1. In April of 2010, two petition committees were formed by Wheat Ridge citizens. The goal was to initiate the petition process to place two questions on the November 2010 ballot. Petition committee members are: Dick MatthewsPolly Pinkston Charlie Holcer Dean Gokey Susan Motika Kent O. Davis Joe De Mott Wanda Sang All members of the committee are residents of Wheat Ridge. Some members also operate a business in Wheat Ridge.

2. The Story… The two proposed ballot questions address critical issues for a more responsive city government and establishes enhanced checks and balances, healthier accountability and less bureaucracy from City Council and staff for the 21 st century. 1.Returns our city government to the more efficient MAYOR-COUNCIL-ADMINISTRATOR form of government (added accountability of elected officials and staff) 2.Expands the current Mayor veto on ordinances to the entire city budget or by city department and/or fund (added checks and balances on taxpayer money)

3. The Story… We would like to acknowledge the 2000+ citizens, businesses, volunteers and elected officials who have worked on this grassroots effort to bring two ballot questions forward to the citizens of Wheat Ridge this fall. The petitions were due Tuesday, 7/6/2010, and were delivered to the City Clerk. Supplemental signatures were submitted to the City Clerk on August 6th, 2010. Please note that each petition required 1022 signatures. 2000+ signatures were collected for each petition!

4. The Story… A big THANK YOU to the 2000+ citizens who signed the petitions to place these two “check and balance” issues on the November 2010 ballot. Current or Former Elected Officials who signed and/or carried a petition: Mayors: Hank Stites, Jerry DiTullio Council: Wanda Sang, Mike Stites, Joe De Mott, Tracy Langworthy, Larry Merkl, Dean Gokey, Kent O. Davis, Ken Siler, Janelle Shaver, Claudia Worth. Experience Counts!

5. MAYOR-COUNCIL-ADMINISTRATOR At the city level, the form of government that best encourages accountability and enhanced checks and balances of elected officials and city staff is the MAYOR-COUNCIL-ADMINISTRATOR form of government The founding fathers of this country anticipated branches of government that were elected and directly accountable to the citizens with separation of powers: Elected Executive (President, Governor, Mayor) Elected Legislative (Congress, State Legislature, City Council) Judicial (Federal Courts, State/District Courts, City Courts) The goal and purpose of the elected branches of government is to: Provide for further checks and balances of government Provide accountability of government to the citizens Provide for a representative form of government

6. MAYOR-COUNCIL-ADMINISTRATOR highlights The Mayor hires a professional City Administrator to efficiently administer the daily affairs of the City. The Mayor and the professional City Administrator develop a budget for City Council review and approval based on the needs of the community. By Charter, the Mayor does not vote on adopting or amending the budget. The City Administrator hires/fires department heads. Department heads hire/fire all other city employees. The Mayor AND the City Administrator implement the policies set by City Council as a team

7. MAYOR-COUNCIL-ADMINISTRATOR highlights The City Administrator is accountable to 1 boss (the Mayor), not 8-9 bosses as with the inefficient Council/Manager form. Time is money. It is time to implement city policies in a timely and efficient manner! The City Council (legislative) sets City policies and approves/amends the City budget. City Council retains the power of the purse! The City Council must approve the recommended salary and employment contract of the City Administrator Less bureaucracy, less expensive (time is money, 1 boss vs. 8-9 bosses), more checks and balances of government and more accountability to the citizens from the Mayor and City Administrator

8. Question: Does the MAYOR-COUNCIL- ADMINISTRATOR form of government “diminish” the powers of Council? Answer: NO. Section 4.7 of the City Charter does not change in the proposed ballot question. Sec. 4.7. Powers of council. The council shall constitute the legislative body of the city and shall have all legislative powers and functions of municipal government, except as otherwise provided in this Charter, and shall have the power and authority to adopt such ordinances, resolutions, motions and rules as it shall deem proper.

