Committee recommends three‑term limits for clerk, treasurer after debate

The Glendale Charter Review Committee voted April 2 to recommend placing a charter amendment on the ballot that would impose a three‑term limit for the elected city clerk and city treasurer, matching the term limit currently applied to city council members.

Public commenters including Mayor Ara Najarian and others urged reconsideration of whether these offices should be elected at all, arguing duties and potential conflicts counsel in favor of appointment or stronger qualifications. Several committee members said they had reconsidered their earlier positions after hearing public input and staff information. Committee discussion focused on whether limits should be concurrent or nonconsecutive, and staff clarified that city council term limits in Glendale are three terms prospectively applied and need not be consecutive.

The committee first considered, and defeated, a motion to maintain the status quo (no term limits). A second motion proposing three nonconsecutive terms for both offices passed on roll call; the committee recorded the motion as passing (transcript records "Motion passes. 5 2 3."). Staff said any term‑limit amendment would be prospective and could not remove an incumbent mid‑term.

What happens next: The committee's recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration of placement on the ballot. If adopted by voters, the term limits would be applied prospectively, not retroactively to sitting officeholders.