The proposed amendments to the El Paso City Charter will be listed on the ballot individually, and voters will have the option to vote “Yes” or “No” on each one. The El Paso City Council approved placing 10 proposed amendments, listed as Propositions A through J, on the May 6 ballot.
Click here for information on Proposition K, known as the Climate Charter, which was placed on the ballot through a citizen-led petition initiative to include climate policy in the City Charter.
Here’s how Propositions A-J will read on the ballot, each followed by an El Paso Matters synopsis of the proposed amendment.
Should section 3.1 of the City Charter, relating to creation, composition, powers and duties of Council be amended to allow City Council Representatives to appoint and remove district office staff?
Synopsis: Proposition A asks voters whether to allow each city representative to hire and fire their district staff. Currently, city representatives can only hire and fire one person on their staff – a legislative aide. Other district staff, such as administrative assistants, are considered part of the city manager’s staff. This amendment would give the sole authority over all district staff to the city representative.
Should section 3.18 of the City Charter relating to Leases, Franchises, and Conveyances be amended to authorize Council to lease City owned property for 40 years or less by Council resolution or ordinance?
Synopsis: Proposition B asks voters whether to allow the City Council to lease city-owned property for an initial term of 40 years or less by resolution or ordinance, and leases longer than 40 years by ordinance. Resolutions are more easily approved because they don’t require a public hearing. Ordinances, which are considered local law, require a formal introduction at a council meeting, as well as a public hearing and second reading before council can vote whether to approve it. The charter doesn’t currently distinguish the use of resolutions or ordinances for specific lease terms.
Should section 3.5A of the City Charter be amended to allow Council to reschedule meetings by resolution to allow for City holidays but shall hold no less than two regular meetings per month?
Synopsis: Proposition C asks voters whether to allow City Council to cancel its regularly scheduled meeting if the meeting date falls on a city holiday. The charter currently calls for the council to meet once every other week, but doesn’t spell out a provision for canceling meetings. The requirement that the council must meet twice a month will remain.
Should section 3.5A of the City Charter be amended to allow the Mayor to cancel a meeting if necessary due to a Federal, State or Local declared emergency?
Synopsis: Proposition D asks voters whether to allow the mayor to cancel a City Council meeting if needed due to a public emergency, such as the COVID pandemic. The charter currently calls for the council to meet once every other week, but doesn’t spell out a provision for canceling meetings in an emergency. The requirement that the council must meet twice a month will remain.
Shall Sections 3.9B, 3.10B, 6.1-12 of the City Charter be amended to eliminate provisions which have become inoperative because they have been superseded by state law; replace obsolete references and update terminology to current legal usage?
Synopsis: Proposition E asks voters whether to update some sections of the City Charter that are now obsolete or have been superseded by state law. For example, the City Charter requires that the City Clerk have printed copies of ordinances on hand and ready for distribution. In its place, all ordinances would now be available electronically. The amendment also shortens the requirement for the introduction of emergency ordinances to one hour. Currently, emergency ordinances must be posted two hours ahead of a meeting.
Should section 3.11 relating to the initiative petition of the City Charter be amended to remove the requirement for a second petition, and institute a process for the public to initiate a City ordinance?
Synopsis: Proposition F asks voters whether to amend the citizen petition process to eliminate the need for a second petition, as well as a special election, if the council does not enact the proposed ordinance sought by the petitioners. The proposed amendment would instead allow registered voters to initiate an ordinance by filing a statement with the City Clerk that they intend to circulate a petition, which would be placed on a City Council agenda for introduction, a public hearing and second reading. If council rejects the proposed ordinance, the petitioners would have a year to collect signatures to place it on a ballot at one of the next two uniform elections, but no later than the next citywide general election. The amendment would lower the number of signatures needed for a petition. Currently, the initiative calls for 5% of voters who participated in the most recent general city election. The proposed amendment states that it could be that percentage or 7,500 signatures, whichever is less. The charter doesn’t currently outline the option for the petition to be placed on a uniform election date.
Should 6.1-4 of the City Charter be amended to change the qualifications requirements for Civil Service Commissioners to allow for appointment of Commissioners that reflect the diversity of the community and City workforce?
Synopsis: Proposition G asks voters whether to amend the qualifications required to serve on the city’s Civil Service Commission. Currently, at least two commissioners must have retired from, or be working in, positions other than managerial or professional. That requirement would be replaced with wording that the committee will be diverse and reflect the city’s workforce. The requirement that no more than three commissioners may be former city employees will remain.
Should Section 6.7-1 be deleted and 6.8-1 relating to Examinations of the City Charter be amended to remove the requirement for examinations and allow the City to establish Civil Service Rules, policies and procedures for the promotion of City employees?
Synopsis: Proposition H asks voters whether to amend the process used by the city to promote employees. Right now, employees seeking a promotion must take an exam, which is the main basis for advancement. This proposed amendment drops the test requirement. Instead, promotions will be made on eligibility and performance, and may include an exam.
Should section 6.13-11D relating to the police and fire pension fund be amended to establish that the City of El Paso shall contribute to the El Paso Policemen and Firemen Pension Fund no less than eighteen percent of the total amount expended for wages of the participants, and any increase to the contribution rate shall be as allowed by state law?
Synopsis: Proposition I asks voters whether to lift the cap on the city’s contribution rate to the El Paso Police and Fire Pension Fund starting in May. The charter now caps the city’s contribution toward the retirement fund at 18% of the total amount it expends on wages for the fund participants, which this fiscal year translated to about $32 million from taxpayers. If approved, the charter would make 18% the city’s minimum annual contribution to the fund and eliminate the cap. That means the City Council could vote to change the contribution rate without having to amend the charter through voter approval. There are 2,050 active members of the police and fire department contributing to the fund and nearly 2,000 retired members receiving benefits. Pension participants contribute 18% of their annual salaries to the fund.
Should Section 3.20B of the El Paso City Charter be amended to change the reporting structure of the Chief Internal Auditor so the position reports directly to City Council?
Synopsis: Proposition J asks voters to decide if the city’s chief internal auditor should report directly to the City Council. Currently, the auditor reports to the city manager, who has the power to hire and fire the auditor. Under this proposed amendment, the auditor would report to the City Council, with direct oversight from the city representative who chairs the Financial Oversight and Audit Committee. The city manager would oversee the implementation of any audit recommendations requested by the council.
Proposition J on the May 6 El Paso City Charter election asks voters whether to give City Council oversight of the internal auditor, limiting the city manager’s oversight.
by Elida S. Perez April 24, 2023 April 24, 2023
Proposition I on the May 6 ballot asks voters whether to remove the 18% cap on the taxpayer contributions to the El Paso Police and Fire Pension Fund. Here’s what that could mean.
by Elida S. Perez April 16, 2023 April 24, 2023
Voters will decide whether to amend the city’s governing document on policies involving climate change, citizen petitions, employee hiring, and police and fire pension funds during the May 6 charter election.
by Elida S. Perez February 8, 2023 April 24, 2023
After three hours of public comment, the election on possible amendments to the city charter was pushed to 2023 and will no longer be on the November ballot that includes four city representative seats.
by Danielle Prokop August 2, 2022 April 10, 2023 Load more postsSomething went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
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