Council narrows options on districting; subcommittee to propose resolutions for May 19

Vancouver council members spent the largest portion of the May 5 workshop debating how to respond to repeated public interest in changing how council members are elected and whether to move any measure to the ballot this year.

Councilor Paulson, a member of the districting subcommittee, summarized three principal pathways staff and subcommittee members had discussed: take no action; place an advisory question on the ballot; or place a specific charter amendment on the ballot this November. “About the only thing that we wouldn’t have to specify would be the districts themselves,” Paulson said of a charter amendment, but he warned that substantial specificity would be required if the council wanted a binding amendment this year.

Nut graf: Councilors were divided on timing and specificity. Some members urged immediate action to put a charter amendment on the November ballot, while others argued for council‑led community engagement this year and a potential measure in 2026. The mayor asked the subcommittee to present two or more resolution options for the May 19 meeting so the council can vote on whether to proceed and, if so, with what language.

Councilor Fox said she favors presenting a specific charter amendment this year — drawing on language drafted by prior charter review efforts — so voters decide now rather than leaving the issue to a future council or a citizen initiative. Councilor Perez favored an advisory vote this November coupled with broader community engagement, saying an advisory measure would introduce the topic to more voters. Councilor Stober and others argued the council should lead a community engagement process before placing binding language on the ballot, to build broader consensus.

City Attorney Nina Cook described the mechanics: a council‑initiated charter amendment requires a resolution specifying the proposed text, a ballot title and a short explanatory statement; those materials must be finalized in time for county election deadlines. Cook also noted that the Charter Review Commission is advisory; the council retains authority to place charter changes on the ballot or residents may use petition to put initiatives before voters.

At the close of the conversation Mayor Bridal asked the districting subcommittee to prepare multiple resolution options for the May 19 meeting, including at least one advisory‑style question and at least one resolution with the kinds of specific elements that would be needed for a charter amendment ballot measure. The council set no final language at the workshop and did not take a vote putting a measure on the ballot.

Ending: The council scheduled follow up discussion for May 19; staff and the subcommittee will prepare draft resolution language and explanatory materials for council consideration before any formal vote to place a measure on the ballot.