Carlsbad council to vote on charter ballot measure language

By: BARBARA HENRY - North County Times | Sunday, February 3, 2008 7:48 PM PST ∞

CARLSBAD - The City Council is poised to sign off Tuesday on the proposed statement that would appear on the June 3 ballot when voters are asked whether they want Carlsbad to establish its own city charter.

"The question is not whether to put it on the ballot," City Attorney Ronald Ball said late last week. "The council already made that decision ... What's on the agenda for next Tuesday is the actual language of the charter."

Carlsbad now is a "general law" city, meaning that it is bound by state law on aspecits including scheduling elections and whether to pay state-determined prevailing wages - essentially union-scale wages - on municipal construction projects. But if it were to become a charter city, Carlsbad could exempt itself from some state requirements, proponents have said. The exceptions include traffic and vehicle regulations and public meeting requirements.

Carlsbad's proposed charter, which requires a simple majority "yes" vote in June to pass, is three pages long and begins with a preamble declaring, "We the people of Carlsbad, declare our intent to maintain in our community the historic principles of self-governance inherent in the doctrine of home rule."

It then states that local government control is the way to go, emphasizing that the city would have full power to regulate municipal affairs that is its allowance under state and national laws. The city's existing leadership system - an elected council with an appointed city manager - will continue under the charter, as will current "ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations" unless the city changes them, the document states.

There are more than 100 cities in California with charters, including Del Mar, San Marcos and Vista.

Carlsbad's leaders have been pushing forward with the charter city concept for months. Council members informally decided last fall to put the issue on the ballot this June, arguing that a charter would allow the city to have greater control over municipal affairs and could save the city money on large construction projects, such as parks and a proposed public safety training center.

The June 3 election is expected to cost the city $65,000, City Clerk Lorraine Wood said. In addition, the city is expecting to spend $45,000 on educational materials for voters.

"The city's not allowed to advocate, it's only allowed to educate," Ball said.

For council agenda information, visit: http://www.carlsbadca.gov/chall/4councilmtg.html

Contact staff writer Barbara Henry at (760) 901-4072 or bhenry@nctimes.com.