Mayor Lisa Borowski on Tuesday asked the City Council to agendize a discussion and possible resolution to set a March 10, 2026, special election on the citizen referendum over the Axon rezoning. The proposal would have allowed voters to decide the fate of a large Axon-linked development earlier than the statutorily available November 2026 date.

Supporters of a sooner vote said residents who signed the referendum deserved a prompt chance to vote and that holding the contest earlier would resolve uncertainty for the company and the community. “Our residents and voters deserve the opportunity to vote on the biggest issue that’s come before this council in a very long time,” Mayor Lisa Borowski said.

Opponents argued an early special election would draw lower turnout, be expensive for the city and could disenfranchise voters who prefer in-person voting. “Special elections draw much lower turnout,” Councilman Barry Graham said, adding that many signers expected the referendum to appear on the regular November ballot and that a March contest would be mail-ballot only.

Council debate covered legal and practical issues: whether an earlier election would be allowed or advisable, who benefits from the timing, and the costs to the city versus the costs of potential litigation. Several council members also urged continued negotiation over project scope even as the referendum process proceeds.

Councilman Barry Graham moved an alternate resolution to take no action to call a special election; that motion passed on the council floor. The council therefore did not direct staff to prepare ballot language or a resolution for a March 2026 special election. No further scheduling action on the referendum occurred at the meeting.

The council discussion touched on state-level activity related to Axon and the referendum; council members debated whether litigation or legislative action outside the city would affect voters’ ability to decide the local measure.

With the council’s vote to take no action, the next date available under statute for the referendum remains the regular November 2026 election cycle unless council members bring a new motion at a future meeting.