Resolution No. 5913 (as continued from May 22, 2025 regular meeting and revised)
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RESOLUTION NO. 5913
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHANDLER,
ARIZONA, ORDERING AND CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR
NOVEMBER
4,
2025,
FOR
THE
SUBMISSION
OF
PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS TO 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
SEVERABILTY
AND
RATIFICATION CLAUSE.
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to propose amendments to the City Charter to clarify certain
ambiguities in the Charter regarding the term limits for councilmembers and mayor, as shown on
Exhibit “A” hereto; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the City Council to submit the proposed charter amendments to the
qualified electors of the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council may consolidate the special election with any other election
conducted in the City on November 4, 2025.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Chandler, Arizona,
as follows:
Section 1.
That the proposed amendments to the City Charter for the City of Chandler attached
hereto as Exhibit “A” and by reference made a part hereof, be submitted to the vote
of the qualified electors of the City at a special election to be held on November 4,
2025.
Section 2.
Order and Call for Election; Ballot. Pursuant to Sections 7.03 and 10.09 of the City
Charter for the City of Chandler and Article 13, Section 2 of the Arizona
Constitution, a special election in the City is hereby ordered and called to be held
on November 4, 2025, to submit to the qualified electors of the City the proposed
amendments to the City Charter shown on Exhibit A. The form of Ballot is attached
hereto as Exhibit “B” and incorporated herein.
Section 3.
Publications; Informational Pamphlet. The City Clerk is hereby directed to cause
the preparation and distribution of any required publications as required by law
including an informational pamphlet and sample ballot pursuant to, and meeting
Resolution 5913
Page 2
the requirements of, A.R.S. § 19-141 and Section 7.03 of the City Charter and, if
the City Clerk determines it to be in the City’s best interests, combine such
informational pamphlet and sample ballot with any other publicity pamphlet being
prepared for the November 4, 2025 general or special election. The officers of the
City are hereby authorized to prepare and deliver, or cause to be prepared and
delivered, to the City Clerk the information necessary or appropriate for completing
the informational pamphlet.
The informational pamphlet is to be mailed before the earliest date of receipt of a
requested early ballot to the residence of each registered voter of the City as shown
on the general county register.
Section 4.
Arguments; Notice and Submittal. Pursuant to A.R.S. § 19-141(C), the City hereby
sets the date of Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at the hour of 5:00 p.m. as the deadline
to submit arguments “for” or “against” the proposed charter amendments. Each
argument shall not exceed 300 words in length, and $150.00 shall be deposited with
the City Clerk, 175 S. Arizona Avenue, 1st Floor, by the person submitting each
argument, to offset a portion of the proportionate cost of paper and printing the
argument. The City Clerk is authorized to publish in a newspaper of general
circulation within the City a notice stating the deadline for filing with the City
arguments “for” or “against” the charter amendments, for inclusion in the
informational pamphlet pertaining to the amendments. The City Clerk is authorized
to prepare the notice as necessary to comply with all applicable laws.
Section 5.
Conduct of Election; Designating Election Format; Contracts; Expenditures. The
election will be conducted in the manner provided by law, and the poll lists kept,
and the votes cast thereat will be counted and tabulated, and the returns thereof will
be made in the manner provided by law and only persons who are qualified electors
of the City will vote at the City special election. The special election may be
consolidated with any other election conducted in the City on November 4, 2025.
The special election shall be an all-mail ballot election as authorized by A.R.S. §
16-409(A). A ballot box for drop-off will be available beginning October 8, 2025,
at Chandler City Hall, 175 S. Arizona Avenue. A ballot replacement site will be
established at Chandler City Hall beginning October 27, 2025. There will be no
polling places.
The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to cause ballots to be printed and
mailed to the qualified electors eligible to vote at the special election. Ballots shall
be counted by the voting system in use by the Maricopa County Elections
Department for the recordation of the electors’ choices as authorized by Arizona
law.
Resolution 5913
Page 3
The Mayor and the City Clerk or either of them is each hereby authorized and
directed to enter into a contract with the Maricopa County Recorder to obtain
precinct registers for the election and to enter into an agreement with the Maricopa
County Elections Department to conduct the special election for the City.
The City Council hereby authorizes all expenditures as may be necessary to order,
notice, hold and administer the special election, which expenses shall be paid from
current operating funds of the City.
The City Clerk is hereby authorized to take all necessary action to facilitate the
special election.
Section 6.
Deadline for Voter Registration and Early Voting Dates. A voter in this special
election must be a qualified elector of the City. Maricopa County registration and
voting lists will be used for the special election. To be qualified to vote in the
special election, a City resident must be registered to vote by midnight on Monday,
October 6, 2025.
Absentee/early voting with respect to the special election will be permitted in
accordance with the provisions of A.R.S. Title 16, Chapter 4, Article 8.
Section 7.
Voting Rights Act and Spanish Translation. To comply with the Voting Rights Act
of 1965, as amended, the proceedings pertaining to this election will be translated
into Spanish and posted, published, distributed, and/or recorded in each instance
where posting, publication, distribution, and/or recording of such proceedings are
required, such as this call of election, the notice of election, ballots, the request for
arguments, the informational pamphlet, all early voting materials and all
instructions relating thereto.
Section 8.
