On July 26 at its regularly scheduled council meeting, Santa Rosa City Council advanced two measures by resolution to the November 2022 ballot to update the City Charter. The two separate ballot measures would address the need to modernize language in the City Charter and have it come in-line with the city’s district-based elections.

As currently written, the City Charter outlines a process for elections based on candidates who run for at-large City Council seats. The new language would amend the City Charter to reflect the City’s recent transition to district-based election of Council Members. 

Per the recommendations of the City Charter Review Committee, City Council also approved moving a ballot forward to amend language in the Charter in order for it to be modernized, including provisions to remove ambiguities, to provide additional flexibility in City operations, and to ensure gender and citizenship neutrality.

At the same meeting, City Council opted to continue to review a resolution to address compensation for City Council members. Rather than have that item be made a ballot measure for the upcoming general election, City Council is considering pushing that ballot measure to go before voters at the general election in November 2024. City Council discussed the idea during the July 26 meeting, which can be viewed here, and will continue that item and discussion at its next meeting on Aug. 9.

For more information about the City Charter review process that spurred these decisions, go to srcity.org/Charter.