CHARTER
CITY OF SAN RAMON

PREAMBLE

The City of San Ramon was incorporated as a general law city in 1983 by residents seeking the right to manage local affairs. The authority of general law cities has diminished as a result of increasing State mandates and involvement in local matters. In order to reclaim the local autonomy sought through incorporation and to preserve the right of the people to present grievances to the most responsive level of government, we, the citizens of San Ramon, enact this Charter.

ARTICLE 1
Acceptance of Home Rule

Except as restricted by this Charter, the City shall have all powers allowable under the Constitution of the State of California to adopt ordinances, establish rules, grant franchises, structure City government, and in every way to govern the municipal affairs of the City. Municipal affairs encompass all matters of local concern as determined by the City Council consistent with the meaning of "municipal affairs" under the constitutional, statutory, and judicially defined law of the State of California.

Nothing in this Charter is intended to restrict the City in exercising any right, power or authority granted under the general laws of the State of California. However, the provisions of this Charter shall prevail in the event of any conflict with general law.

ARTICLE II
Structure of City Government

The City shall continue to be governed by a council of five members, four Councilmembers and a Mayor, elected at large. The City Council shall appoint a City Manager and a City Attorney. The City Manager, as the chief administrative officer of the City, shall appoint all department heads other than the City Attorney. Involvement in administrative matters by the Council or by any individual Councilmember shall occur only by direction of the City Manager.

ARTICLE III
Selection of Mayor

The Mayor shall be elected by plurality at an election to be held every two years. No elected Mayor shall serve for more than four two year terms or eight years total. Duties of the elected mayor for the City of San Ramon shall remain the same as the duties as of January 1, 2001. Compensation for the elected mayor of San Ramon shall be one hundred dollars per month more than a city Councilmember. The position of elected Mayor will become effective at the first San Ramon regular municipal election following adoption of this charter amendment where three city council seats are up for election. One of these three seats will become the elected mayor position.

ARTICLE IV
Public Contracting

The City Council, by ordinance, shall establish the procedures, including any competitive bidding requirements, to be followed by the City in awarding public contracts of any nature, including those for construction of public works.

ARTICLE V
Continuation of Existing Law

All ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations of the City in effect as of the effective date of this Charter shall continue in effect until repealed or amended.

ARTICLE VI
Interpretation

The provisions of this Charter shall be interpreted broadly to favor the exercise of home rule. If any provision is found by a court to be invalid, the remaining provisions of the Charter shall remain in full force and effect.

cityclerk@sanramon.ca.gov
2222 Camino Ramon, San Ramon, CA  94583
Phone: (925) 973-2539
Fax: (925) 866-0547