Panel keeps $15M/36-month borrowing limit in draft, urges council study and clarifies petition timing

The Charter Review Committee on Jan. 26 reviewed the charter text that restricts the City Council’s ability to enter leases, lease-purchase and other unfunded multi-year contracts whose repayment either exceeds 36 months or exceeds $15,000,000 serviced from the general fund. Committee members said the current language is unclear in places and debated whether to convert the limit to a percentage of the city’s assessed value or general-fund budget. Several members argued that because voters previously rejected removing the limit they should not override that expressed will; others said the council should be asked to study updated thresholds and return recommended numbers for future ballots.

On initiative and referendum language, the committee discussed a proposal to suspend an ordinance successfully challenged by a petition meeting a 10% signature threshold until the next regular election. After extended discussion about unintended consequences and the potential for well-funded groups to use suspension tactically, the sponsoring member withdrew the suspension amendment; the committee retained a 90-day deadline requiring council consideration and possible referral to a referendum if the council fails to change the ordinance in substance.

A public commenter urged the committee to ensure the charter preserves voters’ rights and flagged passages that had appeared to bypass election processes in past cycles. Committee members responded that the recommended language aims to restore clarity and protect the right to petition and to bring those recommendations forward to council for legal review and final decisions.