Plan aims to defuse mayor-council fights

Walker, co-chairwoman of the task force, initially sought to repeal the section of state code that makes it possible for municipal councils to establish a city manager form of government by ordinance. That bill, SB41, was softened during the session and passed as a task-force bill. Walker's stance on the issue also has softened; Tuesday she voiced support for leaving some flexibility in the state code for councils to create a city manager by ordinance.

"It occurs to me that these problems don't happen very often," she said. "I'm sympathetic to the citizens and elected officials who are struggling with this, but I hate to throw the baby out with the bath water. There are a lot of cities that have used (city manager by ordinance), and it's working for them."

A moratorium was placed on city councils enacting the city manger form of government by ordinance until May 5, 2008, while the task force meets to study the issue.

The task force plans to incorporate the League of Cities and Towns' proposal when it begins drafting legislation at its next meeting, July 23. Ultimately, the task force will report its findings to the Political Subdivisions Interim Committee.

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