Council adopts ordinance lowering passage threshold to simple majority after heated debate

The City Council voted on May 19 to amend city code so that passage of ordinances requires the affirmative votes of a simple majority of the full council, a procedural change supporters said will prevent a small minority from blocking routine measures.

Councilor McGrath Smith and Councilor Panitch spoke for the committee recommendation, arguing the two-thirds requirement had been used to frustrate needed reforms, including the earlier Municipal Finance Modernization Act. "This makes no sense whatsoever to require a two-thirds vote to pass an ordinance if the override of a mayoral veto also requires two-thirds," a proponent said during debate.

Councilor Bacon delivered the minority view, urging caution and saying the supermajority had historically protected against controversial measures such as large raises or structural changes. "To go forward a few months and just undo all that I think was done with goodwill... is an unfortunate use of supermajority power," Bacon said.

After discussion the council voted to adopt the change; the clerk recorded 10 yeas and 3 nays and the president declared item 16 passed.

Next steps: the ordinance change was ordered enrolled and will take effect per council rules; it will alter future vote thresholds for most ordinance adoptions unless state law or the charter requires otherwise.