for publication of all legal advertising of the City
in a newspaper adjudicated to be a newspaper of general circulation
within the City of Alameda. The newspaper published by the
successful bidder shall be the Official newspaper of the City. The
Council may reject all bids. In lieu of newspaper advertising the
Council may issue and publish a bulletin containing such matter as
it is required by law to publish, sending the same by mail to the
registered voters of the City, to their addresses as the same shall
appear on the registration records of Alameda County, and shall
also post printed copies of such advertisement in three public
places in the City of Alameda.
Sec. 3-19. Repealed.
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ARTICLE IV
Auditor
Sec. 4-1. The Auditor shall have, at the time of
his/her election, a degree in accounting or business administration
and five years accounting experience.
Sec. 4-2. The Auditor shall provide for at least
annual audits of the City's financial operations, books and records
to assure that the City's financial transactions, accounts and
records are maintained in accordance with the requirements of the
city Charter, state and federal laws and generally accepted
accounting principles and practices. The Auditor shall be
responsible for the acts thereof on an official bond.
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Sec. 5-1.
of his/her election,
investment programs.
ARTICLE V
Treasurer
The Treasurer shall have had, at the time
five years experience in administering
Sec. 5-2. The Treasurer shall have custody of all
monies belonging to the City. The Treasurer shall be responsible
for the acts thereof on an official bond.
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ARTICLE VI
Mayor
Sec. 6-1. The Mayor shall be the official and
ceremonial head of the City and shall preside at all meetings of
the Council. He may take command of the Police and Fire
Departments and govern the City by proclamation whenever the
Council determines that public danger or emergency requires such
action.
Sec. 6-2. During the absence or disability of the
Mayor, the Vice Mayor of the Council shall perform the official
duties of the Mayor, and during the absence or disability of both
such officers, the remaining members of the Council shall select a
Mayor Pro-tempore.
Sec. 6-3.
filled by the Council.
Vacancies of the off ice of Mayor shall be
Sec. 6-4. There is hereby appropriated to the use of
the Mayor in the discharge of his off ice the sum of fifty dollars
each month for which he need furnish no vouchers.
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ARTICLE VII
City Manager
Sec. 7-1. The City Manager shall be the Chief
Administrative Officer of the City and shall be chosen by the
Council on the basis of his executive and administrative
qualifications, with special reference to his actual experience in
or his knowledge of, accepted practice in respect to the duties of
his office as hereinafter outlined.
Sec. 7-2.
it shall be his duty:
The City Manager shall have the power and
(A) To administer and execute policies and undertakings formulated
by the Council.
(B) To enforce all laws and ordinances, except as provided by
Section 6-1, and he is hereby declared to be beneficially
interested in their enforcement and to have power to sue in
proper courts to enforce them.
(C) To appoint, discipline and remove all officers and employees
of the City under his jurisdiction, subject to Civil Service
requirements.
(D) Repealed.
(E) To attend all meetings of the Council unless excused by the
Council or the Mayor.
(F) To keep the Council at all times fully advised as to the needs
of the City and to recommend such measures and policies as he
may deem expedient.
(G) To conduct . such investigations and prepare such plans,
specifications or reports as may be specified by the Council.
(H) To see that all contracts and franchises made under his
jurisdiction or that of the Council are faithfully performed,
and to report all violations thereof to the Council.
(I) To supervise and administer all public parks'> golf courses,
recreation areas, wharves, docks and other public properties,
utilities and· facilities belonging to the City except as in
this Charter otherwise provided. ,
(J) To appoint technical advisory experts or boards with -..the
consent of and at such compensation as may be provided by the
Council.
(K) Repealed.
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(L) To prepare and submit a budget as required by this Charter.
(M) To investigate the conduct and proceedings of any officer or
board of the city when he shall deem the same necessary, or
when so directed by the Council.
(N) To devote his entire time to the duties of his office.
(0) To formulate rules and regulations for officers and employees
under his jurisdiction.
Sec. 7-3. Neither the Council nor any of the members
thereof shall interfere with the execution by the City Manager of
his powers and duties. Except for purposes of inquiry, the Council
and its members shall deal with that portion of the administrative
service for which the city manager is responsible solely through
him. An attempt by a Councilmember to influence the City Manager
in the making of any appointment or the purchase of any materials
or supplies shall subject such Councilmember to removal from office
for malfeasance.
Sec. 7-4. Those Department Heads holding off ice
pursuant to Section 2-3 of the Charter shall each have power to
discipline any employee under his control by the imposition of a
fine not to exceed one month's salary, or by suspension without pay
for not to exceed thirty days, or other penalty less than
dismissal, subject to appeal to the City Manager who shall have
final authority to affirm, modify or revoke such penalty without
appeal therefrom.
Sections 7-5 through 7-12. Repealed.
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ARTICLE VIII
City Attorney
Sec. 8-1. The City Attorney shall have be~n, at the
time of his appointment, regularly admitted to practice and engaged
in the practice of law in the State of California for a period of
at least five years next preceding such appointment.
Sec. 8-2. The City Attorney shall prosecute all
violations of the ordinances of the City. He shall, subject to the
general direction of the Council, board or elective officer having
jurisdiction of the matter, prosecute and defend for the City, and
all boards, officers and employees in their official capacity all
proceedings before judicial and quasi-judicial tribunals. He shall
not compromise, settle or dismiss any action for or against the
City without permission of the Council. He shall not commence any
action without permission of the Council or written instruction of
the city Manager. He shall be the legal advisor of and attorney
and counsel for the City and for all officers and boards thereof,
in all matters relating to their official duties, and whenever
requested in writing by any of them, he shall give his legal advice
in writing.
Sec. 8-3. He shall approve the form of all bonds
given to the City, prepare all ·contracts or legal instruments in
which the City is interested, and shall endorse on each his
approval of the form thereof. He shall, when required by the
Council, or any members thereof, draft proposed City ordinances and
amendments thereto. He shall deliver all books, papers, documents
and property of every description belonging to his off ice or to the
City, to his successor in office.
Sec. 8-4. The City Attorney shall appoint,
discipline and remove, subject to Civil Service requirements, all
assistants, deputies and employees under his authority. All
assistants and deputies must be duly admitted to · practice law in
the State of California.
Sec. 8-5. The Council, or any board with the consent
of the Council, may empower the City Attorney, at his request, to
employ special legal counsel.
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ARTICLE IX
City Clerk
Sec. 9-1. It shall be the duty of the City Clerk:
(A} To perform all duties imposed upon him by general law where
not inconsistent with this Charter or the ordinances of the
City and to devote his entire time to the duties of his
office.
(B) To act as Clerk of the City Council and keep an accurate
public record of the proceedings thereof, and also separate,
properly indexed books in which, respectively, he shall record
all ordinances and resolutions.
(C) To have custody of the Official Seal, deeds, leases, contracts
and all records of the Council and such other official records
as may be committed to his care.
(D) To take affidavits and administer oaths, without charge, in
all matters affecting the business of the City.
(E) To appoint, discipline and remove, subject to Civil Service
requirements, all employees and deputies in his office,
subject as to all deputies, to approval of the Council.
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Sec. 10-1.
established:
The
ARTICLE X
Boards
following Boards are hereby
Public Utilities Board; Civil Service Board; City
Planning Board; Social Service Human Relations Board; Library
Board; Historical Advisory Board.
Sec. 10-2. Each of said Boards, except the Public
Utilities Board, Social Service Human Relations Board and the City
Planning Board, shall consist of five members. Upon nomination of
the Mayor, the Council shall appoint, between May 1 and July 1 of
each year, one member of each such Board for a term commencing on
the first day of July following such appointment and continuing for
four years, and thereafter until the successor of such member is
appointed and qualified.
Sec. 10-3. The Public Utilities Board shall consist
of five members, one of whom shall be the City Manager, who shall
have full power of participating and voting. Upon nomination of
the Mayor, the Council shall appoint, between May 1 and July 1 of
each year, one member of said Board for a term commencing on the
first day of July following such appointment and continuing for
four years and thereafter until the successor of such member is
appointed and qualified.
Sec. 10-4. The Social Service Human Relations Board
shall consist of seven members. Upon nomination of the Mayor, the
Council shall appoint, between May 1 and July 1 of each year, at
least two members of such Board for terms commencing on the first
day of July following such appointment and continuing for four
years and thereafter until the successor of such member is
appointed and qualified.
Sec. 10-4.1. The city Planning Board shall consist of
seven members. Upon nomination of the Mayor, the Council shall
appoint, between May 1 and July 1 of each year, such members as are
necessary to maintain a full board, for terms commencing on the
first day of July following such appointment 'a.Qd continuing for
four years and thereafter until the successor of such member is
appointed and qualified; provided, however, that no more than two
terms shall expire in any year other than by resig~ation of a
member. "-
Sec. 10-5. A vacancy in t .he office of a member" of any
board shall be filled for the unexpired term by a nomination ~nd
appointment in the manner hereinabove set forth.
Sec. 10-6. All members of such boards shall, at the
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time of their appointment and continuously during their incumbency,
be electors of the City.
Sec. 10-7. Each person appointed to membership of any
of said boards shall be particularly qualified to discharge the
functions of his office and, to that end:
One member of the Public Utilities Board shall be an
electrical, civil, mining or mechanical engineer.
Sec. 10-8.
no compensation.
The members of such boards shall receive
Sec. 10-9. A member of any such board may be removed
by the vote of a majority of the Council.
Sec. 10-10. At its first meeting after July 1 of each
year, each such board shall elect a President, a Vice President,
and such other officers as it may desire.
Sec. 10-11. Each of said boards shall have the power
to establish rules for its proceedings.
Sec. 10-12. No position of employment with any right
of compensation attached thereto shall be established under the
jurisdiction of any said boards, except the Board of Education, the
Public Utilities Board and the Library Board, except by action of
the Council.
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membership of a board shall be necessary for action thereof.
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ARTICLE XI
Board of Education
Sec. 11-1. The Board of Education shall control and
manage the public schools in the City in accordance with the
Constitution and general law of the State of California and is
hereby vested with all the powers and charged with all the duties
provided by this Charter and by general law for governing boards of
city school districts.
Sec. 11-2. Notwithstanding any other provisions of
this Charter to the contrary, the matters contained in this section
shall be controlling as to the Board of Education. The Board of
Education shall consist of five members elected by the qualified
electors of the City at large, at the time, in the manner, and with
the qualifications provided . elsewhere in this Charter for the
qualification, nomination and election of other elective officers
of the City, and shall serve a term of four years thereafter and
until their successors are elected and qualified.
