Royal Oak Has Two Local Issues on Aug. 2 Ballot

Royal Oak Has Two Local Issues on Aug. 2 Ballot
(City of Royal Oak, July 15, 2016)
Local Issues on August 2 Ballot
City officials are asking residents to remember to vote on two local issues in Michigan’s August 2 primary election.
Solid Waste & Recycling Millage Renewal
The millage, popularly known as the recycling levy, has been in effect since 1991. It helps pay for:
trash pickup and disposal
• curbside recycling
• leaf collection
• bulk item pickup
• yard waste and twig/branch pickup
• household hazardous waste drop-off
• street sweeping
• drop off site for used motor oil and electronics
In addition to these services, the 1-mill renewal will help fund the switch to single stream recycling next year, which will eliminate the need to pre-sort recyclables and provides recycling carts to most homeowners.
Proposal B
Voters will be asked to consider amending the portion of the City of Royal Oak Charter dealing with requirements to run for mayor or city commissioner.
The charter is Royal Oak’s principal governing document. As such, the Royal Oak Charter Review Committee studies and analyzes the charter and develops proposals to update and modernize it to ensure that it complies with current state and federal law.
Chapter 3, section 3 and chapter 4, section 4 of the Royal Oak City Charter currently require that candidates for local office be at least 25 years old, reside in Royal Oak for at least two years, and be a freeholder (property owner).
Requiring people to own property in order to run for elected office has been ruled unconstitutional. Therefore, the provision requiring property ownership is unenforceable.
Residency requirements of two or more years have been struck down by courts; however, a one-year residency requirement has been upheld. Therefore, changing the residency requirement to one year would conform with the law.
Under Michigan law, candidates for local office need only be of voting age.
Proposal B, if adopted, would remove obsolete language, simplify requirements to run for office, and bring the charter in compliance with state and federal law and practices.
Election Information
The Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote has answers to frequently asked elections questions, including finding your polling location and viewing a sample ballot.
Editor’s note:  You can find all the oc115 election-related stories, including interviews with candidates at https://oaklandcounty115.com/category/election-information/.
 

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