Charter could see 1st big updates since ‘60s

Huntington Beach residents will vote in November on whether to change their city’s charter, which has not seen major updates since the 1960s.

The city clerk’s office released the formal ballot language Monday, two weeks after the City Council voted to include the charter revisions on the November General Election ballot. The ballot will contain two measures, one covering multiple revisions to the charter and another covering infrastructure funds.

Among the proposed revisions in the first measure are changing the city administrator’s title to city manager; tightening the eligibility rules for city attorney, city clerk and city treasurer; and raising the minimum price that would require voters’ approval for a construction project on a park or beach.

Presently, a structure costing more than $100,000 requires a public vote; the charter revision would raise the minimum to $161,000.

The second measure would change the city’s rules regarding infrastructure, mandating that upon adoption of the 2017-18 budget, debt service and other indirect costs will not be included among the 15% of the general fund set aside for infrastructure improvements.

Election Day is Nov. 2.

The council formed a 15-member Charter Review Committee in July, with some members appointed directly by council members and others chosen through an interview process. The committee met repeatedly over the ensuing months to make recommendations for charter changes.