At such General Municipal Election hereunder, either two
or three members of said Board, as the case may be, shall be
elected for four-year terms to fill the vacancies caused by the
expiration of the terms of the members.
The term of each officer elected hereunder shall commence
at 7:30 o'clock p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month following
the General Municl.pal Election at which such officer was elected
and continue for four years thereafter and until his or her
successor is elected and qualified. The term of each elective
officer holding off ice as of June 2, 1992, shall be shortened
approximately four to five months to 7:30 o'clock p.m. of the
fourth Tuesday of the month following the November 3, 1992 General
Municipal Election and shall be considered a complete term.
A vacancy on the Board of Education, arising otherwise
than as provided in Article XX, shall be filled by appointment by
said Board, said appointee to hold office for the term provided in
Section 2-8 of this Charter. After any such Vacancy in the office
of a member of said Board has continued for t w ~nty-one days, the
vacancy shall be filled by the Council. ' '"" It is hereby declared to be the intent of"-,~his section
that the only changes to be effective by its terms are t9 make the
Board of Education elective, rather than appointed, anO. to,_provide
the manner in which the members thereof shall be elected. 'Except
to the extent that they are inconsistent with the provisions, of
this section, other provisions of this Charter relating to the
Board of Education and other elective officers shall apply to the
Board of Education provided for by this section.
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ARTICLE XII
Public Utilities Board
Sec. 12-1. The Public Utilities Board shall have the
power:
{A) To control and manage all public utilities owned by the City
established for the purpose of generating, distributing or
selling electricity or for the purpose of furnishing
transportation or communications.
{B) To control and manage any other City-owned public utilities
and/or communications business enterprises; the control and
management of which shall have been delegated to the Board by
the Council or the People pursuant to section 12-5 or by law.
{C) To contract for the sale, lease and/or purchase of services,
materials, and supplies, subject to the provisions of Section
3-15 and 3-16 of this Charter except as otherwise in this
article expressly provided. In connection with such
contracts, the Board may exercise the powers conferred upon
the Council by said sections.
Sec. 12-2. The Board shall also have the power,
without reference to advertising or competitive bidding:
{A) To contract for the sale, lease and/or purchase, for not to
exceed fifteen years of electrical energy or such other public
utility service or commodity necessary for the operation of a
public utility or business enterprise under the control and
management of the Board.
(B) To advertise and publicize the business of any public utility
or business enterprise under its control and management.
{C) To acquire full or joint use of poles, pipes, conduits,
conductors, rights-of-way and other personal property; and to
acquire by lease or purchase in the name of the City real
property necessary for its purposes.
Sec. 12-3. The Board shall also have the power:
(A) To sell obsolete or unnecessary personal prop~rty, subject to
consent of the Council on all sales exceeding the sum of ten
thousand dollars.
(B) To make any original construction of and any improvement to
any utility under the control and management of the Board, and
to do and perform any work for the City or any board thereof
at cost; provided, however, if the Board shall elect to make
any such original construction of or improvement to any such
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utility by contract, then the same shall be done subject to
the provisions of Sections 3-15 and 3-16, the Board exercising
the powers conferred upon the Council in said , sections.
(C) To fix rates for the services of all utilities and business
enterprises under its control and management.
(D) To establish and abolish positions of employment under its
control and fix the compensation and prescribe the duties
thereof. No employee of the Board receiving compensation from
it shall be, or within one year preceding his employment have
been, a member of the Board.
(E) To borrow, with the approval of the Council and not otherwise,
monies for capital investment. Money borrowed pursuant to
this subsection shall provide that the same may be repaid at
any time and shall be repaid within thirty years from the date
thereof.
(F) To invest reserves as mandated by State Law.
Sec. 12-4: The Board shall:
(A) Keep books and records for each utility under its control and
management in the manner prescribed by the California Railroad
Commission or its successor in authority, and all other fiscal
records in the manner prescribed by the Auditor.
(B) File with the Auditor and Council monthly fiscal reports from
the Board, and an annual audit prepared by a Certified Public
Accountant selected by the city Auditor.
(C) Maintain a storeroom and storeroom system, wherein a detailed
record shall be kept of all materials received and issued in
a manner satisfactory to and subject to the audit of the
Accountant referred to in the next preceding subsection.
(D) Prepare and adopt an annual budget.
Sec. 12-5. Neither the City nor the Board shall
engage in any public utility business which does not involve the
provision of electricity or communications services, except with
the consent of the People as expressed by a majority vote of those
voting in any regular or special election. ,
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Sec. 12-6. The Board may retain from '-,earnings of
public utilities under its management and control in each fiscal
year after payment of bond interest and sinking fund requirements
and operating expenses exclusive of depreciation, a sum equal to
ten percent of the investment in Fixed Capital in Service of such
utilities at the beginning of such fiscal year, as a reserve for
contingencies, replacements, renewals, additions and improvements;
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provided, however, that when the amount of Working Capital (Current
Accrued Assets less CUrrent Accrued Liabilities) at the end of such
fiscal year shall be equivalent to or in excess of twenty-five
percent of the Fixed Capital in Service as of the same date if an
amount equal to five percent of Fixed Capital in Service at the
beginning of the fiscal year were retained, then and in such event
the sum retained for . the fiscal year shall be reduced to five
percent of the Fixed Capital in Service at the beginning of the
fiscal year.
All earnings of such utilities for the fiscal year in
excess of said payments and retainments shall be transferred by the
Board to the General Fund of the City, unless the Council prior to
the end of the fiscal year shall authorize the Board to retain for
said reserves a larger percentage than above set forth. For the
purpose of carrying out the provisions of this .section the Board
prior to the first day of each fiscal year shall make an estimate
of the amount to be earned in the fiscal year in excess of said
payments and retainments and said excess amount as estimated shall
be transferred to the General Fund of the City quarterly or as
mutually agreed upon between the Board and the Council. Any
balance of such excess amount for the fiscal year shall be
transferred by the Board to the General Fund of the City within
thirty days of receipt of the annual audit.
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ARTICLE XIII
Civil Service Board
Sec. 13-1. The Civil Service Board is responsible to
the City Council for establishing and reviewing the policies of the
Civil Service System and for making recommendations thereon.
Sec. 13-2. A Civil Service System shall be
established by ordinance and shall not be amended, except by vote
of five (5) members of the Council and shall not be repealed,
except by the People. No position of employment once placed under
the civil Service system, shall be removed therefrom, except
pursuant to such Civil Service Ordinance.
Sec. 13-3. The Civil Service Board will have the
authority and power to conduct hearings and hear appeals on matters
affecting the Civil Service System as set forth herein or by ·
ordinance.
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ARTICLE XIV
City Planning Board
Sec. 14-1. The City Planning Board shall have such
powers and duties as may be delegated by City ordinance. It shall
have power to investigate and recommend plans for the future
development, improvement and beautification of the City, including
landscaping, planting and care of trees on public streets, parks
and playgrounds, the improvement and development of harbor
facilities, the location and improvement of public buildings and
works and the subdivision and zoning of land.
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ARTICLE XV
Social Service Human Relations Board
Sec. 15-1.
shall have the power:
The Social Service Human Relations Board
(A) To assess the social service needs of the community and to
facilitate provision therefor.
(B) Such other duties and powers as may be delegated by ordinance.
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ARTICLE XVI
Library Board
Sec. 16-1. The Library Board shall have the power:
(A) To control and manage the Public Library system of the City.
(B) To expend for library purposes all monies in the Library Fund,
which fund is hereby created.
(C) To make and enforce rules and regulations necessary for the
administration, government and protection of the Library
System and all property thereof.
(D) To purchase necessary books, journals, publications and other
personal property.
(E) To borrow books from, rent books to and exchange the same with
other libraries, and to extend library privileges to non-
residents upon such condition as the Board may prescribe.
Sec. 16-2. On or before the second Monday in May of
each year, the Library Board shall submit to the Council an
itemized budget of the amount of money necessary for the
administration of the Library System of the City during the next
ensuing fiscal year. To the extent of seven cents on each one
hundred dollars of assessed valuation, the Council shall, and as to
any excess thereover set forth in such estimate the Council may,
include in the next succeeding tax levy and apportion to the
Library Fund as received monies for the purposes set forth in such
budget.
Sec. 16-3. All fines and other money arising out of
the administration of the Public Library System of the city or
gifts or trusts therefor shall be deposited in the Library Fund.
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ARTICLE XVII
Finance and Taxation
Sec. 17-1. The fiscal year of the City shall commence
on the first day of July of each year and shall end on the next
succeeding thirtieth day of June.
Sec. 17-2. Repealed.
Sec. 17-3. The City Manager shall transmit to the
Council a detailed budget showing the estimated revenues and
expenditures of the City and all departments thereof for the
ensuing fiscal year at such times as the Council shall require.
Sec. 17-4. All property shall be assessed and taxes
thereon collected as provided for by general law.
Sec. 17-5. Repealed.
Sec. 17-6. Repealed.
Sec. 17-7. Repealed.
Sec. 17-8. All monies received by any officer or
employee of the City in his official capacity or belonging to the
City, and all monies directed by general law or by this Charter to
be paid or deposited in the City Treasury shall be paid into the
treasury daily by the officer or employee receiving the same.
Sec. 17-9. All charges, fees, commissions and
percentages collected or received by any officer or employee of the
City in the performance of any official duty as such officer or
employee, or in the performance of the duties of any office held
ex-officio, shall be the property of the City.
Sec. 17-10. The Mayor, Auditor, and City Manager
shall, together, count the money in the City Treasury at least once
in every three months and ascertain the amount of money on hand and
make a written report thereof to the Council within five days
thereafter showing whether the money in '~the City Treasury
corresponds to the amount shown by the fiscal record of the city.
Sec. 17-11. A Police Secret Fund in s~'G:h amount as the
Council may from time-to-time appropriate is herebR established
under the sole control of the City Manager. I~ shall be
withdrawable by him without reference to the auditing prov~sions of
this Charter. Such fund shall be expended by the City Manager and
the Chief of Police under the direction of the City Manager~for
investigation and police work of a secret character and for no
other purpose. Semi-annually and at such other times as the
Council may require, the City Manager shall file with the Council
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his affidavit and the affidavit of the Chief of Police that all
monies expended out of the fund have been used for the purpose (
hereinabove set forth.
Sec. 17-12. Repealed.
