VOTE411 Voter Guide

Ballot Language:The City Charter generally provides for vacancy of a member’s seat on council. Shall the City Charter be amended to provide that the office of a member of city council shall become vacant upon, death, resignation, removal from office, in any manner authorized by law, or forfeiture of office upon a majority vote of remaining city council members?Synopsis:In May 2025, the City Council appointed members to the Charter Review Committee to perform a full review of the City Charter for updates and/or changes.Currently, the City Charter states “a member's seat on the council automatically becomes vacant when such member: (1) Fails to attend three (3) consecutive meetings or a total of six (6) regular meetings in a twelve (12) month period, other than work sessions, unless a majority of the other council members vote to excuse any such absences. (2) Dies; (3) Resigns; (4) Fails to meet qualifications; or (5) Is removed from office in any manner authorized by law.”This referendum would require a majority vote of the remaining City Council Members to declare a vacancy (not due to death or resignation). The office of a member of City Council shall become vacant upon death, resignation, removal from office in any manner authorized by law; or forfeiture of his or her office.This referendum is directly tied to Referendums 6, 8 & 9 which specifically outline Prohibitions and Removal/Forfeiture from Office. Yes - For the MeasureSpecify that in order to remove a City Council member and consider the seat vacant, there must be a majority vote of the remaining council members.No - Against the MeasureLeave the vacancy process the same, automatically making the seat vacant, in the case of death, resignation, removal from office, in any manner authorized by law, or forfeiture of office.