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Committee approves charter review commission; councilor to file amendment to review ranked‑choice voting
Summary
The Public Works and Utilities Committee approved a resolution to convene a Charter Review Commission by April 2026 to examine mayor and city council powers. Councilor Michael Garcia said he will bring an amendment to add a review of the city's ranked‑choice voting model; the amendment was not considered at the meeting.
The Public Works and Utilities Committee voted unanimously on Sept. 2, 2025, to approve a resolution convening a Charter Review Commission no later than April 2026 to examine the distribution of powers between the mayor and city council. Councilor Michael Garcia moved approval and said he will introduce an amendment to add review of the city’s ranked‑choice voting model.
"I strongly believe that if we're gonna reconvene a charter review commission, which I'm in full support of, that we look and and ensure that we're making the best use of these individual commission members' time," Councilor Michael Garcia said. "There is one additional item that I will be bringing an amendment forward to include, which will be to, review and assess the ranked choice voting model that is implemented through our charter."
Garcia said he had been told by the city attorney that adding the ranked‑choice review was not allowable; he said he disagreed because the change would be "germane to the topic" of charter review and would not alter the resolution's intent. The amendment was not on the floor at the committee meeting; Garcia said he will work with city staff to prepare it for a future committee meeting.
The resolution lists councilors Jamie Cassett, Pilar Faulkner and Almas Castro as co‑sponsors. Committee members approved the resolution by roll call; the meeting record shows five "yes" votes (Councilor Romero Worth; Councilor Lee Garcia; Councilor Michael Garcia; Councilor Castro; Chair Chavez). No recorded votes opposed or abstained.
Committee members discussed prioritizing topics for the commission and noted the commission will have approximately a year under the proposed timeline to examine the items assigned to it. Councilor Michael Garcia said past commissions had produced multiple recommendations and suggested the new commission review prior recommendations for items that still warrant further vetting.
No changes were made to the resolution text at the meeting; staff from the city attorney's office was present and will assist Councilor Garcia with preparing the proposed amendment. The committee did not take further action on the amendment at this meeting.
What happens next: the resolution moves forward from committee with the committee's approval; Councilor Michael Garcia will work with staff to draft an amendment to add ranked‑choice voting review for future consideration, and the Charter Review Commission must be convened by April 2026 under the adopted timeline.
