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Resolution No. 5450 II"""'" - 1 : ~ ): ... . r ~ "', <II . J' ,. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 RESOLU'l'IOIiI HO. 5458 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERNON, CALIFORNIA, CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE OF THE HOLDING OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1988, FOR THE ELECTION OF CERTAIN OFFICERS AS REQUIRED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RELATING TO GENERAL LAW CITIES AND FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE VOTERS OF A QUESTION RELATING TO WHETHER A CHARTER ENTITLED "CHARTER OF THE CITY OF VERNON" SHALL BE ADOPTED WHEREAS, under the provisions of the laws relating to general law cities in the State of California, a General Municipal 9 10 Election shall be held on April 12, 1988, for the election of Municipal Officersr and 11 12 WHEREAS, the City Council also desires to submit to the 13 voters at the election a question relating to whether a charter 14 entitled "Charter of the City of Vernon" shall be adopted. 15 NOW.THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE 16 CITY OF VERNON AS FOLLOWS: 17 SECTION 1: That pursuant to the requirements of the laws 18 of the State of California relating to General Law Cities, there 19 is called and ordered to be held in the City of Vernon, Califor- 20 nia, on Tuesday, April 12, 1988, a General Municipal Election for 21 the purpose of electing Members of the City Council for the full 22 term of four years. 23 SECTION 2: That the City Council, pursuant to its right 24 and authority, does order submitted to the voters at the General 25 Municipal Election the following question: 26 27 28 III III III c , I . . .. '" . ~. (':t '" 1 2 3 4 5 6 PROPOSITION A Shall a charter entitled "A Charter YES NO of the City of Vernon" be adopted? SECTION 3: That the proposed measure submitted to the 7 voters is attached hereto and made a part hereof as Exhibit "A". 8 SECTION 4: That the ballots to be used at the election 9 shall be in form and content as required by law. 10 SECTION 5: That the City Clerk is authorized, instructed 11 and directed to procure and furnish any and all official ballots, .. 12 notices, printed matter and all supplies, equipment and parapher- 13 nalia that may be necessary in order to properly and lawfully con- 14 duct the election. 15 SECTION 6: That pursuant to Section 1340 of the Elec- 16 tions Code of the State of California, the election will be con- 17 ducted entirely by absent voter ballots. The City Hall is hereby 18 designated as the polling place pursuant to Section 1014 of the 19 Elections Code of the State of California. 20 SECTION 7: That the polls for the election shall be open 21 at seven o'clock a.m. of the day of the election and shall remain 22 open continuously from that time until 8:00 o'clock p.m.. of the 23 same day when the polls shall be closed except as provided by law 24 in Section 14301 of the Elections Code of the State of California. 25 26 27 28 SECTION 8: That in all particulars not recited in this resolution, the election shall be held and conducted as provided by law for holding municipal elections. III -2- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 i_ t '\ ~ c: I SECTION 9: That notice of the time and place of holding the election is given and the City Clerk is authorized, instructed and directed to give further or additional notice of the election, in time, form and manner as required by law. SECTION 10: The City Clerk of the City of Vernon is hereby directed to certify to the passage of this resolution and thereupon and thereafter 'the same shall be in full force and ef- fect. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 11th day of January, 1988. ~. ~ ~ .;<:/0 .... --- -- E~NIS ~MaYO ATTEST: ~~// /?f'~ BRUCE V. MALKENHORST, City Clerk -3- 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 , 1-.... '\. , J. 1 2 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) )ss COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) 3 I, BRUCE V. MALKENHORST, City Clerk of the City of 4 Vernon, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution, being 5 Resolution No. 5450 , was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Vernon, and was approved by the Mayor of said an adjourned City at ~/regular meeting of the City Council held on Tuesday, January 11 , 19 88 (SEAL) -4- . ," ) ",1 " I . Charter of the City of Vernon -->. ,'1 '__ \ \ " if [),(J\ 1 0 i \ /-\ . ( .. -f ,~ ' " Article I Succession Section 1. Name. The municipal corporation now existing and known as the City of Vernon shall remain and continue to exist as a municipal corporation under its present name. section 2. Boundaries. The boundaries and territory of the City of Vernon shall continue as now established until changed in a manner sufficient to legally alter the boundaries and territory. Section 3. Rights and Liabilities of the city. The City shall continue to own, possess, control, and remain vested with all rights and property of every kind and nature owned, possessed, controlled, or vested at the time that this Charter takes effect. All legally enforceable debts, obligations, liabilities, and contracts with respect to the City and in force at the time this Charter takes effect shall