A CHARTER ORDINANCE AMENDING CHARTER ORDINANCE NO. 15 OF THE CITY OF GODDARD, KANSAS, TO CLARIFY THE COMMENCEMENT OF TERMS FOR NEWLY ELECTED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, TO CHANGE THE TITLE OF “CITY ADMINISTRATOR” TO “CITY MANAGER,” AND TO AMEND THE DUTIES AND AUTHORITY OF THE CITY MANAGER; AND PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF INCONSISTENT PROVISIONS.

WHEREAS, the City of Goddard, Kansas is a city of the second class; and

WHEREAS, the City previously adopted Charter Ordinance No. 15 exempting the City from the provisions of K.S.A. 14-201, 14-301, 14-307, and 14-308, and adopting substitute and additional provisions relating to the election of officers, their powers and duties, and their terms of office; and

WHEREAS, the Governing Body finds it advisable to amend Charter Ordinance No. 15 to clarify the commencement of terms for newly elected City Council members, to change the title of “City Administrator” to “City Manager,” and to revise the provisions governing the authority of the City Manager as the administrative head of the City;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF GODDARD, KANSAS:

SECTION 1. Amendment to Charter Ordinance No. 15 – Commencement of Terms of Newly Elected City Council Members.

Section 6 of Charter Ordinance No. 15, entitled “Elections and Length of Terms,” is hereby amended by adding the following language at the end of that section:

“The terms of newly elected City Council members shall commence on the first Monday in January following the election; provided, however, if the first Monday in January falls on January 1, the terms shall commence on January 2. Newly elected Council members shall be seated and may exercise the powers of office upon taking the oath of office at the first meeting of the City Council occurring on or after the commencement of the term, including any meetings rescheduled due to a holiday closing.”

SECTION 2. Amendment to Charter Ordinance No. 15 – City Administrator Renamed City Manager.

Charter Ordinance No. 15 is hereby amended such that every reference to “City Administrator” shall be replaced with “City Manager.”

This change in title is intended to be a change in nomenclature only and shall not be construed to alter the authority, duties, employment status, or conditions of employment of the position, except as expressly amended by this Charter Ordinance.

SECTION 3. Amendment to Charter Ordinance No. 15 – Authority of City Manager; Removal of Council Advice and Input Requirement.

Section 7 of Charter Ordinance No. 15, entitled “City Administrator,” is hereby amended by deleting the following sentence:

“Such employees and officers shall serve at the pleasure of the city administrator, but no officer or department head shall be appointed, promoted, transferred, demoted, disciplined, laid off, suspended, discharged, or removed without first seeking advice and input from the governing body.”

and inserting in its place the following sentence:

“Such employees and officers shall serve at the pleasure of the City Manager.”

All remaining provisions of Section 7 shall remain in full force and effect except to the extent expressly amended herein.

SECTION 4. Severability.

If any section, clause, sentence, or provision of this Charter Ordinance is held invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.

SECTION 5. Repeal of Inconsistent Provisions.

All provisions of Charter Ordinance No. 15, and any other ordinances or resolutions of the City of Goddard, Kansas, that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter Ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.

(02-02-2026)