PREFACE
The City of Saginaw as at present constituted is a consolidation of the former cities of Saginaw and East Saginaw. Pursuant to Act 455 of the Local Acts of the Legislature of 1889, the first meeting of the common council of the consolidated city was held March 12, 1890.
The former City of Saginaw was never incorporated as a village, its first incorporation being as a city in 1857. Its first council meeting was held April 11, 1857.
The former city of East Saginaw was first incorporated as a village in 1855. Its first board meeting was held May 11, 1855. It was incorporated as a city in 1859, and the first meeting of its council was held March 17, 1859.
The village of South Saginaw was incorporated and held its first meeting November 20, 1866. Prior to that time it was known by its post office name, Salina. It became a part of East Saginaw March, 1873.
The present charter was drafted pursuant to the provisions of the Home Rule Act of 1909, as amended, by charter Commissioners elected November 6, 1934. The Charter Commission in its entirely served gratuitously. The Charter Commission completed its work at a meeting held July 26, 1935, and the Charter was approved by the Governor of the State of Michigan on August 5, 1935. It was adopted by the electors of the City on October 14, 1935, by a vote of 4,701 to 4,375. Two copies were filed with the County Clerk and the Secretary of State on October 21, 1935.
On December 2, 1935, the entire Charter Commission was elected by a large majority to serve as Saginaw's first council under the Council-Manager form of government, taking office January 6, 1936.
The first amendment to this charter, proposed by Council resolution February 5, 1947, was approved by the Governor on February 20, 1947, and adopted by the electors on April 7, 1947, by a vote of 3,658 to 1,004. Two copies were filed with the county Clerk and the Secretary of State on April 18, 1947.
The second amendment was initiated by petition, sponsored by members of the Saginaw Fire Department, filed with the City Clerk December 30, 1948. It was approved by the Governor on March 18, 1949, and adopted by the electors April 4, 1949 by a vote of 7,268 to 5,663 and became effective July 1, 1949.
The third and fourth amendments, proposed by Council resolution February 2, 1953, were approved by the Governor on February 12, 1953, and adopted by the electors on April 6, 1953, by a vote of 5,590 to 1,519 and 5,415 to 1,561, respectively. Two copies were filed with the Secretary of State and the County Clerk on April 24, 1953.
The fifth amendment, proposed by Council resolution October 21, 1953, was approved by the Governor November 2, 1953, and adopted by the electors 2,101 to 345. It was filed with the County Clerk and Secretary of State and became effective December 29, 1953.
The sixth amendment was petitioned for by the Fouridation Research Committee, which petition was found to be inadequate (CP 1954 p. 376). On August 23, 1954, the Council recognizing the persons signing the petition in good faith, by resolution, ordered the proposed amendment placed on the ballot. It was approved by the Governor September 13, 1954, and adopted by the electors 12, 034 to 11,806. It became effective November 10, 1954.
The seventh amendment, proposed by Council resolution January 31, 1955, was approved by the Governor February 11, 1955, and adopted by the electors by a vote of 7,812 to 3,392. It was filed with the County Clerk and Secretary of State and became effective April 8, 1955.
The eighth amendment, proposed by Council resolution June 4, 1956, was approved by the Governor July 9, 1956, and adopted by the electors by a vote of 2,727 to 2,224. It was filed with the County Clerk and Secretary of State and became effective August 14, 1956.
The ninth amendment, proposed by Council resolution September 3, 1957, was approved by the Governor October 2, 1957, and adopted by the electors 4,884 to 3,565. It was filed with the County Clerk and Secretary of State and became effective November 22, 1957.
The tenth amendment (same as ninth except the vote was 4,846 to 3,625).
The eleventh amendment, proposed by Council resolution February 2, 1959, was approved by the Governor March 6, 1959, and adopted by the electors 9,026 to 4,536. It was filed with the County Clerk and the Secretary of State and became effective April 17, 1959.
The twelfth amendment, proposed by Council resolution, was approved by the Governor September 15, 1960, and adopted by the electors 13,923 to 10,943. It was filed with the County Clerk and Secretary of State and became effective November 15, 1960.
The thirteenth amendment, proposed by Council resolution, was approved by the Governor February 14, 1961, and adopted by the electors 6,547 to 5,293. It was filed with the County Clerk and Secretary of State and became effective April 13, 1961.
The fourteenth amendment, proposed by Council resolution, was approved by the Governor December 3, 1962, and adopted by the electors 9,389 to 9,133. It was filed with the County Clerk and the Secretary of State and became effective January 16, 1963.
The fifteenth amendment, proposed by Council resolution, was approved by the Governor October 30, 1964, and adopted by the electors 16,135 to 8,531. It was filed with the County Clerk and the Secretary of State November 10, 1964, and became effective January 1, 1965.
The sixteenth amendment was initiated by petition sponsored by Saginaw United Taxpayers, filed with the City Clerk July 19, 1979. It was approved by the Governor on September 24, 1979, and adopted by the electors November 6, 1979, by a vote of 6,729 to 3,484. It was filed with the County Clerk and Secretary of State and became effective December 5, 1979.
The 17 th , 18 th and 19 th amendments proposed by Council to amend Sections 85 and 86 and repeal Section 87, Chapter XIII, were approved by the Governor September 13, 1988, and by electors November 8, 1988, 9,480 to 6,407; 7,892 to 7,330; and 9,195 to 5,997; respectively. They were filed with the County Clerk and Secretary of State and became effective December 2, 1988.