Sec. 17-13. Repealed.
Sec. 17-14. No contract required to be in writing and
imposing any financial obligation upon the City shall be binding or
of any force unless there remains an unexpended and unapplied
balance of the appropriation or fund applicable thereto sufficient
to pay and fully discharge the City's obligation under such
contract as certified by the Board or Officer making the same.
Said unexpended and unapplied balance shall be used for no other
purpose e~cept the payment and discharge of the respective
contracts.
Sec. 17-15. No demand shall be approved unless it is
made upon appropriations authorized therefor and there are
sufficient monies otherwise unappropriated in the fund against
which the payment of the demand is made.
Sec. 17-16. All monies received shall be posted to the
fund for which their appropriation has been authorized.
Sec. 17-17. No additional financial burdens may be
imposed on the taxpayers of the City as a result of binding fact
finding, arbitration or parity without approval of the voters as
set forth in this section. Any other provision of this Charter
notwithstanding, no wages, benefits or employee related expenses
shall be paid by the City that have not been approved by a
resolution of the City Council until additional revenues and
appropriations therefor have been approved by a vote of the People
pursuant to Proposition 13 (Cal.Const.Art.XIIIA,Sec.4) and
Proposition 4 (Cal.Const.Art.XIIIB,Sec.4). The City Council shall
not be required to call such an election more than once a year and
may consolidate said elections with elections held for other
purposes.
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ARTICLE XVIII
Franchises
Sec. 18-1. Franchises may be granted for the use of
any public utility of the streets, public places or property of the
City upon such terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations as
may be prescribed by ordinance, but no franchise shall be granted
without reserving to the City adequate compensation for the
privilege conferred; nor for a longer period than twenty years
unless there be reserved to the City the right to take over at any
time the portion of such utility located within the City without
compensation for the value of the franchise granted.
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ARTICLE XIX
Municipal Elections
Sec. 19-1. Municipal Elections held in the City of
Alameda shall be classified as of two kinds: (A) General
Municipal Elections; (B) Special Municipal Elections.
Sec. 19-2. A general municipal election shall be held
biennially on the date of and consolidated with the other statewide
general election in each even-numbered year. All other municipal
elections shall be special municipal elections. A special
municipal election may be called by ordinance or by resolution of
the Council.
Sec. 19-3. The provisions of the Elections Code and
the Constitution of the State of California relating to the
qup.1if ications of electors and voters shall govern in all municipal
elections. Except as otherwise provided in this Charter or in any
ordinance enacted by the affirmative vote of four members of the
Council, the provisions and procedure provided ~n the Elections
Code and general law of the State of California, now in effect and
as hereafter amended or codified, for elections in chartered cities
and municipalities generally, and in all respects not so provided,
then the present and future provisions of said code or laws
governing County elections generally, insofar as they may be
applicable, shall govern all elections in this City. The Council
and the City Clerk, respectively, shall exercise the powers and
perform the duties conferred or imposed by law on Boards of
Supervisors and County Clerks, respectively, concerning elections.
For the purpose of this article, all seats or positions
on the Council shall be considered as a single off ice for which as
many persons are to be selected as there are full and unexpired
terms to be filled.
No election, either general or special, shall be set
aside for any error, irregularity or defect in the proceedings
leading up to said election or in said election when the provisions
of law governing the same are substantially complied with and where
a fair expression of the will of the electorate is secured.
Sections 19-4 through 19-11. Repealed.,
Sec. 19-12. In case there is but one p~rson to be
elected to an office, the candidate receiving the highes~ number of
votes cast for that office shall be declared elected. ·
In case there are two or more persons to be e1ected to
the same office, then those candidates, equal in number to the
number to be elected, who receive the highest number of votes cast
for such office, shall be declared elected. Where full and one or
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more unexpired terms to the same office are to be filled, the
candidates, equal in number to the number of officers to be elected
for the full term, who receive the highest number of votes cast for
such office, shall be declared elected for the full term; and the
candidate who receives, or the candidates equal in number to the
number of officers to be elected for unexpired terms who receive
the next highest number of votes, shall be declared elected for the
unexpired term or terms. If unexpired terms be of different
duration, the candidate who receives the highest number of votes
shall be declared elected for the longer term.
Sec. 19-13. In case of a tie vote, the City Council
shall forthwith summon the candidates who have received such tie
votes to appear before the Council at a time and place to be
designated, and the Council shall at such time and place determine
the tie vote by lot. Such summons shall, in every case, be mailed
to the address of the candidate as it appears in his Nominating
Petition, or delivered to him personally, at least five days before
the date fixed for the determination of such tie votes.
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ARTICLE XX
Recall
Sec. 20-1. The holder of any elective office of this
city may be recalled from office at any time by the qualified
electors thereof, provided he has held his office for at least six
months. The provision of this article are intended to apply to
officials now in office, as well as to those hereafter elected.
Sec. 20-2. The provisions of the Elections Code and
the Constitution of the State of California relating to the recall
of elected officials shall govern the recall of all officials
elected pursuant to this Charter. Except as otherwise provided in
this Charter or in any ordinance enacted by the affirmative vote of
four members of the Council, the provisions and procedures provided
in the Elections Code and the general law of the state of
California, now in effect and as hereafter amended or codified, for
recall elections in chartered cities and municipalities generally,
and in all respects not so provided, then the present and future
provisions of said codes or laws governing County recall elections
generally, insofar as they may be applicable, shall govern all
recall elections in this City. The Council and the City Clerk,
respectively, shall exercise the powers and perform the duties
conferred or imposed by law on Boards of Supervisors and County
Clerks, respectively, concerning recall elections. ·
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ARTICLE XXI
Initiative and Referendum
Sec. 21-1. The Initiative and Referendum may be
exercised by the qualified electors of the City in the manner
provided by general law.
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ARTICLE XXII
Miscellaneous
Sec. 22-1. No officer or employee of the City shall:
(A) Become financially interested, except by testate or intestate [
succession, either directly or indirectly, in any contract or
sale, purchase, lease or transfer of real or personal property
to which the City is a party, or be employed by any public [
service corporation regulated by or holding franchises in the
City. No officer or employee shall be deemed to be
financially interested by the ownership of less than five [
percent of the outstanding capital stock of a corporation.
(B) Give, accept or promise anything of value for the purpose of [
procuring a nomination, appointment, election or employment.
(C) Knowingly mislead any bidder by giving or withholding
information.
A willful violation of any of the foregoing provisions shall
constitute misconduct.
Sec. 22-2. Any contract or sale, purchase, lease or
transfer of real or personal property to which the city is a party
and in which any officer or employee of the City is financially
interested, directly or indirectly, except as provided in Section
22-l(A), shall be voidable at the election of the Council.
Sec. 22-3. Every officer or employee who shall
approve, allow or pay any demand on the treasury, knowing that the
same is not authorized and legally due, shall be liable to the City
individually, and on his official bond for the amount of the demand
so illegally approved, allowed or paid.
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Sec. 22-4. Any person convicted of a felony or L
misconduct in office shall forfeit his office or position of
employment. No person who shall have been convicted of a felony or
misconduct in office shall ever hold any office or position of [
employment in the service of the City.
Sec. 22-5. All books, files and records of the city
and of all boards and officers thereof shall be open to public
inspection during usual · business hours, unless ,~ecrecy of the
contents of such books, files and records is necessary in the
public interest.
Sec. 22-6. Repealed.
Sec. 22-7. Traveling expenses shall not exceed actual
cost of transportation, plus a reasonable per diem allowance, the
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latter to be fixed annually by the Council uniformly for all
officers and employees. Traveling expenses, except for routine
duties, shall be allowed only if authorized by the Council.
Sec. 22-8. All public offices, except where otherwise
provided by law, shall be open for business every day, except
holidays, from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., subject to the power of the
Council to increase such hours for the necessary accommodation of
the public.
Sec. 22-9. The compensation of elective officers of
the City shall not be increased or decreased during their
respective terms of office. This section shall not prohibit the
increase or decrease of compensation of assistants or deputies.
Sec. 22-10. The Council and all Boards of the City
shall have power to accept gifts and trusts and control, manage,
dispose of and otherwise administer the same in accordance with the
terms thereof.
Sec. 22-11. All real property acquired by the City
shall be held in the name of "City of Alameda."
Sec. 22-12. Notwithstanding any other provisions of
this Charter to the contrary, the public parks of the City shall
not be sold .or otherwise alienated except pursuant to the
affirmative votes of the majority of the electors voting on such a
proposition; except that the City Council may (a) lease or grant
concessions or privileges in public parks or any portion thereof or
building or structure situated therein, or (b) grant permits,
licenses or easements for street, utility or any other purposes in
public parks or any portion thereof or building or structure
situated therein or (c) sell or dispose of public parks or any
portion thereof if, after a public hearing or hearings in each
case, the City Council determines that another new public park has
been or will be designated by the City Council £or public park
purposes and opened to the public for public park purposes. The
City Council shall determine that said "new public park" is of
comparable size and utility and serves the same service area with
substantially the same amenities and improvements. As used herein
"public parks" means any and all lands of the City which have been
or will be designated by City Council for public park purposes
and/or recreational uses and opened to the public for public park . . " . purposes and/or recreational uses. "Public parks'" also includes
the Alameda Golf Complex. ·~
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ARTICLE XXIII
Schedule
Sec. 23-1. This Charter shall take effect on July 1,
1937.
Sec. 23-2. All ordinances, resolutions and orders in
force at the time this Charter takes effect shall so remain in full
force and effect unless contrary to the provisions hereof, subject
to repeal and amendment.
Sec. 23-3. All officers and employees of the City at
the time this Charter takes effect shall continue in off ice for the
remainder of their respective terms (if fixed) or until removed as
herein provided (if for an indefinite term), subject to all the
provisions of this Charter.
Sec. 23-4. All members of the Board of Public
Utilities Commissioners elected in the year 1934 for four-year
terms shall hold office until June 30, 1939, and all members of
said Board elected in the year 1936 shall hold office until June
30, 1941. Of the vacancies occurring June 30, 1939, one shall be,
succeeded to by the City Manager, one shall be filled by
appointment for a term of four years and one by appointment for a
term of one year, and the vacancies occurring June 30, 1941, shall
be filled, one by appointment for a term of four years, and one by
appointment for a term of one year.
Upon taking effect of this Charter, the City Manager
shall become ex-officio a member of the Public Utilities Board with
full participating and voting power.
