EXPLANATION: CAPITALS indicate matter added to existing law.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL
(Charter Amendment)
Introduced by: Councilmember Spector
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL concerning
title
Charter Amendment - Multi-Member City Council Districts
FOR the purpose of amending the City Charter of Baltimore City to reduce the number of Councilmembers and create multi-member City Council districts; and submitting this amendment to the qualified voters of the City for adoption or rejection.
body
BY proposing to amend
Article III - City Council
Section(s) 2(b)
Baltimore City Charter
(1996 Edition)
Recitals
WHEREAS, Baltimore City traditionally has been represented by City Councilmembers from multi-member districts.
WHEREAS, Baltimore changed from the traditional multi-member districts to single member districts in 2004.
WHEREAS, A decade’s worth of experience with the single-member City Council districts has now shown the benefits and costs of both types of districts.
WHEREAS, Single-member districts have failed to deliver the more competitive election races that their advocates believed they would bring.
WHEREAS, Instead, single-member districts have left entire swaths of the City unrepresented by any Councilmember for long stretches due to the retirement or incapacity of individual Councilmembers.
WHEREAS, Single-member districts have made it more difficult for constituent services and community improvements needing Council involvement to go forward by forcing activists and investors to work through a single office when they previously could count on multiple advocates.
WHEREAS, Multi-member districts also serve well to guard against parochialism by helping to keep the broader perspective of the City as a priority in the minds of Councilmembers.
WHEREAS, Moving from 14 single-member districts to 4 three-member districts would result in significant cost savings for the citizens of Baltimore.
WHEREAS, It has become apparent that multi-member districts provide more assurances that all Baltimoreans are well represented in making the decisions that will shape their neighborhoods and are a better fit for the needs of Baltimore’s citizens.
NOW, THEREFORE,
SECTION 1. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the City Charter is proposed to be amended to read as follows:
Baltimore City Charter
Article III. City Council
§ 2. Members.
(b) Number.
The Council shall consist of [fourteen] TWELVE members in addition to the President. There shall be [fourteen] FOUR districts with [one member] THREE MEMBERS elected from each district.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this proposed amendment to the City Charter be submitted to the legal and qualified voters of Baltimore City, for adoption or rejection, in accordance with Article XI-A, § 5 of the Maryland Constitution, in the form specified by the City Solicitor.
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