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Council moves to place four‑term lifetime limit on November ballot; councilers choose how partial terms will count
Summary
Council voted to place a city‑initiated term‑limits measure on the November ballot asking voters to limit council service to four 4‑year terms in a lifetime. Staff outlined three options for counting partial terms; council favored not counting brief appointed partial terms as full terms.
Deputy City Attorney Dulce Rodas briefed the council on a city‑initiated ballot measure to limit City Council service to no more than four four‑year terms in a person’s lifetime. Rodas outlined three alternative approaches for treating partial terms: (1) count any portion of service as a full term; (2) count partial terms of two years or more; or (3) do not count partial terms.
Council discussion focused on fairness to appointed members who may serve brief partial terms. Councilmembers Manny Acosta (speaker 8) and Hector (speaker 12) argued that appointees should not be penalized for short partial service, favoring the "do not count partial terms" approach. Staff confirmed key deadlines for ballot argument submissions (Aug. 13) and rebuttals (Aug. 24), and provided a fiscal estimate for placing the measure on the ballot (~$42,038 per measure).
Council directed staff to prepare the resolution and first reading of the ordinance reflecting the council’s chosen approach; the item will be placed before voters at the Nov. 3, 2026 consolidated election if council completes the required steps.
