The City Of Oro Valley

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In March, we published a piece that posed the question: "Is It Time For Oro Valley To Have A City Charter? (Part 1)".  We received some comments to our posting.  We thought we would further explore the topic by researching what it takes to create and adopt a charter.

"Cities adopting charters are actually adopting constitutions setting out the basic governing procedures for their local government. This adoption process is similar to the one used by our famous founding fathers who met and created the constitutional basis of our national government. In adopting a city charter, a similar group of "founding fathers” creates a form of local government, or, to put it another way, these “founding fathers” determine their community's “destiny”."(Source)

Adopting a charter is also an opportunity for adopting a new, more representative form of council.  We can, for example, consider a mayor's position that is central to the operation of the town, as opposed to "mostly" ceremonial, as it is today.  We can change the number of members of town council to fewer, perhaps. We can even adopt an idea we reported last week regarding dividing the town into precincts and having one council member elected per precinct?

What is the case for change?

The governance structure in place today, with the exception of adding two council positions, has been in place forever.  Oro Valley is very different than it was thirty, twenty, or even five years ago. It is geographically bigger, larger in population and demographically different than it was then.  We are no longer a "little burg" way north of Tucson. We are, in fact, a major driver of change in the county.

There is also the advantage of "home rule" that we discussed in March.  A city charter gives Oro Valley the right to assert governance in areas were the state currently assets its right to govern us locally.  It gives us the opportunity to be unique and not driven by the Pheonix-based bureaucracy.

A new structure gives more "power" to the people in terms of managing the affairs of Oro Valley. A strong mayor position and precinct-elected officials can be held directly accountable for results. The precinct structure, for example, would give an area, say Rancho Vistoso, an individual on council who represents their interests, which could be vastly different than those who live in, say, Suffolk Hills.  They have someone to hold accountable to represent their interests.

Change is good. Oro Valley has changed. Oro Valley is going to grow.  Is it time for Oro Valley's governance to catch up with the change? What do you think?
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