HOUSE BILL No. 6043

 

December 2, 2014, Introduced by Rep. Schor and referred to the Committee on Local Government.

 

     A bill to amend 1909 PA 279, entitled

 

"The home rule city act,"

 

by amending sections 3, 4g, 5, 5e, 10, and 15 (MCL 117.3, 117.4g,

 

117.5, 117.5e, 117.10, and 117.15), section 3 as amended by 2012 PA

 

7 and section 5 as amended by 2011 PA 133.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 3. Each city charter shall provide for all of the

 

following:

 

     (a) The election of a mayor, who shall be the chief executive

 

officer of the city, and of a body vested with legislative power,

 

and for the election or appointment of a clerk, a treasurer, an

 

assessor or board of assessors, a board of review, and other

 

officers considered necessary. The city charter may provide for the

 

selection of the mayor by the legislative body. Elections may be by

 


a partisan, nonpartisan, or preferential ballot, or by any other

 

legal method of voting. Notwithstanding another law or charter

 

provision to the contrary, a city having a 1970 official population

 

of more than 150,000, whose charter provides for terms of office of

 

less than 4 years, and in which the term of office for the mayor

 

and the governing body are of the same length, may provide by

 

ordinance for a term of office of up to 4 years for mayor and other

 

elected city officials. The ordinance shall provide that the

 

ordinance shall take effect 60 days after it is enacted unless

 

within the 60 days a petition is submitted to the city clerk signed

 

by not less than 10% of the registered electors of the city

 

requesting that the question of approval of the ordinance be

 

submitted to the electors at the next regular election or a special

 

election called for the purpose of approving or disapproving the

 

ordinance.

 

     (b) The nomination of elective officers by partisan or

 

nonpartisan primary, by petition, or by convention.

 

     (c) The time, manner, and means of holding elections and the

 

registration of electors, subject to section 26 and other

 

applicable requirements of law.

 

     (d) The qualifications, duties, and compensation of the city's

 

officers. If the city has an appointed chief administrative

 

officer, the legislative body of the city may enter into an

 

employment contract with the chief administrative officer extending

 

beyond the terms of the members of the legislative body unless the

 

employment contract is prohibited by the city charter. An

 

employment contract with a chief administrative officer shall be in

 


writing and shall specify the compensation to be paid to the chief

 

administrative officer, any procedure for changing the

 

compensation, any fringe benefits, and other conditions of

 

employment. The contract shall state if the chief administrative

 

officer serves at the pleasure of the legislative body, and the

 

contract may provide for severance pay or other benefits in the

 

event the chief administrative officer's employment is terminated

 

at the pleasure of the legislative body.

 

     (e) The establishment of 1 or more wards, and if the members

 

of the city's legislative body are chosen by wards, for equal

 

representation for each ward in the legislative body.

 

     (f) That the subjects of taxation for municipal purposes are

 

the same as for state, county, and school purposes under the

 

general law.

 

     (g) The annual laying and collecting taxes in a sum, except as

 

otherwise provided by law, not to exceed 2% of the taxable value of

 

the real and personal property in the city. Unless the charter

 

provides for a different tax rate limitation, the governing body of

 

a city may levy and collect taxes for municipal purposes in a sum

 

not to exceed 1% of the taxable value of the real and personal

 

property in the city. As used in this subdivision, "taxable value"

 

is that value determined under section 27a of the general property

 

tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.27a.

 

     (h) An annual appropriation of money for municipal purposes.

 

     (i) The levy, collection, and return of state, county, and

 

school taxes in conformance with the general laws of this state,

 

except that the preparation of the assessment roll, the meeting of

 


the board of review, and the confirmation of the assessment roll

 

may be at the times provided in the city charter.

