Orange eyes city charter changes

The Orange City Council Tuesday reviewed possible city charge changes Tuesday, but voters must approve any changes.

One of the biggest changes will be the requirement that all people who hold public office or candidates for office must not be indebted to the city because of back taxes, fines, or other charges.

City Attorney Guy Goodson said the charter provision is unenforceable.

Another proposed big change would be requirements for city ordinances to become official. In the current charter, every ordinance must go through two separate votes by the council. Under the proposal, ordinances would require only one reading.

The city charter now holds the city and council borrowing money through bond sales to have a 20-year limit to pay back the bonds. The state constitution allows for longer periods of bonded indebtedness. Goodson suggested the city follow the state rules.

Voters approved the current city charter in 1960. Charter change elections were later held in 1986, 1997, 2005, and 2010. The 2010 charter change added two seats to the city council and set up four single-member districts.

The council Tuesday also voted on first reading an ordinance regulating the placement of electric charging stations for vehicles, accessory transportation, and hybrid vehicles.

Private homeowners will be allowed to have their own charging station. Public charging stations will be limited to various commercial and industrial areas, plus high-density residences like apartment complexes, town homes, and condominiums.

In other business, the council approved an economic development corporation grant of up to $150,000 for the new Cove Marina and Storage at 1804 Mississippi Street. The project is estimated to cost $383,000.

Also, the council approved an agreement with the Stark Foundation to use Stark Park on Green Avenue for the December 2 Gumdrop Shop event sponsored by the city.