Ordinance and Rules Committee

CITY OF CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA Council Member – Ward 20 Chad Robinson Ordinance and Rules Committee, Chair 793 Lower Donnally Rd. Parks and Recreation Committee Charleston, WV 25304 Finance Committee 304- 389-7373 Parking Facilities Committee chad.robinson@cityofcharleston. org A meeting of the Council Committee on Ordinance & Rules will be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 5:45 PM. To be held in person AV ROOM #308, CITY HALL Agenda APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES: 1. 12-1-2025 RESOLUTIONS: 1. Resolution No. 26-020 - Amending the Rules of Council in order to change the process for the appointment of standing committee members and to enact a process for the selection of chair and vice chair positions within the standing committees. BILLS: 1. Bill No. 8067 - An Bill amending the Charter relating to elections and term of office of elective officers and revising the election cycle for the City of Charleston elections. CR/ns *Meetings may be recorded and broadcast via internet https://charlestonwv.civicclerk.com Page | 1 of  MINUTES ORDINANCE AND RULES COMMITTEE MEETING 6:30 P. M., DECEMBER 1, 2025 THE MEETING WAS HELD IN PERSON IN THE AV ROOM #308 IN CITY HALL. Chad Robinson, Chairperson, called the meeting of the Charleston City Council Committee on Ordinance and Rules to order at 6:30 p.m., December 1, 2025. Committee Members Present: Chad Robinson, Chair Frank Annie Becky Ceperley Harper Gardner Joseph Jenkins Emmett Pepper Absent: Patrick Salango, Vice Chair Other Councilmembers Present: Caitlin Cook Chelsea Steelhammer 1. Approval of Previous Minutes – Councilmember Annie motioned to approve the previous minutes from 5-19-2025. Councilmember Ceperley seconded the motion. With those being present having voted unanimously in the affirmative, the Chair declared the minutes as approved as amended. Page | 2 of  2. Bill No. 8061 - A BILL to amend the Municipal Code relating to prohibiting the use of fireworks in any City park or on City-owned property without approval. As the bill’s primary sponsor, Councilmember Cook addressed the Committee from the audience. Councilmember Cook stated that they have consistently heard from constituents about fireworks in public parks. The matter is a safety concern as well as a protection of the investments the City has made into the various turfed fields. Councilmember Jenkins added that he is also a sponsor since a citizen in his Ward also discussed the issue with him. Fireworks have always been a concern in Danner Meadow as it is closely surrounded by homes. Councilmember Cook added that the availability of fireworks are easier to acquire and the fireworks themselves are bigger than was previously available. Councilmember Pepper spoke in support of the bill. He confirmed with the Committee the dates and times it is legal to set off fireworks. Councilmember Ceperley motioned to approve Bill No. 8061. Councilmember Annie seconded the motion. With those being present having voted unanimously in the affirmative, Chair Robinson declared Bill No. 8061 as approved. The Committee briefly discussed the possibility of looking into depilated structures, Council Rules and attendance requirements in the future. Councilmember Jenkins motioned to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned. Page | 3 of  Resolution No. 26-020 Introduced in Council: Adopted by Council: February 2, 2026 Introduced by: Referred to: Joseph Solomon, Shannon Snodgrass Ordinance and Rules And Beth Kerns 1 Resolution No. 26-020 - Amending and reenacting Rule 2 of the Rules of Council in 2 order to change the process for the appointment of standing committee members and to 3 enact a process for the selection of chair and vice chair positions within the standing 4 committees. 5 6 Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Council of the City of Charleston, West 7 Virginia: 8 9 That Rule 2 of the Rules of Council be amended and reenacted to read as follows: 10 11 Rule No. 2. - Committees. 12 13 (a)The city council shall have the following standing committees: 14 15 Committee on Finance. 16 17 Committee on Ordinance and Rules. 18 19 Committee on Planning, Streets, and Traffic. 20 21 Committee on Public Safety. 22 23 Committee on Parks and Recreation. 24 25 Committee on Environment and Recycling. 26 27 Committee on Urban Renewal and Economic Development. 28 29 Committee on Facilities. 30 31 Committee on Parking Facilities. 