Rose City is a “charter city” meaning that the legal authority for the City’s actions originates with a legal document called a City Charter, rather than from the laws of the State of  Michigan.

Charters are adopted by cities where special conditions create needs that can’t be adequately met by the general laws. 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 — not by a vote of the city council. 

Citizens can establish the terms and number of council members and impose other limitations upon their city council through a charter provision. Among other things, the City Charter gives the City Council the authority to adopt codes and ordinances in order to regulate certain issues within the City.