San Francisco Select Committee on Charter Reform Records, 1978-1996, bulk 1994-1995

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Summary

Title:
San Francisco Select Committee on Charter Reform Records
Dates:
1978-1996, bulk 1994-1995
Creators:
San Francisco (Calif.). Board of Supervisors. Select Committee on Charter Reform.
Abstract:
Documents the work of Supervisor Barbara Kaufman pertaining to the 1994 and 1995 charter reform committees. The records cover work leading up to the new charter measure, Proposition E, which voters approved on November 7, 1995. Materials include charter history, drafts and final text, reports, surveys, minutes and hearing summaries, public comments, a speakers manual, legal opinions, campaign materials, press releases, and newspaper clippings.
Extent:
2 boxes (2.0 cubic feet)
Language:
Collection materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], San Francisco Select Committee on Charter Reform Records (SFH 32), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection documents the work of Supervisor Barbara Kaufman and the 1994 and 1995 charter reform committees. The records cover work leading up to the new charter measure, Proposition E, which voters approved on November 7, 1995; and the implementation of the new charter, which took effect on July 1, 1996. Materials include charter history, drafts and final text, reports, surveys, minutes and hearing summaries, public comments, a speakers manual, legal opinions, campaign materials, press releases, and newspaper clippings.

Biographical / historical:

The charter is San Francisco's constitution. The first city charter was adopted in 1898, creating a "strong mayor" form of government. Reformers in the 1920s succeeded in voter adoption of a new charter in 1932, establishing a chief administrative officer to direct most of the city's departments. Over time, numerous incremental charter changes made governing arrangements more complex. Eventually, charter revision was attempted several times, resulting in little change. Charter reform was undertaken in 1994 and 1995 by the Board of Supervisors, resulting in the 1996 charter.

Earlier, three charter committees failed to provide recommendations for revision. A fourth committee made recommendations that appeared on the November 1969 ballot (Proposition E) but was defeated, 37 to 63 per cent. A reconstituted committee then rearranged charter sections more logically, with no substantive changes. This recodification passed in November 1971 (Proposition R).

In 1980, an elected charter commission proposed a new, simplified charter to replace the existing charter that had been amended over 500 times. The proposed charter would have given more authority to the mayor, reduced the chief administrative officer's term from 10 to 4 years, reduced the controller's term from life to 6 years, required that women be included on each commission and board, and gave greater status to the Human Rights Commission. Proposition A failed, 46 percent to 54 percent, on Nov. 4, 1980.

In 1993, voters again mandated (through Proposition N) a thorough review and revision of the Charter. In 1994, the Citizens' Advisory Committee on Charter Reform was established. The San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR), which supported Proposition N, was instrumental in the process. Several proposals were floated. Using the 1980 proposed charter as a starting point, Supervisor Barbara Kaufman and Mayor Frank Jordan's proposals were merged into one document. However, the Board of Supervisors declined to place a charter reform measure on the Fall 1994 ballot.

A new group was created by the Board of Supervisors in 1995, the Select Committee on Charter Reform, chaired by Supervisor Kaufman. Kaufman’s legislative aide, T.J. Anthony, was significantly involved in the activities, as was SPUR. Like the 1994 proposal, the 1995 document was based on the 1980 proposed charter. Reform highlights included: shortening the 370-page document to 88 pages; modernizing the charter by eliminating sexist language, guaranteeing diversity and inclusion in city government, and protecting civil rights; merging the recorder and assessor functions; increasing government accountability; and giving some of the chief administrative officer's (CAO's) authority to the mayor while replacing the CAO with a city administrator with diminished authority. The measure, Proposition E, passed on Nov. 7, 1995, 58 percent to 42 percent, and the new charter became effective July 1, 1996.

Acquisition information:
The San Francisco Select Committee on Charter Reform Records were transferred to the San Francisco Public Library by then-Supervisor Barbara Kaufman in 1996.
Arrangement:

The collection is organized in five series: Series 1: Citizens' Advisory Committee Reports and Proposed Charter Text; Series 2: Select Committee Reports and Proposed Charter Text; Series 3: Ballot Measure Campaign; Series 4: Implementation; and Series 5: Reference materials. Within series, materials are arranged chronologically.

Physical location:
Open for research. The collection is offsite and advance notice is required for retrieval. Material must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Tami Suzuki
Date Prepared:
February 2009
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012-07-05T14:56-0700

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research and available for use during San Francisco History Center hours. Photographs are available during Photo Desk hours. This collection must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], San Francisco Select Committee on Charter Reform Records (SFH 32), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Website