The Porterville City Council reviewed a packet of 41 proposed charter amendments compiled by the Charter Review Committee and gave staff direction to prioritize a shorter list for legal review and potential placement on a future ballot. Committee chair Greg Shelton presented the compilation and councilmembers praised the committee's work while asking for clearer, ballot-ready language and legal vetting.

City Manager Richard Treat summarized the committee's work and recommended council provide direction on priorities. Councilmembers said they want staff and the city attorney to convert the committee's items into clear, plain-language measures and to provide legal and cost analyses before any measures are placed on a ballot. Several councilmembers urged the committee to remain engaged in draft review so proposed amendments are understandable to typical voters.

Items repeatedly identified by councilmembers as high-priority for further review included proposals to allow the city to self-perform certain street maintenance activities (consolidating items 20, 37 and 41 in the committee packet), changes to expenditure thresholds that would reduce the number of council approvals needed for routine purchases, a change to require special elections rather than appointments for council vacancies, voter identification provisions, and varying limits or controls on director appointment/termination processes. Councilmembers expressed differing preferences on the spending threshold proposals and recognized those measures may be politically contentious.

Council did not adopt any charter amendments at the meeting. The council asked staff and the city attorney to: (1) consolidate overlapping proposals where appropriate; (2) prepare ballot-ready language and a legal analysis for the council's shortlisted items; (3) provide cost estimates for putting measures before voters; and (4) return with a recommended slate of prioritized measures and draft language. Council also asked that the Charter Review Committee review the final ballot wording before it is filed so the committee can confirm it reflects the committee's intent.