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Residents urge elected mayor; council agrees to work session to explore charter review options
Summary
Public commenters called for the mayor to be elected by city voters; councilors discussed options and asked staff and the city attorney to research charter-review paths and schedule a work session.
Multiple residents used the public-comment period to urge the council to place a ballot measure to make the mayor an elected position rather than a council appointment. The council discussed a process for charter review and agreed to schedule a work session and request legal research on options.
Resident Nancy Patton told the council they were elected to serve the public and urged more visible outreach and a state-of-the-city event. “I just wanna remind all of you guys that you are here because the public puts you here,” Patton said during public comment.
Resident David Lohman said he had spoken to about 2,000 people and that the majority he spoke with want the mayor elected by the people. He asked the council to consider putting charter-change language on the ballot instead of relying on a citizen petition process.
Resident Dawn Miller said petition language was ready and urged the council to keep the campaign promise to move toward an elected mayor. “We are ready to move forward. I have the verbiage,” Miller said.
On council business, Councilor Angelina Sanchez asked that the city pursue placing mayoral-election language on a special election ballot to conserve resources and requested staff and the city attorney review options. Staff advised that the city historically appoints a Charter Review Committee separate from the council to draft changes and return recommendations, but that the council can open the charter review committee or explore other methods, and staff will research the legal details. Councilors expressed differing views about timing and approach, with some urging careful review of authority and responsibilities before making structural changes.
Why it matters: Changing how a mayor is selected would amend the city charter and alter local governance; the council’s decision to research options and schedule a work session is a procedural step toward any potential charter change.
Next steps: Staff and the city attorney will research legal methods, and council staff will attempt to schedule a work session to discuss charter-review options; the Charter Review Committee will be opened at the next council meeting for committee appointments, per staff comment.