 

     (j) The public peace and health and for the safety of persons

 

and property. In providing for the public peace, health, and

 

safety, a city may expend funds or enter into contracts with a

 

private organization, the federal or state government, a county,

 

village, or township, or another city for services considered

 

necessary by the legislative body. Public peace, health, and safety

 

services may include the operation of child guidance and community

 

mental health clinics, the prevention, counseling, and treatment of

 

developmental disabilities, the prevention of drug abuse, and the

 

counseling and treatment of drug abusers.

 

     (k) Adopting, Before January 1, 2015, adopting, continuing,

 

amending, and repealing the city ordinances and for the publication

 

of each ordinance before it becomes operative. Whether Before

 

January 1, 2015, whether or not provided in its charter, instead of

 

publishing a true copy of an ordinance before it becomes operative,

 

the city may publish a summary of the ordinance. If Before January

 

1, 2015, if the city publishes a summary of the ordinance, the city

 

shall include in the publication the designation of a location in

 

the city where a true copy of the ordinance can be inspected or

 

obtained. Beginning January 1, 2015, each city charter shall

 

provide for adopting, continuing, amending, and repealing the city

 

ordinances and for providing tier B public notice with a link of

 

each ordinance before it becomes operative as set forth in the

 

local government public notice act. A charter provision to the

 

contrary notwithstanding, a city may adopt an ordinance punishable

 


by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of not more

 

than $500.00, or both, if the violation substantially corresponds

 

to a violation of state law that is a misdemeanor for which the

 

maximum period of imprisonment is 93 days. Whether or not provided

 

in its charter, a city may adopt a provision of a state statute for

 

which the maximum period of imprisonment is 93 days or the Michigan

 

vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.1 to 257.923. Except as

 

otherwise provided under the Stille-DeRossett-Hale single state

 

construction code act, 1972 PA 230, MCL 125.1501 to 125.1531, a

 

city may adopt a law, code, or rule that has been promulgated and

 

adopted by an authorized agency of this state pertaining to fire,

 

fire hazards, fire prevention, or fire waste, and a fire prevention

 

code, plumbing code, heating code, electrical code, building code,

 

refrigeration machinery code, piping code, boiler code, boiler

 

operation code, elevator machinery code, an international property

 

maintenance code, or a code pertaining to flammable liquids and

 

gases or hazardous chemicals, that has been promulgated or adopted

 

by this state, by a department, board, or other agency of this

 

state, or by an organization or association that is organized and

 

conducted for the purpose of developing the code, by reference to

 

the law, code, or rule in an adopting ordinance and without

 

publishing or posting the law, code, or rule in full. The law,

 

code, or rule shall be clearly identified in the ordinance and its

 

purpose shall be published or posted with the adopting ordinance.

 

Printed copies of the law, code, or rule shall be kept in the

 

office of the city clerk, available for inspection by, and

 

distribution to, the public at all times. The publication or

 


posting shall contain a notice stating that a complete copy of the

 

law, code, or rule is made available to the public at the office of

 

the city clerk in compliance with state law requiring that records

 

of public bodies be made available to the general public. Except as

 

otherwise provided in this subdivision, a city shall not enforce a

 

provision adopted by reference for which the maximum period of

 

imprisonment is greater than 93 days. A city may adopt section

 

625(1)(c) of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.625,

 

by reference in an adopting ordinance and shall provide that a

 

violation of that ordinance is punishable by 1 or more of the

 

following:

 

     (i) Community service for not more than 360 hours.

 

     (ii) Imprisonment for not more than 180 days.

 

     (iii) A fine of not less than $200.00 or more than $700.00.

 

     (l) That the business of the legislative body shall be

 

conducted at a public meeting held in compliance with the open

 

meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275. All records of the

 

municipality shall be made available to the general public in

 

compliance with the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL

 

15.231 to 15.246.

 

     (m) Keeping in the English language a written or printed

 

journal of each session of the legislative body.

 

     (n) A system of accounts that conforms to a uniform system of

 

accounts as required by law.

