Chalk up the City of El Cajon as another local jurisdiction seriously considering a transition from general law to charter status. Tuesday’s El Cajon City Council agenda includes consideration of a draft proposed charter, as well as referring the language "to the Special Election to be held in June 2011."
The four-page charter document follows an agenda report authored by Councilman Bill Wells, noting in part that cities in the state are constitutionally empowered "to become a Charter City to have ‘supreme authority over municipal affairs," and indicates the "attached draft Charter sets forth language that establishes the city’s power separate from the Government Code, strives to protect revenues and exempts the city from certain provisions of California statute regulating public contracting and purchasing."
The report also notes "a savings will be realized through future contracts where city General Fund money is being used to pay contracts that do not include prevailing wages."
Attached is the report and draft charter language.
I have asked Councilman Wells to weigh in here as soon as he is able.
The news of El Cajon’s consideration of a charter measure follows last week’s SD Rostra blog post by Escondido Councilmember Marie Waldron (and related North County Times story) that she has asked for a charter ballot measure in her city.
Both cities may have to play wait-and-see on a Spring ballot measure, depending on whether a Statewide election is held in June.