Atherton council directs staff subcommittee to draft narrowly tailored city charter for voter review

The Town of Atherton City Council voted 4-1 on June 18 to direct its charter-city standing subcommittee to draft a proposed town charter for future public review and possible voter consideration.

Council members and staff said the effort would focus on a narrowly tailored document addressing municipal autonomy without immediate changes to local taxes. City Manager George Roberts and the subcommittee emphasized that a charter could provide limited local control over areas such as procurement, personnel, and certain local tax authorities, while acknowledging legal and administrative complexities.

Supporters said the charter would give the town more local control over municipal affairs in the event the state adopts laws they view as detrimental to local priorities. “A narrowly tailored charter provides an additional layer of local responsibility and can protect local decision-making in limited areas,” City Manager George Roberts said in the staff presentation. Opponents and some council members cautioned the measure could be costly, complicated to administer, and might not deliver meaningful advantages for a small town.

The council directed the subcommittee to continue drafting and public engagement work with staff, with an eye toward a timeline that could allow a charter measure to appear on the November 2026 municipal ballot if the council chooses to pursue that option. The staff presentation noted two formal paths: forming a charter commission (which carries a longer timeline) or continuing work with the standing subcommittee and returning a draft charter to council for approval and placement on a ballot.

Council members pressed for clarity about the charter’s scope. Vice Mayor Holland and others said any draft should be narrowly tailored and should not presume new taxes; Mayor Mary Lewis and Council Member Widmer said they wanted to see specific language before committing further. Council Member Diana said she believed pursuing a charter would likely be an inefficient use of time and money unless the council could present a clear rationale for voters.

The council motion instructed the standing subcommittee to draft a proposed charter and return to the full council with a proposed document and public outreach plan. The motion carried 4-1.

What happens next: the subcommittee will continue public engagement and drafting. Staff told the council a draft could be prepared mid‑2025 to early‑2026 and, if the council approves, the charter could be placed on a November 2026 ballot under the subcommittee pathway. The council noted the alternative path — election of a charter commission — would push the timeline further out.

Sources: Town staff presentation and council discussion during the June 18, 2025 regular meeting.