Sec. 23-5. The Boards and members thereof named in
the first column following shall be deemed to be the successors to
the Boards · and members thereof named in the -second column
following. All incumbents and members of Boards in the second
column at the time this Charter takes effect shall .immediately
assume and continue to hold the successor off ice for the remainder
of their unexpired terms.
Board of Education, successor to Board of Education.
Library Board, successor to Board of Library~Trustees.
Public Utilities Board, successor to Board of Public Utilities
' Commissioners. '
Social Service Board, successor to Board of Social Service.
Sec. 23-6. The adoption of this Charter shall not
affect the courts established by law and now existing in the city.
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ARTICLE XXIV
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ARTICLE XXV
Urban Renewal
Sec. 25-1. Urban Renewal, area redevelopment pursuant
to Federal or State aid shall not be adopted in the City of Alameda
without a vote of the People.
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ARTICLE XXVI
Multiple Dwelling Units
Sec. 26-1. There shall be no multiple dwelling units
built in the City of Alameda.
Sec. 26-2. Exception being the Alameda Housing
Authority replacement of existing low cost housing units and the
proposed Senior Citizens low cost housing complex, pursuant to
Article XXV of the Charter of the City of Alameda.
Sec. 26-3. The maximum density for any residential
development within the city of Alameda shall be one housing unit
per 2,000 square feet of land. This limitation shall not apply to
the repair or replacement of existing residential units, whether
single-family or multiple-unit, which are damaged or destroyed by
fire or other disaster; provided that the total number of
residential units on any lot may not be increased. This limitation
also shall not apply to replacement units under Section 26-2.
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ARTICLE XXVII
Compulsory Arbitration for Fire Department Employee Disputes
Sec. 27-1. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby
declared to be the policy of the City of Alameda that strikes by
fire fighters are not in the public interest and are prohibited,
and that a method should be adopted for peacefully and equitably
resolving disputes that might otherwise lead to such strike.
Sec. 27-2. Prohibition Against Strikes. If any fire
fighter employed by the City of Alameda willfully engages in a
strike against the City, said employee shall be dismissed from his
or her employment and may not be reinstated or returned to City
employment. No officer, board, council or commission shall have
the power to grant amnesty to any employee charged with engaging in
a strike against the City.
Sec. 27-3. Definitions:
(A} "Financial benefits" shall mean monthly base salaries; all
supplementary cash entitlements paid directly to employees;
and health insurance, retirement, vacation, holiday and sick
leave benefits.
(B) "Employee Organizations" shall mean any employee organization
representing employees below the rank of Assistant Chief.
Sec. 27-4. Obligation to Negotiate in Good Faith.
The City, through its duly authorized representatives, shall
negotiate in good faith with the recognized fire department
employee organization on all matters related to financial benefits.
Sec. 27-5. Impasse Resolution Procedures. All
disputes or controversies pertaining to financial benefits only,
which remain unresolved after good faith negotiations between the
City and the fire department employee organization shall be
submitted to an arbitration upon the declaration of an impasse by
the City or by the recognized fire department employee
organization.
Sec. 27-6. Procedure. Any arbitration convened
pursuant to this article shall be conducted in ,conformance with,
subject, and governed by Title 9 of Part 3 of th~~California Code
of Civil Procedure except that either party may elect to use three
(3) arbitrators, one picked by each party and ·',9ne neutral
arbitrator.
Sec. 27-7. Costs. The costs of the n 'eutral
arbitrator and court reporter shall be borne equally by the
parties. All other expenses which the parties incur individually,
including but not limited to witnesses, subpoenas, attorneys' fees
-42 -
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and travel expenses therefor, shall be borne by the party incurring
such expenses.
Sec. 27-8. Enforcement. Enforcement of arbitration
awards hereunder shall be consistent with Section 17-17 of this
Charter.
-43 -
ARTICLE XXVIII
Historical Advisory Board
Sec. 28-1. BOARD CREATED --PURPOSE: In order to
encourage broad community participation in the history of Alameda,
and preserve and protect structures, sites and areas of historical
significance in the City, there is hereby created the Alameda
Historical Advisory Board, hereinafter referred to as the Board,
which shall be appointed and organized, and shall have
responsibilities, as hereinafter set forth .
Sec. 28-2. POWERS AND DUTIES: The purposes, powers,
procedures and duties of the Board shall be those set forth in
Chapter 9 of Title X of the Alameda Municipal Code~
Sec. 28-3. ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION: There is
hereby established an Historical Advisory Board composed of five
( 5) members, appointed by the Alameda City Council and serving
without pay. The members shall have demonstrated an interest in
the history, heritage and architecture of the City of Alameda and
shall be residents of the City.
Sec. 28-4. TERMS OF OFFICE: Members shall serve for
a term of four (4) years and may be reappointed for a second term
of office. Terms shall be staggered so that the number of terms
expiring any year shall not differ more than one from the number of
terms expiring in any other year. Members shall serve until their
successors are appointed. Current members of the Commission shall
have their terms decided by lot and their present terms shall not
be considered.
Sec. 28-5. VACANCY AND REMOVALS: Vacancies which may
occur on the Board shall be filled by appointment of a new member
by the City Council for the duration of an unexpired term of
off ice. A person may be removed, by the City Council, for
termination of residency, malfeasance or moral turpitude.
Sec. 28-6. ORGANIZATION: The Board shall hold
regular meetings on the first Thursday each month in the City
Council Chambers, unless proper notification is given for a change
of location or time.
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(A) The Board shall elect a Chairperson and a ,Vice-Chairperson r
from their membership. Each office shall be for one (1) year.
However, an office holder may be returned to office.
"Robert's Rules of Order" shall be used in the conduct of .all [
meetings.
(B) Three (3) members shall constitute a quorum and a decision of
the Board shall be determined by a majority vote of those
members present at the meeting.
-44 -
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(C} A public record shall be kept by the Board of its resolutions,
motions and actions. The City Manager shall provide such
technical, administrative and clerical assistance as may be
required.
Sec. 28-7. FEES: All fines, fees and other monies
arising out of the administration of the Historical Advisory Board
of the City, or gifts or trusts therefor shall be deposited in the
Historical Advisory Board Fund. The schedule of fines and fees
shall be adopted by the City Council. Expenditures from the fund
shall be approved by the Council.
-45 -
-46 -
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INDEX
-A -
ADVERTISING
Bids, Calling for •.....•••••.••..••
Bulletin in Lieu of .••••.••••••...•
Official Newspaper, Council
to Designate ................. .
Publication of Ordinances ••••••.•••
Public Utilities Board .••••••••...•
AUDITOR
BIDS
Counting money in treasury •••••••••
Duties ............................ .
Elected ........................... .
Qualifications .................... .
Salary ............................ .
Term .............................. .
Vacancy, deputy to fill
-B -
Alameda place of business,
preference •..•.......•....•...
Expenditures over $1,000 ••••..•••••
Misleading bidders ••••••...•.•.••..
Official Newspaper •.••.•.•.••..•••.
BOARD OF EDUCATION (See BOARDS)
Appointments ...................... .
Established .•.•..••••..•....••••••.
General law applicable ••.•.••..•...
Powers and duties .•••.•••.•.•....•.
Term of office .................... .
BOARDS
Action, vote required ••••••.•••.•••
Board of Education, membership •.•••
Board of Education, powers and
duties ....................... .
City Attorney legal advisor ••.••...
City Planning Board, membership •...
city Planning Board, powers and
duties ....................... .
civil Service Board, membership ....
Civil Service Board, powers and
· duties ....................... .
Compensation for positions under
-47 -
Section
3-15 10
3-18 11
3-18 11
3-14 10
12-2 (B) 22
17-10 29
4-2 12
2..:..1 3
4-1 12
2-4 4
2-14 6
2-10 5
3-16 11
3-15 10
22-1 (C) 36
3 -18 11
11-2 21
11-1 21
11-1 21
11-1 21
11-2 21
10-13 20
,11-2 21
11-1 21 .,
8-2 '" 17
10-4.1 19
14-1 26
10-2 "' 19
13-1 25
10-12 20
BOARDS (continued)
· Compensation for members ...•.......
BONDS
Councilmembers as members ......... .
Establishment of •.........••.......
Gifts, power to accept .•.•....•....
Historical Advisory Board,
membership ................... .
Historical Advisory Board, powers
and duties •..........•........
Library Board, membership •.........
Library Board, powers and duties ...
Members, must be electors ...•......
Members, qualifications .•....•.....
Members, as officers of the City ...
oaths, power to administer •••.•....
Officers, selection ............... .
Powers, may be conferred by
Council ...................... .
Public Utilities Board,
membership ................... .
Public Utilities Board, powers
and duties ......•.•....•......
Removal of members ...•.•....••.....
Rules, establishing ....•...........
Social Service Board, membership ...
Social Service Board, powers and
duties ....................... .
Successor boards .............•.....
Vacancy, appointment .............. .
Certified Public Accountant to
examine ...................... .
City Attorney to approve .....•.....
Council to fix .................... .
Official, failure to file .....•....
Premiums paid by City .......•..•...
Unauthorized payments, liability
on ........................... .
BOUNDARIES OF CITY ...........•....•.....
BUDGET (See FINANCE AND TAXATION) •.•..••.
-c -
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
compensation ...................... .
Duties ............................ .
Power to administer oaths ......... .
Public Utilities Board, reports
-48 -
Section
10-8
3-9
10-1
22-10
28-3
28-2
10-2
16-1
10-6
10-7
2-12
2-13
10-10
3-2
10-3
12-1
10-9
10-11
10-4
15-1
23-5
11-2
3-7 (C)
8-3
3-7 (E)
2-9
3-7 (E)
22-3
1-1
17-1'""'
3-7 (C)
3'-7 (C)
2-13
12-4 (B)
Eag_e_
20
9
19
37
44
44
19
28
19
20
5
5
20
7
19
22
20
20
19
27
38
21
8
17
8
5
8
36
2
29
8
8
5
23
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Section
CHARTER
Effective date •.................... 23-1
CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT (See FIRE DEPARTMENT)
Appointment and Removal............ 2-3
CHIEF OF POLICE (See POLICE DEPARTMENT)
Appointment and Removal ••...•...•..
Legal process, execution .....••....
CITY ATTORNEY
Appointment and Removal .•...••.•...
Bonds, approval ................... .
Compensation ...................... .
Contracts, approval ......•..••••.•.
Deputies and employees ...........•.
Deputy to fill vacancy ............ .
