HomeMy WebLinkAbout07645ORDINANCE NO. 7645
AN ORDINANCE SUBMITTING TO A VOTE OF THE REGISTERED ELECTORS OF THE CITY
OF PUEBLO AT THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 6, 2007
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO SECTIONS 3 -5 AND 5 -2 OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF
PUEBLO RELATING TO FINES AND IMPRISONMENT FOR VIOLATION OF CITY ORDINANCES
AND CHARTER PROVISIONS
WHEREAS, the maximum fine and imprisonment for violating any ordinance or any
provision of the Charter of the City was fixed in 1954 at $300.00, or 90 days, or both, and
WHEREAS, the Colorado legislature by section 31 -16- 101(1), C.R.S. has fixed the
maximum fine and imprisonment at $1,000.00, or up to one year, or both, for violations of
municipal ordinances. NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that: (brackets indicate matter
deleted, underscoring indicates matter added)
SECTION 1.
There is hereby submitted to a vote of the registered electors of the City of Pueblo at the
general municipal election to be held on November 6, 2007 amendments to Sections 3 -5 and 5 -2
of the Charter of the City of Pueblo to read as follows:
Section 3 -5. General Powers - The Council shall have all legislative powers and functions
of municipal government conferred by general law, except as provided in this Charter.
The Council shall provide for enforcement of its ordinances. No fines or imprisonments
shall exceed the following limits: Fines, one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) three hundred dollars
($300.00); imprisonment, one year [ninety (90) days; or a combination of both fine and
imprisonment within the designated limits.
The Council is not to be otherwise limited in its punitive or enforcement measures.
The Council shall approve compensation for boards, commissions, and all employees in the
Classified and Unclassified Service.
The Council, or a duly authorized committee thereof, may investigate any agency and the
official acts of any officer or employee thereof, and may compel by subpoena attendance and
testimony of witnesses and production of books and documents.
Section 5 -2. Penalty for Violation - Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of
this Charter for the violation of which no punishment has been provided herein, shall be deemed
guilty of an offense, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one
thousand dollars ($1,000.00) three hundred dollars ($300.00) or by imprisonment [in the city jail
not exceeding one year [ninety (90) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Other punitive
or enforcement measures as adopted by the City Council shall be enforced.
SECTION 2
The ballot title (submission clause and title) for the proposed Charter amendments set forth
in Section 1 hereof is hereby fixed and adopted as follows:
QUESTION _ - CHARTER AMENDMENT
(maximum penalties for violating ordinances and charter provisions)
SHALL THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF PUEBLO BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE FOR
ENFORCEMENT OF ORDINANCES AND CHARTER PROVISIONS BY A FINE OF NOT MORE
THAN ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS, OR BY IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT MORE THAN ONE
YEAR, OR BY BOTH FINE AND IMPRISONMENT?
YES
NO
SECTION 3_
The officials of the City are authorized and directed to take all actions necessary,
appropriate or required to effectuate the provisions of this Ordinance. The City Clerk is directed to
publish notice of election upon the Charter amendment in conformity with the provision of §1 -7.5-
107(2.5)(x) and §31 -2- 210(4), C.R.S.
SECTION 4.
This Ordinance shall become effective upon final passage and approval, provided, however, that
the Charter amendments set forth in Section 1 of this Ordinance shall become effective only upon
the affirmative vote of a majority of the registered electors voting thereon at the general municipal
election to be held on November 6, 2007.
INTRODUCED August 13, 2007
BY Randy Thurston
Councilperson
APPROVED: a
#?ESIDEINTof City Council
ATTESTED BY:
CITY CLERK
PASSED AND APPROVED: Auaust 27. 2007
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Background Paper for Proposed
ORDINANCE
AGENDA ITEM #
DATE: August 13, 2007
DEPARTMENT: Law Department
TITLE
AN ORDINANCE SUBMITTING TO A VOTE OF THE REGISTERED ELECTORS OF
THE CITY OF PUEBLO AT THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD
NOVEMBER 6, 2007 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO SECTIONS 3 -5 AND 5 -2 OF
THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF PUEBLO RELATING TO FINES AND
IMPRISONMENT FOR VIOLATION OF CITY ORDINANCES AND CHARTER
PROVISIONS
ISSUE
Should City Council refer to a vote of the people at the general municipal election to be
held on November 6, 2007 amendments to the City Charter establishing the maximum
fine and imprisonment for ordinance and charter violations at $1,000.00, or up to one
year, or both?
RECOMMENDATION
None.
The maximum fine and imprisonment for violating any City ordinance or any provision of
the Charter was fixed in 1954 at $300.00, or 90 days, or both. The Colorado legislature
has fixed the maximum fine and imprisonment for municipal ordinance violations at
$1,000.00, or up to one year, or both. The Charter amendments would be consistent
with state law.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Unknown. It is anticipated that fines and imprisonment for most violations will not be
increased and only fines and imprisonment for more serious violations and repeated
offenses may be increased at the discretion of the Municipal Court Judge.