Proposition A

Background

The City Charter is the city’s most important legal document – similar to a constitution for a state or a nation. The City Charter defines the organization, its powers, its functions, and essential procedures of the city government.

In August 2022, the City Council called for a special election on proposed changes to Sections 4 and 9 of Article IV and Section 2 of Article V of the City Charter to lengthen City Council terms from two years to three years.

Resources

Ballot Proposition

Ballot propositionAmendment of Sections 4 and 9 of Article IV and Section 2 of Article V of the City Charter to provide that the term of office for the Mayor and City Council Members shall be three years and to provide that a person may serve no more than nine years as a Council Member and nine years as Mayor and to provide for the staggering of terms.

Enmienda de las Secciones 4 y 9 del Artículo IV y a la Sección 2 del Artículo V de la Carta Orgánica de la Ciudada para disponer que el término del cargo para el Alcalde y los Miembros del Consejo sea de tres años y para disponer que una persona puede servir como Miembro del Consejo por no más de nueve años y nueve años como Alcalde y para disponer términos escalonados.
If I vote FORThe City Charter will be amended to extend the term of office for mayor and city council members from two to three years; to term limit office holders to nine years as a council member and nine years as mayor; and to provide for staggered terms of office.

Under this proposition, the City Charter would be amended as follows:
-- Article IV, Section 4: Terms of Office
All elective officers under this Charter shall serve, commencing with the first general election held following the adoption of this amendment, the term of three years, and until their successors have been elected and qualified.
-- Article IV, Section 9: Term Limits
No person shall serve as Mayor for more than three (3) elected terms, and no person shall serve as a Council Member for more than three (3) elected terms. Under no circumstances may any person ever serve for more than nine (9) years as a Council Member and for more than nine (9) years as Mayor. For purposes of this section and computing the limitations on terms:
(1) a Mayor or Council Member who vacates, for any reason the office before the end of the term for which he was elected shall be considered to have completed that term.
(2) an appointment or election to fill an unexpired Council Member term, or unexpired Mayor term if applicable, shall be computed as follows:
a. if fifty percent (50%) or more of the term is remaining, it shall be included in the computation of term limits; or
b. if less than fifty percent (50%) of the term is remaining, it shall not be included in the computation of term limits.
(3) Council Member terms are counted by including together terms served as both single-member and at-large districts.
The term that each person as Mayor or as a Council Member is currently filling, and all terms served prior to that current term, shall be counted for purposes of determining whether three (3) terms have been served.
This amendment shall become effective immediately upon adoption at the next municipal election, shall apply to all persons currently occupying the Office of Mayor or Council Member, and shall apply to all municipal elections conducted after the date of adoption. Any resident of the city may seek injunctive relief to enforce this prohibition.
-- Article V, Section 2: Mayor and City Council Members, Date of Election, Filing Fees
All regular elections for Mayor and City Council members shall be held on such date as is prescribed by State law or City ordinance not in conflict therewith. Commencing with the general election for City offices held in May 2023, the persons elected to the offices of Mayor and Council members for Districts 3, 4, 5, and 8 shall serve for a term of three years. Commencing with the general election for City offices held in May 2024, the persons elected to the offices of Council members for Districts 1, 2, 6 and 7 shall serve for a term of three years. The City Council shall have the power to call such special elections as they shall deem proper. Candidates for such offices shall pay such filing fee as may be set by appropriate ordinance of the City Council.
If I vote AGAINSTThe current language of the City Charter will remain as follows:
-- Article IV, Section 4: Terms of Office
All elective officers, under this Charter, shall serve, after the first election as herein provided for, the term of two years, and until their successors have been elected and qualified.
-- Article IV, Section 9: Term Limits
No person shall serve as Mayor for more than three (3) elected terms, and no person shall serve as a Council Member for more than three (3) elected terms. Under no circumstances may any person ever serve for more than twelve (12) years in combination as a Council Member and Mayor. For purposes of this section and computing the limitations on terms:
(1) a Mayor or Council Member who vacates, for any reason the office before the end of the term for which he was elected shall be considered to have completed that term.
(2) an appointment or election to fill an unexpired Council Member term, or unexpired Mayor term if applicable, shall be computed as follows:
- if fifty percent (50%) or more of the term is remaining, it shall be included in the computation of term limits; or
- if less than fifty percent (50%) of the term is remaining, it shall not be included in the computation of term limits.
(3) Council Member terms are counted by including together terms served as both single-member and at-large districts.
The term that each person as Mayor or as a Council Member is currently filling, and all terms served prior to that current term, shall be counted for purposes of determining whether three (3) terms have been served.
This amendment shall become effective immediately upon adoption at the next municipal election, shall apply to all persons currently occupying the Office of Mayor or Council Member, and shall apply to all municipal elections conducted after the date of adoption. Any resident of the city may seek injunctive relief to enforce this prohibition.
-- Article V, Section 2: Mayor and City Council Members, Date of Election, Filing Fees
All regular elections for Mayor and City Council members shall be held on such date as is prescribed by State law or City ordinance not in conflict therewith. The Mayor and Council members for Districts 3, 4, 5 and 8 shall be elected in odd numbered years, and the Council members for Districts 1, 2, 6 and 7 shall be elected in even numbered years. The City Council shall have the power to call such special elections as they shall deem proper. Candidates for such offices shall pay such filing fee as may be set by appropriate ordinance of the City Council.
Tax consequencesNone

Voter Guides

Recent News Articles