Submitted by: Laura Reams
Submitting Department: City Clerk
Agenda Section: Consent
Item Title:
title
Schedule Public Hearing for three (3) Hyattsville Charter Amendment Resolutions:
2024-01: Modernizing the City’s Procurement Provisions
2024-02: Amending the Charter to Utilize Gender Neutral Language
2024-03: Removing the Requirement that Council Meetings Start at 8:00 PM
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Suggested Action:
recommendation
I move the Mayor and Council schedule a Public Hearing on Monday, April 1 at 6:00 PM to hear public testimony regarding three (3) proposed Hyattsville Charter Amendment Resolutions.
- Charter Amendment Resolution 2024-01 proposes amending the Charter to modernize the City’s procurement provisions by placing the requirements for Council oversight in the City’s Code and by placing aspects of the procurement process in the City’s Code and inserting language requiring the City Administrator to sign all contracts in accordance with the City Code.
- Charter Amendment Resolution 2024-02 proposes amending the Charter to utilize gender neutral language, and;
- Charter Amendment Resolution 2024-03 proposes to remove the requirement that Council Meetings start at 8:00 p.m.
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Summary Background:
City staff have been working with the City Attorney on the following proposed charter amendments. Charter Amendments require a Public Hearing. Advance notice of the hearing must be provided at least 21 days prior to the hearing date. Charter Amendment Resolutions are effective 50 days after adoption. The proposed timeline for adoption is listed under “Next Steps”.
Charter Amendment Resolution 2024-01: Modernizing the City’s Procurement Provisions
The City’s detailed procurement provisions will be updated and will be more appropriately located within the City Code, rather than within the Charter. The Charter language will be more direct and will clarify the roles of the City Council and City Administrator. The Code provisions will include threshold dollar amounts and processes that better reflect current operations and best practices while improving transparency of actions. The proposed Charter and Code Changes were presented to Council on November 6, 2023.
2024-02: Amending the Charter to Utilize Gender Neutral Language
In accordance with the City’s goals of being a welcoming and inclusive community, the proposed amendment will remove gendered language from the City Charter.
2024-03: Removing the Requirement that Council Meetings Start at 8 PM
Removing the requirement that Council Meetings begin at 8:00 p.m., which has not been in practice since 2020, will provide the Council with the flexibility to hold meetings at times that are appropriate and convenient for Council and Community members.
Next Steps:
Timeline for Adoption
• April 1: Public Hearing at 6 PM, Council discussion during the scheduled 7 PM Council meeting
• April 15: Scheduled Adoption of the Charter Amendment Resolutions
• June 4: Effective Date of the Charter Amendment Resolutions
Fiscal Impact:
The City will incur printing fees to publish the required summary notice of the Charter Amendment Resolutions in the Prince George’s Post.
City Administrator Comments:
Recommend support.
Community Engagement:
Community members are encouraged to attend the public hearing and provide comments on the proposed charter amendment resolutions. The proposed amendments are published on the City’s website under “Hyattsville Ordinances”. Upon adoption, the City Clerk’s office will publish the required legal notices and transmit the resolutions to the State Department of Legislative Services.
Strategic Goals:
Goal 1 - Ensure Transparent and Accessible Governance
Legal Review Required?
Complete