Charter Change Commission

[Double A]

The proposed Charter Change Commission(the bureaucratic brainchild of Councilor "Backroom" Baker) is on the City Council agenda for discussion tonight. After watching the Tuesday committee meeting where this was discussed, It seems that it is proposed as a seven member appointed body to review potential charter changes and make recommendations to the Council. Furthermore, Baker wants this commission to be established and ready to make it's recommendations by January 2006. Just two short months. He says he wants all appointments to be required to have unanimous vote of the council, however this is in clear conflict with the Charter and is unenforceable. If this was approved, it would only take a majority of a quorum of councilors to make an appointment. Futhermore this committee would most likely be meet during daytime working hours, greatly disfranchise working class voters, and limit public input/involvement in the process. This seems like an obvious attempt to subvert the work that the Council has already done in regards to Charter changes and reduce the accountability our elected officials are required to have by the Charter in the review process  to the voters of their districts. If Councilor Baker really respects the Charter as much as he claims to, then why is he so adamant about shirking his responsiblity to the voters required by the charter in this process?

SECTION 14. CHARTER REVIEW.
The Council shall provide by ordinance for the periodic review of this amended Charter and shall submit to the qualified electors of the city amendments necessary to provide for representative, efficient, and economical administration of city government.

The charter clearly states that it is the duty of the Council and not an appointed subordinate body to review the charter and submit the proposed amendments to the charter to qualified electors. If Baker wants this Commision established, he should have submitted it as a amendment back before the July deadline.