be unaffected by the adoption of this Charter. Section 4. Ordinances. Each ordinance, code, resolution and other regulation, or portion thereof, in force on the date that this Charter takes effect, and not inconsistent with this Charter, shall be in force after this Charter takes effect and shall remain in force until amended, repealed or superseded by proper authority. If any -l- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) ,," , , ,'. section, subsection or provision of such existing ordinance, code, resolution or other regulation is inconsistent with this Charter and the remainder thereof is not inconsistent with this Charter, such inconsistent portion shall be deemed to be severed and repealed and the remainder of such ordinance, code, resolu- tion or other regulation shall remain in force until amended, repealed or superseded. Section 5. Officers and Employees. The tenure, duties and responsibilities of the officers and employees of the City shall not be affected by the adoption of this Charter, except as specifically provided in this Charter, but shall be subject to such ordinances or actions as may be duly adopted or taken by the City council of the City subsequent to the adoption of this Charter. No provision of this Charter shall be construed to grant a right to employment to City employees. section 6. Pending Actions and Proceedings Neither this Charter, nor its adoption, shall affect or abate any civil action or proceeding or criminal action or proceeding, brought by or against the City or any officer, office, department or agency of the City, which is pending on the date that this Charter takes effect. -2- 880111 pf A016.lSW (3) . . , . Article II Powers of the City Section 1. General Powers. The City shall have full power and authority to adopt, make, exercise and enforce all legislation, laws, and regulations and to take all actions in respect to municipal affairs, without limitation, which may lawfully be adopted, made, exercised, taken or enforced under the Constitution of the state of California subject only to such limitations as may be provided by this Charter. The City shall also have the power and authority to adopt, make, exercise and enforce all legislation, laws and regulations and to take all actions and to exercise any and all rights, powers and privileges heretofore or hereafter established, granted or prescribed by any law of the State of California, or by this Charter, or by other lawful authority. The specification in this Charter of any particular power shall not be held to be exclusive of any other specific power that may be exercised under the general power, or of the general powers, provided for in this section. Section 2. Emergency Powers. Notwithstanding any general or special provisions of this Charter, in order to ensure continuity of governmental operations in periods of extreme emergency resulting from damage or destruction from acts of war, subversion, terrorism, natural disaster or other causes of whatever nature, the City Council, by -3- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) . . , , majority vote of its members in office, shall have the power and immediate duty to declare an emergency by resolution and: (a) To provide for prompt and temporary succession to the powers and duties of all City offices, whether filled by election or appointment, when the incumbent may become unavailable for carrying on the powers and duties of such office, and (b) To adopt such other measures as may be necessary and proper for ensuring the continuity of City operations, including, but not limited to the financing thereof. Section 3. Intergovernmental Relations. The City may exercise any of its powers, perform any of its functions, or participate in the financing thereof, jointly or in cooperation, by contract or otherwise, with anyone or more governmental entities or civil divisions or agencies thereof. -4- 880111 pf A016.lSW (3) .- . .. Article III City Council Section 1. Composition. There shall be a City Council composed of five members elected at large by the qualified voters of the City. Section 2. Powers. Subject to the provisions of this Charter, and the valid delegation by this Charter of any power to any person, officer, board or committee, the city Council shall have the power and authority, in the name of the City, to exerci$e all of the governmental, legislative, administrative or other power, authority or function of the City which a city council could exercise under the Constitution of the State of California and which now or hereafter would be competent for this Charter specifically to enumerate. Section 3. Eligibility. No person shall be eligible to hold the office of councilmember unless he or she is a voter and resident of the City of Vernon at the time of filing nomination papers or declaring candidacy and remains a voter and resident until the election and throughout his or her term as councilmember. Section 4. Election and Terms. The regular election of councilmembers shall be held on the second Tuesday of April in each even numbered year. The term of each office shall be four years. Three four-year terms shall be filled at the first general municipal election held after the -5- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) . . . , . ' adoption of this Chapter and two