Kent council accepts nine charter-review applicants, urges quicker recruitment to meet 15-member requirement

Kent City Council voted to accept nine applicants to serve on the city’s charter review committee and asked council and staff to recruit the remaining members ahead of ballot deadlines.

Council members said past practice had each councilor nominate one guaranteed appointee and fill the remaining seats by drawing names; with nine applicants accepted so far the council acknowledged it still needs at least five more volunteers to reach the charter-mandated 15 members.

The council discussed whether the appointments should be handled tonight or postponed so members could confirm nominees. One councilmember urged a process-first approach, saying they had expected this meeting would be for discussion rather than appointment. Council members who had actively recruited residents argued the nine applicants represented people most likely to serve. After discussion a council member moved to accept the nine applicants; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Councilmembers and staff flagged time sensitivity tied to placing a recommendation on the ballot: amendments must reach the Board of Elections 60 days before the general election. Several members urged continuing recruitment immediately and returning recommendations to the council within two weeks so the city can meet election-office deadlines.

The council also discussed quorum and operational risks if the commission is short-staffed: staff said the commission could operate with an eight-member quorum but warned that lower attendance would make the commission harder to run. Councilmembers agreed to pursue additional applicants and to allow additions to the commission after tonight’s acceptances so the body can begin work while members are still recruited.