Duties ............................ .
Legal advisor for City ..........•..
Ordinances, drafting ......... ~ ...•.
Qualifications .................... .
Special legal Counsel .•....•.......
CITY CLERK
Appointment and Removal •.•...•.....
Compensation ...................... .
Custody of contracts, etc .•.••.....
Deputies and employees .••...•...•.•
Deputy to fill vacancy .••••••••••..
Duties ............................ .
Oaths, administering •...••..•••••••
Ordinances, attesting ••••••.•....•.
Records of City, keeping •••.•......
CITY ENGINEER
Appointment and Removal .•...•.••.••
CITY MANAGER
Absence or disability of .....•.....
Appointment ....................... .
Boards, investigating proceedings ..
Budget, preparation ............... .
Budget, submitting •................
Chief Administrative Officer •....••
Chief of Fire Department,
appointment .................. .
Chief of Police, appointment ...... .
city Engineer, appointment .••.••...
City Physician, appointment ....... .
-49 -
2-3, 7-4
2-13
2-2
8-3
2-4
8-3
8-4
2-10
8-2
8-2
8-3
8-1
8-5
2-2
2-4
9-1 (C)
9-1 (E)
2-10
9-1
9-1 (D)
3-11
9-1 (C)
2-3
3-7 (H)
2-2
'7-2 (M)
7-2 (L)
17-3
7-1 """ ·~
2-3
2-3 I 7-2 (C)''
2-3
2-3
38
4
4,16
5
3
17
4
17
17
5
17
17
17
17
17
3
4
18
18
5
18
18
9
18
4
8
3
16
'16
29
15
4
4,15
4
' 4
CITY MANAGER (Continued)
city Planning Director,
appointment .................. .
Contracts, enforcement ............ .
Council meetings, attendance ...... .
Counting money in treasury ..•......
Employees, rules for ..•...••••....•
Franchises, performance •..•••...•.•
Full time, devoting ......•.........
Golf Courses, supervision ......... .
Health Officer, appointment ••••..•.
Influencing or interfering with •...
Officers and employees,
supervision .................. .
Parks, supervision ..•••..•••••.•••.
Police Secret Fund ...........•.•.•.
Policies, recommending to Council .•
Powers and duties •..•.....•........
Public property, supervision •......
Public Utilities Board, member •....
Qualifications ...............••....
Removal ............................ .
Salary .............. · .............. .
street Superintendent,
appointment ...........•.......
Technical advisory experts .•.......
CITY PHYSICIAN
Appointment and Removal .•..........
CITY PLANNING BOARD (See BOARDS)
Appointments ...................... .
Established •..•••..•...•...•••..•..
Membership, terms ..•......•. • ••.....
Powers and duties ..••.••••.•...•...
Terms ..................•..••.•.•...
CITY PLANNING DIRECTOR
Appointment ................... · .... .
CIVIL SERVICE BOARD (See BOARDS)
Appeals to ........................ .
Appointments ...................... .
Civil Service System,
administering .. ; ............. .
Established ....................... .
Membership, terms ................. .
Powers ............................ .
Terms ............................. .
-50 -
Section
2-3 4
7-2 (H) 15
7-2 (H) 15
17-10 29
7-2 (0) 16
7-2 (H) 15
7-2 (N) 16
7-2 (I) 15
2-3 4
7-3 16
j
7-2 (C) 15
7-2 (I) 15
17-11 29
7-2 (F) 15
7-2 15,16
7-2 (I) 15
10-3,23-4 19,38
7-1 15
2-2 3
2-4 4
2-3 4
7-2 (J) 15
2-3 4
10-2 19
10-1 19
10-2 19
14-1 26
2-14~10-2 6,19
2-3 4
13-3, 25
10-2 " 19
'
13-1 25
10-1 19
10-2 19 [
13-1 25
2-14,10-2 6,19 [
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CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM
Administra·tion •....................
council to adopt ...............•...
CLAIMS (BILLS)
Payment .......... ~ ................ .
CONFLICT OF INTEREST .......•..•.........
CONTRACTS
city Attorney to approve .......... .
custody, City Clerk ...•..•.•••.•...
Enforcement by City Manager •••.•.•.
Financial Interest of employees •...
Letting, on bids ~··················
Public Utilities Board,
construction ................. .
Public Utilities Board, purchases ..
Written, when required ..••..•....••
Preference for residents ••..•..••••
COUNCIL
Action, how taken .••.•••.•.•••••••.
Action, vote required .••.....•••••.
Bids, awarding contract •...•..•••••
Boards, appointments ...•......•••..
Boards, removal of members ........ .
Bonds, fixing •....•.••.•..••.•.•..•
Budget, adopting .......•....•......
Bulletin in lieu of advertising ....
City Attorney, appointment ..•......
city· Clerk, appointment .....•......
city Manager, appointment ...•..•...
city Manager, to attend meetings ••.
Civil Service System ..••••.••••.•••
Compensation of Councilmembers ••••.
councilmembers, number ....••.••••..
Councilmembers, title of .•.•..•••••
Duties ............................ .
Emergency, declaration of •.......•.
Emergency ordinances ...•..•..••....
Employment, establishing
positions ..................... .
Franchises, granting ...•..•.••.•...
Gifts, power to accept ••..•.•......
Initiative and Referendum ••••••....
Investigations by city Manager .....
Leasing for more than one year ...•.
Library Fund, budget .............. .
-51 -
Section
13-1 25
13-2 25
17-15 30
22-1 (A) 36
8-3 17
9-1 (C) 18
7-2 (H) 15
22-2 36
3-15 10
12-3 (B) 23
12-1 (C) 22
3-15 10
3-17 11
3-8 9
3-4 7
3-15 10
10-2 19
10-9 20
3-7 (E) 8
17-4 29
3-18 11
2-2 3
2-2 3
2-2,7-1 3,15
7-2 (E) 15
13-2 ' 25
2-4 4
2-1 3
2-15 6
3-7 7
'-6-1 14
3-12 10
3-7 (q) 8
18-1 31
22-10 37
3-3 7
7-2 (G) 15
3-10 ' 9
16-2 28
COUNCIL (Continued)
Malfeasance ....................... .
Mayor, elected
Mayor, pro tern .................... .
Mayor, vacancy .................... .
Meetings .......................... .
Meetings, Mayor to preside .•. ~ .... .
Motions, action by ..••..•.•.•.....•
Offices, establishing •...••••......
Official Newspaper, designating ....
Ordinances, passage .....••.........
Organization .•.........•......•....
Pension System, establishing ...••..
Police Secret Fund .........•••.••..
Powers ............................ .
Powe~s and duties, conferring on
boards and officers •..........
Public Utilities Board,
appointments .....•............
borrowing ...... ~ ............. .
Removal of appointed officers ...•..
Resolutions, action by ...........•.
Salaries and Wages, fixing ......•..
Social Service Board,
appointments ............... ~ ..
Special legal counsel ..•••..••.....
Special Meetings ..••...•.••.•.•.•.•
Tax Rate, fixing ...• ~ .•••••.•....•.
Traveling expenses, fixing •.......•
Vacancies, how filled •••.....•.....
Vacations, providing for .•.•••••.•.
COUNCILMEMBERS
Absence 6reating vacancy ....•......
Attendance, compelling ...•.....•...
City Manager, influencing ........••
Special Meetings, calling ......... .
Terms · ... ~ •.........................
Title of .......................... .
Vacancies, how filled ..•.....•....•
COURTS
Unaffected by Charter
DEMANDS
Payment
-D -
-52 -
Section ~
7-3 16
2-1 . 3
6-2 14
6-3 14
3-7 (B) 7
6-1 14
3-8 9
3-7 (G) 8
3-18 11
3-11 9
3-7 (A) 7
3-7 (I) 8
17-11 29
3-1 7
3-2 7
10-3 19 [
12-3 (E) 23
2-2 3 [ 3-8 9
3-7 (G) 8
10-4 19 [
8-5 17
3-7 (B) 7
17-4 29 [ 22-7 36
2-7 4
3-7 {D) 8 [
3-6 7
3-5 7
7-3 16
3-7 (B) 7
2-6,2-8,2-14 4,5,6
2-15 6
2-:7 4
"' .,
' 23-6 ""' 38
"'-
17-15 30
-E -
ELECTIONS
Calling, result of arbitration .....
candidates elected ...•.......••....
General Law applicable .....•.......
General, when held ................ .
Kinds ............................. .
Recall, see RECALL
Special, calling ...•....•..•.••....
Tie vote .......................... .
EMPLOYEES
Civil Service System ..••....••.....
Compulsory Arbitration ............ .
Continuing in office ...•..•........
Felony, Forfeiting employment ..... .
Financial interest ................ .
Misconduct ........................ .
Pension system ...............•.....
Residence ......................... .
Travel expenses ................... .
Vacations ......................... .
Unauthorized payments
-F -
FINANCE AND TAXATION
Budget, City Manager to submit .•...
Contracts ......................... .
Counting money in treasury •......•.
Fees of Officers •.•••.•.•.•........
Fiscal year ....................... .
General Fund, transfers by
Public Utilities Board ••••.••.
Monies Received ................... .
Police Secret Fund •.••..•••....••••
Tax rate, Council to fix .......... .
Treasury, depositing funds in ..... .
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Chief, appointment, removal ....... .
Compulsory Arbitration ............ .
Discipline of members by City
Manager ...................... .
Dismissal, appeal ................. .
Emergency, Mayor to command ....... .
FISCAL YEAR
-53 -
Section
17-17
19-12
19-3
19-2
19-2
19-2
19-13
13-2
27-1,27-8
23-3
22-4
22-1 (A)
30
32
32
32
32
32
33
25
42,43
38
36
36
22-1 (A) (B) (C)
3-7 (I)
36
8
4
36
2-5
22-7
3-7 (D)
22-3
17-3
17-14
17-10
17-9
17-1
12-6
17-16
17-11
17-4
17-8
'
2-3,7-2 (C)
27-1,27-8
7-2 (C)
13-3
6-1
17-1
8
36
29
30
29
29
29
24
30
29
29
29
4,15
42,43
15
25
"-1 4
29
FRANCHISES
Conditions ........................ .
Granting, by ordinance ............ .
Terms ............................. .
Violations, City Manager
to report .................... .
-G -
GEN.ERAL FUND
Transfers to, Public Utilities
Board ........................ .