four-year terms at the next general municipal election. The City Council shall be the final judge of election results and the qualifications of its members. The City Council shall canvass the returns of an election on the first Tuesday following a City Council election or such other date within fifteen (l5) days of the election as may be provided by ordinance. The term of each elected councilmember shall begin at the hour of the completion of the canvass of the election returns. In the absence of death, removal from office or disqualification, each councilmember shall serve until expiration of his or her term and until a successor qualifies. Section 5. Mayor. At the council meeting at which any councilmember is installed following a regular municipal election, and at any time when there is a vacancy in the office of Mayor, the City Council shall meet and shall elect one of its members as Mayor. The Mayor shall be the presiding officer of the City Council. The Mayor shall be a member of the City Council for all purposes and shall have all the rights, powers and duties of a member of the City Council in addition to those powers and duties conferred upon the Mayor by virtue of his or her office. The Mayor shall be the official head of the City for all ceremonial purposes. The Mayor shall perform such other duties consistent with the office of Mayor as may be prescribed by this Charter or as may be provided by the City Council. The -6- 880111 pf A016.lSW (3) . . , ' Mayor shall serve in his or her capacity at the pleasure of the City Council and may be removed by a majority vote of the members of the City Council. section 6. Mayor Pro Tempore. At the time that a Mayor is selected, the City Council shall also designate one of its members as Mayor Pro Tempore. The Mayor Pro Tempore shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the City Council and may be removed by a majority vote of the members of the Council. The Mayor Pro Tempore shall perform the duties of the Mayor during the Mayor's absence or disability. Section 7. Vacancy. Any vacancy occurring in the city Council for whatever reason may be filled by appointment by the City Council. If the City Council fails to fill the vacancy within thirty days, then the City Council shall immediately call a special election to fill the vacancy. Any person appointed or elected to fill a vacancy on the City Council shall hold office for the remainder of the term in the absence of death, removal from office or disqualification. If an election occurs at which one or more full terms and one or more unexpired terms are to be filled, no distinction between the full terms and the unexpired terms shall be made in nominating or voting. The person or persons elected by the highest number of votes shall be elected for the full term or -7- 880111 pf A016.lSW (3) . . . ' terms and the person or persons elected with the fewest votes shall be elected for the unexpired term or terms. Section 8. Forfeiture. The following shall be grounds for forfeiture of a councilmember's office: (a) Absence from three consecutive regular meetings of the Council without permission of, or excuse by, the Council, for absence from at least one of those meetings expressed in its official minutes, (b) Conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude, (c) Failure at any time during the councilmember's term of office to meet any qualification for office prescribed by this Charter or by the Constitution of the State of California. A vacancy caused by the forfeiture of a council- member's office shall be filled as prescribed by section 7 of Article III of this Charter. section 9. Forfeiture Procedure. The Council shall be the final judge of the grounds for forfeiture of a councilmembers' office and for that purpose shall have the power to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths and require the production of evidence. A member charged with forfeiture of office shall be entitled to a public hearing on demand. Notice of such hearing shall be given in the manner provided by ordinance. An order of the City Council of forfeiture shall be effective immediately. A petition for judicial review of such -8- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) . , , ' order may be filed in a court of competent jurisdiction within two weeks after notice to the councilmember of such order. Sending a copy of the order of forfeiture by united States mail, certified and postage prepaid, addressed to the councilmember at his or her address on file with the City Clerk, shall constitute notice for purposes of this section. During the pendency of any such judicial action or proceeding, anyone appointed by the Councilor elected to fill the vacancy resulting from such forfeiture shall have all the rights, duties, and powers of a councilmember and shall continue in such office for the remainder of the term (in the absence of death, removal from office or disqualification) unless and until a final judgment is rendered holding the declaration of forfeiture to be invalid or ordering the Council to reinstate the councilmember. section lO. Council Meetings and Rules of Order. The City Council shall hold regular meetings at least once each month. The frequency, time and place of meetings, provisions for adjournment of meetings and calling