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Follow the progress of the Charter Review Committee as it readies revisions for voter approval in 2010.

The Charter Review Committee , established by the City Council in February 2009, is working on possible revisions to the City Charter.  Revisions will be voted on by residences of the City on June 8, 2010. Read a brief history of the Charter from its inception to the present, see below. 

The Library has books describing the history of Sacramento, the City, County and surrounding area as well as books on the governmental organization of cities and towns and mayoral duties, responsibilities and styles of governance.  Use the Library online catalog EUREKA to locate the call numbers for these books.

City of Sacramento Charter–1849-2009

Captain John Augustus Sutter, the first white man to settle in California, established the first permanent settlement in the Sacramento Valley in 1839. The discovery of gold in 1848 resulted in a large influx of immigrants, especially miners. The first survey of the Plat of Sacramento was made in December 1848 by Captain William H. Warner, U. S. Army. 

Early in the spring of 1849, thirteen men were elected as a board of commissioners to frame a code of laws for the district. One Alcalde (a mayor having judicial powers) and a sheriff were elected.  Thus was constituted the first American judiciary in northern California. It was noted that despite no law or system of government “a spirit of forbearance and accommodation” existed. (History of Sacramento County California, p.47).  By May of 1849 the area had doubled in size.  In July, 1849 an election of councilmen was held.  Nine men were elected as the first councilmen of the City of Sacramento.  The Council’s first order of business was the preparation of a constitution for the local government.  A.M. Wims was made president of the Council, replacing William Stout who had moved away.  Following the meeting of the Common Council on August 1, 1949 the City of Sacramento was founded. (League of Women Voters of Sacramento, p.2)

The City Charter was voted on September 20, 1849, but was defeated by 146 votes.  The Charter’s taxation provision authorized the Council to levy and collect taxes without the consent of the people.  A group of gamblers spent considerable money to defeat the Charter as they preferred the “lawless state”  existing at the time. Little discord or disorder among the inhabitants existed up to this time; the gamblers want to maintain that system.  (History of Sacramento County California, p.48)

A second election took place and the amended charter was passed by a 296 majority.  The law and order men turned out in force to pass the amended charter.  This charter was objectionable on the issue of the power to levy taxes.  In December, a committee was appointed to make amendments to the Charter and make provisions for the election of a mayor and recorder.

Another charter was prepared by a representative of the district to the California legislature.  Both charters were referred to a legislative committee.  These charters were combined and thus became law and the city government was established. (History of Sacramento County California, p. 47-49)

Charter changes have occurred over the years;  a few more significant changes follow.

In 1911 the Charter was modified to include a governing body of five commissioners. (Burns, p.86)

On March 15, 1920 a movement to redraft the Charter to provide for a city manager form of government began with Chamber officials and others. The Chamber felt stymied in trying to obtain unanimous action on the part of the City Commission to get schools and a filtration plant built.  An executive head (city manager) would have the power to give orders and get action. On October 31, 1920 the Chamber voted five to one in favor of a city manager charter.  After legislative approval the Charter went into effect on July 1, 1921. (Lord, p. 216-217).  The 1920 Charter is in effect today.  Noted below are some revisions over time and/or recommendations for revisions.

In 1956 the City and County Health Departments were combined.

In 1968 Districts were formed and the Mayor was elected at large.

In November of 1970 the electorate of the City of Sacramento voted for Proposal A.  Provisions included: election of eight city council members by district, election of the representative from each district by voters in the district, election of the mayor in a separate city-wide election , four year terms for the mayor and four year staggered terms for councilmen. [emphases mine], (Michell, page 1)

The Sacramento Ad Hoc Charter Commission [circa1988-1990] drafted a proposal for a new charter that would combine the City and County of Sacramento. The measure was defeated in the 1990 election. A group of interested citizens planned to present the issue again, but it was not placed on a subsequent ballot.

In the November 2002 general election Measure S passed.  It provided compensation and expenses for full-time service for the Mayor.  A Compensation Commission was established to determine compensation for the Mayor, City Council members and public members of City Boards & Commissions. 

In February 2009 the City Council established a Charter Review Committee to review and make recommendations to the Council regarding any changes needed to the Charter.  Of particular interest: the governance structure– Mayor-Council versus Council-Manager.  A ballot initiative that qualified for the June 8, 2010 ballot will ask the voters to decide on a “strong-mayor” structure versus the current Council-Manager structure.  For an analysis of the Initiative see the Strong Mayor Initiative: A Comparison and Analysis: http://sacramento.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=8&clip_id=1801&meta_id=169247

References:

Burns, John F. Editor. Sacramento Gold Rush Legacy Metropolitan Destiny.  Heritage Media Corporation,       Carlsbad, CA, 1999.

League of Women Voters of Sacramento. Sacramento Government: A Citizen’s Guide, 5^th edition.                 The League, San Francisco, CA, 1997.

Lord, Myrtle Shaw. A Sacramento Saga: Fifty Years of Achievement—Chamber of Commerce Leadership.      Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento, CA, 1946.

Michell , Evelyn . The Impact and Effects of the 1970 Sacramento City Charter Reform, [Thesis]. California    State University, Sacramento, CA, 1976.