Charter Commission Meeting - 2/20, City Hall Chambers

Wednesday February 20, 2019 starting at 6 PM.

Please see below for information about NYC Charter Commission 2019’s upcoming expert forum on elections. This is the first of six forums where experts and advocates will testify about the Commission’s focus areas. This forum will focus on election-related topics like ranked-choice voting, redistricting, and campaign finance. Wednesday February 20, 2019 starting at 6 PM.

FOCUS AREAS 

The Commission will study these proposals: 

ELECTIONS 

Instant Runoff Voting/Ranked Choice Voting

Proposals for the establishment of an instant runoff voting/ranked choice voting system (or a similar system) and related election process reforms (e.g. elimination of duplicative primary elections).  

Redistricting 

Proposals relating to how members of the Redistricting Commission are selected, who may serve on such commission, and how district maps are drawn and adopted.  

Campaign Finance 

Proposals relating to the structure of the Campaign Finance Board (e.g. how members to such board are appointed) and establishing an alternative public campaign financing system, such as a “democracy voucher” system. 

GOVERNANCE 

Appointment and Removal of Officials 

Proposals for establishing an “advice and consent” process for the appointment of certain government officials (e.g. Corporation Counsel, certain commissioners) and for removing such officials. 

Borough Presidents and Borough-Level Governance 

Proposals to expand and enhance the role of the Borough Presidents and/or borough-level governance. 

Corporation Counsel 

Evaluate the role and accountability of the Corporation Counsel. 

Corruption and Conflicts of Interest 

Proposals relating to the structure of the Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB) and lobbying by certain officials after their public service has ended. 

Police Accountability

Proposals relating to enhancing systems of police accountability. This will include exploring improvements to the structure, powers, and role of the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) and the manner in which police discipline is handled. 

Public Advocate 

Examine the role of the Public Advocate and consider proposals modifying, including eliminating, the powers and responsibilities of that office. 

Technical Changes to the Charter and Other Laws

Reconstituting the Board of Statutory Consolidation, whose purpose was to periodically review the Charter and other laws with an eye toward reorganizing and simplifying those laws. 

Chief Diversity Officer 

Proposal to create the position of Chief Diversity Officer in the Office of the Mayor and each city agency. 

FINANCE

City Budget - Proposals relating to 

• The structure of the budget, including making budget units of appropriation more detailed or program-based and aligning the capital budget with discrete projects 

• The authority of the Council to establish terms and conditions on appropriations 

• The timing of budget modifications concerning the financial plan 

• Impoundment powers 

• The timing and manner of making revenue estimates  

Comprehensive Planning (Capital Budget Component)

Proposals relating to the development of a comprehensive city planning framework for capital spending and land use. This would include consideration of proposals to restore the Department of City Planning’s role in the capital budget process.

Independent Budgets for Certain Offices

Proposals relating to providing an independent budget (e.g., a guaranteed minimum level of funding or ability to propose their own funding levels) for certain offices, such as the Public Advocate or the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB). 

Public Pension System Investments 

Proposals relating to how public pension system investment decisions are made and by whom. 

Streamlining Procurement Payments

Explore ways to streamline the procurement process in order to ensure timely payments to contractors and grantees (as well as timely access to capital funding), particularly for nonprofit service providers. This would include an examination of the composition of the Procurement Policy Board (PPB).  

Contract Registration

Examine the contract registration process, including proposals for a mechanism to resolve disputes between the Mayor and Comptroller with respect to approval/registration of a given contract.

Procurement Policy

Proposals for a mechanism to establish procurement/contracting (and reimbursement) policy objectives, including consideration of allowing or clarifying that such objectives can be established by local law. 

LAND USE 

Comprehensive Planning (Land Use Component) 

Proposals relating to the development of a comprehensive city planning framework for capital spending and land use. This would include consideration of proposals for changes to the composition of the City Planning Commission. 

NOTE: This would accompany the “Comprehensive Planning (Capital Budget Component)” topic included in the Finance bucket. 

Franchising

Proposals relating to the composition of the Franchise and Concession Review Committee , the manner in which the terms of franchises are established, the manner and frequency of determining what franchises are necessary, and a mechanism for requiring that needed franchises be implemented.

Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) 

Evaluation of ULURP, including consideration of proposals related to 

• Establishing a “pre-ULURP” mechanism to allow involvement by communities, Community Boards, Borough Presidents, and other relevant stakeholders earlier in ULURP 

• Allowing a Borough President to include an alternative application to be considered alongside an application originating with the City or City-affiliated entities 

• Exploring ways to ensure that necessary mitigation of development impacts occurs 

• Clarifying ULURP timelines 

• Examining the universe of projects covered by ULURP 

• The manner in which ULURP modifications by the City Council and post-ULURP modifications to existing approvals are administered  

Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) 

Examine the composition of the BSA and its review of applications. 

Landmarks Preservation Commission  

Proposals relating to the composition and qualifications of, and possibility of remuneration for, members of the Landmarks Preservation Commission.