of special meetings and the rules of order for the conduct of Council proceedings shall be established by ordinance adopted by the Council. Section ll. Compensation. The Council may determine the base compensation of councilmembers by resolution adopted by a majority vote of the members of the Council. Any change in the base compensation of councilmembers shall be effective on the first day of the -9- 880111 pf A016.lSW (3) following fiscal year or such other date as may be specified in the resolution. In addition to such base compensation, individual councilmembers may be compensated for serving on City boards, commissions, committees or other City governmental bodies. Such additional compensation shall be set by resolution adopted by a majority vote of the members of the Council. Any change in additional compensation of councilmembers shall be effective on the first day of the following fiscal year or such other date as may be specified in the resolution. Councilmembers shall also receive compensation for actual or anticipated expenses that may be incurred in the performance of their duties of office. -10- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) . ' Article IV Ordinances and Resolutions Section 1. Ordinances, When Required. The following actions by the City Council shall be taken by ordinance: (l) Any action which this Charter requires to be taken by ordinance; (2) provision of a fine or other penalty or establishment of a rule or regulation for violation of which a fine or other penalty may be imposed; (3) Grant of a franchise; (4) Creation of, alteration of, or abolishment of a commission, board or agency; (5) Restriction on the use of property; (6) Adoption or amendment of a code; (7) Adoption of ordinances proposed under the initiative power; and (8) Amendment or repeal of any ordinance or code previously adopted. Actions other than those referred to above in this section may be taken by ordinance, by resolution or order duly entered in the minutes of a council meeting as may be appropriate. -11- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) Section 2. Procedure. Every proposed ordinance shall be introduced in writing and substantially in the form required for adoption. The enacting clause shall be, substantially: "The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby ordains:". Except as provided by this Charter, no ordinance shall be adopted by the City Council on the day of its introduction, nor within five days thereafter. Upon introduction and upon second presentation, unless at least one Councilmember requests that an ordinance be read in full, an ordinance may be read by title only. Unless a higher vote is required by other provi- sions of this Charter, the affirmative votes of a majority of the members of the City Council shall be required for the enactment of any ordinance. Adopted ordinances shall be signed by the Mayor and attested by the City Clerk. In the event that any ordinance is SUbstantially altered after its introduction, it shall not be adopted within five days after the date of such alteration. The correction of typographical or clerical errors or other minor changes shall not constitute the making of an alteration within the meaning of this paragraph. The City Council may provide by ordinance for any publication or posting of ordinances as it deems appropriate. section 3. Effective Date. An ordinance shall be effective after the thirtieth day -12- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) following its adoption with the exception of the following ordinances which shall take effect upon adoption: (a) An ordinance calling or otherwise relating to any election; (b) An ordinance relating to public improvements, the cost of which is to be borne wholly or in part by special assessments; (c) An ordinance declaring the amount of money neces- sary to be raised by taxation, or fixing the rate of property taxation, or levying tax upon property: (d) An ordinance fixing utility rates or charges; (e) An emergency ordinance adopted as provided in Section four of this Article of this Charter. Ordinances referred to in (a) through (d) of this section may be introduced and adopted at one and the same regular or special meeting. An ordinance may specify a date on which all or a portion of its provisions shall be operative. Section 4. Emergency Ordinances. Any ordinance declared by the City Council to be necessary as an emergency measure for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, and containing a state- ment of the reasons for its urgency, may be adopted in the manner provided by this Charter except that such emergency ordinance may be introduced and adopted at one and the same regular or special meeting, and shall take effect immediately. -13- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) Section 5. Adoption By Reference. Detailed regulations pertaining to any subject, model codes, and codifications of ordinances of other public agencies may be adopted by reference, in their original form or with amendments thereto, with the same effect as an ordinance, in the manner set forth for adopting ordinances. Not less than three copies of the regulations, codes or ordinances so adopted shall be filed and kept on file for use and examination by the public in the office of the