|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Mountain View is asking voters this November to pass a ballot measure that would modernize the City Charter with changes mostly focused on revising outdated language and making technical clarifications.
The City Council voted unanimously in June to place the measure on the ballot, with city staff characterizing the proposed changes to the charter as “non-substantive” and “non-controversial.”
They include correcting typographical errors, improving internal consistency within the document and replacing gender-specific terms with gender neutral ones. The updates would align the charter with current state law and city practices, according to the formal “impartial analysis” prepared by the city.
City leaders have also indicated interest in making more substantial changes to the charter, but opted against including those in this November’s measure. Instead, the city plans to put those changes before voters with a separate ballot measure planned for 2028.
What is the city charter?
Adopted in 1952, the charter is a voter-approved legal document that lays out basic rules for how the city should operate. The charter hasn’t been updated since 2016, which is when Mountain View voters approved the city’s rent control law.
Changes to the charter, such as Measure E, require approval by a majority of voters.
What specific changes would be made?
The full text of the proposed charter amendments is available online as part of the agenda for the June 9 meeting, which is when the City Council voted to place the measure on the ballot.
According to the city’s impartial analysis, Measure E would make the following changes:
- When a City Council seat becomes vacant, give the remaining council members 60 days to fill the spot by either appointing a new member or calling a special election. Currently the deadline is 30 days.
- No longer require that ordinances and resolutions, or their titles, be read before adoption. Currently, the full text of an ordinance or measure, or its formal title, must be read aloud before City Council members can vote on it. Council members typically waive the full reading and only read the title aloud, but even that can often be lengthy.
- Only require a roll-call vote on ordinances when requested by a council member or otherwise required by law.
- Authorize the City Council to establish membership qualifications for boards, commissions and committees that are created through an ordinance or resolution. Membership requirements would remain the same for boards and commissions established by the charter, including the Environmental Planning Commission, Board of Library of Trustees and the Parks and Recreation Commission.
- Clarify that any action taken by a board, commission or committee shall be through a majority vote of the current members, excluding vacant positions, provided that the number of current members is at least a quorum of the entire membership.
- Clarify the requirement to stagger the terms of board, commission and committee members.
- Revise one provision in the city’s rent control law related to the definition of “relocation assistance” to update references to the Mountain View City Code.
- Clarify that “qualified elector” in the charter has the same meaning as the term “elector” under California law.
- Remove references to maintaining “books” and instead generally refer to city records.
Support for Measure E
A group of five local leaders submitted a formal statement in favor of Measure E, according to county records. Mountain View Mayor Emily Ann Ramos, City Council members Chris Clark and Lucas Ramirez, Foothill-De Anza Community College District Trustee Laura Casas, and Mountain View Whisman School District Trustee Charles DiFazio signed the statement, which largely summarizes what the measure would accomplish.
The League of Women Voters of the Los Altos-Mountain View area also supports Measure E, according to the statement.
Opponents to Measure E
No formal argument was submitted against Measure E, according to county records.
Over the coming weeks, the Mountain View Voice will be producing comprehensive coverage about the local measures and candidates on the November general election ballot. Check back for candidate profiles, issue comparison grids, campaign finance reporting and more.
Most Popular
Rumors fly about potential closure of Mountain View's Cinemark Century 16 movie theaterSeptember 1, 2026 7:04 pm
