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David M. Carr explains vote on Charter Revision Commission resolution
0:06:19
ยท
88 sec
Council Member David M. Carr explains his support for Resolution 740, which aims to maintain the City Council's ability to put charter revision referenda on the ballot. He views charter revision as primarily a legislative matter and believes the council should have this power regardless of ongoing Charter Revision Commissions.
- Carr emphasizes that his support is about the process, not specific ballot measures
- He argues that the mayoral veto provides a sufficient check on the council's power
- Carr believes this change would give the legislative body a more balanced position in charter revision processes
David M. Carr
0:06:19
Permission to explain my vote?
Lincoln Restler
0:06:22
Permission granted.
David M. Carr
0:06:23
Thank you, chair.
0:06:24
I just wanna say a few words, about the resolution, with respect to the Charter Revision Commission.
0:06:30
You know, primarily I see the revision of the Charter as a legislative matter.
0:06:36
And so to me it's quite appropriate that the council should always retain the ability to put referenda on the ballot, for charter revisions regardless of whether there is a contemporaneous charter revision commission that is ongoing.
0:06:50
And this isn't about whether I support or, oppose the particular ballot, measures that we've attempted to put on the ballot in the last couple of years.
0:06:59
It's really just a matter of process.
0:07:01
And to me, there is a sufficient check on this council in the form of the mayoral veto, which is maintained even if this revision were to take effect.
0:07:10
And so, you know, in my opinion that this is simply giving to the legislative body a more balanced fighting posture when it comes to the revision of the charter, which again I see as a fundamentally legislative process.
0:07:24
So it's not any comment on any particular matter that's before the voters or could be, but I do think that it's appropriate for the council to always maintain the prerogative, either with the consent of the mayor or through override of a mayoral veto to put a measure on the ballot before the public, and ultimately, it's they that get to decide whether the charter gets revised.
0:07:44
So with that being said, I vote aye on all.