32 33 (b) All standing committees shall consist of not less than three nor more than nine 34 members unless the city council by resolution specifically provides otherwise. All 35 standing committees shall be appointed by the mayor Council President. The members Page | 4 of  1 of the Committee on Parking Facilities shall be the same as those appointed and 2 serving as the members of the Committee on Finance. 3 4 (c) In addition to the foregoing standing committees, the city council may authorize such 5 select committees as may be provided by resolution. 6 7 (d) Members of each committee shall vote on their own Chair and Vice Chair, selection 8 of which is decided by a majority vote. Provided that, from the date of such selection for 9 Chair and Vice Chair, every standing committee shall be required to conduct an election 10 for Chair and Vice Chair every two years conforming with the voting process referenced 11 herein. 12 Page | 5 of  Bill No. 8067 Introduced in Council: Adopted by Council: February 2, 2026______ Introduced by: Referred to: Joseph Solomon, Shannon Snodgrass Ordinance and Rules And Beth Kerns and Finance Committees 1 Bill No. 8067 - “An Ordinance amending the Charter of the City of Charleston Section 3 2 – Election and term of office of elective officers; salary of mayor; appointments by mayor; 3 term of appointive officers; duties of mayor and city solicitor; salary of solicitor; fees, 4 revising the election cycle for the City of Charleston elections. 5 6 WHEREAS, the Charter establishes the dates for City of Charleston municipal 7 elections; and 8 9 WHEREAS, the Charter establishes the term of office for elective officers; and 10 11 WHEREAS, the City of Charleston values democracy, civic engagement, and the 12 fair representation of its citizens in local government; and 13 WHEREAS, term limits for elected officials promote transparency, foster new 14 leadership opportunities, and prevent the consolidation of power over extended periods; 15 and 16 17 WHEREAS, it is essential to ensure regular turnover in elected offices to 18 encourage fresh perspectives and ideas for addressing the evolving needs of our 19 community; and 20 21 WHEREAS, more seasoned voices on City Council are critical for conveying 22 institutional knowledge and sharing processes for steady city governance. Overlapping 23 terms can help preserve institutional knowledge; and 24 25 WHEREAS, the 2026 city elections mark an appropriate starting point to 26 implement term limits for members of Charleston WV’s City Council. 27 28 WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Charleston, West Virginia, has determined 29 that it is necessary, convenient and expedient for the aforesaid reasons to amend Section 30 35 of the Charter of the City of Charleston, West Virginia, to enact term limits and change 31 the election cycle of the City of Charleston; and 32 33 WHEREAS, after proper public notice, a public hearing was held in Council 34 Chambers on _________________, at 7:00 pm, wherein the citizens were given 35 opportunity to file any written objections to the Charter amendments proposed herein; Page | 6 of 36 and 37 38 WHEREAS, written objections, if any, were withdrawn within the 10 days following 39 the _____________, hearing; 40 41 Now, therefore, be it Ordained by the Council of the City of Charleston, West 42 Virginia: 43 44 That the City of Charleston, West Virginia, beginning in 2030, the City shall transition to 45 staggered City Council elections so that half of Council is elected every two years. To 46 accomplish this transition, the terms of odd-numbered ward seats and three randomly 47 selected at-large seats elected in 2030 shall be for a one time two-year term, with those 48 seats next standing for election in 2032 but then every four years thereafter (2036, 2040, 49 and so on). The remaining even-numbered ward seats and the three remaining at-large 50 seats shall continue on the regular four-year cycle, standing for election in 2034 and every 51 four years thereafter (2038, 2042, and so on). 52 53 Be it further Ordained: that Section 35 of the Charter of the City of Charleston, West 54 Virginia, shall be amended to read as follows: 55 56 Sec. 35. - Election and term of office of elective officers; appointments by mayor; 57 appointment of city clerk; appointments by manager; duties of mayor and city 58 solicitor; fees; term limits. 