The citizens of the City of Malibu now have an opportunity to become the Charter City of Malibu.
By doing so, we can have a modified strong mayor structure of government. The strong mayor will be the CEO Administrative Head of the city government. The strong mayor structure will replace the city manager structure of government. The modified strong mayor structure of government will have no veto powers and will have an equal vote on all City Council matters.
As a home rule charter city, we can also pass ordinances for the City that are otherwise not possible now as a general law city. We can establish within the city charter the full commitment of the City to forming the independent Malibu Unified School District. We can write in a shopping center/chain store ordinance. Our new home rule ordinances will supersede most state and county general law ordinances, if we so choose.
Most importantly, we can establish the highest degree of public accountability within the administration of the City government our Democracy allows for, under the doctrine of home rule. We can elect an at large strong mayor CEO Administrator. We can elect City Council Members from four districts. We can elect our city clerk, City treasurer and city attorney. The terms of office of elected officials can be custom crafted by the citizens of a charter city.
By virtue of having an elected CEO Mayor and Administrator, we can both “hire and fire” the one person who holds the power of our City’s administration. Currently, under the city manager structure of government, the people of Malibu have no direct say or control in the hiring and firing of the city manager. The city manager now holds that power of administering our city government. As a charter city, the people will hold the power of Democracy in determining the leadership of our city administration.
Robert Bass