1 (Published in the Topeka Metro News October 19, 2009)
2
3 ORDINANCE NO. 19320
4
5 AN ORDINANCE introduced by City Councilperson Jeff Preisner creating City of
6 Topeka Code Chapter 2, Division 2, concerning Citizens
7 Government Review Committee to review the form of government
8 and repealing original Ordinance No. 15961.
9
10 WHEREAS, on September 13, 1988, the City Council passed and approved
11 Ordinance No. 15961 establishing and forming a committee to review the form of
12 government of the City of Topeka and to make recommendations to the Governing
13 Body relative to the City's form of government; and
14 WHEREAS, the ordinance needs to be brought up to date and codified to ensure
15 that the review committee meets as established.
16 THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
17 TOPEKA, KANSAS:
18 Section 1. That Chapter 2, Administration, Article I, In General, of The Code of
19 the City of Topeka, Kansas, is hereby amended to read as follows:
20 DIVISION 1. SEAL AND CREST
21 Section 2. That Chapter 2, Administration, Article I, In General, of The Code of
22 the City of Topeka, Kansas, is hereby amended to read as follows:
23 DIVISION 2. CITIZENS GOVERNMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE
24 Section 3. That The Code of the City of Topeka, Kansas, is hereby amended
25 by adding a section, to be numbered 2-10, which said section reads as follows:
26 Purpose.
27 It is the inherent right of the citizens of a jurisdiction to establish the form of
28 government which shall govern them and to exercise control over that form of
BORD/FOG Review Committee 9/08/09 2
29 government by amending and modifying it, from time to time, as they deem necessary
30 and convenient. Therefore, this ordinance is adopted by the City Council of the City of
31 Topeka to establish a process whereby a committee of citizens from Topeka,
32 representing as widely diverse backgrounds as possible, shall be impaneled to study
33 and review the form of government of the City of Topeka and make recommendations to
34 the City's Governing Body for amendment or modification.
35 Section 4. That The Code of the City of Topeka, Kansas, is hereby amended
36 by adding a section, to be numbered 2-11, which said section reads as follows:
37 Composition; appointment of members.
38 The committee shall be comprised of five (5) members appointed by the
39 Governing Body.
40 Section 5. That The Code of the City of Topeka, Kansas, is hereby amended
41 by adding a section, to be numbered 2-12, which said section reads as follows:
42 Qualifications of members.
43 The committee members shall be registered voters of the City of Topeka and the
44 committee shall be as representative as possible of the City.
45 Section 6. That The Code of the City of Topeka, Kansas, is hereby amended
46 by adding a section, to be numbered 2-13, which said section reads as follows:
47 Manner of convening.
48 The committee shall convene initially on or before July 1, 2015, and at least once
49 every ten (10) years thereafter, as directed by the City Council by way of an appropriate
50 resolution.
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51 Section 7. That The Code of the City of Topeka, Kansas, is hereby amended
52 by adding a section, to be numbered 2-14, which said section reads as follows:
53 Duties; meetings.
54 All meetings of the committee shall be open to the public and the committee shall
55 complete its work and submit its report and recommendations within six (6) months of
56 its appointment. Such report shall be delivered to the City's Governing Body, which may
57 act on said recommendations in a manner it deems appropriate. The committee's
58 report format should include, but not be limited to, areas of concern addressed, general
59 findings relative thereto, and specific recommendations for alleviating concerns or
60 problems.
61 Section 8. That The Code of the City of Topeka, Kansas, is hereby amended
62 by adding a section, to be numbered 2-15, which said section reads as follows:
63 Staff support; additional assistance.
64 City staff will be available, upon reasonable notice to the City Manager, to assist
65 the committee in its work, and to provide such information and materials as may be
66 requested by the committee. The committee may, at its pleasure, recruit the assistance
67 of other citizens, scholars in the field, or professional municipal managers for
68 participation on an ad hoc basis.
69 Section 9. That City of Topeka Ordinance No. 15961 is hereby repealed.
70 Section 10. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its
71 passage, approval and publication in the official City newspaper.
72
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