59 60 The mayor, members of council, municipal judge and treasurer elected on in May 61 16November 3, 20152026, shall serve a term beginning on the third first Monday in 62 JuneJanuary, 201527, and ending in January 2019 2031 when the term of their 63 successors begins. Their successors shall be elected on the first Tuesday in November, 64 20182030, in conjunction with the state and county election administered by the clerk of 65 the county court of Kanawha County, West Virginia, and shall begin their term on the first 66 Monday of January 20192031, unless said Monday is a state holiday, in which case their 67 term shall begin on the first Tuesday of January. Provided that, effective with the 2026 68 election, a three-term consecutive term limit shall be imposed on all Charleston, West 69 Virginia members of city council. 70 71 Thereafter, beginning in 2030, the City shall transition to staggered City Council elections 72 so that half of the members of council are elected every two years. To accomplish this 73 transition, the terms of odd-numbered ward seats and three randomly selected at-large 74 seats elected in 2030 shall be for a one-time two-year term, with those seats next standing 75 for election in 2032 but then every four years thereafter (2036, 2040, and so on). The 76 remaining even-numbered ward seats and the three remaining at-large seats shall 77 continue on the regular four-year cycle, standing for election in 2034 and every four years 78 thereafter (2038, 2042, and so on). 79 80 Implementation Timeline: The term limit policy shall apply starting in 2026. The term that 81 runs from 2026-2030 will be considered the first term for counting three consecutive Page | 7 of  82 terms. 83 84 tThe mayor, members of council, municipal judge and treasurer shall be elected at 85 intervals of four years in conjunction with the state and county election administered by 86 the clerk of the county court of Kanawha County, West Virginia, and their term shall begin 87 on the first Monday of January after their election, unless said Monday is a state holiday, 88 in which case their term shall begin on the first Tuesday of January. 89 90 Public Notice: The city clerk shall provide public notice of this term limit policy through 91 official city communications, the city website, and its media officers to ensure widespread 92 awareness among residents and potential candidates. 93 94 Compliance and Enforcement: The city clerk shall monitor and ensure compliance with 95 this term limit policy, including verifying candidate eligibility during election cycles. 96 97 The mayor shall appoint the city solicitor, an assistant city solicitor, the chief of police, 98 humane officer or officers, building inspector, collector, city auditor, engineer, health 99 commissioner, lockup keeper, municipal court clerk, and the chief of the fire department, 100 and these appointments shall not require any confirmation by the council but shall be 101 made at the discretion of the mayor, who shall, with like discretion, have the full and 102 complete power of removal thereof. The mayor shall appoint the manager, by and with 103 the advice and consent of the council. The council shall, either at a regular or special 104 meeting called for that purpose, pass upon such nomination and either confirm or reject 105 the same, and if such nomination is rejected, then the mayor shall submit to the council 106 a further nomination of some other person or persons until the nomination is confirmed 107 by council, for said office of manager, but it shall be the duty of the council to pass upon 108 all nominations without unreasonable delay; and in any event within two weeks after the 109 submission of the same, and the failure of members of the council to pass thereon within 110 such time shall be cause for the removal from office of such members of the council as 111 shall have refused to act thereon. 112 113 The council shall appoint a city clerk. The manager shall appoint or employ such persons 114 as the ordinances of the city may require or the council may authorize by proper 115 resolution. 116 117 It shall be the duty of the mayor to attend all meetings of the council and preside over that 118 body. 119 120 It shall be the duty of the mayor to see that all of the laws and ordinances of the city are 121 enforced and he shall have a general oversight over the peace, health and good order of 122 the city. 123 124 The duties of the city solicitor or assistant city solicitor shall be to attend the sessions of 125 council (and) to prosecute all suits on behalf of the city and defend all suits against the 126 city, to advise the council and all of the departments of the city and in general to look after 127 the interests of the city when it shall need legal services. Page | 8 of 128 All fees of every kind collected by any officer or employee, including the municipal judge 129 when acting as a justice, shall be paid to the city treasurer. 130 131 This Ordinance will become effective upon passage Page | 9 of