 

     Sec. 4-g. 4g. Each city may in its charter provide:

 

     (1) For the acquisition by construction, condemnation, or

 

purchase and for the ownership, equipment, possession, leasing,

 


operation, and maintenance of a rapid transit system consisting of

 

a tunnel, subway, surface, or elevated system, or any combination

 

and qualification of these, in and through said the city, and for a

 

distance of not more than 10 miles beyond its limits, for the

 

purpose of furnishing transportation facilities to the municipality

 

and to the people thereof; of the municipality; for the preparation

 

and publication of plans for such the construction, equipment, and

 

maintenance in accordance with charter provisions adopted

 

hereunder; under this section; for the operation of such the

 

facilities independently or in connection with other transportation

 

facilities, or a transportation system, owned, operated, or

 

controlled by such the city or existing therein, in the city, or in

 

the territory in which any such the rapid transit system is

 

established; for the appropriate designation of such the

 

facilities; for the taking of the fee of or easement or right of

 

way on, under, above, and through any property for the purposes

 

thereof, by gift, grant, and purchase, and by condemnation

 

proceedings in accordance with any law of the this state of

 

Michigan providing therefor; and for the management of such the

 

facilities , for the purposes for which the same are or may be

 

acquired or constructed. Provision may also be made for the

 

execution of contracts incidental to the carrying out of the

 

purposes hereby contemplated. In the event that If property is

 

taken by condemnation under any statute, pertaining thereto, the

 

actual benefits accruing to or received by a remainder of any such

 

that parcel on account of the construction of the improvement shall

 

be taken into account in determining the damages to be awarded by

 


way of compensation to the owner or owners of such the property.

 

The charter shall also provide for the proper financing of the

 

acquisition and construction of any such rapid transit system and

 

facilities by direct taxation, special assessments on the basis of

 

benefits actually and exclusively received by property affected by

 

any such improvement, or by borrowing money and issuing bonds or

 

other evidence of indebtedness therefor, or by a combination of

 

such these methods; and for the defraying of the cost of

 

maintenance, operation, and management of such these facilities and

 

for payment of interest on and a sinking fund to retire any bonds

 

issued under this subsection, from the revenues received as a

 

result of the operation thereof of the rapid transit system by the

 

city. Bonds executed and sold for the purpose of raising money to

 

cover the cost of such the acquisition and construction may be

 

issued on the faith and credit of the city or same may be secured

 

by mortgage on the property and revenues of the utility established

 

pursuant hereto. under this section. The aggregate amount of bonds

 

issued on the faith and credit of the city under this subsection

 

shall not exceed 2 per cent 2% of the assessed valuation of the

 

taxable property within said the city for the preceding fiscal

 

year; and in computing the total indebtedness of the city for the

 

purpose of determining whether any other limitation prescribed by

 

law has been exceeded, such the bonds shall not be included. Except

 

as is in this subsection otherwise specifically provided in this

 

subsection, all bonds issued by a city for the purposes hereby

 

contemplated shall be are subject to the restrictions and

 

conditions prescribed in section 4-a of this act. In case 4a. If a

 


provision is made in the charter for raising money by direct

 

taxation for the purposes hereof, of this section, the amount of

 

such the tax levied and assessed in any year shall not exceed 1/6

 

of 1 per cent 1% of the assessed valuation of the city for such

 

that year; and the amount of any such tax shall not be subject to

 

any other limitations prescribed by law , or considered in

 

determining whether any such limitation has been exceeded. In no

 

case shall Not more than 60 per cent 60% of the total estimated

 

cost of acquiring or constructing any such rapid transit system or

 

portion of extension thereof, of any rapid transit system shall be

 

raised by direct taxation, and by the issuance of issuing bonds on

 

the faith and credit of the city. As incidental to the authority

 

hereby granted, provision may be made in any city charter for the

 

exercise of powers incidental to the accomplishment of the purposes

 

hereof, of this section, and reasonably calculated and designed to

 

facilitate the furnishing of adequate transportation facilities by

 

the means aforesaid provided in this section to the municipality

 

and the people thereof. No of the municipality. Before January 1,

 

