A CHARTER ORDINANCE EXEMPTING THE CITY OF MARION, KANSAS, FROM THE PROVISIONS OF K.S.A. 14-201, K.S.A. 14-204 AND K.S.A. 14-205, RELATING TO THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS THEIR TERMS OF OFFICE, TRANSITIONS TO NOVEMBER ELECTIONS, THE APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS, AND NOMINATION PETITIONS; RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS OF APPOINTED OFFICIALS; AND PROVIDING SUBSTITUTE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS ON THE SAME SUBJECT; REPEALING AND REPLACING CHARTER ORDINANCE NO. 20 (21-01).

Be it Ordained by the Governing Body of the City of Marion:

Section 1. The City of Marion, Kansas, by the power vested in it by Article 12, Section 5 of the Kansas Constitution hereby elects to and does exempt itself and make inapplicable to it the provisions of K.S.A. 14-201, K.S.A. 14-204 AND K.S.A. 14-205, that apply to the city, but are parts of enactments which do not apply uniformly to all cities.

Section 2.

(A)  The governing body shall consist of a mayor and four (4) council members to be elected to terms as set forth herein. The mayor and council members shall be residents and qualified electors of the City of Marion.

(B)  The governing body of the city may, by ordinance, divide the city into wards and precincts, establish the boundaries thereof, and number the same. No ordinance redefining wards and precincts shall become effective less than 30 days prior to the next regular city election.

Section 3.

(A)  Those governing body positions with terms expiring in April 2016, shall expire when the city officials elected in the April 2016 general election take office. The terms of the officials elected in the April 2016 election shall expire on the second Monday in January of 2022, when the city officials elected in the November 2021 general election take office.

(B)  Those governing body positions with terms expiring in April 2018, shall expire when the city officials elected in the November 2019 general election take office. The terms of the officials elected in the November 2019 election shall expire on the second Monday in January of 2024, when the city officials elected in the November 2023 general election take office.

Section 4. A general election of city officers take place on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November 2019. Succeeding elections will be held every two years for all such governing body positions whose terms have expired. The council members shall have four-year terms. The Mayor shall have a four-year term.

Section 5.

(A)  The mayor shall appoint, by and with the consent of the council, a municipal judge of the municipal court, a chief of police, city clerk, city attorney, city treasurer and any other officers deemed necessary. Any officers appointed and confirmed shall hold an initial term of office of not to exceed one year and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Any officers who are reappointed shall hold their offices for a term of one year and until their successors are appointed and qualified. The council by ordinance may abolish any office created by the council whenever deemed expedient.

(B)  The mayor shall appoint, by and with the consent of the council, a city administrator. Said city administrator shall enter into a written contract with the city outlining duties and responsibilities of the parties. The contract shall be for a two-year period. The council by ordinance may terminate the contractual relationship by the terms contained therein. The council by ordinance may abolish any office created by the council whenever deemed expedient.

(C)  Appointed Officers. The City may appoint individuals to appointed position(s) whether or not they are residents of the City, when deemed necessary by the Governing Body.

Section 6. In accordance with K.S.A. 25-205, and amendments thereto, any person may become a candidate for city office elected at large by having filed on their behalf, a nomination petition or by a declaration of candidacy, accompanied by any fee required by law. The nomination petition must be signed by at least 25 signatures or 10% of the voters in the last general election, whichever is less of the qualified electors of the City of Marion, Kansas.

Section 7. All City of Marion Municipal elections shall be administered and held in a nonpartisan manner.

(05-16-2022)