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Hermiston charter review committee forwards proposed changes to city council
Summary
The Charter Review Committee voted to forward a package of changes — including regular ward redistricting, a shift to ward-only elections, appointing the municipal judge, and a 10-year review requirement — to the Hermiston City Council for consideration and possible placement on a future ballot.
The Hermiston Charter Review Committee voted on March 4 to present its final proposed charter changes to the City Council for consideration, moving the package forward for additional public outreach and possible placement on an upcoming ballot.
"A city charter is really the constitution for the city," Mr. Smith (city manager) told the committee as he reviewed the changes the group recommended after several months of work. Committee members reported a thorough process of sentence-by-sentence review that produced recommendations grouped into four areas: elections, elected-official roles, the city manager position, and charter maintenance.
During public comment, several residents raised concerns about specific items in the package, especially the recommendation to move the municipal judge from an elected to an appointed role. The committee debated those concerns but ultimately voted to forward the full set of recommendations. A motion to present the committee's final proposed changes to the council was moved and seconded (second recorded as Monique) and carried; the exact roll-call tally was not specified on the record.
The committee noted next steps will include council review, public outreach, and if the council elects to put changes before voters, additional information and hearings ahead of any ballot measure. Committee members suggested a November election is a possible target should the council choose to refer items to the ballot.