2015, a charter amendment or amendments, contemplating and

 

providing for the exercise of the powers referred to in this

 

subsection, shall not be submitted to a vote of the electors unless

 

and until the same shall charter amendment or amendments have been

 

published pursuant to the direction of the legislative body of the

 

city , in at least 1 newspaper having a general circulation in such

 

the city at least once each week for 3 weeks in succession during

 

the 30-day period immediately preceding before the date of the

 

election. ; and no Beginning January 1, 2015, a charter amendment

 


or amendments, contemplating and providing for the exercise of the

 

powers referred to in this subsection, shall not be submitted to a

 

vote of the electors unless and until tier A public notice with a

 

link of the charter amendment or amendments is provided as set

 

forth in the local government public notice act during the 30-day

 

period immediately before the date of the election. A plan for

 

construction and operation of any rapid transit system shall not be

 

put into effect unless the same plan shall first have been

 

submitted to the qualified electors of the city and approved

 

thereby. Such by the electors of the city. The submission of the

 

plan shall be made subsequent to after the enactment of said the

 

charter amendments either at a general election or a special

 

election called for that purpose by the legislative body of the

 

city. Such Before January 1, 2015, the contemplated plan shall,

 

before its submission, and as a condition prerequisite thereto, to

 

its submission, be published once each week for 6 weeks in

 

succession in some daily newspaper having a general circulation

 

within the city, during the 60-day period immediately preceding

 

before the date of submission to the electors. ; and the Beginning

 

January 1, 2015, during the 60-day period immediately before the

 

date of submission to the electors, tier A public notice with a

 

link of the contemplated plan shall, before its submission, and as

 

a condition prerequisite to its submission, be provided as set

 

forth in the local government public notice act. The contemplated

 

plan as so published or posted shall specify the route or routes of

 

the proposed rapid transit system, the type of construction

 

proposed for the various sections or parts thereof, of the proposed

 


rapid transit system, the method or methods for financing the

 

improvement, the order in which the various sections or parts are

 

to be constructed or acquired, the system of management to be

 

adopted, the estimated cost of the various sections or parts of the

 

system, and such any other matters as the legislative body of the

 

city shall require: Provided, however, That requires. However, the

 

financial plan so submitted shall not permit special assessments

 

against any property in excess of actual benefits, meaning

 

increased value, accruing exclusively as a result of said the

 

improvement; and the payment of such special assessments made under

 

this subsection , shall be prorated over a period of not less than

 

10 years.

 

     (2) For negotiating, executing, and performing contracts with

 

any other municipality or municipalities, duly authorized and

 

empowered to that end, with reference to the construction,

 

equipment, operation, maintenance, and management of a rapid

 

transit system and facilities, and for the financing of any

 

obligations, assumed under or imposed by any such contract. The

 

grants, limitations, and restrictions set forth in the preceding

 

subsection of this section shall be deemed subsection (1) are

 

considered applicable to , and shall be observed in the adoption of

 

, charter provisions and amendments hereunder under this section

 

and in the exercise of the authority hereby granted.

 

     Sec. 5. (1) A city does not have power to do any of the

 

following:

 

     (a) To increase the rate of taxation now fixed by law, unless

 

the authority to do so is given by a majority of the electors of

 


the city voting at the election at which the proposition is

 

submitted, but the increase in any case shall not be in an amount

 

as to cause the rate to exceed 2%, except as provided by law, of

 

the assessed value of the real and personal property in the city.

