Charter Review Commission opens work, sets schedule and public-comment rules

The Saratoga Charter Review Commission held its inaugural meeting on May 13, 2025, where Chair Vince Guillen Artis reviewed the commission’s charge from the mayor and the timeline for placing any proposed charter revisions on the November 2026 ballot. The commission agreed to meet at 5:30 p.m. on alternating council Tuesdays, beginning May 27, with the council chambers preferred for better acoustics and recording.

The commission’s appointment directs it to (1) evaluate the current city charter and recommend revisions that the city council could adopt and (2) prepare a draft revised or new charter to present to voters in the 2026 general election. Chair Guillen Artis emphasized the practical constraints of the schedule and noted the commission has roughly a year and four months to complete work if the group is to meet filing deadlines in early September 2026.

Commission advisor Tony, who the group identified as an assistant city attorney for commission support, told members the filing window is “about 60 days” before the election and advised planning backward from that deadline. “Try not to focus on writing a charter that’s going to be human‑being proof,” Tony told the panel, urging the group to craft a charter that is fair, understandable and usable by residents.

Members discussed meeting cadence, chapter-by-chapter sequencing of the charter review, and practical logistics such as microphones, live streaming and suitable rooms. Jen Marca, the executive assistant in the city attorney’s office who will handle minutes and postings, was asked to check council-chambers availability for future meetings.

On staffing and budget, the commission agreed to prepare a formal request to the mayor and city council to cover modest expenses later in the process (printing, outreach and professional services) and to request hourly compensation for the commission’s legal and clerical support. Tony described previous practice in which the council appropriated funds for similar commissions and advised working cooperatively with council members.

The commission discussed officers and nominations and decided to defer a formal vote until absent members can participate. Members nominated Commissioner Matt Beach for vice chair and proposed a candidate for secretary; those nominations will be placed on the agenda for the May 27 meeting. The group also agreed to allow public comment at meetings and set an initial rule of 15 minutes total at the start of each meeting with a two-minute limit per speaker, consistent with current council practice.

The chair closed by assigning Titles 1 and 2 of the charter for first review at the May 27 meeting and urging members to keep in mind statutory constraints such as state municipal home-rule provisions and referendum rules that apply to changes affecting elected officials’ powers. The commission adjourned after a motion to end the session.