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Charter Review Commission
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| The Charter Review Commission meets every Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in Council offices in Room 220 of Cleveland City Hall. |
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| In accordance with Section 200-1 of the City of Cleveland Charter, Cleveland City Council has appointed 15 Cleveland electors to the Charter Review Commission. These commission members, by August 1, 2008, are to make recommendations for proposed changes to the City Charter, which are reviewed by Council. Those that are approved are placed before the voters on November 4, 2008. |
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Charter Review Commission Members
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The Charter Review process is an opportunity to streamline outdated codes and procedures and to take a close look at they way the City operates. Commission members are responsible for considering changes to the Charter, which is the City’s governing document. Cleveland City Council believes the input of concerned Cleveland citizens is needed to ensure that the Charter is reflective of the needs of City residents. Your suggestions for Charter alterations are welcome.
Please send your suggestions to webmaster@clevelandcitycouncil.org or to Attn: Charter Review, Cleveland City Council, 601 Lakeside Avenue, Room 220, Cleveland, OH 44114.
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| About the Charter Review |
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What is the City of Cleveland Charter and what does it do?
As the constitution for City of Cleveland government, the Charter provides the basic long-term structure reflecting core values of checks and balances, accountability, and merit, to promote an effective, efficient and responsive government. |
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| What are charter issues? |
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Most issues fall outside the charter. Not every issue regarding City of Cleveland government is a charter issue. In fact, most concerns of the residents of the City of Cleveland can be addressed through ordinance or administrative action. The City of Cleveland Charter provides the essential direction or condition for these legislative and administrative actions by providing an outline for operations, but does not address day to day operations of the City of Cleveland. Day to day operational authority rests with Cleveland City Council through legislation that addresses such specifics. In addition to Council-approved ordinances which establish law, administrative policies and procedures address day to day operations. While any problem could be solved by amending the Charter, which requires voter approval, most problems can be more effectively and easily solved through ordinance or administrative changes. It is also important to remember that many City services and regulations are required by federal or state law, not the Charter.
So what is a Charter Issue?
The following criteria generally describe a Charter issue:
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• Charter-Only Solution: The problem can only be solved by
changing the Charter. |
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• Long Term: The problem exists or will exist over the long
term and is not the result of a specific, immediate
problem. The solution will hold up over the long term and
through changing circumstances. |
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• Core Values: The problem concerns the Charter’s core
values of checks and balances, accountability, and merit. |
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What is the Process for Reviewing the Charter? What is the
time line of Commission events? What happens to the
Commission’s report when finished? |
| Every 20 years a Charter Review Commission is appointed by the Cleveland City Council. The current Charter Review Commission was appointed by February 1, 2008, in accordance with the Charter. The Commission must present a report to Cleveland City Council by August 1, 2008. Cleveland City Council must pass an ordinance including approved, proposed changes to the Charter by September 1, 2008. All changes will be placed on the November 4, 2008 ballot to be decided by a vote of the people. |
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Cleveland City Council
601 Lakeside Avenue
Room 220
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 664-2840
(216) 664-3837 fax
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