GENERAL LAW
When applicable
GOLF COURSE
City Manager to supervise
-H -
HEALTH OFFICER
Appointment and Removal
HISTORICAL ADVISORY BOARD
Board created, purpose
Established ....................... .
Establishment ..................... .
Fees .............................. .
Organization ...................... .
Powers and duties ................. .
Terms .....••....•.....•.........•..
Vacancy and removals
-I -
Initiative
General law applicable .••....•.••..
Submission by Council .••......•....
-L -
LEASES
custody, city Clerk ..••••..•.•.•...
Longer than one year .....•.....•..•
Public Utilities Board .........•..•
LIBRARY BOARD (See BOARDS)
Appointments ...................... .
Budget ..•..........................
Established ....................... .
Fines, gifts, etc ................. .
-54 -
Section
18-1
3-10
18-1
7-2 (H)
12-6
1-2 (E)
7-2 (I)
2-3,7-2 (C)
28-1
10-1
28-3
28--7
28-6
28-2
2-14,28-4
28-5
21-1
3-3
"" 9-1 ('c:,)
3-10
12-2 (C)
10-2
16-2
10-1
16-3
~
31
9
31
15
23
2
15
4,15
44
19
44
45
44
44
6,44
44
35
7
18
9
22
19
28
19
28
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LIBRARY BOARD (Continued)
Library Fund created ......•........
Library system, control .•..........
Membership, terms ................. .
Non-resident privileges .•......••..
Powers .....••.•.....•...........•..
Purchases ......................... .
Rules and Regulations .•.........•..
Terms
-M -
MAYOR
Absence, Vice Mayor to act ..•••....
Boards, nominations ..•..•....••....
Compensation ...................... .
Council meetings, presiding ....... .
counting money in treasury ........ .
Elected ........................... .
Funds for use of .................. .
Official head of city .......•......
Proclamation, government by •...•..•
Public Utilities Board,
nominations .................. .
Removal ...............••.•.........
Social Service Board, nominations .•
Special meetings, calling ••••.••••.
Vacancy, how filled ..•••.•.•....•..
MULTIPLE DWELLING UNITS
Prohibited ........................ .
Exceptions ...... _. ................. .
Density ........................... .
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
Power over
-0 -·
OATH OF OFFICE
Council to prescribe ......••.••....
Failure to take ................... .
Filing with Clerk ..•......•.•......
OATHS
city Clerk to administer •..........
Who may administer ................ .
OFFICERS
Absent from City· •.•................
Appointed by City Manager ......•.•.
Appointed by Council ..•.•.........•
Auditor, elective ......•.•......•..
-55 -
Section ~
16-1 (B) 28
16-1 (A) 28
10-2 19
16-1 (E) 28
16-1 28
16-1 (D) 28
16-1 (C) 28
2-14,10-2 6,19
6-2 14
10-2 19
2-1.1,2-4,6-4 3,4,14
6-1 14
17-10 29
2-1.1 3
6"-4 14
6-1 14
6-1 14
10-3 19
2-2 3
10-4 19
3-7 (B) 7
6-3 14
26-1 41
26-2 41
26-3 41
1-2 2
'3-7 (F) 8
2--9 5
3-7 ',,(F) 8
~
'·
9-1 (D) 18
2-13 5
2-9 5
2-3 4
2-2 3
2-1 3
....
OFFICERS {Continued)
Bonds ............................. .
Bonds, failure to file ............ .
Chief of Fire Department,
appointment ..............••...
Chief of Police, appointment ....•..
city Attorney, appointment ....•....
City Clerk, appointment ......•.....
city Engineer, appointment .......•.
city Manager, appointment ......... .
City Physican, appointment •.......•
City Planning Director,
appointment .................. .
Compensation ...................... .
Compensation, increase and
decrease ..................... .
Continuing in office .............. .
Councilmembers, elected .........•..
Deputies as ....................... .
Elective, term ........ ~ ........... .
Elective, who are ................. .
Fees, property of City ............ .
Felony, forfeiting office ......... .
Financial interest ................ .
Fire Chief, appointment ........... .
Health Officer, appointment .•......
Ineligibility ••...•....•...••.•.•.•
Mayor, elected .................... .
Misconduct ...... ~ ................. .
oath of Office, failure to take ••..
Oath of Office, filing .....•...•...
Oaths, power to administer •..•.•...
Pension system for ....••.•••..•••.•
Recall, see RECALL
Remova 1 •••..•••••...••........•....
Residence ......................... .
street Superintendent,
appointment .................. .
Terms .............................. .
Traveling expenses ................ .
Treasurer, elective ......•.........
Unauthorized payments, liability
for .......................... .
Vacancies, how filled ............. .
Vacations ......................... .
Who are ........................... .
OFFICES
Business hours •.......•............
Vacancy, election of successor .•...
Vacancy, filling .................. .
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER {See ADVERTISING)
Council to designate .......•.......
-56 -
Section ~
3-7 ( E) 8
2-9 5
2-3 4
2-3,7-2 {C) 4,15
2-2 3
2-2 3
2-3 4
2-2 3 I.
2-3 4
2-3 4
2-4 4 I ~
22-9 37
23-3 38 I
2-1 3
2-12 5
2-6 4
2-1 3
17-9 29
22-4 36
22-1 (A) 36
2-3 4
2-3 4
2-11 5
2-1.1 3
22-1,22-4 36
2-9 5
3-7 {F) 8
2-13 5
3-7 (I) 8
2-2 (B) 3
2-5 4
2-3 4
2-14 6
22-7 37
2-1 3
' 22-3 36
2-7 I 2,;...lQ 4,5
3-7 (D) 8
2-12 5
22-8 37
2-8 5
2-7 4
3-18 11
ORDINANCES
PARKS
Action of Council by .............. .
Amendment ......................... .
Attesting by City Clerk ........... .
City Attorney to draft ..•..........
Effective date ..........•..........
Emergency ......................... .
Enforcement, City Manager ......... .
Passage .....•......................
Publication ....................... .
Re-enactment and amendment .••......
Remaining in force .••..............
Submitting to electorate .•..•.....•
-p -
City Manager to supervise ..••....•.
Public parks, sale or lease .•....••
PENSION SYSTEM
Council to establish .•.••..........
PLANNING
See CITY PLANNING BOARD, .•..........
CITY PLANNING DIRECTOR ........ .
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Chief, appointment, removal •.•..•..
Disc1pline, by City Manager ....... .
Dismissal, appeal ................. .
Emergency, Mayor to command ....•...
Police Secret Fund ..........•...•..
POWERS
Conferring by Council .•.••.........
Home Rule ..•...•................•..
Municipal Affairs .•.•.••....•....•.
Of City ........................... .
Vested in Council .••......••.•.••••
PUBLIC PROPERTY
City Manager to supervise •••.......
Public parks, sale or lease •.......
PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD (See BOARDS)
Advertising ....................... .
Appointments ...................... .
Borrowing money ................... .
Budget, adopting .................. .
City Manager as member ............ .
City Manager ex-officio member .... .
Construction work ............•.....
Contracts
-57 -
Section ~
3-8 9
3-11 9
3-11 9
8-3 17
3-12 9
3-12 9
7-2 (B) 15
3-11 9
3-14 10
3-13 10
23-2 38
3-3 7
7-2 (I) 15
22-12 37
3-7 (I) 8
10-4.1 19
2-3 4
2-3,7-2 (C) 4,15
7-2 (C) 15
13-3 25
6-1 14
17-11 29
3-2 7
1-2 2
1-2 (D) 2
1-2 2
3-1 7
"
7-'2 , (I) 15
22-12 37
12-2 (B) 22
10-3 19
12-3 (E) "'--2 3
12-4 (D) 23
10-3 19
23-4 38
12-3 (B) 23
12-1 (C) 22
Public Utilities Board (continued)
Duties ............................ .
Earnings, disposition ....•.........
Employees, control over •....•••....
Engineer as member •.•...•••.•....•.
Established .••..........••.•...••..
General Fund, transfers to ••..••••.
Membership, terms .••......••.•.•••.
Powers ....................•........
Powers without competitive bids ... .
Purchases ......................... .
Rates, fixing ..................... .
Real property, acquisition •..•...•.
Records .••...............•..•.•....
Reports to Council ......•••••••••••
Reserve for contingencies ......... .
Reserves, investment .............. .
Revolving Fund, purchases ......... .
Sale Obsolete property ......•......
Store room system ............•..•..
Terms ..••...•....................•.
Ter~s, expiration .•...........•....
Utilities, control and management ..
Utilities, engaging in ..•..•.......
PUBLIC WORKS
Bids .............................. .
Council may do ••.•.•...••••...•••••
Emergency ......................... .
Preference for bus. resident •.•••..
PURCHASES
Bids •...• J ••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Open Market ....................... .
Preference for residents .......... .
Public Utilities Board ............ .
-R -
REAL PROPERTY
Acquisition or transfer
by ordinance~ ................ .
Financial interest of officer ..... .
How held .......................... .
Leasing ........................... .
Public park, sale or lease •......•.
Public Utilities Board,
acquisition .................. .
RECALL
Officers subject to ............... .
Procedure ......................... .
-58 -
Section
12-4
12-6
12-3 (D)
10-7
10-1
12-6
10-3
12-1
12-2
12-1 (C)
12-3 (C)
12-2 (C)
12-4 (A)
12-4 (B)
12-6
12-3 (F)
12-2 (D)
12-3 (A)
12-4 (C)
2-14,10-3
23-4
12-1 (A)
12-5
3-15,3-15.1
3-15
3-15
3-17
3-15,3-15.1
3-15
3-16
12-1· (C)
3-10
22-2
22-11
3-10" 22-12
I ' 22-12
12-2 (C) .,
20-1
20-2
23
23
23
20
19
23
19
22
22
22
23
22
23
23
23
23
22
22
23
6,19
38
22
23
10,11
10
10
11
10,11
10
11
22
9
36
37
9,37
37
22
34
34
,-
RECORDS
Inspection
REDEVELOPMENT PLAN ..................... .
REFERENDUM
General law applicable .......••..••
Submission by Council ..•...........
RESOLUTIONS
Action of Council by
-s -
SCHOOLS (See BOARD OF EDUCATION) .•.••..•.
SOCIAL SERVICE HUMAN RELATIONS BOARD (See
Appointment ....................... .
Established ....................... .
Membership, terms .......•..........
Powers ............................ .
Terms ............................. .
SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS
Appointment and removal ........... .
Employees, discipline by City
Manager ...................... .
