RESOLUTION NO. 050050

Reconstitute the Charter Review Commission to provide for a review of the City Charter to identify any and all changes that may be needed in order to operate more efficiently and make use of any and all procedures and management tools now available.

WHEREAS, the current City Charter was adopted in 1925 and has been amended, only on occasion, and only in incremental changes since that time; and

WHEREAS, although the Charter has served well as a guide to governance, dramatic changes have occurred in the business, legal and technological environments of our society so that it is appropriate to review the Charter and determine whether changes can or should be made and submitted to a vote of the people to allow more efficient and responsive operation of the City, and

WHEREAS, the Charter Review Commission, made up of 17 members from throughout Kansas City, Missouri met beginning in June 2000 and concluded their work and proposed an entire new Charter to the City Council on July 6, 2001, and

WHEREAS, the 1999-2003 City Council agreed with most of the Charter Review Commissions recommendations and placed them on the November 2001 ballot where the new Charter was defeated by the voters by only 150 votes, and

WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council desire to identify any inefficiencies and anachronisms in the existing Charter and implement changes where necessary in order to insure the most effective and appropriate government possible for Kansas City; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1. That there is hereby established a commission to be known as the Kansas City Charter Review Commission consisting of seventeen or more members including neighborhood leaders, civic and business leaders, and other interested citizens. The members shall be appointed by the Mayor who shall also designate the Commission chair. The Commission shall continue in existence until 90 days after it has submitted its report and recommendations to the Mayor and City Council, when it will automatically dissolve. Members of the Commission shall serve from the time of their appointment until the Commission dissolves. The City Manager, City Attorney, City Auditor and City Clerk shall cooperate with the Commission and provide for any staff services which it requires. The Commission also may, through private funding, obtain special services or experts to assist it in its work.