Council approves resolution to submit council‑manager proposition; attorney clarifies election timing and effective date

The council voted to submit a ballot proposition asking whether the city should adopt a council‑manager form of government and clarified statutory language about election timing and the proposal's effective date.

City Attorney (Speaker 3) reviewed the relevant statutory citations and explained that what many practitioners call the "general election" for the county is different in statute and that ballot propositions require a special election called in conjunction with a qualifying election date. The attorney explained the need for an explicit effective date in the resolution and presented sample language; the ballot language discussed at the meeting included: “shall the city adopt council manager form of government and update it under the council form of government effective 03/01/2027?” Council members discussed allowing extra runway to ensure newly appointed/elected seats can be filled and agreed to proceed with resolution language and to appoint pro/con committees to prepare the explanatory statements and arguments for the voters' pamphlet.

The attorney reminded the council of statutory deadlines for appointing pro and con committees and that, if the council fails to appoint committees by the prescribed deadline, the county auditor will publish the opportunity and may appoint committees on a first‑come, first‑served basis. Council directed staff to begin organizing potential committee members and return with appointments as required by statute.