A CHARTER ORDINANCE CALLING FOR AN ELECTION ON THE ISSUE OF EXPANSION OF THE CITY COMMISSION FROM 3 MEMBERS TO 5 MEMBERS AND PROVIDING FOR A NEW ELECTION PLAN FOR THE CITY COMMISSION AND EXEMPTING THE CITY OF STERLING, KANSAS FROM THE PROVISIONS OF K.S.A. 14-1204 AND AMENDMENTS THERETO.

WHEREAS, the City of Sterling, Kansas, in 1924, adopted the city commission city manager form of government, and pursuant to K.S.A. 14-1204 provided for three city commissioners, and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the home-rule powers afforded cities in Article 12, Section 5 of the Constitution of the State of Kansas, the governing body of the City of Sterling, Kansas desires to provide for an election on the issue of increasing the size of the city commission from three members to five members, and to provide for a new election plan for any expanded city commission, and to exempt itself from the provisions of K.S.A. 14-1204, and

WHEREAS, the city commission desires to provide for an election at the next general election date on November 3, 1998, on the issue of expansion of the city commission and adoption of a new election plan as provided in this charter ordinance,

Section 1. Subject to adoption by a majority of electors at an election as hereinafter set forth, the City of Sterling, Kansas, by the power vested in it by Article 12, Section 5 of the Kansas Constitution, hereby elects to and does exempt itself from and make inapplicable to it the provisions of K.S.A. 14-1204.

Section 2. Subject to adoption by a majority of electors of the City of Sterling, Kansas, at a duly called and regular election as set forth at Section 3 hereof, the number of city commissioners of the City of Sterling, Kansas, shall be increased from 3 members to 5 members, to serve staggered terms in accordance with the following election plan: All current city commission terms shall expire on April 19, 1999, and shall be subject to the new election plan as herein provided. All city commission positions shall be at large within the city and not from any specified ward or district of the city. The five city commission positions shall be staggered, with the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes serving initial three year terms, from April, 1999 to April, 2002 and for three year terms thereafter; the next two candidates with the next highest number of votes received shall serve initial two year terms, from April, 1999 to April, 2001 and for three year terms thereafter; the next candidate with the next highest number of votes received shall serve an initial one year term, from April, 1999 to April, 2000, and for three year terms thereafter.

Section 3. Pursuant to Article 12, Section 5 of the Kansas Constitution, this charter ordinance shall be published once each week for two consecutive weeks in The Sterling, Kansas Bulletin, and shall not take effect until 60 days after its final publication and unless approved by a majority of said electors of the city at the next regularly scheduled election on November 3, 1998. If approved by a majority of such electors, this charter ordinance shall take effect and all laws and ordinances in conflict herewith, and specifically K.S.A. 14-1204 and amendments thereto, and Section 1-201 (a) of the Code of City Ordinances of the City of Sterling, Kansas, shall be of no further force or effect.

(09-08-1998)