Title
Call of Special Election for Purpose of Submitting to Voters Proposed Charter Amendments Related to Elections, a Proposed Charter Amendment Related to Authority for the City Council to Remove a Member from Office, and a Proposed Franchise Agreement with Southwest Gas Corporation (Ordinance S-44544)
Description
An Ordinance calling a Special Election in the City of Phoenix to be held on Aug. 28, 2018, for the purpose of submitting proposed amendments to the City Charter to the qualified voters of the City of Phoenix for their approval or rejection. Four of these Charter amendments pertain to changing the dates for regular City candidate elections to consolidate with the State General Election in November of even-numbered years, with any necessary runoff election to be held the following March. A fifth proposed Charter amendment would establish a procedure and authority for the City Council to remove a council member from office for a violation of the City of Phoenix ethics, gift, conflict of interest, or non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies for elected officials. A sixth ballot measure seeks voter approval of a new proposed franchise agreement with Southwest Gas Corporation.
Report
Summary
This item calls a Special Election in the City of Phoenix to be held on Aug. 28, 2018. The election would be conducted by Maricopa County as part of the State Primary Election on that date. The election will be conducted by the County in accordance with state law. The City Council has adopted separate ordinances referring the proposed Charter amendments to voters and establishing the text of the amendments. A separate ordinance was also adopted referring to voters a proposed franchise agreement with Southwest Gas Corporation. Separate ordinances to adopt the form of the ballot, which establishes the language to appear on the ballot, and to authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Maricopa County to conduct the election, have also been submitted to the City Council on this Agenda.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
At the Feb. 27, 2018, Policy Meeting, the City Council approved, by a 9-0 vote, an ordinance proposing a Charter amendment to permit the City Council to remove a City elected official from office for violation of the ethics, gift, conflict of interest, non-discrimination or anti-harassment policies for City elected officials and referring the proposed amendment to voters.
At the April 18, 2018, Formal Meeting, the City Council approved, by a 7-2 vote, an ordinance referring proposed Charter amendments to voters related to changing the dates for regular City of Phoenix candidate elections. On the same date, the City Council also adopted an ordinance, by a 9-0 vote, referring to voters a proposed franchise agreement with Southwest Gas Corporation.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Acting Deputy City Manager Toni Maccarone and the City Clerk Department.