Clinton council splits vote on code update: postpones term-limits section, approves remainder

Mayor Marie Doherty opened a public hearing July 14 on Ordinance 26-05, which contains administrative updates to Clinton City code intended to align Titles 1 and 2 with state law and correct statutory references. The ordinance includes a separate provision that would repeal Chapter 2.17 — a local term-limits provision adopted last year — after the League of Cities and Towns advised municipalities that such limits may be vulnerable to legal challenge.

"I would suggest that we not vote on this tonight and that we follow that rule," Mayor Doherty said during the hearing, describing advice she had received from the League's deputy director and noting differing legal opinions about municipal term limits.

Council members questioned both the substance of term limits and the process used when the provision was adopted previously. Several said the earlier adoption had not been the subject of extensive study or work sessions. City staff and the manager, Trevor Cahoon, recounted discussions with legal advisers and the city attorney, noting there is no controlling case law that clearly allows or forbids municipal term limits in the state and that any action could invite litigation.

Following public comment and council debate, Council member Spencer Arvey moved to postpone action on the entire ordinance. Council member Jennifer Christiansen then moved to separate Chapter 2.17 from the package, suspend the usual rule that requires waiting to vote after a public hearing and vote that night on the remaining, technical updates while moving the term-limits chapter to the July 28 meeting for further study. The motion to suspend the rules and vote on the remainder passed by majority.

The council then conducted a roll-call vote on the ordinance updates excluding Chapter 2.17 and approved them. The mayor said the term-limits provision will be returned to the council packet for July 28 along with the city attorney’s written comments for further review.

What happens next: Chapter 2.17 (the city’s recent term-limits language) will be placed on the July 28 agenda. Council members asked staff to provide the city attorney’s analysis to the packet so members and the public can review the legal risks and policy considerations before further action.

Provenance: This article summarizes the public hearing presentation, council discussion, motions to postpone and to suspend rules, and the subsequent roll-call vote on July 14. Topic introduction and close in the meeting transcript occur during the Ordinance 26-05 hearing (timeline entries: "Public hearing opened on Ordinance 26-05" through "Roll-call vote").