 

     (b) To submit to the electors a charter more often than once

 

in every 2 years, nor unless the charter is filed with the city

 

clerk 60 days before the election, but this provision shall not

 

apply to the submission and resubmission of charters of cities that

 

may be incorporated under this act until they shall have first

 

adopted a charter. Where a city submits to the electors a charter

 

and the charter is adopted by the electors, and the city has

 

operated under the charter, which charter has not, at the time it

 

is adopted, been on file with the city clerk 60 days, then the

 

legislative body of the city, upon its giving the notice of

 

election as provided in the charter, may resubmit to the electors,

 

at a special or general election, the charter, which, if adopted by

 

the electors, shall be considered operative and effective as of the

 

date of the first submission and adoption. The charter shall not be

 

resubmitted unless 60 days have elapsed between the date of the

 

filing of the charter and the date of the election at which the

 

charter is resubmitted.

 

     (c) To call more than 2 special elections within 1 year. This

 

prohibition does not apply to elections that may be held in the

 

submission and resubmission of charters of cities that may be

 

incorporated under this act until they have first adopted a

 

charter, and does not apply to elections that may be held in the

 

resubmission of a charter once adopted as provided in subdivision

 


(b).

 

     (d) To decrease the salary of a municipal judge after his or

 

her election or appointment, or during the judge's term of office,

 

notwithstanding any charter provision to the contrary. The term of

 

a public official shall not be shortened or extended beyond the

 

period for which the official is elected or appointed, unless he or

 

she resigns or is removed for cause, if the office is held for a

 

fixed term.

 

     (e) To adopt a charter or an amendment to the charter unless

 

approved by a majority of the electors voting on the question; to

 

sell a park, cemetery, or any part of a park or cemetery, except

 

where the park is not required under an official master plan of the

 

city; to engage in a business enterprise requiring an investment of

 

money in excess of 10 cents per capita; or to authorize an issue of

 

bonds except bonds issued in anticipation of the collection of

 

taxes actually levied and uncollected or for which an appropriation

 

has been made; bonds that the city is authorized by its charter to

 

issue as part of its budget system, to an amount that in any year,

 

together with the taxes levied for the same year, will not exceed

 

the limit of taxation authorized by law; special assessment bonds;

 

bonds for the city's portion of local improvements; refunding

 

bonds; emergency bonds as defined by this act; and bonds that the

 

legislative body is authorized by specific statute to issue without

 

vote of the electors, unless approved by a majority of the electors

 

voting on the question at a general or special election. In

 

addition, a city that now has, or may subsequently have, a

 

population of 750,000 persons or more may issue bonds, upon

 


resolution of its governing body, without prior approval of the

 

electors, which the city is authorized by its charter to issue as

 

part of its budget system, to an amount that in any year, together

 

with the ad valorem taxes levied for the same year, exclusive of

 

debt service taxes or taxes levied pursuant to other laws, will not

 

exceed 2-1/2% of the assessed value of the real and personal

 

property in the city, this limitation to supersede and take the

 

place of any contrary language in any existing city charter. For

 

the purposes of this subdivision only, the assessed value of real

 

and personal property in any city shall include the assessed value

 

equivalent of money received during the city's fiscal year under

 

the Glenn Steil state revenue sharing act of 1971, 1971 PA 140, MCL

 

141.901 to 141.921. The assessed value equivalent shall be

 

calculated by dividing the money received by the city's millage

 

rate for the fiscal year. Notwithstanding the former provisions of

 

this subdivision requiring approval by 3/5 of the electors voting

 

on the question as a prerequisite to the exercise of certain

 

powers, these powers may be exercised if approved by a majority of

 

the electors voting on the question at a general or special

 

election held on or after April 1, 1966.

 

     (f) To make a contract with, or give an official position to,

 

one who is in default to the city.

