BALLOT TITLE:
Caption: Amends Charter, charter amendments require approval by majority of votes.
Question: Shall the Charter be amended such that changes require the approval of a majority of electors voting on the measure?
Summary: The Gresham Charter, adopted in 1978 and last amended in 2012, is the constitution of the City of Gresham. This amendment is referred to the voters on behalf of the Gresham Charter Review Committee (CRC); a committee of Gresham citizens.
The CRC determined the current Charter denies the will of the majority of voters approving a Charter change.
The Charter requires voter approval to change any word, phrase, grammar, or punctuation in the document. The current Gresham Charter requires that amendments must receive 60% or more of the votes in favor of the change.
If this ballot measure is approved, any amendment of the Charter would still require voter approval. Charter Section 45A would be amended to change the voter approval requirement to “A majority of votes cast on the proposed measure”.
This measure has no known fiscal impact.
This measure would take effect when approved by at least sixty percent (60%) of the votes cast for or against this measure.
Explanatory Statement: A Yes vote amends the Charter such that approval by the majority voting on the measure is required to change the Gresham City Charter.
New Charter language: “Any measure which proposes to amend, repeal or replace this Charter shall take effect only if it is approved by a majority of votes cast on the proposed measure.”
A No Vote retains existing Charter language requiring “at least 60 percent of the electors casting votes for or against such measure” to amend the Charter.
The 60% vote threshold to amend the Charter is unique to Gresham. The Oregon Constitution and other cities of similar size to Gresham allow Charter amendments to be approved by a majority of electors voting on the measure.
This measure has no known fiscal impact.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
SECTION 45A. CHARTER AMENDMENTS
Any measure which proposes to amend, repeal or replace this Charter shall take effect only if it is approved by at least 60 percent a majority of votes cast on the proposed measure. electors casting votes for or against such measure.
(Added November 4, 1986; effective November 5, 1986. Amended …)
(New language is underlined; deleted text is strikethrough.)
Additional Charter Review Committee information is available at: https://greshamoregon.gov/charter-review-committee/
Submitted by:
Rachael Gengelhoff, City Recorder
City of Gresham