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How Do Cities Differ From Other Forms Of Government?
Cities are but one of several levels of government.  Cities perform many of the functions that are of most immediate concern to citizens.  These include essential services such as police and fire protection, road maintenance, traffic management, parks and recreation, water, sewer and storm drainage, and waste management.  Cities’ land use decisions play a big role in determining the character and level of prosperity of the community.

Counties generally operate as an arm of the state, assisting the state by administering state health and welfare programs, the courts and the criminal justice system.  Counties also act as the municipal government for the unincorporated areas of the country.   Counties have very little regulatory authority within a city.

Special Districts are created to perform specific functions such as flood control, sanitation, air pollution, etc.  Certain areas of the state also have regional governmental agencies, which were established either by stature or as voluntary associations among governmental agencies.

The state and federal governments deal with broader economic and social interests of the community.

What Makes Cities Unique?
As California’s population grows, more and more communities organize themselves into cities.  Today, California has approximately 500 cities.  Citizens often choose their own form of government and elect people from their community to run it because they are looking for an alternative as unique as themselves.  Cities are considered unique for the reasons noted below:

Cities preserve their community’s identify and character.

The character of a community evolves over time.  City government – through its powers to provide services, set a budget, raise taxes and regulate development – gives people the tools they can use to determine the character, priorities, amenities and physical make-up of their community.  Communities often incorporate and become cities to ensure control of their own affairs and prevent themselves from being “swallowed up” by neighboring cities or “lost” within a large unincorporated area.

Cities provide better services.

The police, fire or street maintenance services the county can provide may not be adequate for a growing and changing community.  Cities frequently provide a higher level of service than counties are able to provide to unincorporated areas.  For example, a community may wish to have longer operating hours at its library, pave their streets more frequently or have more police officers and fire fighters. 

Types of Cities
In California there are two types of cities: charter cities and general law cities.  Arcadia is a charter city.

What is a charter city?
Charters are adopted by cities where special conditions create needs that cannot be adequately met by the general laws.  An advantage of the charter form of government stems from the potential breadth of local authority that may be exercised.  Since the powers of a charter city are not restricted to only those outlined in the general state municipal law, a city can adopt a charter and tailor its organization and elective offices to provide for unique local conditions and needs.  A charter can only be adopted and/or changed by a majority vote of city residents. 

What is a general law city?
A general law city operates within the parameters and guidelines of California municipal law.  The advantage of a general law city is that general state laws have been subjected to judicial scrutiny and tested over the years, so there is relatively little confusion about their application.  City charters, by comparison, can be much more complicated and can raise many more questions about what can and cannot be done under state law.

Powers And Limitations Of Cities
Below is a very brief summary of the powers and limitations of cities:

• Cities may enact local police, sanitary and other ordinances and regulations that are not in conflict with the general law of the state.
• The state may not enact special laws which affect specific cities.
• The state shall not impose local taxes, but instead keep its taxing authority restricted to state purposes on an across-the-board basis.
• Cities may establish, purchase and operate municipal utilities to provide their residents with light, water, power, heat, transportation and means of communication.
• Charter cities may exercise exclusive jurisdiction over “municipal affairs.”
• Cities are granted many express powers in statues.  They also have the implied power to do everything necessary to implement an express power.