BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The McFarland City Council held its first required public hearing for the proposed city charter which could be placed on the November ballot.

The city charter serves as a city’s local constitution. It establishes the framework for how the city governs its municipal affairs.

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McFarland is currently a general law city meaning it’s governed mostly by state statutes, according to officials.

If the charter is approved by voters, McFarland would gain more control over local affairs such as elections, taxation and contracting while still being subject to state and federal laws on statewide issues.

The proposed charter has eight articles outlining the city’s procedures and structures in municipal affairs, form of government, finance, elections, contracting and procurement, transparency and more.

City officials are looking to present the proposed charter to voters during the November midterms. Before the City Council can approve a resolution to place the charter on the ballot, the city has to conduct two public hearings.

At the public hearings, members of the community can provide comments on the proposed charter. The City Council members can give policy choice ideas and recommended edits to city staff and the Charter Advisory Committee.

The committee includes Mayor Saul Ayon and Vice Mayor Ricardo Cano, as well as two Planning Commission members and two McFarland residents. They have met several times since January to develop and review the proposed charter draft, according to the city.

The first hearing took place at 6 p.m. Wednesday. No public comments were made at the hearing and the City Council members didn’t speak either.

Ayon said the required independent financial audits proposed in the charter would be a good improvement for the city because McFarland’s previous administrations had problems with showing the city’s financial status to the public.

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The City Council approved holding the second and final public hearing April 22.

The resolution to place the charter on the ballot would need to be introduced to City Council by May 13 and approved by May 27.

Read the full draft of the proposed McFarland City Charter below.

McFarland City Charter DraftDownload

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