The members of the Charter Commission of the City of Broomfield, Colorado, herewith submit to the voters of the City a proposed Home Rule Charter, which we have framed in conformity with Article XX of the Colorado Constitution and the Municipal Home Rule Act of 1971.

The Charter Commissioners have worked long and hard to achieve a simple and direct form of local government based on sound principles of public administration, and tailored to the present and future needs of the citizens of Broomfield. We believe this Charter provides a sound and yet flexible framework for the governance of our Municipal Government through local self-determination.

Under the proposed Charter, a Council-Manager form of government is established. The Council is established as the policy-making legislative body of the City. It consists of ten Council members elected from five wards within the City and an elected Mayor. These officials are elected for a two-year term of office, thereby insuring maximum accountability to the local electorate.

The Mayor presides at all Council meetings, but votes only in case of tie. In addition, the Mayor possesses the right to veto over any ordinance, which veto may be overridden by an affirmative vote of two-thirds membership of the entire Council at the next regular Council meeting following the veto.

The executive power is vested in a City Manager who is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the City Council. The Charter also establishes guidelines for the establishment of a Personnel Merit System for all City employees except major department heads.

The annual municipal election is set on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of odd-numbered years, with the first election under this Charter to be held on November 4, 1975. The Charter provides that all elections are to be nonpartisan and conducted in accordance with Colorado Municipal Election Law.

The Charter requires a vote of the electorate before any new or additional income tax, sales tax or excise tax is enacted. Under the Charter, the City has flexible funding and borrowing procedures, but has a general debt limit not to exceed 10 percent of the assessed valuation of the taxable property within the City.

Additional matters covered in this Charter for the future framework of Broomfield Municipal Government relate to general Council Procedures, Legislation, Initiative and Referendum Powers of the People, Municipal Administration Guidelines, Legal and Judiciary Appointments, Municipal Boards and Commissions, City Finances and Budget, Municipal Borrowing Procedures, Improvement Districts, Inter-Governmental Relations, Public Utilities and Franchises, General Provisions and Transitional Procedures.

The proposed Charter is very much a compromise of our Commission deliberations. But this document vests the People of the City of Broomfield with every major political power permitted any Home Rule Community under the Constitution of the State of Colorado. We believe this Charter provides a structure for quality government in the City of Broomfield which will endure for many years to come.