Fremont May Change Council Powers, Pay

Fremont is weighing whether to rewrite some of the basic rules that govern how its elected leaders work, including the balance of power inside City Hall and how much the mayor and councilmembers are paid. The review is unfolding as the city moves toward a possible switch from general-law status to a charter city, a change that would require voter approval. City officials say charter status could give Fremont more local control over municipal affairs, including governance design and compensation rules. The current process is moving on an accelerated schedule aimed at the November 3, 2026 ballot. ### Why is Fremont even talking about council powers and pay now? On February 17, 2026, the Fremont City Council approved a referral submitted by Vice Mayor Yang Shao Zhang to begin the process of transforming Fremont from a general-law city into a charter city. The city says that shift would allow Fremont to draft its own governing document, subject to state constitutional limits and voter approval. (fremont.gov) Fremont’s charter initiative page says the stated goal is to provide “greater flexibility,” “stronger local control over municipal affairs,” and the ability to “modernize governance” and tailor administrative and electoral systems to local needs. Those phrases matter because a charter can address how local offices are structured and what authority they carry in areas treated as municipal affairs. (fremont.gov) ### What is the city’s current structure? Fremont’s official mayor-and-council page says the City Council includes the mayor and six councilmembers elected by Fremont residents. That body adopts the city budget, makes major policy decisions and appoints the city manager, who then hires staff and runs day-to-day operations. The current setup is a council-manager system, not a strong-mayor form of government. (fremont.gov) That baseline is important because any discussion about “powers” is starting from a structure in which the city manager, not the mayor, handles daily administration under council direction. ### Who is studying possible changes? On March 3, 2026, the City Council approved a charter workplan that launched a council-proposed charter process and created a seven-member Charter Advisory Committee appointed by Mayor Raj Salwan. (fremont.gov) The city says the committee’s role is to assist in reviewing and recommending provisions for a proposed charter. On March 20, 2026, Salwan appointed seven community members to that committee, according to the city’s charter page. (fremont.gov) Fremont scheduled the committee to meet on Monday evenings from March 23 through April 27 in the City Council Chambers at 3300 Capitol Avenue, with agendas posted in advance. ### What kinds of changes are on the table? The city has not posted a final charter draft on the materials reviewed here, but its own descriptions say the process is examining governance and electoral systems. (fremont.gov) That means the scope of discussion can include how authority is divided among the mayor, council and city administration, if the council ultimately chooses to place such provisions before voters. Outside coverage of the advisory-committee meetings has also reported discussion of elected-official compensation and government structure, including whether charter status could let Fremont revisit pay levels for the mayor and councilmembers. Those reports should be read as accounts of committee deliberations, not adopted city policy. (fremont.gov) ### How can residents track or weigh in on the process? Fremont’s Agenda Center says City Council agendas, staff reports, minutes and related materials are posted online, and email comments received before 1 p.m. on the day of a council meeting are distributed to councilmembers and published in advance. The city also says residents may comment in person at meetings. The City Clerk’s office says it maintains the municipal code and council handbook on a continuing basis. (opgov.news) Fremont’s City Council Handbook was last amended on October 8, 2024, according to the city website, making it one of the current reference points for how the council operates before any charter-related revisions. ### What happens next? The November 3, 2026 election is the date Fremont has targeted for a possible charter measure after the council chose the accelerated option in a 5-2 vote. (fremont.gov) Before that, residents can follow charter materials on the city’s charter initiative page, review agendas through the Agenda Center, and submit comments to the council as draft provisions move toward any formal ballot action. (fremont.gov) (fremont.gov)