Committee sets dates to place charter commission question on November ballot

The committee agreed to schedule a charter-related ordinance for committee on June 2, with readings on June 9 (first), June 22 (second) and July 14 (third), a sequence Law Director Russell said fits the statutory 120- to 60-day window for placing charter measures before the November general election.

Russell told members the window runs from 120 days before the election—July 8 for a Nov. 4 election—to 60 days before the election, and said council must act within that range for the ordinance to be placed on the ballot. He also recommended retaining emergency language in the ordinance, arguing the charter ordinance functions as a referendum and that emergency language would not remove voter rights to reverse council action at the ballot.

Committee members asked about the relationship between turnout and timing. Members noted the November vote would be a yes-or-no question on whether to elect a charter commission; if voters approve, the commission would write a charter that would then be returned to voters in a later election (likely the following year’s gubernatorial election, when turnout is higher).

Officials and council members discussed petition logistics for commission candidates: candidates would likely need about 25 signatures to appear on the ballot, and candidate petitions must be filed by the board-of-elections deadline (discussed as Sept. 5 in committee). The clerk said staff would forward guidance from the Secretary of State and contact the board of elections to confirm filing deadlines and any costs the board might charge the city to place the questions and candidate races on a municipal ballot.

The committee left the timeline intact and instructed staff to follow up with the board of elections on filing dates, candidate petition timing and fee estimates. The matter will return to full council if and when committee formally forwards the ordinance.