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Bossier City Council approves charter amendment language amid public objections about term limits
Summary
The Bossier City Council adopted proposed amendments to Sections 3.01(b) and 4.01 of the city charter after public comment raising legal and political objections, including calls from local activists and a citizens' coalition to reject the changes.
The Bossier City Council adopted proposed amendments to Sections 3.01(b) and 4.01 of the City Charter on first action during its Feb. 11 meeting after public comment objecting to the changes.
Supporters of placing revised charter language on the ballot argued the measure is part of a broader charter revision process. Opponents said the council and mayor previously resisted petitions and court rulings and urged voters to reject the proposed charter changes. "This council disregarded it," said David Crockett, identifying himself from 653 Domain Drive, who cited legal opinions and rulings he said had required term limits be placed on the ballot. "The Bossier Term Limits Coalition believes the citizens in Bossier City have been harmed by this council," he said.
The public objections focused on a legal history Crockett described involving a state attorney general opinion and subsequent court rulings; another commenter, Cassie Rogers, urged voters to oppose the March ballot package and prioritize a May ballot measure she described as delivering "real term limits." Rogers said, "Term limits means there's an end to it." The comments were made during the public hearing on the charter amendment item.
Council members moved and seconded the ordinance language and then voted; the motion was recorded in the transcript as "Motion carries." The transcript does not include an individual roll-call vote or a tally linked to named council members for this item.
Why it matters: The changes would alter the city charter language governing elected terms and, if placed on the ballot and approved by voters, would change who may seek future office. Members of the Bossier Term Limits Coalition urged the council to withdraw the measure from the March package and support separate ballot language in May, saying the current amendment does not meet citizens' expectations for enforceable term limits.
The council proceeded to other agenda business after the vote; the transcript includes extensive public comment documenting the legal and political objections but does not supply the exact final ballot language or the next procedural step for placing the amendment before voters.