City Clerk. Section 6. Codification. The City Council may by ordinance codify the ordinances of the "City. Ordinances so codified shall be repealed as of the effective date of the codification unless the City Council shall otherwise provide. Amendments to a code shall be enacted by ordinance. -l4- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) .. " Article V Elections Section 1. General Municipal Elections. General municipal elections shall be held in the City on the second Tuesday of April in each even numbered year. section 2. Special Municipal Elections. All other municipal elections shall be special municipal elections. section 3. Procedure. The City Council is authorized to adopt by ordinance procedures governing municipal elections. until the City Council adopts by ordinance provisions governing municipal elections, all elections shall be held in accordance with the general laws of the State of California. If an ordinance respecting municipal elections is adopted by the City Council thereby superseding certain provisions of the general laws governing municipal elections, the general laws not so superseded as they may exist from time to time shall be applicable unless and until the City council shall take action otherwise. Section 4. Initiative, Referendum and Recall. The power of the initiative and referendum and of the recall of municipal elective officers is reserved to the voters of the City. The procedures for initiative, referendum and recall shall be governed by ordinance or ordinances of the city. until the City Council adopts by ordinance provisions governing -15- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) , . initiative, referendum, and recall, these procedures shall be in accordance with the general laws of the state of California. If an ordinance respecting initiative, referendum or recall of municipal elective officers is adopted by the City Council, thereby superseding certain provisions of the general laws governing initiative, referendum and recall, the general laws not so superseded as they may exist from time to time shall be applicable unless and until the City Council shall take action otherwise. No initiative ordinance providing for the expenditure of public money or for a change in salaries of any city officer or employee shall take effect until the beginning of the fiscal year next following the date of its adoption. -16- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) . .} J. Article VI City Administrator section 1. Appointment. The City Council shall appoint, by majority vote, a City Administrator who shall be the chief administrative officer of the City of Vernon. The city Administrator shall serve at the pleasure of the Council except as may otherwise be provided by written contract; provided, however, that the City Administrator shall not be removed from office except as provided by this Charter. The City Administrator shall engage in no other business or occupation except as may be permitted by the Council. Section 2. Removal. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the City Administrator may be removed from office by a majority vote of the members of the City Council. (b) At least thirty (30) days before the effective date of removal, the City Administrator shall be furnished with a written notice stating the Council's intention to remove and, if requested by the City Administrator, the reasons therefor. Sending a copy of such notice by United states mail, certified and postage prepaid, addressed to the City Administrator at his or her last known address, shall constitute notice for purposes of this section. Within seven days after receipt of such notice, the City Administrator may, by written notification to the City -l7- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) .. 1 J. Council, request a public hearing before the City Council. Upon such request, the Council shall fix a time and place for public hearing which shall be held before the date of the City Administrator's removal. The City Administrator may appear and be heard at such hearing. The purpose of the hearing is to allow the City Council and the City Administrator to present publicly all pertinent facts prior to final action of removal. In removing the City Administrator, the City Council shall use its uncontrolled discretion and its action shall not depend upon any showing or degree of proof at the hearing. The City Council action shall be final. (c) After furnishing the City Administrator with written notice of intended removal, the City Council may suspend the City Administrator from duty with regular compensation to continue until removal as provided by this section 2. (d) The City Administrator shall not be removed within ninety (90) days after the election of a councilmember unless (i) The City Administrator has been convicted of commission of a felonyr or (ii) The City Administrator has been convicted of a crime prescribed by statute applicable to municipal officials. In either case the City Administrator may be removed by majority vote of the members of the City Council. section 3. Compensation. -l8- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) " Compensation for the City Administrator shall be set by the City Council. However, compensation for the city Admin- istrator shall not be reduced