Council approves charter amendments proposal, sets Aug. 12 special election

The Moore City Council on May 19 voted to propose several amendments to the City Charter and set a special election for Aug. 12, 2025, to submit the proposed changes to the city's registered voters.

The council adopted Resolution No. 10925 proposing specific charter amendments and Resolution No. 11025 to notify the Cleveland County Election Board and start the legal election process. The proposed amendments were developed by a council committee and presented to the full council at the meeting.

Key proposed charter changes described by staff include raising the mayor's salary from $200 to $500 and council members' salaries from $100 to $200 beginning with the next term; removing language that designates the city clerk as head of the Department of Finance and designating the finance director as city treasurer; increasing the threshold for council approval of city property sales from $25,000 to $75,000; removing the personnel board (Sections 8.2 and 8.4); clarifying civil service/classified‑service designations; and setting candidacy qualifications (U.S. citizenship, at least 25 years old, and city residency of at least one year prior to declaring candidacy for at‑large or ward seats as specified).

At the meeting the council clarified that if voters approve the pay increases, current officeholders would not receive the change retroactively; the increases would begin with the next term following the election. Council members voted unanimously to adopt the resolutions and call the special election; the council directed the city clerk to transmit the required documents to the county election board and publish the required notices under state law.

Resolution No. 11025 directs the city clerk to submit the order and required materials to the Cleveland County Election Board and cites the required notice provisions under Section 13‑102 of Title 26 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

If voters approve the charter amendments on Aug. 12, the charter revisions will be implemented according to the charter amendment process and the city will make any necessary administrative adjustments.