Council Refers Home‑Rule Petition on Traffic & Parking Commission to Conference Committee after Solicitor Warning

Councilors debated a home‑rule petition that would amend the charter provision governing the Traffic & Parking Commission, including two principal changes: shifting membership from three residents and four city officials to four residents and three officials, and giving the City Council the option to overturn decisions of the commission.

Councilor Tesh (introducing the petition) said the change would give residents more voice and enable the council to act when constituents request relief on traffic and parking matters. Several councilors expressed concern about the scope of the change and asked procedural questions about how it should proceed.

City Solicitor Cheryl advised the council that charter changes are significant and outlined the required process: discussion in subcommittee, a public hearing and ultimately submitting the amendment to voters. Cheryl warned that a direct second reading and council vote would be inappropriate for a change of this magnitude and said it could, as drafted, effectively enable the council to review and overturn many commission decisions without the full administrative hearing record.

After discussion the council voted by roll call to refer the home‑rule petition to the subcommittee on conference for further study and a formal subcommittee review. The clerk recorded the vote as 10 in favor, 0 opposed and 1 absent.

Next steps: the petition will be discussed in the conference subcommittee, where the city solicitor indicated a legal opinion and guidance for the petition will be provided; subsequent public hearings and processes would follow if the council pursues a charter amendment.