 

     (g) To issue bonds without providing a sinking fund to pay

 

them at maturity, except as provided in section 4g(1), but sinking

 

funds shall not be required in the case of serial bonds that fall

 

due annually. Bonds, Before January 1, 2015, bonds, whether

 

authorized under this act or any other act, except refunding bonds,

 


revenue bonds, motor vehicle highway fund bonds, rehabilitation

 

bonds, judgment bonds, bonds or other obligations issued to fund an

 

operating deficit of a city, bonds or other obligations to pay

 

premiums or to establish funds to self-insure for losses as

 

authorized by the revised municipal finance act, 2001 PA 34, MCL

 

141.2101 to 141.2821, bonds the issuance of which has been approved

 

by the voters, and bonds issued to comply with an order of a court

 

of competent jurisdiction shall not be issued by a city unless

 

notice of the issuance of the bonds is published once in a

 

newspaper of general circulation in the city at least 45 days

 

before the issuance of issuing the bonds, within which period a

 

petition may be filed with the legislative body signed by not less

 

than 10% or 15,000 of the registered electors in the city,

 

whichever is less, in which event the legislative body shall submit

 

the question of the issuance of issuing the bonds to the electors

 

of the city , at a regular or special election in the city.

 

Beginning January 1, 2015, bonds, whether authorized under this act

 

or any other act, except refunding bonds, revenue bonds, motor

 

vehicle highway fund bonds, rehabilitation bonds, judgment bonds,

 

bonds or other obligations issued to fund an operating deficit of a

 

city, bonds or other obligations to pay premiums or to establish

 

funds to self-insure for losses as authorized by the revised

 

municipal finance act, 2001 PA 34, MCL 141.2101 to 141.2821, bonds

 

the issuance of which has been approved by the voters, and bonds

 

issued to comply with an order of a court of competent jurisdiction

 

shall not be issued by a city unless tier A public notice of the

 

issuance of the bonds is provided as set forth in the local

 


government public notice act at least 45 days before issuing the

 

bonds, within which period a petition may be filed with the

 

legislative body signed by not less than 10% or 15,000 of the

 

registered electors in the city, whichever is less, in which event

 

the legislative body shall submit the question of issuing the bonds

 

to the electors of the city at a regular or special election in the

 

city. The bonds shall not be issued unless a majority vote of the

 

electors voting on the issuance vote in favor of issuing the bonds.

 

The notice of intent to issue bonds shall state the maximum amount

 

of the bond issue, the purpose of the bond issuance, source of

 

payment, right of referendum on the issuance of the bonds, and

 

other information as the legislative body determines to be

 

necessary to adequately inform the electors and all other

 

interested persons of the nature of the issue and of their rights

 

with respect to the issue.

 

     (h) To repudiate a debt by a change in its charter or by

 

consolidation with any other municipality.

 

     (i) To submit a franchise to the electors at a special

 

election, unless the expense of holding the election, as determined

 

by the legislative body, is paid in advance to the city treasurer

 

by the grantee in the franchise.

 

     (2) Beginning on the effective date of the amendatory act that

 

added this subsection, September 13, 2011, a city shall not adopt a

 

city charter or ordinance that includes any minimum staffing

 

requirement for city employees. Except as otherwise provided in

 

this subsection, any Any provision in a city charter or ordinance

 

adopted on or after the effective date of the amendatory act that

 


added this subsection September 13, 2011 that contains a minimum

 

staffing requirement for city employees is void and unenforceable.

 

     Sec. 5e. A municipal water or sewage system established by a

 

city incorporated under this act which that serves more than 40% of

 

the population of the state shall:

 

     (a) Be audited annually by an independent auditor designated

 

by the legislative auditor general. No A charter provision shall

 

not require an annual local audit for the same period. The auditor

 

shall be paid by the system. The results of the annual audit shall

 

be made available to the public in compliance with Act No. 442 of

 

the Public Acts of 1976, being sections 15.231 to 15.246 of the

 

Michigan Compiled Laws. the freedom of information act, 1976 PA

 

442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246. The annual audit shall be submitted to

 

the governing body of each city, village, or township served by the

 

system and to the legislature before December 1 of each year. Each

 

city, village, or township served by the system shall be audited

 

annually by an independent auditor. The auditor shall be paid by

 

that city, village, or township served by the system. The results

 

shall be made available to the public.