-T -
TAXATION (See FINANCE AND TAXATION) •.....
TERMS
Terms of Office, excluding Auditor
and Treasurer ................ .
TREASURER
Compensation ...................... .
Deputy to fill vacancy ........•....
Duties ............................ .
Qualifications ...................•.
Term
-u -
URBAN RENEWAL
UTILITIES (See PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD)
Engaging in ....................... .
-59 -
Section
22-5
25-1
21-1
3-3
3-8
11-1
BOARDS)
10-4
10-1
10-4
15-1
2-14
2-3,7-2
7-2
17-1
2-14
2-4
2-10
5-2
'5-1
2-14
25-1
(C)
12-1 (A)
(C)
~
36
40
35
7
9
21
19
19
19
27
6
4I15 .
15
21
6
4
5
13
13
6
40
""-2 2
-v -
VACATIONS
Council to fix .•........•......••..
Vacanies, in off ice ......•••...•...
VICE MAYOR
Act in Mayor's
Selection/Term
ZONING
absence ...•••••.••••
-z -
City .Planning Board ............... .
-60 -
Section
3-7 (D)
2-10
6-2
3-7 (A)
14-1
8
5
14
7
26
....
r
CITY OF ALAMEDA
CHARTERAMENDMENTCHRONOLOGY
Date of Election
April 29, 1937:
March 9, 1943 :
March 9, 1943 :
March 9, 1943:
March 9, 1943:
CITY OF ALAMEDA
CHARTER AMENDMENT CHRONOLOGY
Charter Amendment
Adopted new Charter. No significant changes in Council organization.
Established Civil Service Board and Planning Board.
Amended Section 3-10, Article III [City Council], to provide that acts of
Council imposing penalties, prescribing public regulations , granting franchises,
or providing for acquisition or transfer, or lease for more than one year, of
real property, shall be by ordinance; excepts certain cases where price paid
and obligation imposed on the city does not exceed $1,000.00, or when
acquisition is made by condemnation or in connection with public
improvements proceedings; provides no real property shall be leased for more
than one year or sold except by four votes of the Council; excludes from the
operation of the section certain acquisitions or transfers in connection with
liens for taxes or special assessments. [Amended November 2, 1982]
Amended Section 3-12, Article III [City Council], to provide that no
ordinance .shall become effective until thirty days from its final passage;
excepts certain ordinances relating to elections, taxation, street or public
improvement proceedings, ordinances enacted for the immediate preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, or in case of great emergency or
necessity; provides for manner of passage of urgency or emergency
ordinances; provides no grant of franchise shall ever be construed as urgency
or emergency measure.
Amended Section 17-7, Article XVII [Finance and Taxation], to provide that
the levy and collection of City taxes shall be pursuant to general law for the
levy and collection of State and County taxes unless otherwise provided by
ordinance; provides for a lien for City taxes on real and personal property and
for the time when and the manner in which the personal obligation of the tax
is satisfied and the tax lien removed. [Repealed November 2, 1982]
Amended Section 17-9, Article XVII [Finance and Taxation], to provide that
charges, fees, commissions and percentages collec!ed or received by officers
or employees of the city in performing official duti~shall be property of the
city; provides that the Council may by ordinance authorize Health Officer to
receive and retain fees paid by State or County for registration of birth and
death certificates. [Amended November 2 , 1982] ·"
Note: See the Secretary of State's Certifications for the exact date Charter Amendment became effective.
Date of Election
March 9, 1943:
March 9, 1943:
March 9, 1943:
March 11, 1947:
Charter Amendment
Amended, Section 19-3, Article XIX [Municipal Elections], to provide that
certain provisions and procedure of the Elections Code and general laws of
the State, now in effect and as hereafter amended, shall govern in municipal
elections in this city, except as otherwise provided by the Charter or ordinance
passed by four votes of the Council; provides that seats on Council are
considered as single office with as many persons to be elected as there are full
and unexpired terms to be filled; provides elections shall not be set aside for
error, irregularity or defect when the provisions oflaw for holding same are
substantially complied with and a fair expression of the will of the electorate
is secured.
Added Section 19-15, Article XIX [Municipal Elections], to provide that no
person is entitled to vote at City election unless registered in office of
Alameda County Clerk and unless entitled to vote in this city at a State or
County election held on same day as City election; provides that registers to
be used in City elections or in certification of petitions shall be the current
affidavits of registration kept in office of County Clerk of Alameda County for
voters in this city. [Repealed June 8, 1976]
Added Section 19-16, Article XIX [Municipal Elections], to empower
Council to establish, change or consolidate election precincts for City
elections, and that such precincts may be so established or consolidated by
reference to precincts established by Board of Supervisors of Alameda
County; provides that unless established by Council, precincts shall remain as
fixed by said Board of Supervisors for general State and County elections;
provides that in consolidation of City election with State or County election
the precincts and polling places shall be as established by said Board of
Supervisors; provides for the number of election officers for each precinct.
[Repealed June 8, 1976]
Amended Section 2-4, Article II [Officers], to read; "The salary attached to
the following offices shall be fixed by the Council at not less than the
following amounts per annum : Auditor, $3,600.00; Treasurer, $3,600.00; City
Manager, $4,000.00; City Attorney, $3,000.0o; City Clerk, $2,400.00. Each
Councilman shall receive $20 .00 for each meeting,{>f the Council which he
shall attend; provided, that no Councilman shall rece1 ve such fees for more
than two meetings in any one calendar month." [Amended .. March 8, 1977]
Note: See the Secretary of State's Certifications for .the exact date Charter Amendment became effective.
[
Date of Election
March 10, 1953 :
March 8, 1955:
March 8, 1955 :
Nov. 6, 1956:
March 12, 1957:
March 12, 1957:
June 30, 1964:
Charter Amendment
Amended Section 12-2(A), Article XII [Public Utilities Board], to provide
that the Public Utilities Board shall have the power to contract for the
purchase, for not to exceed ten years, of gas, electrical energy or such other
public utility service or commodity necessary for its operations, rather than for
the five-year period now permitted . [Amended November 3, 1998]
Amended Section 2-5, Article II [Officers], to provide that every City officer
referred to in Charter Section 2-12 shall be a resident of the City during the
tenure of his office and that employees of the City, other than such officers,
shall reside within the City or within fifteen miles of the City. [Amended June
4, 1968; March 9, 1971; March 11, 1975; November 2, 1976; and March 6,
1979]
Added Sections 24-1 through 24-13, Article XX.IV [Off-Street Vehicular
Parking], to authorize the City to provide for off-street vehicular parking
facilities and, for the payment of the cost thereof, to issue bonds payable from
the revenues of such parking facilities and from other revenues. [Repealed
June 8, 1976]
Amended Section 10-2, Article X [Boards], and Added Section 10-4.1,
Article X [Boards], to provide that the Planning Board consist of seven
members; and Added Section 3-19, Article III [City Council], to transfer any
or all of the public health and sanitation functions and services to the County
of Alameda. [Sections 10-2 and 10-4.1 amended March 8, 1977]
Repealed Section 11-2, Article XI [Board of Education], in its entirety.
[Added a new Section 11-2 November 5, 1968; Amended November 2, 1982
and June 2, 1992] ·
Repealed Section 9-l(f), Article IX [City Clerk], amended Section 2-3,
Article II [Officers], and Section 7-12, Article VII [City Manager], and added
Section 7-11.1, Article VII [City Manager], to provide for the establishment
of the office, under the jurisdiction · of the City Manager, of City Planning
Director, who shall be chief executive of the City Planning Department, and
Secretary to the City Planning Board. [Section 2-3 amended November 2,
" 1982; Sections 7-12 and 7-11.1 repealed November,2, 1982]
Added Section 25-1, Article XXV [Urban Renewal], to proyide that Urban
Renewal, area redevelopment pursuant to Federal or State Aid shall not be
adopted in the City of Alameda without a vote of the people.
Note : See the Secretary of State's Certifications for the exact date Charter Amendment became effective.
Date of Election
June 4, 1968:
Nov. 5, 1968:
June 2, 1970:
March 9, 1971:
March 13, 1973:
March 11, 1975:
Charter Amendment
Amended Section 2-5, Article II [Officers], tci provide that the qualification
for election, or appointment, to any elective offices of the City be reduced
from five to three years, as the period of time such officer shall have been an
elector of the City continuously next preceding his election. [Amended March
9, 1971; March 11, 1975; November 2, 1976; and March 6, 1979]
Added Section 11-2, Article XI [Board of Education], to provide that the
Board of Education of the Alameda Unified School District shall consist of
five members to be elected by direct vote of the people at large, each of said
members to serve a four-year term. [Amended November 2, 1982; and June
2, 1992]
Added Section 2-1.1, Article II [Officers], and Section 3-1.1, Article III [City
Council], to provide that the Mayor of the City of Alameda be an elective
office, that said Mayor shall receive a monthly compensation therefor of Two
Hundred Dollars ($200 .00), and that the City Council thereafter consist of
such elected Mayor and four elected Councilmen.
Amended Section 2-5, Article II [Officers], to provide that employees of the
City (other than certain officers thereof who are required to reside in the City)
shall reside within the City or within such distance of the City limits as the
City Council shall prescribe by ordinance. [Amended March 11, 1975;
November 2, 1976; and March 6, 1979]
Added Sections 26-1 and 26-2, Article XXVI [Multiple Dwelling Units], to
provide that there shall be no multiple dwelling units built in the City of
Alameda, exception being the Alameda Housing Authority replacement of
existing low cost housing units and the proposed Senior Citizens low cost
housing complex, pursuant to Article :XXV of said Charter.
Amended Section 2-5, Article II [Officers], by deleting the first sentence
which reads as follows: "No person shall be qualified to be elected or
appointed to any of the elective offices hereinabove set forth unless he shall
have been an elector of the City of Alameda for a period of three years
continuously next preceding his elections." '[.~.mended November 2, 1976;
and March 6, 1979] '~
Note: See the Secretary of State's Certifications for the exact date Charter Amendment became effective.
