LA CHARTER ASSEMBLY: Final Recommendations of a Historic Body

BREAKING: Here are the nine recommendations from the 37 delegates of the Los Angeles City Charter Assembly, the first sortition-selected assembly in the history of Southern California (and one of the first in the US). The delegrates agreed on 9 things. Some delegates will discuss the recommendations on Tuesday, March 10 at a hearing of the Los Angeles Charter Review Commission, an appointed city body.

1. Establish a permanent civic assembly, randomly selected to reflect LA demographics, to review, advise, and refer Council decisions back for consideration, with a minimum of two assemblies per year.
2. The City Council should be 25 single-member districts. The office of City Council president should randomly rotate between members with nonconsecutive terms ending at the end of each session, including special sessions.
3. As population increases per the U.S. Census, the size of the City Council should automatically increase. There should be no more than 170,000 people per district.
4. Councilmembers must live in their respective district for at least one year prior to the election.
5. Councilmembers and the Mayor will no longer have appointment powers to the Ethics Commission
6. Create an independent, nonpartisan office of the Inspector General with the authority to investigate, audit, and refer for prosecution any City employee, whether they be elected or appointed. The Inspector General will lead the Ethics Commission.
7. Voting will be done by ranked choice.
8. One council size option should be presented for the vote, Language shall include that an increase in City Council membership is an increase in representation.
9. Hire a qualified COO and CFO independently, not appointed by the mayor or City Council.