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DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING CHARTER ARTICLES XI AND XI-A RELATED TO THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Charter Review Ad-Hoc Committee discuss potential amendments to Charter Articles XI and XI-A regarding the Public Information Office and consider making a recommendation to the City Council.
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Summary
The City Council created the Charter Review Advisory Commission and the Ad-Hoc Charter Review Committee to advise the City Council regarding potential amendments to the City Charter. In accordance with City Council direction, Staff first presented information regarding Charter Articles XI and XI-A related to the Public Information Office to the Charter Review Advisory Commission for review and potential recommendations to this Committee.
At its January 24, 2024, meeting, the Commission voted to recommend a charter revision to allow public information offices in both the City Manager and Mayor’s Office, clean up job descriptions consistent with the change, clearly define job duties by differentiating between the two positions, consider different job titles for each position, and clarifying information access by the Mayor’s Public Information Officer.
This report is presented for the Committee’s discussion and potential recommendation to the City Council.
DISCUSSION
Background
On October 24, 2023, the City Council created the Charter Review Advisory Commission and Ad-Hoc Charter Review Committee via resolution 2023-10-24-1502. The City Council first tasked these bodies with the review of Charter Articles XI and XI-A regarding the Public Information Office (Attachments A and B, respectively).
Measure U
City of Stockton Charter Article XI-A, Public Information Office, was incorporated into the Charter via the March 7, 2000, special election. Specifically, the provision was included in “Measure U.” On November 23, 1999, the City Council via Resolution 99-0545 directed the City Clerk to place the measure on the ballot for the March special election, which included, in pertinent part, “giving the Mayor the authority to direct the City's Public Information Office” (Attachment C).
The results of the election were declared on April 11, 2000, via Resolution 00-0122. Measure U, “Mayor Redefined,” was approved by Stockton voters 56.4% Yes to 43.6% No (Attachment D). Following its adoption, Charter Article XI-A and the language regarding the Public Information Office authority have remained unchanged.
In particular, Charter Section 1151 provides:
“The Public Information Office shall be administered by a Public Information Officer appointed by the Mayor who shall serve at his or her pleasure. The Public Information Officer shall be under the direction and supervision of the Mayor.”
Notwithstanding Measure U, the Mayor’s Office has utilized its own public information officer only to disseminate mayoral information but has not controlled or directed the Public Information Office for the City more generally. The City Manager’s Office has maintained the primary role of disseminating information to the public and media.
Charter Review Advisory Commission
The Charter Review Advisory Commission met on November 16, 2023, January 4, 2024, and January 24, 2024, to receive information regarding the Charter Articles XI and XI-A and the Public Information Office. The information received by the Commission has been outlined in more detail below.
Public Information Officer Job Specifications
The Commission requested information regarding the job specifications for the Mayor’s Public Information Officer (Public Information Officer II), the Community Relations Officer, and other roles in the City with the “Public Information Officer” title (Public Information Officer I). The Commission further requested historical information for these roles, including revisions to the duties following the passage of Measure U.
• Public Information Officer I and II (Attachment E and F)
o Job Specification History
§ Established: 01/19/1959 (Ordinance: 190-CS)
§ Exempted: 08/01/1966 (Ordinance: 1431-CS)
§ Title Changed: 07/21/1968 (Resolution: CS3827)
§ Title Changed: 06/30/1998 (Resolution: CC98-0268)
§ Spec Amended: 08/14/2015
§ Spec Amended: 02/02/2017
o Mayor Usage History
§ The Human Resources Department located a requisition for a Public Information Officer II in 2017.
• Daniel Lopez, Public Information Officer II, was hired 02/16/17 under Mayor Tubbs
§ There were no requisitions for Public Information Officer I (formerly known as the Civic Information Officer, title change in 1998).
• Community Relations Officer (Attachment G)
o Job Specification History
§ Established/Exempted: 03/03/2009 (Resolution: CC09-0068)
§ Spec Adopted: 02/23/2009
§ Spec Amended: 08/14/2015
o Prior titles held by the City’s Community Relations Officer
§ 09/07/2004: Program Manager III (Public Information Officer)
§ 09/16/2006: Program Manager III (Confidential)
• The job specifications are the same for both Program Manager III positions and are included as Attachment H
§ 08/16/2015: Community Relations Officer
Public Opinion of the Office of the City Attorney
The Charter Review Advisory Commission requested a legal opinion from the City Attorney’s Office regarding conflicts between Charter Articles XI and XI-A and the City’s job specifications, which has been included as Attachment I.
Moss Adams Presentation
The City Auditor, Moss Adams, gathered information regarding the practices of five similar cities in California to compare the City of Stockton’s Charter language and practices and to evaluate alignment with industry best practices.
The following cities were selected based on their similar population size and form of government.
Information regarding this evaluation will be presented by the City Auditor at the Committee’s public meeting (Attachment J).
Present Situation
At its January 24, 2024, meeting, the Commission voted to recommend a charter revision to allow public information offices in both the City Manager and Mayor’s Office, clean up job descriptions consistent with the change, clearly define job duties by differentiating between the two positions, consider different job titles for each position, and clarifying information access by the Mayor’s Public Information Officer.
The Ad-Hoc Charter Review Committee is asked to discuss a potential recommendation to the City Council.
Attachment A - Charter Article XI
Attachment B - Charter Article XI-A
Attachment C - Council Resolution 99-0545, Charter Amendment
Attachment D - Council Resolution 00-0122, Declaration of Vote
Attachment E - Public Information Officer I
Attachment F - Public Information Officer II
Attachment G - Community Relations Officer
Attachment H - Program Manager III
Attachment I - Office of the City Attorney, Public Opinion Re Articles XI and XI-A
Attachment J - Moss Adams Report