9. Question: Does the MAYOR-COUNCIL-ADMINISTRATOR form of government “diminish” the professionalism and duties of the proposed City Administrator? Answer: NO. Section 3.4 of the City Charter does not change the professionalism or the duties of the Administrator in the proposed ballot question. The job title changes from “Manager” to “Administrator”. Sec. 3.4. Manager. The city manager shall be appointed with regard to fitness, competency, training, and experience in professional urban administration. At the time of his appointment, the city manager need not be a resident of the city, but during his tenure in office he shall reside within the city. No mayor shall be appointed city manager during or within one (1) year after the termination of his elected term.

10. The duties of the city manager shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (a) Be responsible for the enforcement of the laws and ordinances of the city; (b) Hire, suspend, transfer and remove city department heads, who serve under the jurisdiction, and at the will of, the city manager; (c) Make appointments of subordinates on the basis of merit and fitness; (d) Cause a proposed budget to be prepared annually and submitted to the council and be responsible for the administration of the budget after its adoption; (e) During the month of July, and as often as the council may require, prepare and submit to the council a budget status and forecast report with any recommendations for remedial action; (f) Prepare and submit to the council, as of the end of the fiscal year, a complete report on finances and administrative activities of the city for the preceding year and, upon the request of the council, make written or verbal reports at any time concerning the affairs of the city under his supervision;

11. (g) Keep the council advised of the financial condition and future needs of the city and make such recommendations to the council for adoption as he may deem necessary or expedient; (h) Exercise supervision and control over all departments under his jurisdiction. (i) Be responsible for the enforcement of all terms and conditions imposed in favor of the city in any contract or public utility franchise, and upon knowledge of any violation thereof, report the same to the council for such action and proceedings as may be necessary to enforce the same; (j) Provide for engineering, architectural, maintenance, and construction service required by the city; (k) Attend council meetings and participate in discussions with the council in an advisory capacity; (l) Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter, by ordinance or required of him by council and which are not inconsistent with this Charter.

12. Question: Does the MAYOR-COUNCIL-ADMINISTRATOR form allow the Mayor to hire a friend or relative? Answer: YES. And right now the City Council can hire a friend or relative under the inefficient Council/Manager with very few checks and balances. Can we say Bell, California? Added check and balance in proposed ballot question: Section 3.4. City ADMINISTRATOR The city ADMINISTRATOR shall be the chief administrative officer of the city. The MAYOR shall appoint a city ADMINISTRATOR who shall serve at the pleasure of the MAYOR, without definite term and at a salary RECOMMENDED BY THE MAYOR AND RATIFIED by the council.

13. Question: Does the MAYOR-COUNCIL- ADMINISTRATOR form of government allow the Mayor to alter or delete personnel polices or qualifications for the City Administrator or other city employees? Answer: NO! The HR Department is under the City Administrator. City Council retains the power to approve or change personnel policies. The Mayor cannot change personnel policies. Only City Council may change personnel policies.

14. Question: If the MAYOR-COUNCIL- ADMINISTRATOR form is passed by the voters, does the Mayor get a raise or become a “full- time” Mayor? Answer: NO. Only City Council or the voters can give the Mayor a raise and the raise cannot be in the middle of any given term. Answer: DEPENDS. Future Mayors will need to run on a platform as to why they are the best choice. Mayors will need to work smart. No results? The voters can remove him/her from office.

15. Question: Is the MAYOR-COUNCIL- ADMINISTRATOR form of Government the same as the “Strong Mayor” or “Boss Mayor” form of government? Answer: NO! That form of government died out in the 1920s and was popular when there was mass corruption, cronyism and no City Council in city government. The Mayor was king, just like Chicago in the 1920s and Boss Hog in Hazzard County!!

16. The executive branch of city government needs to be the Mayor who is directly accountable to the residents, not a City Manager who is not directly accountable to the residents. The City Administrator should have only 1 boss (MAYOR-COUNCIL-ADMINISTRATOR), not 8-9 bosses so he/she can get some work done. Time is money and less bureaucracy! Wheat Ridge Can be a Leader in Colorado by Advocating for Efficient Change in City Government – Leading by Example