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Council begins discussion of possible city charter, directs further study and community outreach
Summary
Staff presented a draft 13‑article charter; council members debated term limits, funding priorities, procurement flexibilities and whether taxation provisions should be included. The council did not place a measure on the ballot but directed staff to hold further study sessions and coordinate with the budget process.
City staff presented a draft sample charter and two adoption pathways (council‑drafted charter versus charter commission) during a lengthy discussion March 10. The draft included 13 articles covering municipal authority, elections, term limits, a balanced‑budget requirement, core services, commissions and possible revenue mechanisms (transient occupancy tax, parking structure revenue, franchise taxes).
Assistant City Manager Jack Morgan explained the charter process, timing requirements and that some provisions might be preempted by state law. Council members debated whether charters can help with procurement flexibility and local priorities and expressed concern about tying future councils’ hands through hard-coded provisions such as a two‑thirds funding requirement for public safety.
Public commenters were split: one speaker called the charter a power grab and urged the council to focus on the budget, while another urged quick action to secure local control. Council members broadly supported continued discussion but emphasized the need to align any charter talk with the budget workshop and to schedule a dedicated study session with public outreach. Members asked staff to prepare side‑by‑side analyses showing what each proposed tax or charter provision would yield and to ensure any draft is voter‑ready and mindful of implementation capacity.
Ending: No vote was taken to place a charter on the November ballot; council directed staff to schedule a study session and to prepare comparative analyses for budget deliberations and potential ballot measures.