 

     (b) Hold at least 1 public hearing at least 120 days before a

 

proposed rate increase is scheduled to take effect. Each hearing

 

shall be conducted in compliance with Act No. 267 of the Public

 

Acts of 1976, being sections 15.261 to 15.275 of the Michigan

 

Compiled Laws. the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to

 

15.275. Notice of the time, date, and place of each hearing shall

 

be given in the manner required by Act No. 267 of the Public Acts

 

of 1976, the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.

 


Before January 1, 2015, notice of the time, date, and place of each

 

hearing shall be prominently printed in a daily newspaper of

 

general circulation within the area, and shall be mailed to each

 

city, village, or township served by the system not less than 30

 

days before each hearing. Beginning January 1, 2015, tier A public

 

notice of the time, date, and place of each hearing shall be

 

provided as set forth in the local government public notice act,

 

and notice of the time, date, and place of each hearing shall be

 

mailed to each city, village, or township served by the system not

 

less than 30 days before each hearing. A final vote by the

 

governing body of the city to implement a proposed rate increase

 

shall not be taken until the hearings provided for in this

 

subdivision are concluded and the results of those hearings are

 

considered by the city's governing body. This section shall not be

 

construed to impair the obligations of a contract. A city shall not

 

be required to hold a public hearing before the establishment of a

 

water or sewer rate which that is necessary for debt retirement

 

under outstanding bond obligations.

 

     Sec. 10. The county clerk shall, within 3 days after the

 

passage of the resolution provided for in section 8, of this act,

 

transmit a certified copy of said the petition and of such the

 

resolution to the clerk of each city, village, or township in the

 

district to be affected by the proposed incorporation,

 

consolidation, or change. , and it shall be Before January 1, 2015,

 

it is the duty of each of said the city, village, and township

 

clerks to give notice of the date and purpose of the election

 

provided for by said the resolution by publication in 1 or more

 


newspapers published within said the district at least once in each

 

week for 4 weeks preceding said before the election, and by posting

 

a like notice in at least 10 public places in said the district not

 

less than 10 days prior to such before the election. Beginning

 

January 1, 2015, it is the duty of each of the city, village, and

 

township clerks to give tier A public notice of the date and

 

purpose of the election provided for by the resolution as set forth

 

in the local government public notice act.

 

     Sec. 15. (1) At an election on the question of the intent to

 

incorporate a new city, or to make a consolidation permitted by

 

this act, each elector residing within its proposed territorial

 

limits shall be entitled to vote for 9 electors, residing in the

 

territory which it is proposed to incorporate or consolidate, as

 

members of a charter commission, and the notices required by

 

section 10 shall include notice of the election of those electors.

 

The ballot shall be prepared by the clerk of the county in which

 

the territory is located or if located in more than 1 county, then

 

by the clerk of the county in which the greater portion of the

 

territory is located. The expense of the ballot preparation is to

 

be borne by that county. If the proposed city is incorporated as

 

provided in this act, the county shall be reimbursed by the city at

 

the time the charter is filed. The county clerk shall prepare the

 

ballot to be used at the election pursuant to the general election

 

laws of the state Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.1 to

 

168.992, as follows:

 

     "For city incorporation. Yes( )

 

     For city incorporation. No ( )".

 


     Or, if the proposition be to consolidate, the ballot shall be

 

as follows:

 

     "For consolidating (naming entities) into 1 city. Yes( )

 

     For consolidating (naming entities) into 1 city. No ( )".

