Council advances charter amendments on vacancies and term limits after protest on partial‑term language

The City Council on first reading approved revisions to proposed charter amendments that change the process for filling council vacancies and clarify how term limits apply to partial terms — after hearing two filed protests about the ballot language and adjusting the draft.

City Attorney staff presented the package, which updates charter language to shorten the appointment window, require public notice of vacancies and codify an application process for replacements. The amendments also preserve the practice of the mayor pro tem serving as acting mayor if the mayor’s office is vacant and then authorize council to appoint successors for any vacancy created by that internal shift.

A written ballot‑title protest filed June 16 asked the council to prevent the new term‑limit language from retroactively barring a currently eligible member from running. Michelle Haefeli, who filed one of the protests, told council the draft could render a sitting council member ineligible after a November election if the charter change took effect immediately. She asked that the term‑limit language explicitly not apply to partial terms served before 2026.

Council agreed and modified the ordinance and ballot language accordingly. Council voted 7–0 to accept protest‑related modifications and then adopted on first reading ordinance 108 (vacancies/term limits) with specific additions that the revised term‑limit provision “shall not apply to partial terms served before 2026.” Council also approved ordinance 109, which places the approved charter questions on the municipal ballot in the order discussed.

Why it matters: The changes aim to modernize and clarify the city charter so vacancy appointments and elections align with current municipal election timing; the adjustment requested during the protest process preserves voters’ expectations for the November election cycle.

Next steps: The charter questions with the council’s revision will appear on the November 4, 2025 ballot in the order council adopted. If voters approve the measures, the revised appointment procedures and clarified term‑limit rules will become part of the charter.