Agenda - View Meetings (All)

Back to Calendar Return

Image of Simpleuploads image 1593013230575

ITEM 1

City Council Memorandum Law Memo No.

Date:

June 2, 2025

To:

Mayor and Council

From:

Kelly Schwab, City Attorney

Subject:

Resolution No. 5913, Ordering and Calling a Special Election for the Submission of Proposed Amendments to the City Charter Clarifying Term Limits for Councilmembers and Mayor

Proposed Motion:

Move City Council pass and adopt Resolution No. 5913, ordering and calling a special election for November 4, 2025, for the submission of proposed amendments to Article II, Section 2.01 of the City Charter clarifying term limits for Councilmembers and Mayor; directing publications as required by law; designating the place and time to accept arguments for and against the question; establishing the conduct of elections including ballot tabulation requirements; authorizing an agreement for services with the County and payment of election expenditures; setting forth the voter registration deadline and Voter Rights Act requirements; designating the election as an all-mail ballot election; establishing canvassing and reporting requirements; and including a severability and ratification clause.

Background/Discussion

The language of Section 2.01(e) under Article II of the City Charter is ambiguous and has led to confusion and concerns about term limits for the office of Councilmember and the office of Mayor. The practice of the city going back to 1972, when the voters elected to impose term limits, has been that a person may serve two consecutive terms as Councilmember followed by two consecutive terms as Mayor. The proposed charter amendment clarifies term limits for Councilmembers and Mayor, including limits of two consecutive four-year terms for each and sixteen years of consecutive service; establishes limits that may apply when there are two years or less between service as Councilmember and Mayor; eliminates a limitation on officials who resign; and eliminates outdated language.

This item was originally heard at a regular meeting held May 22, 2025. At that meeting, Council directed staff to make further revisions to the proposed Charter amendments for consideration at a special meeting to be held on June 2, 2025.

Approval of Resolution No. 5913 will order and call a special election to be held in Chandler, Arizona on November 4, 2025, and submit to the qualified electors of the City of Chandler the proposed amendments to the City Charter shown in Exhibit A to Resolution No. 5913. The form of Ballot is set forth in Exhibit B to Resolution No. 5913.

Attachments

Resolution No. 5913 (as continued from May 22, 2025 regular meeting and revised)