11.E.
City Council Meeting - FINAL
- Meeting Date:
- 05/06/2025
- From:
- Stacy Saltzburg, City Clerk
TITLE:
Consideration and Adoption of Ordinance No. 2025-08: An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Flagstaff, establishing the number of signatures required for City of Flagstaff candidate nomination petitions, providing for severability, authority for clerical corrections, and establishing an effective date
STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION:
At the May 6, 2025 Council Meeting:
1) Read Ordinance No. 2025-08 by title only for the first time
2) City Clerk reads Ordinance No. 2025-08 by title only (if approved above)
At the May 20, 2025 Council Meeting:
3) Read Ordinance No. 2025-08 by title only for the final time
4) City Clerk reads Ordinance No. 2025-08 by title only (if approved above)
5) Adopt Ordinance No. 2025-08
Executive Summary:
In November 2023, City of Flagstaff voters approved an amendment to the City Charter to add the ability for City Council to adjust the number of signatures required for candidate nomination petitions. Prior to this amendment, the City calculated the signatures based on a formula within state statute which required city candidate nomination petitions to contain at least five (5) percent and not more than ten (10) percent of the votes cast for Mayor.
Arizona Revised Statutes § 39-322 (A)(8) provides that a city holding nonpartisan elections may by ordinance establish the minimum number of signatures to be one thousand signatures or five percent of the vote in the city, whichever is less, but not more than ten percent of the vote in the city. Flagstaff was not able to utilize this provision because the City Charter did not previously allow for it.
With the recent Charter amendment, Council now has the opportunity to reduce the number of signatures to one thousand if they so choose. As we are moving toward election season for 2026, staff would like direction on whether Council would like to utilize this signature-reduction provision.
Arizona Revised Statutes § 39-322 (A)(8) provides that a city holding nonpartisan elections may by ordinance establish the minimum number of signatures to be one thousand signatures or five percent of the vote in the city, whichever is less, but not more than ten percent of the vote in the city. Flagstaff was not able to utilize this provision because the City Charter did not previously allow for it.
With the recent Charter amendment, Council now has the opportunity to reduce the number of signatures to one thousand if they so choose. As we are moving toward election season for 2026, staff would like direction on whether Council would like to utilize this signature-reduction provision.
Financial Impact:
None
Policy Impact:
None
Previous Council Decision or Community Discussion:
Council authorized the Charter amendment to be presented to voters at the November 2023 election.
Options and Alternatives to Recommended Action:
The Council may decide not to implement the reduction.
Connection to PBB Priorities and Objectives:
High Performing Governance
Inclusive & Engaged Community
Inclusive & Engaged Community
Connection to Regional Plan:
None
Connection to Carbon Neutrality Plan:
None
Connection to 10-Year Housing Plan:
None