N | Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2023-39: A resolution of the Flagstaff City Council ordering and calling a Special Election of the City for November 7, 2023, to submit questions to the qualified electors of Flagstaff with respect to amendments to the Flagstaff City Charter and a potential question proposed by referendum related to Ordinance No. 2023-11 | ||||||
Ms. Saltzburg addressed Council and stated that the resolution was to call a special election for November 7, 2023 for the purpose of advancing charter amendments for consideration of the voters. In early May, Council gave direction to advance 20 City Charter amendments to the voters in November of this year. Since that time, staff had worked to verify and refine the ballot language for each proposed amendment. During the verification process, one question was eliminated which left a total of 19 proposed amendments. The eliminated question was related to voter registration and what currently existed within the Charter was correct with no modification needed. In addition to the Charter amendments, a referendum was being circulated with regards to Ordinance No. 2023-11. The filing period for the referendum ends on July 6, 2023. It was not known if the referendum would qualify for placement on the ballot within the timeframe required to advertise for pro/con statements from the public. As such, the referendum was included in the resolution, contingent upon the qualification of signatures. Pro/con statements from the public would be accepted for both the City Charter amendments and the potential referendum, with the understanding that the referendum question may not be placed on the ballot, in which case the arguments regarding the referendum would not be included in the publicity pamphlet. Councilmember McCarthy expressed concern about the amendment that would allow Council to adjust the signature requirement for candidate petitions by ordinance. He felt that the number of signatures should be set within the Charter, not through an ordinance. Council discussed the proposed amendment and how the change would allow the Council to change the minimum number of signatures required. Vice Mayor Aslan asked how the potential referendum might impact the success of the charter amendment questions. Ms. Saltzburg stated that elections held in the off years generally had lower voter turnout than regular elections during even numbered years. That combined with a ballot-by-mail election, could result in a lower turnout, however, the referendum and the public interest in the matter, may increase the turnout to more than what was typical. She also noted that the number of questions on the ballot could have an impact on the outcome of the election but it was speculative at best. Sabrina addressed Council and asked why there was such a rush to place the questions on the ballot. |
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Moved by Councilmember Deborah Harris, seconded by Councilmember Miranda Sweet to read Resolution No. 2023-39 by title only. | |||||||
Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously | |||||||
A RESOLUTION OF THE FLAGSTAFF CITY COUNCIL ORDERING AND CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION OF THE CITY FOR NOVEMBER 7, 2023, TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF FLAGSTAFF WITH RESPECT TO AMENDMENTS TO THE FLAGSTAFF CITY CHARTER AND A POTENTIAL QUESTION PROPOSED BY REFERENDUM RELATED TO ORDINANCE NO. 2023-11 | |||||||
Moved by Councilmember Deborah Harris, seconded by Councilmember Miranda Sweet to adopt Resolution No. 2023-39. | |||||||
Vote: 7 - 0 - Unanimously | |||||||
Vice Mayor Aslan left the meeting at 6:18 p.m. A break was held from 6:18 p.m. through 6:39 p.m. |
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