within ninety (90) days after the election of a councilmember. Section 4. Duties. The City Administrator shall be responsible to the City Council for the proper and efficient management of all the affairs of the City and those specific duties assigned to the City Administrator by this Charter or by the City Council. The specific duties of the City Administrator may be specified by ordinance, resolution or order of the City Council. Section 5. Noninterference. The power to direct the City Administrator rests with the Council as a governing body, not with its individual members. No individual member of the Council, without authorization of the Council, shall in any manner direct or request the City Administrator to appoint any person to and/or remove any person from any office or position of employment with the City. No individual member of the City Council, without authorization of the Council, shall give orders or instructions publicly or privately to any person under the jurisdiction of the City Administrator or otherwise interfere with the administrative staff of the city. No individual member of the City council, without authorization of the Council, shall undertake to coerce or direct the City Administrator with respect to any of the City -19- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) " Administrator's duties, and/or any municipal contract, and/or in connection with the purchase of any municipal supplies. Section 6. Eligibility. No person shall be eligible to be appointed City Administrator while serving as a member of the City Councilor within two years following the termination of membership on the City Council. Section 7. Other Positions. The City Council may appoint the City Administrator to any other office in the City and direct the City Administrator to carry out the duties of that office or any other position of employment with the City in addition to his or her duties as City Administrator. -20- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) '". ".. Article VII Other Officers, Boards, Commissions, and Employees Section 1. City Clerk. There shall be a City Clerk who shall be the custodian of the City seal and shall maintain a book or books of the ordinances and resolutions adopted by the City council and the minutes of all meetings and actions of the Council. The City Council shall provide by ordinance for the method of selection of the City Clerk, by appointment or election, and the duties and tenure of the City Clerk. The City Clerk's compensation shall be fixed by the City Council. -21- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) . . It g and shall perform such duties and provide such professional services as may be assigned by the City Council unless otherwise provided by written contract. The compensation of the City Attorney shall be determined by the City Council subject to any provisions of a written contract of employment. Section 4. Other Officers. The City Council shall provide for such other officers as it deems appropriate, and shall fix the duties, tenure and compensation of such officers by ordinance. Section 5. Boards and Commissions. The City Council may, by ordinance, establish such boards and commissions as the Council deems to be necessary, and shall provide for the method of selection, tenure, duties and any compensation of the boards and commissions so established. Section 6. Employees. All City employees shall serve at the will and pleasure of the City Council. No City employee shall have any right to employment with the City unless that employee and the City have entered into a written contract which gives the employee a property right to employment with the city. -22- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) .. . l> Article VIII Fiscal Administration Section 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the City shall begin on the first day of July and end on the last day of June of the following year. The Council may, by ordinance, change the fiscal year. section 2. Submission of Budget. On or before the thirtieth (30th) day preceding the last day of the fiscal year, the City Administrator shall submit to the City Council a proposed budget for the ensuing fiscal year. section 3. Budget Contents. The proposed budget shall contain the following: (a) An estimate of the revenues and expenditures for each City Department for the ensuing fiscal yearr (b) A statement of comparison of expenditures for the current fiscal year with proposed expenditures for the ensuing fiscal year, and reasons for the proposed increase or decreaser (c) An estimate of money needed for contingent or emergency purposes; (d) An estimate of all anticipated revenues; (e) An estimate of the tax rate necessary to meet the expenditures proposed; (f) A recommendation for the amount of funds to be allocated to capital outlays; -23- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) c'" (J.