Metropolitan Government Charter Commission

Commission Values:
Inclusiveness * Efficiency * Integrity * Innovation * Service

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The Memphis & Shelby County Metropolitan Government Charter Commission is established to write and propose to the voters the charter for a metropolitan government.  The 15 appointed charter members who make up the commission must have the new charter document filed by August 10th, 2010.  Members shall not receive per diem or other compensation for their services, except reimbursement of actual expenses by members.  The charter commission shall be authorized to employ such staff as may be required to assist it in drafting a charter for a single metropolitan government which shall consolidate county and city functions herein provided and which shall be proposed for adoption.  Vacancies in the office of the charter commission shall be filled by the remaining members.  All public officials shall, upon request, furnish the commission with all information and assistance necessary or appropriate for its work.

Duties of the Charter Commission
The commission must be sure to address at LEAST  the following issues in the charter it proposes

• determine what to call the new government:
• create a new legislative body and determine its powers and organizational and operational procedures;
• establish legislative districts and determine and set the qualifications for its members;
• establish the position of a top executive or administrative officer, set requirements of the position, determine how the person would be selected and establish the position's powers;
• outline the fiscal, budgetary and financial administrative procedures;
• determine the public works responsibilities to be assumed and their operations;
• outline the new government's judicial system and its staffing;
• determine the scale of other governmental concerns, such as utilities, fire protection, public and safety planning;
• adopt transitional tax levy procedures, budgetary matters, legal documents, and personnel procedures; and
• set out the procedures for public consideration and action on the proposed charter.  Much of the procedure is already established by state statute

Definitions

Metropolitan Government

The political  entity created by consolidation of all, or substantially all, of the political and corporate functions, of a county and a city or cities.

 

Charter Commissioner

A commission established to write and propose to the voters the charter for a metropolitan government.

 

Principal City

The municipality that has the largest population of any municipality in the county.

 

Smaller City

Any municipality other than the principal (largest) city in the county.

 

Urban Services District

A service district within a metropolitan government in which additional, urban type services are provided by the metropolitan government in addition to those in the general services district.

 

General Services District

A service district within a metropolitan government whose geographical limits are coextensive with the total in which the government functions.