Here are links to a presentation by our State Representative Tom Rice. It is in two parts. Tom discusses his role in the Peachtree Corners City initiative, debunks misconceptions and gives us the real facts about the charter and the city.
Presentation Part 1 and Part 2. Tom also provides additional information on his website.
It is critical that we all take the time to become fully informed before we go to the polls on November 8th. This is the most important decision we will ever make as a community!
As always, please e-mail us at blog@upcca.org. if you have any questions about incorporation or suggestions for future blogs. You can also Follow Us On Facebook and Follow Us On Twitter. For more information about the city initiative, you can go to the Peachtree Corners web site.
Showing posts with label Peachtree Corners Powers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peachtree Corners Powers. Show all posts
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Peachtree Corners – City Charter – City Council
The Mayor and City Council will be the heart of our city government. They will make the policy and spending decisions that will determine how Peachtree Corners functions. It is important to understand their responsibilities so that when we elect our representatives, we can choose wisely.
First, the Charter provides for six city council members and a mayor. Three of the city council members will represent our three districts as shown on our proposed city map. The remaining three members will be “at-large”, meaning they will represent all of our citizens.
Terms will be for four years and will overlap. In the initial election to be held on March 6th, three council members will be elected for an initial term of two years. These positions will represent Districts 1 and 3 as well as one at-large position. After that, all terms will be four years.
Elections will be non-partisan. This means that no one has to declare whether they are a Republican or Democrat. Most important, the City does not have to pay for additional elections for party primaries and party run offs.
The Mayor and Council members are required to be residents of Peachtree Corners for at least one year prior to the election and must maintain their residence in Peachtree Corners for their term of office.
All positions on the Council are part-time. The Mayor receives $9,000 and the Council members $8,000 per year. These salaries were determined by comparison to Cities of similar populations. Because these are elected positions, they are not generally eligible for benefits or pensions. For example, Norcross does not pay benefits or pensions to their Mayor and City Council.
The mayor will serve in a leadership role, presiding over council meetings and serving as spokesperson. The Mayor’s role is defined in Section 2.8. Otherwise, the mayor will vote with and serve on the council with the same rights as other members. That means there will be seven equal votes, with no extraordinary authority vested in a single individual.
Any member who has a financial interest in a matter being voted on by the Council must abstain from voting on that issue. Section 2.14 “Conflicts of interest; holding other offices.” is completely devoted to ethics of those who will make up our government.
Currently, we are represented at the county level by a single person. Lynette Howard is a great asset for us, but she has only one vote out of five. A single vote for over 200,000 citizens! In contrast, the city will have about 38,000 citizens. That works out to about 6,000 per city council person. That gives all of us in Peachtree Corners more representation that is close to home and responsive to us.
We will have local control, representatives who share our values and will be as impacted by their decisions as we will be, a government that prevents power from residing with a single individual, and strict ethical standards for our officials. We, the people of Peachtree Corners, will have the control of and responsibility for our own destiny.
Please e-mail us at blog@upcca.org if you have any questions about incorporation or suggestions for future blogs. You can also Follow Us On Facebook and Follow Us On Twitter. For more information about the city initiative, you can go to the Peachtree Corners web site.
First, the Charter provides for six city council members and a mayor. Three of the city council members will represent our three districts as shown on our proposed city map. The remaining three members will be “at-large”, meaning they will represent all of our citizens.
Terms will be for four years and will overlap. In the initial election to be held on March 6th, three council members will be elected for an initial term of two years. These positions will represent Districts 1 and 3 as well as one at-large position. After that, all terms will be four years.
Elections will be non-partisan. This means that no one has to declare whether they are a Republican or Democrat. Most important, the City does not have to pay for additional elections for party primaries and party run offs.
The Mayor and Council members are required to be residents of Peachtree Corners for at least one year prior to the election and must maintain their residence in Peachtree Corners for their term of office.
All positions on the Council are part-time. The Mayor receives $9,000 and the Council members $8,000 per year. These salaries were determined by comparison to Cities of similar populations. Because these are elected positions, they are not generally eligible for benefits or pensions. For example, Norcross does not pay benefits or pensions to their Mayor and City Council.
The mayor will serve in a leadership role, presiding over council meetings and serving as spokesperson. The Mayor’s role is defined in Section 2.8. Otherwise, the mayor will vote with and serve on the council with the same rights as other members. That means there will be seven equal votes, with no extraordinary authority vested in a single individual.
Any member who has a financial interest in a matter being voted on by the Council must abstain from voting on that issue. Section 2.14 “Conflicts of interest; holding other offices.” is completely devoted to ethics of those who will make up our government.
Currently, we are represented at the county level by a single person. Lynette Howard is a great asset for us, but she has only one vote out of five. A single vote for over 200,000 citizens! In contrast, the city will have about 38,000 citizens. That works out to about 6,000 per city council person. That gives all of us in Peachtree Corners more representation that is close to home and responsive to us.