>> -24- 880111 pf A016.lSW (3) '1. accordingly, until such time as the City Council adopts a budget for the budget year. Section 5. Amendment of the Budget. At any meeting of the City Council after the adoption of the budget, the City Council may amend or supplement the bUdget by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Council. section 6. Lapse of Appropriations. Every appropriation, except an appropriation for a capital expenditure, shall lapse at the end of the last day of the fiscal year if that appropriation has not been expended or lawfully encumbered. An appropriation for a capital expenditure shall continue in force until the purpose for which it was made has been accomplished or abandoned. The purpose of any such appropriation shall be deemed abandoned if three years pass without any disbursement from or encumbrance of the appropriation for such purpose. section 7. Taxation. The City Council may adopt all or part of a system of taxation for the assessment, levy and collection of city taxes. The City Council may, by ordinance, authorize the transfer to, assumption of, and discharge by officers of the county of Los Angeles, of any function of the City relating to assessment of property for taxation, the equalization of such assessment, and collection of taxes. -25- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) Section 8. Bonded Debt Limit. The total bonded general obligation debt of the City shall not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the assessed valuation of all property taxable for municipal purposes. Section 9. Franchises. Franchises may be granted to persons, firms, corpor- ations, or other entities for such consideration and upon such terms, conditions, restrictions, or limitations as may be prescribed by the City Council by ordinance. Section lO. Contracts. The City Council shall have the power, by majority vote, to enter into any contract on behalf of the City. All contracts must be in writing, signed by the mayor or other officer authorized by resolution, and attested by the City Clerk. There shall be no bidding requirements for any contract unless the City Council otherwise provides by ordinance. Section 1l. Audit. The City Council shall appoint a California certified public accountant or firm of certified public accountants to provide an independent, annual audit of all City accounts, including the accounts of all departments, officers, and employees who receive, handle or disburse public funds. The City Council may require more frequent audits aS,it deems advisable. -26- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) .. , ~ . . Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of the fiscal year, unless the City council extends such time, a final audit and report shall be submitted to each member of the City council and to other officers designated by the Council. Also, copies of the final audit and report shall be provided to such other persons or agencies as the City Council may direct, and copies shall be made available in City Hall for public inspection. -27- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) -~ . . . Article IX Miscellaneous provisions Section 1. Construction. The general grant of power to the City under Article II of this Charter shall be construed broadly in favor of the City. The specific provisions enumerated in this Charter are intended to be and shall be interpreted as limitations upon the general grant of power and shall be construed narrowly. Section 2. Violations. The City Council may establish fines and penalties for violations of ordinances. Section 3. Definitions. Unless the provision or the context otherwise requires, as used in this Charter: (a) "Shall" is mandatory, and "may" is permissiver (b) "City" is the City of Vernonr (c) "Council" or "City council" is the City Council of Vernon; (d) "City Administrator" or "Administrator" is the City Administrator of Vernon; (e) "Majority" of the City Council means a majority of a quorum of the City Council. (f) "Majority of the members" of the Council means a majority of the entire membership of the City Council. -28- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) ~.. .' . . ... . (g) The masculine includes the feminine and the feminine includes the masculine. (h) The singular includes the plural and the plural includes the singular. Section 4. Official Bonds. The City Council shall, by ordinance, determine which officers or other persons in the service of the City, in addition to the City Treasurer, shall give bonds for the faithful performance of their duties. The Council shall fix by ordinance or resolution the amounts and terms of the official bonds of all officials or employees who are required to give such bonds. All bonds shall be executed by a responsible corporate surety, and shall be approved as to form by the City Attorney, and shall be filed with the city. Premiums on official bonds shall be paid by the city. Section 5. Residence. The City Council may, to the maximum extent permitted by the Constitution of the state of California, provide by ordinance for protection against fraud in municipal elections in the City involving claims of residence in areas of the City in which personal residence is not permitted by law. section 6. Severability. If any provision of this Charter is held invalid, the other provisions of the Charter shall not be affected thereby. If the application of this Charter or any of its provisions to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the application of -29- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3) "'0 "J' .. .' .. I.. .' . the Charter and its provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. -30- 880111 pf A016.LSW (3)