Date of Election
June 8, 1976:
June 8, 1976:
June 8, 1976 :
June 8, 1976 :
June 8, 1976 :
June 8, 1976 :
June 8, 1976:
Nov. 2, 1976 :
Charter Amendment
Amended Section 2-1, Article II [Officers], Sections·3-7 (A) and (B), Article
III [City Council], and Section 6-2, Article VI [Mayor], to make various
provisions consistent with a previously approved Charter amendment which
created a directly elected Mayor, to make "Vice President" read "Vice
Mayor," and to make the provisions calling for special City Council meetings
consistent with state law. [Section 2-1 amended November 2, 1982]
Amended Section 17-4, Article XVII [Finance and Taxation], and repealed
Section 22-6, Article XXII [Miscellaneous], to permit the Council to adopt
a budget and fix the tax rate prior to the third Tuesday in September, to use
an appropriate percentage rather than three percent for delinquencies on the
assessment roll and to repeal the provision requiring payment for copying
public records . [Section 17-4 amended November 2, 1982]
Amended Sections 2-6 and 2-8, Article II [Officers], and Section 19-2, Article
XIX [Municipal Elections], and repealed Sections 19-4 through 19-11 and
Sections 19-14 through 19-16, Article XIX [Municipal Elections], to provide
for the use of state general law procedures for City elections . [Section 2-6
amended June 2, 1992; Section 19-2 amended June 3, 1980; and June 2,
1992]
Amended Section 20-2, Article XX [Recall], and repealed Sections 20-3
through 20-27, Article XX [Recall], to provide for the use of state general law
procedures for recall elections.
Amended Section 13-3, Article XIII [Civil Service Board], to permit police
and fire department personnel the right to appeal after dismissal once they
have attained permanent civil service status. [Amended November 2, 1982]
Repealed Article XXIV [Off-Street Vehicular Parking], the parking district
law, so that state parking and assessment district acts could apply.
Amended Section 3-14, Article III [City Council], to require the publication
of a digest (summary) of proposed ordinan2es before they are adopted and
repeal the provision requiring publication of ordin,ances in full after they are
adopted. ',"'--
' ." " Added Section 2-14, Article II [Officers], to limit the number of consecutive
terms an elected official, other than Auditor or Treasurer, ritay serve two
terms. [Amended March 8, 1977] ""''
Note: See the Secretary of State's Certifications for the exact date Charter Amendment became effective.
Date of Election
Nov. 2, 1976:
Nov. 2, 1976 :
March 8, 1977 :
March 8, 1977:
March 8, 1977:
March 8, 1977 :
March 6, 1979:
March 6, 1979:
June 3, 1980:
Charter Amendment
Amended Section 2-5, Article II [Officers], to require residency in the City of
Alameda . of elected officials and all officials appointed to Boards and
Commissions, but not other officers. [Amended March 6, 1979]
Added Section 2-6.1, Article II [Officers], to provide that two Councilmen,
exclusive of the Mayor, be elected every to two years.
Amended Section 2-14, Article II [Officers], to limit the number of
consecutive terms an appointed official may serve to two terms.
Amended Section 10-2 and 10-4.1, Article X [Boards], to provide that all
Charter Boards shall have four year terms .
Amended Sections 10-1 and 10-4, Article X [Boards], and Section 15-1,
Article XV [Social Service Human Relations Board], to provide that the name
of the Social Service Board be changed to Social Service Human Relations
Board, that said Board shall consist of nine members, each of said members
to serve a four year term, and to have such powers and duties as the City
Council shall specify by ordinance. [Section 10-1 amended November 2,
1982; and March 7, 1989; Section 10-4 amended April 21, 1987; Section 15-1
amended November 2, 1982]
Amended Section 2-4, Article II [Officers], to provide that each Councilman
shall receive $50.00 for each meeting of the Council which he shall attend;
provided, that no Councilman shall receive such fees for more than two
meetings in any one calender month.
Amended Section 2-2, Article II [Officers], and Section 10-9, Article X
[Boards], to provide that certain appointed officers, except within a certain
time aft~r installation of a new Council Member, and members of Charter
Boards may be removed by a simple majority vote of the Council.
Amended Section 2-5, Article II [Offieers], to provide that all persons be
residents of the City for thirty days before filing of nomination papers for any
elected office. ~
""' Amended Section 19~2, Article XIX [Municipah ~lections], to permit
consolidation of the City's General Municipal Electioris -with an election of
another government agency. [Amended June 2, 1992] ·
Note: See the Secretary of State's Certifications for the exact date Charter Amendment became effective .
I
Date of Election
Nov. 4, 1980 :
Nov. 4, 1980:
Nov. 4, 1980 : .
Nov. 2, 1982 :
Nov. 2, 1982:
Nov. 2, 1982:
Charter Amendment
Amended Sections 4-1 and 4-2, Article IV [Auditor], and Section 5-1 and 5-
2, Article V [Treasurer]; added Sections 17-14 through 17-16, Article XVII
[Finance and Taxation]; and repealed Sections 4-3 through 4-7, Article IV
[Auditor], and Section 5-3, Article V [Treasurer], to provide for specific
qualifications and duties of an elected Auditor and an elected Treasurer and
by placing provisions for the financial management of the City in the Finance
Article of the Charter.
Added Section 17-17, Article XVII [Finance and Taxation], to provide that
no additional financial burdens may be imposed on the taxpayers of the City
as a result of binding fact finding, arbitration or parity without approval of the
voters by providing that no wages, benefits or employee related expenses shall
be paid by the City that have not been approved by a resolution of the City
Council until additional revenues and appropriations therefor have been
approved by a vote of the people pursuant to Proposition 13 (Jarvis-Gann
Initiative) and Proposition 4 (Gann Initiative).
Added Sections 27-1through27-4, Article XXVII [Compulsory Arbitration
for Fire Department Employee Disputes], to provide that firefighters' wages,
hours and wor~g conditions shall be established by compulsory and binding .
arbitration where negotiations required by said Charter amendment do not
produce agreement with the City and to provide for the discharge of
firefighters who willfully engage in strikes prohibited by said amendment.
[Amended November 2, 1982]
Rewrote Article XXVII [Compulsory Arbitration for Fire Department
Employee Disputes] to incorporate general arbitration law for firefighters and
to more precisely define the scope of arbitration.
Amended Sections 2-3 and 2-12, Article II [Officers], Section 7-4, Article VII
[City Manager], Sections 13-1 through 13-3, Article XIII [Civil Service
Board], and repealed Sections 7-5 through 7-12, Article VII [City Manager],
to delete obsolete language and permit the City Council to establish by
ordinance the departmental organization of the City.
"' Amended Sections 2-1, 2-10, 2-11, and 2-13, Article II [Officers], Sections
3-1.1, 3-7(C), 3-7(D), 3-10 and 3-17, Article III [City Council], Section 4-2,
Article IV [Auditor], Section 10-10 and 10-11, Article X [Boards], and
Section 15-l(A), Article XV [Social Service Human Relations Board], added
Section 2-15, Article II [Officers], and repealed Section 3-19, Article~ [City
Council], and Sections 7-2(D) and 7-2(K), Article VII [City Manager], to
delete obsolete and unclear language.
Note: See the Secretary of State's Certifications for the exact date Charter Amendment became effective.
Date of Election
Nov. 2, 1982 :
Nov. 2, 1982 :
Nov. 2, 1982:
April 21, 1987 :
April 21, 1987 :
March 7, 1989:
March 7, 1989:
March 5, 1991:
Charter Amendment
Amended Sections 17-3, 17-4 and 17-9, Article XVII [Finance and Taxation],
and repealed Sections 17-2, 17-5, 17-6, 17-7, 17-12 and 17-13, Article XVII
[Finance and Taxation], to delete obsolete language relating to finance and
taxation.
Amended Section 10-1, Article X [Boards], and Section 11-2, Article XI
[Board of Education], to delete obsolete language and clarify the time at
which the Board of Education takes office . [Amended March 7, 1989]
Amended Section 12-3(E), Article XII [Public Utilities Board], to permit the
Bureau of Electricity to borrow money in excess of $100,000 with the
approval of the City Council for a period of not more than thirty years .
[Amended November 3, 1998]
Amended Section 3-11, Article III [City Council], to remove the requirement
that ordinances may only be passed at regular or adjourned regular meetings.
Amended Section 10-4, Article X [Boards], to provide for reduction in
membership of the Social Service Human Relations Board from nine members
to seven.
Amended Section 2-7, Article II [Officers], to provide that a candidate
receiving the largest number of votes shall be elected to a Council seat
vacated by a Councilmember elected to the office of Mayor, providing the
same method of filling vacant seats within six ( 6) months of an election and
providing that the Council fill all other vacancies, unless no majority exists, in
which case two Alameda School Board Members and the President of the
Board of Library Trustees shall fill the vacancies
Amended Section 10-1, Article X [Boards], and added Article XXVIII
[Historical Advisory Board], to establish the Historical Advisory Commission
as a Charter Board.
""' Added Section 26-3, Article XVI [Multiple 'Dwelling Units], to limit the
maximum density for any residential development within the City of Alameda
' to one housing unit per 2,000 square feet of land excepting the repair or
replacement of existing residential single-family or multiple-units which are
damaged or destroyed by fire or other disaster and excepting replacement
units under Charter Section 26-2.
Note: See the Secretary of State's Certifications for the exact date Charter Amendment became effective.
I r
Date of Election
June 2, 1992:
June 2, 1992:
March 26, 1996 :
Nov. 3, 1998:
Charter Amendment
Amended Section 2-6, Article II [Officers], Section 11-2, Article XI [Board
ofEducation], and Section 19-2, Article XIX [Municipal Elections], so that
the general municipal election will be held on the date of and consolidated
with the statewide general election in each even-numbered year and the terms
of the current Mayor and members of the City Council, City Auditor, City
Treasurer, and Board of Education will be shortened by approximately four
to five months .
Added Section 22-12, Article XXII [Miscellaneous], to prohibit sale or
alienation of public parks and recreational lands, including Alameda Golf
Complex, unless authorized by majority vote of the electors; except the City
Council may lease or grant concessions, pennits, licenses, or easements in any
public park or recreational land and may sell any public park or recreational
land if it is replaced with a facility of comparable size and utility.
Amended Section 3-18, Article III [City Council], to require newspapers to
be adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation within the City of
Alameda to qualify to publish the City's legal advertisements in lieu of the
current Charter requirements that a newspaper have been published for at
least one year in the City and that it have a bona fide paid circulation of at
least one thousand copies.
Amended Section 12-1through12-6, Article XII [Public Utilities Board], to
make specific changes in the manner in which the Public Utilities Board may
manage and operate utilities under its control and to require majority voter
approval for the Public Utilities Board to engage in any business which does
not involve providing electricity or communications utility service .
Note : See the Secretary of State's Certifications for the exact date Charter Amendment became effective.