We will have local control, representatives who share our values and will be as impacted by their decisions as we will be, a government that prevents power from residing with a single individual, and strict ethical standards for our officials. We, the people of Peachtree Corners, will have the control of and responsibility for our own destiny.
Please e-mail us at blog@upcca.org if you have any questions about incorporation or suggestions for future blogs. You can also Follow Us On Facebook and Follow Us On Twitter. For more information about the city initiative, you can go to the Peachtree Corners web site.
Peachtree Corners - City Charter - Powers and Services
This blog begins a series describing and explaining the provisions of our city charter. Essentially, the charter provides the foundation and structure for our government. In this blog, we will explore how the charter defines the legal powers of the city and the services those powers allow the city to provide.
In future blogs, we will explore other sections of the charter. The first paragraph of the charter summarizes this key concept of powers and services.
Section 1.12 (a) defines the comprehensive powers of the city government. These powers define what the city of Peachtree Corners is authorized to do in the provision of services. The listing of powers includes animal control, appropriations and expenditures, fire regulations, health and sanitation among many others. These are standard and expected powers for any city. In 1999, Berkeley Lake’s charter was revised. You can see that the powers are very similar to those authorized for Peachtree Corners.
The key difference between us and any other city is in Section 1.12 (b) of our charter. This section spells out the specific services the city will provide: Planning and Zoning, Code Enforcement and Solid Waste Services. The charter specifically states that the comprehensive list of powers can only be exercised in the provision of these three services. If a power is not required for the provision of these services, the power is authorized but cannot be exercised.
Because we have chosen to limit the services we can provide by charter, we refer to Peachtree Corners as a “limited services city” or a “city lite.” But from the point of view of authorized powers, we are similar to other cities.
What if in the future citizens want to add services to the city? The charter was written specifically to allow the provision of additional services. There is a two-step process to add a service.
First, the city council must pass a resolution stating the specific services to be provided. Then, the resolution must be ratified in a referendum by the citizens of the city. In other words, the council proposes and the voters approve or disapprove the proposal. If the referendum is approved, the city is authorized to provide this service. If the referendum is defeated, the resolution is immediately null and void.
This gives remarkable control of city services to the citizens of Peachtree Corners. It ensures that no service can arbitrarily be added by a simple vote of the city council. It also allows Peachtree Corners to amend the city charter without having to return to the legislative process.
So while the services provided by the city are limited, there is an ability to provide additional services if we chose. However, the process provides checks and balances to ensure that the services provided are those desired by both the city council and a majority of the citizens of Peachtree Corners.
In the next blog, we will discuss taxes and the city charter. Please e-mail us at blog@upcca.com with any questions or ideas for future blogs. Or you may use the Comment Box below to post questions or remarks.
In future blogs, we will explore other sections of the charter. The first paragraph of the charter summarizes this key concept of powers and services.
Section 1.12 (a) defines the comprehensive powers of the city government. These powers define what the city of Peachtree Corners is authorized to do in the provision of services. The listing of powers includes animal control, appropriations and expenditures, fire regulations, health and sanitation among many others. These are standard and expected powers for any city. In 1999, Berkeley Lake’s charter was revised. You can see that the powers are very similar to those authorized for Peachtree Corners.
The key difference between us and any other city is in Section 1.12 (b) of our charter. This section spells out the specific services the city will provide: Planning and Zoning, Code Enforcement and Solid Waste Services. The charter specifically states that the comprehensive list of powers can only be exercised in the provision of these three services. If a power is not required for the provision of these services, the power is authorized but cannot be exercised.
Because we have chosen to limit the services we can provide by charter, we refer to Peachtree Corners as a “limited services city” or a “city lite.” But from the point of view of authorized powers, we are similar to other cities.
What if in the future citizens want to add services to the city? The charter was written specifically to allow the provision of additional services. There is a two-step process to add a service.
First, the city council must pass a resolution stating the specific services to be provided. Then, the resolution must be ratified in a referendum by the citizens of the city. In other words, the council proposes and the voters approve or disapprove the proposal. If the referendum is approved, the city is authorized to provide this service. If the referendum is defeated, the resolution is immediately null and void.
This gives remarkable control of city services to the citizens of Peachtree Corners. It ensures that no service can arbitrarily be added by a simple vote of the city council. It also allows Peachtree Corners to amend the city charter without having to return to the legislative process.
So while the services provided by the city are limited, there is an ability to provide additional services if we chose. However, the process provides checks and balances to ensure that the services provided are those desired by both the city council and a majority of the citizens of Peachtree Corners.
In the next blog, we will discuss taxes and the city charter. Please e-mail us at blog@upcca.com with any questions or ideas for future blogs. Or you may use the Comment Box below to post questions or remarks.
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