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Commission discusses lowering referendum signature threshold, minority‑representation and council size outreach
Summary
Commissioners debated lowering the citizen referendum petition threshold from 8% to 5% and discussed concerns about minority‑party representation and council size. Public commenters urged an elected Board of Estimate and Taxation, a full‑time grant office and return to in‑person committee meetings.
During public participation and later in commission discussion on Feb. 18, members and commenters raised governance items that could prompt charter edits, including referendum thresholds, council composition and Board of Estimate and Taxation representation.
Resident Diane (last name not provided) urged the commission to consider an elected Board of Estimate and Taxation instead of the currently appointed body, to add line‑item authority for the council’s finance and claims committee, to memorialize a public listening session early in the budget calendar and to enshrine a permanent full‑time grant office under the finance department so grant decisions are not subject to political changes. "If we can…
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