 

     (2) The county clerk shall also prepare a separate ballot and

 

place on the ballot, without party designation, under the heading,

 

candidates for members of the charter commission, the names of the

 

electors having the qualifications required by this act for a

 

member of the charter commission , who file a petition signed by 20

 

qualified electors residing in the territory proposed to be

 

incorporated , asking that their names be placed on the ballot. For

 

a consolidation, the electors of each city, village, township, or

 

part of a township, proposed to be consolidated shall vote for and

 

elect the number of the 9 members of the charter commission as

 

shall be substantially in proportion to the number of registered

 

electors of the city, village, township, or part of a township,

 

according to the registration rolls of the last regular state,

 

city, or village election held in the city, village, township, or

 

part of a township, but the number to be elected in a city,

 

village, or township shall not be less than 1. The county board of

 

commissioners or the secretary of state shall determine and

 

prescribe the number of members of the charter commission to be

 

elected from each city, village, township, or part of a township in

 

the case of a consolidation, pursuant to this subsection. The

 

position of the names of the candidates upon the ballots shall be

 

interchanged as provided in the general primary election law of

 

this state. Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.1 to

 


168.992. The ballot shall also bear instructions directing that not

 

more than 9 candidates shall be voted for or, if the proposition is

 

to consolidate, the ballot for members of the charter commission in

 

each city, village, township, or part of a township, proposed to be

 

consolidated shall bear instructions directing that not more than

 

the number of candidates determined by the county board of

 

commissioners or the secretary of state to be elected in the city,

 

village, township, or part of a township shall be voted for. On the

 

vote being canvassed on the question of the intent to incorporate

 

or consolidate, if the result is determined to be in favor of the

 

intent to incorporate or consolidate, the board of canvassers shall

 

canvass the votes cast for members of the commission , and certify

 

the election of the 9 persons receiving the highest number of votes

 

cast. The elected members of the commission shall take the

 

constitutional oath of office , and may fill vacancies in their

 

membership. Five members shall constitute a quorum.

 

     (3) The charter commission shall convene within 10 days after

 

election and frame a charter for the proposed city within 90 days

 

after the meeting. The business which that the charter commission

 

may perform shall be conducted at a public meeting of the

 

commission held in compliance with Act No. 267 of the Public Acts

 

of 1976. the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.

 

Notice of the time, place, and date of the meeting shall be given

 

in the manner required by Act No. 267 of the Public Acts of 1976.

 

the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275. The

 

charter commission shall choose its own officers, determine the

 

rules of its proceedings, and keep a journal. A roll call of its

 


members on a question shall be entered on the journal at the

 

request of any member. The commission shall provide the manner of

 

nominating the candidates for the first elective officers provided

 

in the proposed charter. The commission shall fix the date of the

 

first city election, and do and provide other things necessary for

 

making the nominations and holding the election. The election may

 

be held at a special election or on the same date as a general

 

election. The Before January 1, 2015, the commission shall publish

 

the proposed charter in 1 or more newspapers published in the

 

proposed city, at least once, not less than 2 weeks and not more

 

than 4 weeks preceding before the election, together with a notice

 

of the election. , and that on the date fixed for the election the

 

question of adopting the proposed charter will be voted on, and

 

that the elective officers provided for in the charter will be

 

elected on the same date. Notice Before January 1, 2015, notice of

 

the election shall also be posted in at least 10 public places

 

within the proposed city not less than 10 days before the election.

 

Beginning January 1, 2015, not less than 2 weeks and not more than

 

4 weeks before the election, tier A public notice of the proposed

 

charter, together with a notice of the election, shall be provided

 

by the commission as set forth in the local government public

 

notice act. The commission shall provide for 1 or more polling

 

places for the election, and shall give similar notice of their

 

location as is given of the election, and shall appoint the

 

inspectors of the election. On the date fixed for the election, the

 

question of adopting the proposed charter will be voted on and the

 

elective officers provided for in the charter will be elected on

 


the same date. The results of the election shall be canvassed by

 

the county board of canvassers.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect

 

unless House Bill No. 5560 of the 97th Legislature is enacted into

 

law.