Agua
Dulce Town Council page Vanguard News Home page Approved and Adopted September 21, 1991
A. PURPOSE OF THIS CHARTER
1. This Charter creates an Agua Dulce Town Council.
2. This Charter establishes requirements upon the Town Council as to its operation.
3. This Charter requires the Town Council to create Bylaws and that the Bylaws be in accordance with the requirements listed herein.
4. This Charter establishes boundaries for the Agua Dulce Area of Representation.
B. AGUA DULCE AREA OF REPRESENTATION:
The Agua Dulce Area of Representation includes the Agua Dulce Community Standards District as defined by Los Angeles County Code Section 22.44.113, and, in addition, includes neighborhoods outside of the Community Standards District as defined by the attached Exhibit "A".
C. AMENDMENTS TO THIS CHARTER:
1. Charter amendments shall be by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of those eligible participating registered voters. The term "eligible registered voters" as used herein is defined as those registered by the County of Los Angeles to vote in Agua Dulce.
2. Amendments to this Charter shall be made by eligible registered voters of Agua Dulce, either by referendum or by general election called by the Town Council.
D. PURPOSE OF THE AGUA DULCE TOWN COUNCIL:
1. To serve as a common meeting place for the free expression of all views and for the coming together of diverse opinions into a consensus.
2. To discuss issues concerning Agua Dulce, to invite participation by the public, civic and private organizations.
3. To serve as Agua Dulce's representative and to speak on behalf of the community.
4. To review public and private proposals that may affect the community.
5. To neither support nor oppose any political party or candidate.
E. TOWN COUNCIL BYLAWS:
The Town Council shall create and amend, as necessary, a set of Bylaws by which it shall conduct its affairs. The Bylaws shall be in accordance with this Charter and shall define, as a minimum: the structure of the Town Council including committees; the duties of its members and employees; how it shall conduct its business; disciplining, removing and replacing Town Council members; definition of quorum; community voting procedures for Town Council members and for referendums; and rules of order.
F. ELECTION OF TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS
1. The Town Council shall consist of seven (7) members elected bye the eligible registered voters of Agua Dulce. Town Council bylaws hall set forth how vacancies will be filled
2. At the first election to establish a Town council seven (7) members shall be elected. The four (4) receiving the largest number of votes shall be elected to serve for two (2) years The remaining three (3) be elected to serve for one (1) year. As terms expire, an annual election will be required to fill the vacant seats.
3. Candidates for Town Council shall be eligible registered voters whose legal residence has been within Agua Dulce for one (I) year or more prior to registration for candidacy The Election Committee shall verify the eligibility of all candidates
4. As the first order of business, the first meeting of each newly elected Town Council shall include the swearing in and a reading and disc of this Charter, the Bylaws and the rules of order.
5. All candidates shall pay an application fee of $50 or as determined by the Town Council.
6. No candidate for Town Council shall be a member of the Election Committee.
All Town Council records shall be maintained in writing by the Town Council, and those members shall be available to the public upon request.
H. THE TOWN COUNCIL:
1. The Town Council shall operate according to the rules of order established by the Town Council Bylaws.
2. The Town Council shall announce Town Council members speaking time limits at the beginning of each meeting (including committee meetings), as defined by the Town Council Bylaws
3. No member of the Town Council may speak or write in the name of the Town Council unless specifically authorized by a majority of the Town Council members.
I. PARTICIPATION OF THE PUBLIC IN TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS:
1. All Town Council meetings shall be publicized. An agenda shall be posted in a public place prior to all meetings. Council meetings and Council committee meetings shall be open to the public.
2. All Town Council meeting agendas shall include an open forum for public input.
3. Individuals and group representatives may request, and shall receive, permission to address the Council. All speakers shall be limited number to a specific length of time as announced at the beginning of the Council meeting.
4. Individuals and group representatives may request that the Town Council place specific issues on the agenda of a future meeting. The Town request
Each referendum petition shall require the signatures of thirty percent (30%) of the eligible registered voters as determined by the Election Committee. The Election Committee shall verify all signatures on all petitions and shall declare to the Town Council, for the record, whether or not the petitions are valid. The Council then must schedule a formal public hearing (Town Hall) on any valid petition followed by a community vote. The Council then must act in accordance with the wishes of the voters. Acceptable referendum subjects (and requirements of passage) are as follows:
1. Unpopular decisions made by the Council (simple majority of the participating voters).
2. Issues that the Council has refused to consider (simple majority of the participating voters).
3. Recall of Council members (two-thirds (2/3) of the participating voters).
4. Amendments to the Charter (two-thirds (2/3) of the participating voters).
5. Irregularities as perceived by the community (simple majority of the participating voters).
K. ELECTION COMMITTEE
1. Pursuant to this Charter, the Election Committee shall supervise all voting (elections and referendums), shall review all petition signatures to assure their validity, and shall maintain a current list and number of registered voters in Agua Dulce.
2. The Election Committee shall consist of representatives from all Agua Dulce organizations and all members of the community who wish to participate. There shall be no limit to the number of committee members. Election Committee members shall be eligible registered voters.
3. The Chairperson of the Election Committee shall be selected by the committee for a term of one ( 1 ) year, and shall be installed by the Town Council.
4. The Town Council Bylaws shall include a Voting Procedure to be implemented by the Election Committee.
5. The Election Committee shall report to the Town Council upon request.
6. All Election Committee records shall be maintained in writing with the Town Council records.