Staff outlines charter-amendment routes, timelines for any council-size change

City Manager John Piper explained the legal steps that would be required if the council chooses to change its size, saying the two primary routes are a council-led public hearing and ordinance (then carried to the General Assembly by a local delegate) or a voter referendum. "The one that has historically been done in Winchester and most commonly around the Commonwealth is option 1 and that is a public hearing held by council... and the second option is a voter referendum," Piper said.

Piper outlined a potential schedule: council action and first/second readings on an ordinance in late 2026, submission to the General Assembly in 2027, and implementation steps (city-code amendments) in 2027–2028 so that any election-cycle changes would take effect in 2028 depending on the path chosen. He emphasized timing considerations so the discussion would not interfere with the 2026 elections and noted staff would prepare detailed timelines and ordinance language if directed.