Outcomes
Cities address unique challenges through charter revision, relating specific outcomes to their current structures and needs. Here are some examples of how other cities are making progress under their charters:
Recalibration of the structure, authority, and operations of the City Council to provide effective, independent legislative oversight, including, eg., internally selected president and committee chairs, investigative powers, subpoena and compel power (NYC, Austin, TX, Portland, OR)
City Council - e.g., composition (district/at-large), term limits, staggered terms (LA, Portland, OR), special election for vacancies (NYC, LA, Houston, San Diego, Philadelphia, Austin)
Democratic initiatives, i.e., citizen-initiated referenda (Denver, San Diego, Portland, OR), recall/removal provisions (LA, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Philadelphia, Austin, TX)
Rigorous, standard-based budgetary processes, debt ceilings, sinking funds, independent fiscal evaluation (NYC, Austin, TX)
Equity and environmental impact statements and funding for major legislative initiatives (Philadelphia, San Francisco, NYC)
Pro-active data and information transparency obligations (NYC, Austin, TX)
Independent redistricting commission and processes (Austin, TX, Seattle, NYC)
Small donor public campaign financing (Los Angeles, Portland, OR, Phoenix, Austin, TX)
Rank Choice Voting (Austin, TX, Portland, OR)
