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Council discusses, then declines to advance, proposal to extend council term limits to 12 years
Summary
Council member Stone presented a proposal to change term limits to a 12‑year lifetime cap (three consecutive terms) and estimated a $143,000 cost to place a measure on the November ballot; after debate about cost and timing council declined to move the measure forward and the item was not brought to a vote.
Council member Stone proposed a ballot measure to change Murrieta's term limits to a 12‑year lifetime cap (three consecutive four‑year terms) and outlined arguments in favor: better continuity to complete long projects, deeper relationships with regional partners, and retained institutional knowledge. Stone said the estimated cost to place a measure on the November ballot was about $143,000.
Several colleagues thanked Stone for the presentation but cited budget priorities and the city’s current fiscal context. Council members expressed concern about spending $143,000 now and about the timing given ongoing labor negotiations and budget work; no motion was made to place the measure and the council allowed the idea to lapse for now. "Longer allowable tenure can allow more focus on governing rather than constant transition and planning," Stone said during the presentation; other members said they preferred to revisit the idea later if fiscal conditions permit.
