Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout11011 City Clerk's Office Item # R5 Background Paper for Proposed Ordinance COUNCIL MEETING DATE: August 11, 2025 TO: President Mark Aliff and Members of City Council CC: Mayor Heather Graham VIA: Marisa Stoller, City Clerk FROM: Mark Aliff, President SUBJECT: An Ordinance submitting to a vote of the registered electors of the City of Pueblo at the Regular Municipal Election to be held November 4, 2025, a proposed amendment to section 8-9 of the Charter of the City of Pueblo relating to the requirements for members of the classified service to run for public office and fixing the ballot title therefor SUMMARY: Attached is a proposed Ordinance referring to the registered voters of the City a proposed amendment to the City's Charter. PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: Council has previously submitted to the eligible electors of Pueblo certain Charter Amendments. BACKGROUND: This Ordinance was prepared at the direction of City Council at a work session on June 30, 2025, to amend the charter of the City of Pueblo to allow City employees in the classified service desiring to run for public office to do so without taking a leave of absence. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Financial implications include the cost of placing this Ordinance along with other proposed Charter amendments on the ballot at the 2025 regular election. BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Not applicable to this Ordinance. STAKEHOLDER PROCESS: Members of the public are the primary stakeholders affected by the proposed Ordinance. The public will have an opportunity to vote on whether employees in the classified service should be allowed to run for public office without taking a leave of absence. ALTERNATIVES: - RECOMMENDATION: None. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Classified Political Office Charter Amendment Ordinance ORDINANCE NO. _11011__ AN ORDINANCE SUBMITTING TO A VOTE OF THE REGISTERED ELECTORS OF THE CITY OF PUEBLO AT THE REGULAR MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 4, 2025, A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO SECTION 8-9 OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF PUEBLO AND FIXING THE BALLOT TITLE THEREFOR BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that: SECTION 1. There is hereby submitted to a vote of the registered electors of the City of Pueblo at the regular municipal election to be held on November 4, 2025, a proposed amendment to the Charter of the City of Pueblo, more particularly set forth in Section 3 of this Ordinance. SECTION 2. This ballot title (submission clause and title) for the proposed Charter Amendment set forth in Section 3 hereof is hereby fixed and adopted as follows: BALLOT QUESTION NO. ____ - CHARTER AMENDMENT (Making it Easier for City Employees To Run For Public Office) SHALL SECTION 8-9 OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF PUEBLO BE AMENDED TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT CITY EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE MUST TAKE A LEAVE OF ABSENCE IN ORDER TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE? ______ YES ______ NO SECTION 3. There is hereby submitted to a vote of the registered electors of the City of Pueblo at the regular municipal election to be held on November 4, 2025, an amendment to the Charter of the City of Pueblo, as follows: (\[brackets\] indicate matter being deleted, underscoring indicates new matter being added). ARTICLE 2 Municipal Officers Section 8-9. Personnel Administration No person in the Classified Service of the City or seeking admission thereto shall be appointed, promoted, reduced, removed or in any way favored or discriminated against because of his race or his political or religious opinions or other affiliations or non- affiliations; provided that it shall be permissible and it shall not be in violation of this Charter for the City to enter into an agreement with the sole and exclusive collective bargaining agent for the classified employees in a bargaining unit, which requires the payment by the classified employees in a bargaining unit to said sole and exclusive collective bargaining agent of an amount not to exceed the normal dues and assessments required of members of said sole and exclusive collective bargaining agent if seventy-five percent (75%) or more of the classified employees in a bargaining unit voting in an election conducted by the Civil Service Commission approve including such a provision in any collective bargaining agreement entered into between the City and said sole and exclusive collective bargaining agent. No person shall willfully or corruptly make any false statement, mark, rating or report in regard to any test, certification, or appointment held or made under the personnel provisions of this Charter or in any manner commit or attempt to commit any fraud preventing the impartial execution of such personnel provisions or of the rules and regulations made thereunder. Any employee of the Classified Service \[desiring to run for\] elected to public office, other than the board of education of a school district, \[shall take a leave of absence during such campaign and if elected\] shall cease to be employed by the City upon taking the oath of said office. No person seeking appointment to or promotion in the Classified Service of the City shall either directly or indirectly give, render or pay any money, service or other valuable thing to any person for or on account of or in connection with his test, appointment, proposed appointment, promotion, or proposed promotion. No person shall orally, or by letter or otherwise, solicit or be in any manner concerned in soliciting any assessment, subscription or contribution for any political party or political purpose whatever from any person holding a position in the Classified Service of the City. No person holding a position in the Classified Service of the City shall make any contribution to the campaign funds of any political party or any candidate for public office or take part in the management, affairs, or political campaign of any political party or any candidate for public office, further than in the exercise of his right as a citizen to express his opinion and to cast his vote. The above prohibitions shall be in accord with Section 2-8. SECTION 4. The City Council does hereby find, determine, and declare that the ballot title set forth in Section 2 hereof fairly expresses the true meaning and intent of the referred Charter amendment. SECTION 5. The officials of the City are authorized and directed to take all actions necessary, appropriate or required to implement the provisions of this Ordinance. The City Clerk is directed to publish notice of election of the proposed Charter Amendment in conformity with the provision of C.R.S. 1-7.5-101 et seq. and C.R.S. 31-2-210 and to certify the Ballot Title to the Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder no later than sixty days before the November 4, 2025 coordinated election, as provided by C.R.S. 1-5-203 and C.R.S. 31-2- 210. SECTION6. This Ordinance shall become effective upon final action by the Mayor and City Council. Action by City Council: Introduced and initial adoption of Ordinance by City Council on July 28, 2025. Final adoption of Ordinance by City Council on August 11, 2025. President of City Council Action by the Mayor: Approved on . Disapproved on based on the following objections: _ Mayor Action by City Council After Disapproval by the Mayor: Council did not act to override the Mayor's veto. Ordinance re-adopted on a vote of , on Council action on _______ President of City Council ATTEST City Clerk