Rules committee debates deadline to limit last-minute charter amendment changes

Councilwoman Hensley asked the Rules Committee to consider a secondary filing deadline for charter amendments after describing recent instances of substantial late changes introduced shortly before meetings. "It was because we were getting things into us like on Monday, like changes on stuff on Monday before the meeting on Tuesday," she said, arguing that additional time would allow members and the public to digest substantial changes.

Staff told the committee they had gathered examples from other jurisdictions (including the Nashville-Davidson Metro Council and Tennessee House rules) that require either earlier amendment filing or special procedures to accept late changes. Members discussed whether the rule should apply only to charter amendments or more broadly, the risk that a deadline could force withdrawals or postponements, and the need for law-department review of any final language. A motion to postpone detailed action on the proposal passed; members said the topic would be revisited through the planned charter review workshop and committee process (the next citywide filing opportunity for charter amendments was noted as August 2028).