VOTE411 Voter Guide

The city of Richardson is asking voters to decide on 50 proposed amendments to the City Charter, grouped here in two lists. All of the Charter Amendments on the following list are to simplify, clarify or modernize language in the Richardson Charter. They are routine or technical in nature and unlikely to impact Richardson residents. Each Amendment is listed here starting with the letter as it's listed on the ballot, followed the amendment's ballot language. Each must be voted on separatelyIn addition to these amendments, there are sixteen substantive amendments that require more explanation. They are listed separately according to their letter on the ballot as propositions D, E, J, M, N, V, BB, CC, JJ, KK, LL, MM, RR, SS, WW, XX, along with additional information of interest to voters. LIST OF PROPOSITIONS:Prop A: Shall Article 2, Section 2.02, Article 18, Section 18.05, and Article 9, Section 9.12 (b) of the Home Rule Charter (HRC) be amended to make non-substantive grammatical changes?Prop B: Shall Article 2, Section 2.04 of the HRC be amended to change the title and clarify the application of the city’s authority regarding the development and operation of public improvements and buildings within and outside the city?Prop C: Shall Article 3, Section 3.03 of the HRC be amended to clarify the process for the election of mayor pro tem by the city council?Prop F: Shall Article 3, Section 3.10 of the HRC be amended to clarify that members of the public have a reasonable opportunity to be heard at open meetings of the city council?Prop G: Shall Article 3, Section 3.13 of the HRC be amended regarding the persons who may serve subpoenas for the city council?Prop H: Shall Article 3, Section 3.13, Article 6, Section 6.07, and Article 9, Section 9.12 (f), of the HRC be amended to modernize the description of the documents subject to a subpoena for production?Prop I: Shall Article 3, Section 3.14 of the HRC regarding persons or officials under the charter authorized to administer oaths be repealed since such authority is covered by state law?Prop K: Shall Article 4, Section 4.03 and Article 14, Section 14.02 of the HRC be amended to make non-substantive changes to clarify that the word “voters” means qualified voters of the city?Prop L: Shall Article 5, Section 5.01 of the HRC be amended to clarify that the qualified voters of the city have the right to recall the mayor and city council members?Prop O: Shall Article 6, Section 6.01 of the HRC regarding the appointment of the city manager and Article 6, Section 6.04 of the HRC regarding the removal of the city manager be amended by removing the sentence “The city manager shall be removable at the will and pleasure of the city council by a vote of the majority of the entire council,” from Article 6, Section 6.01 and relocating said sentence to Article 6, Section 6.04?Prop P: Shall Article 6, Section 6.02 of the HRC be amended to clarify that the city manager shall be a resident of the city?Prop Q: Shall Article 6, Section 6.04 of the HRC be amended to make non-substantive clarification changes regarding the process for the removal of the city manager?Prop R: Shall Article 6, Section 6.05, subsection (c) of the HRC be amended to clarify the duties of the city manager in exercising control over city departments established by the city manager?Prop S: Shall Article 6, Section 6.05, subsection (e) of the HRC be amended to clarify when the city manager may be absent from city council meetings?Prop T: Shall Article 6, Section 6.05, subsection (e) of the HRC be amended to authorize the city manager to designate a representative when absent from a city council meeting?Prop U: Shall Article 6, Section 6.06 of the HRC regarding the provisions requiring the city council to require the city manager to obtain a surety bond be repealed?Prop W: Shall Article 7, Section 7.03 of the HRC regarding the qualifications of judge of the municipal court change the phrase “bona fide resident of the City of Richardson” to read “resident of the City of Richardson”?Prop X: Shall Article 7, Section 7.05 of the HRC regarding the compensation of the municipal court judges be repealed because they are set forth in the approved budget of the city?Prop Y: Shall Article 8, Section 8.03 of the HRC be amended to clarify that city department directors prepare city department operating budgets for the city manager?Prop Z: Shall Article 9, Section 9.02 of the HRC be amended to require persons appointed by the city council to boards and commissions be a resident of the city for at least one year prior to the date of such appointment?Prop AA: Shall Article 9, Section 9.10, subsections (b) and (d) and Article 9, Section 9.11 (c) of the HRC be amended to make non-substantive grammatical changes consistent with state law?Prop DD: Shall Article 9, Section 9.12 and Article 9, Section 9.11 of the HRC be amended by removing subsections (d) and (e) from Article 9, Section 9.12 and relocating them to Article 9, Section 9.11 as subsections (e) and (f)?Prop EE: Shall Article 10, Section 10.04 of the HRC be amended to require the civil service board to establish rules that afford an opportunity for all city employees to apply for a civil service position prior to posting such position to the public and external candidates?Prop FF: Shall Article 10, Section 10.05 of the HRC be amended to eliminate the minimum probation period for a civil service position, which will allow the civil service board to establish a probationary period for each employee classification?Prop GG: Shall Article 10, Section 10.07 of the HRC regarding the establishment of the civil service appeals board, which is also set forth in Article 9, Section 9.12 (a) of the HRC, be repealed?Prop HH: Shall Article 11, Section 11.04 of the HRC be amended to allow the city to publish notice of the public hearing for the city budget by means allowed by state law?Prop II: Shall Article 11, Section 11.04 of the HRC be amended to clarify that members of the public may be present and express their opinion at the public hearings for the city budget?Prop NN: Shall Article 17, Section 17.01 of the HRC be amended to retitle the Section from “Church and school property assessments” to “Property assessments” and to change the word “church” to “religious organization”?Prop OO: Shall Article 17, Section 17.03 of the HRC be amended to make non-substantive grammar corrections clarifying that city property is not subject to liens, garnishments, and judgments consistent with state law?Prop PP: Shall Article 18, Section 18.05 of the HRC regarding the establishment of the city public library be amended to apply to more than one library?Prop QQ: Shall Article 18, Section 18.07 of the HRC be amended to authorize additional city officials who may take actions regarding the condemnation of dangerous buildings and structures consistent with state law?Prop TT: Shall Article 19, Section 19.03 of the HRC be amended to make non-substantive changes to clarify the procedures for the adoption of amendments to the charter?Prop UU: Shall Article 19, Section 19.06 of the HRC be amended to amend the title of the Section from Renumbering to Non-Substantive Changes to provide authorization for city council by ordinance to make non-substantive revisions and changes to the charter in addition to renumbering of articles, sections, subsections, and paragraphs in the charter?Prop VV: Shall Article 19 of the HRC be amended to add Section 19.07 to provide definitions for terms and phrases used in the charter?