City Charter Amendments 2024

Click here to view the proposed City Charter Amendments (6/25/24)

The City Charter was last revised in November of 2014 when a group of residents organized and circulated petitions to change Charter Sections 406, 500, 504, and 1503(k). Before 2014, the charter had not been amended since 2006.

In 2023, then-Mayor Eduardo Montesino requested that staff explore options for updating the City’s Charter to modernize some outdated language. On June 27, 2023, the City Council considered options for revising the Charter and opted for the appointment of a subcommittee to conduct the review. Mayor Montesino appointed Council Members Dutra, Orozco, and Salcido to the Committee. The Committee was tasked with providing the Council with proposed changes to the Charter. The Committee made recommendations to Council and the Council directed staff to return for final action with the ballot questions that follow:

 Proposed Ballot Measure #1

Shall the measure amending the Charter of the City of Watsonville to allow Councilmembers to receive employment benefits, adjust the Mayor’s salary, modify Council meeting requirements, allow the Council to set compensation for Planning Commissioners, make the Library Board a Commission, update qualifications and duties of City Manager, clarify requirements regarding ordinance publication and hiring of attorneys, clarify staff positions and references to other City regulations, and remove or revise provisions to be consistent with current law be adopted?

Proposed Ballot Measure #2

Shall the measure amending the Charter of the City of Watsonville to modify the eligibility requirement for appointment to the Parks & Recreation Commission and the Library Commission from qualified elector to resident of the City of Watsonville be adopted?

Both measures require a simple majority to pass.

Summary of Proposed Changes:

Proposed Charter Amendments
Charter Section Summary
Section 405 - Compensation Allow Council to consider obtaining fringe benefits in addition to salary
Section 408 – Meetings of the Council Remove requirement to hold 1 regular meeting each month and only require a meeting that could be a special or emergency meeting
Section 409 – Participation Remove reference to citizen for allowed participation in meetings
Section 502 - Salary Mayor to receive 25% more in salary than remainder of Council
Section 607 – Publication of Ordinances Update language to allow publication on any newspaper or as permitted by Sate Law
Section 700 – City Manager Update qualification requirements
Section 703 – City Manager Powers and Duties Include requirement to meet with Council Members and assign role of City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Director
Section 804 – City Attorney Powers and Duties Clarify City’s ability to hire additional attorneys
Section 900 - Commissions  Change Library Board to Commission

Ballot Question #2 Would allow non-registered Watsonville residents to be appointed to the Parks & Library Commissions
Section 905 – Planning Commission Compensation Grant Council the ability to consider compensation for Planning Commissioners 
Section 910 – Board of Library Trustees Change Library Board to a Commission
Section 1001 – Competitive and General Service Clarify General Service staff positions
Section 1003 – Status of Existing Employees Deleted due to lack of relevance
Section 1004 – Suspension, Demotion, and Dismissal Add reference to City Rules and Regulations
Section 1106 – Tax Levy Prop 13 overrides this section, recommending strike through
Section 1113 – Funds: Capital Outlays Fund Removes non-enforceable language 
Section 1118 – Contracts for Official Advertising Remove entire section as it is unnecessary and impractical
Section 1122 – Tax Limits Remove Section 1122 (a) and Section 1122(b)(1) as not authorized post Proposition 13
Section 1202 – Franchise Terms, Condition, and Procedures Remove requirement to establish general terms and conditions for franchises through ordinance and instead consider franchises individually
Section 1504 – Violations Replace “shall” with “may” to allow flexibility in imposing violations
Section 1506 – Publicity of Records Include language to refer to State policy regarding public records requests