In 1948 an attempt was made to amend the charter, initiated by a group of citizens, and two proposals were placed on the ballot in the November 2, 1948 election.
Proposal No. 1 to elect councilmen by districts was defeated by a vote of 11,101 to 6,947.
Proposal No. 2 to provide a city primary election was defeated by a vote of 11,499 to 5,913.
On February 5, 1951, the Council adopted a resolution to place the question of amending Chapter 7, Section 45, to provide an "Income Profits Tax" on the ballot at a special election May 22, 1951. The amendment was approved by the voters with 9,030 votes for and 5,432 against.
On August 22, 1951, action was taken to restrain the City from enforcing the Income Profits Tax. The Circuit Court decision was against the city and on appeal the Supreme Court also decided against the city but on entirely different grounds. The decision was not based on the legality of the tax but on a technicality, the opinion of the Court being that instead of one question on the ballot, there should have been three.
(House vs. City of Saginaw, 334, Mich. 241)
An amendment proposed by Council resolution June 4, 1956 to permit acquisition, improvement and equipping off-street parking areas and defraying cost by special assessment was approved by the Governor July 23, 1956, and defeated by the voters 2,642 to 2,296.
In 1958 a proposal initiated by the City Council to permit purchase of passenger cars, trucks and truck tractors at prices established by negotiation rather than by competitive bidding was defeated 5,409 to 3,227.
Also in 1958 a proposal initiated by the City Council to permit the establishment of off-street parking and to pay all or part of the cost by special assessment on property specially benefited was defeated 9,040 to 8,864.
In 1959 a proposal initiated by the Saginaw Fire Fighters' Association to reduce work week from 63 to 56 hours was defeated 10,735 to 4,521.
In 1960 a petition filed by the Committee for Better Dental Health for Saginaw, proposing repeal of fluoridation prohibition was found to be inadequate (CP 1960 p. 374). On August 29, 1960, the City Council by resolution ordered this question placed on the ballot, and it was defeated 15,313 to 11,860.
In 1961 a petition was filed by the Citizens Committee for Representative Government which proposed electing councilmen by districts and to establish a non-partisan city primary. Both proposals were defeated 9,722 to 3,683 and 8,979 to 4,033 respectively.
In 1962 a proposal was initiated by Council resolution to amend the Policemen and Firemen Retirement System and was defeated by the electors 3,216 to 3,028.
Also in 1962 a proposal was initiated by Council resolution to authorize for ten years an income tax of not to exceed 1 percent on salaries, bonuses, wages, commissions and other compensation and on net profits of all businesses, professions and other activities of residents and non-residents. The income tax proposal was defeated 10,671 to 7,985.
In 1963 a proposal initiated by Council resolution to repeal Policemen and Firemen Retirement System and require a pension established by ordinance was defeated 6,950 to 6,383.
In 1965 a proposal initiated by petition sponsored by members of the Saginaw Fire Department to reduce the duty hours of Firemen from 63 to 56 hours per week was defeated 12,909 to 12,303.
In 1969 a proposal initiated by Council resolution to add a new Section 83 to Chapter XIII to provide for sale of unplatted cemetery lands was defeated 7,585 to 1,370.
In 1973 a proposal initiated by Council resolution to amend Chapter III, Section 17, by increasing compensation of Councilmen to $20 per meeting and Mayor to $100 a month was defeated 4,805 to 4,704.
In 1976 a proposal initiated by petition sponsored by Saginaw United Taxpayers, Inc., to set maximum amount of taxes which may be levied at 8 mills was defeated 11,924 to 8,899.
In 1977 a proposal initiated by Council resolution to amend Chapter III, Section 17, by increasing compensation of Councilmen to $20 per meeting was defeated 6,395 to 4,851.
Also in 1977 a proposal initiated by Council resolution to amend Chapter III, Section 17, by increasing compensation of Mayor to $100 a month was defeated 7,236 to 3,985.
Also in 1977 a proposal initiated by Council resolution to amend Chapter III, Section 14, by reducing residency requirements for City Councilmen from 3 years to 6 months was defeated 7,363 to 4,112.
Also in 1977 a proposal initiated by Council resolution to amend Chapter V, Section 33, by increasing expenditures from $2,000 to $5,000 before requiring sealed bids and Council approval was defeated 5,838 to 5,134.
In 1979 a proposal initiated by petition sponsored by Saginaw United Taxpayers, Inc. to amend Chapter VII, Section 45, to require adopted of the budget at least 30 days prior to first day of fiscal year, to limit amount of levy and yield, and to provide for exceeding the limit in declared emergency was approved by voters 6,729 to 3,484.
Also in 1979 a proposal initiated by Council resolution to reduce residency requirement for Council candidates from 3 years to 1 year was defeated 6,247 to 4,376.
In 1980, as a result of a letter of understanding between the Fraternal Order of Police, Saginaw Lodge No. 105, and the City, Proposal No. 1 to eliminate the Police Department from Act 78 and Proposal No. 2 to add a new Chapter to provide a civil service system for certain sworn members of the Police Department conditioned upon rescission of Act 78, were placed on the ballot. Proposal No. 1 was defeated 7,321 to 15,495 and Proposal No. 2 was defeated 8,000 to 14,725.
In 1983 a proposal initiated by Council resolution to eliminate the tax limitation contained in Chapter VII, Section 45, was defeated1,677 to 4,849. In 1988, a proposal initiated by the City Council to eliminate the tax limitation contained in Chapter VII, Section 45, was defeated 4,172 to 5,058.