Detroit's City Charter: What Changes Are Proposed?

DETROIT (WJBK) - Proposal C is a revised charter for Detroit governing the organization of city government.

Click here to see the proposed Detroit city charter >>

"What's in the new charter that's not in the old charter? Overarching theme -- ethics, vision and better government," said Jenice Mitchell Ford with the City Charter Commission.

The charter requires contractors to disclose political contributions and an ethics board that could fine officeholders. It also establishes an inspector general for city government and deficit reporting. Recycling would be required across the city.

"How can you grow yourself with jobs out of a depressed economy? Citywide recycling. It's good for the environment. Other progressive cities do it. But it also leads to jobs. It's good for our economy," Ford told us.

The proposed charter gives the City Council confirmation authority over major mayoral appointees -- the heads of the law, planning and human resources departments, along with the police chief and fire commissioner.

Council President Charles Pugh opposes the new charter. He wants more power for the City Council, including confirmation for eight department heads involved in providing city services and the council given authority to remove department heads.

"By a super majority vote, six no votes means you as a department director have been ineffective. You haven't run your budget properly. You haven't managed the staff properly, and you have not been responsive to the people. The council members need that hook," he said.

The proposed charter would allow council members to approve their own chair. The top vote getter currently becomes council president.

In 2013, with or without a new charter, the city will have seven council members elected by districts and two at-large.

Elena Herrada, the only Hispanic on the Board of Education, likes districts, but argues there are too many unknowns in the proposed charter.

"We could lose control of the water. We could lose control of our pensions, and we can lose control of being able to name the president of the council," she said. "Those are too big, I think, for most Detroiters."

If the proposed charter fails, another can be proposed by the commission.