Canvass of Election; Reporting. The election officials will forward the votes cast
to the City Council for canvassing. The City Council will meet at the Council
Chambers on a day that is within 20 days after the election date to canvass the
returns of the election and to certify the result, as provided by Arizona law. The
City Clerk is authorized and directed to file and record a certificate of result of
election in the office of the Maricopa County Recorder: (i) disclosing the purpose
of the election, (ii) the total number of votes cast and the total number of votes for
and against the proposed charter amendments and (iii) stating whether the
amendment is ordered. On filing and recording the certificate, the City Council
will carry out the purpose of the special election. The City Clerk is authorized to
submit an all-mail ballot election report to the President of the Senate and Speaker
of the House of Representatives by January 1, 2026, as required by A.R.S. § 16-
409(B).
Resolution 5913
Page 4
Section 9.
Severability. If any section, paragraph, clause or phrase of this resolution shall for
any reason be held to be invalid or unenforceable, the invalidity or unenforceability
of such section, paragraph, clause or phrase shall not affect any of the remaining
provisions of this resolution. The City Council hereby declares that the City would
have adopted this resolution and each and every other section, paragraph,
subdivision, sentence, clause or phrase hereof and authorized and approved the
actions of the City pertaining to the election pursuant hereto irrespective of the fact
that any one or more sections, paragraphs, subdivisions, sentences, clauses or
phrases of this resolution may be held illegal, invalid or unenforceable.
Section 10.
Ratification. All actions of the City Council, officers, employees and agents of the
City which are in conformity with the purposes and intent of this resolution,
whether heretofore or hereafter taken, shall be and are hereby ratified, confirmed,
authorized and approved.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Chandler, Arizona, this ___ day of
June, 2025.
ATTEST:
____________________________________
____________________________________
CITY CLERK
MAYOR
CERTIFICATION
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the above and foregoing Resolution No. 5913 was duly passed and
adopted by the City Council of the City of Chandler, Arizona, at a regular meeting held on the
____ day of June, 2025, and that a quorum was present thereat.
____________________________________
CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
__________________________________
CITY ATTORNEY
Exhibit A:
Proposed Charter Amendment – Article II
Exhibit B:
Form of Official Ballot
Resolution 5913
Exhibit A
Page 1
EXHIBIT “A”
Article II – CITY COUNCIL
Section 2.01. – Composition, eligibility, terms and election.
(a) Composition. There shall be a City Council consisting of a mayor and six councilmen
COUNCILMEMBERS elected from the city at large by the qualified electors of the city.
The term councilman or councilmen COUNCILMEMBER shall include the mayor except
where the mayor is specifically mentioned.
(b) Eligibility. Only qualified electors of the city shall be eligible to hold the office of mayor
or councilman COUNCILMEMBER. Each candidate must have been a resident of the city
or an annexed area for at least two years immediately preceding his election.
(c) Term of Councilmembers. The term of office of councilmembers shall commence at the
first regular meeting of the City Council in January following their election and, except as
otherwise provided herein, shall be for a period of four (4) years or until their successors
are elected and qualified.
(d) Term of mayor. The term of office of mayor shall commence at the first regular meeting
of the City Council in January following the mayor’s election and shall be for a period of
four (4) years or until the mayor’s successor is elected and qualified.
(e) Limitation of terms. No person shall be eligible to be elected to the office of councilmember
for more than two (2) consecutive terms, or to the office of mayor for more than two (2)
consecutive terms or to more than a consecutive combination of same. A person elected to
two (2) consecutive terms as a councilmember or two (2) consecutive terms as mayor or a
combination of same as above set forth shall not be eligible to hold either office again until
four (4) years have elapsed. Councilmembers or mayor[s] who resign shall not be eligible
for re-election or appointment until the second succeeding City election following the date
of tender of their written resignation, except as provided in subsection 2.06(c). For
determining consecutive terms for an incumbent Mayor, if the incumbent Mayor has been
elected to two (2) consecutive two-year terms as of November 6, 2012, those two (2) two-
year terms shall be considered the equivalent of one (1) four-year term, for purposes of
determining this section. All incumbent councilmembers and the Mayor holding office on
May 19, 1997, shall be limited to the number of terms of office authorized on that date by
this Charter, unless there is a Charter amendment approved setting forth that incumbent
councilmembers and mayor are eligible for election to additional terms.
(1) NO PERSON SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO BE ELECTED TO THE OFFICE OF
COUNCILMEMBER FOR MORE THAN TWO (2) CONSECUTIVE TERMS. A
PERSON WHO IS ELECTED TO TWO (2) CONSECUTIVE TERMS AS A
COUNCILMEMBER SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO HOLD THE OFFICE OF
Resolution 5913
Exhibit A
Page 2
COUNCILMEMBER AGAIN UNTIL FOUR (4) YEARS HAVE ELAPSED SINCE
THE END OF THE LAST TERM SERVED AS A COUNCILMEMBER, EXCEPT
AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION 2.06(C).
(2) NO PERSON SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO BE ELECTED TO THE OFFICE OF
MAYOR FOR MORE THAN TWO (2) CONSECUTIVE TERMS. A PERSON WHO
IS ELECTED TO TWO (2) CONSECUTIVE TERMS AS MAYOR SHALL NOT BE
ELIGIBLE TO HOLD THE OFFICE OF MAYOR AGAIN UNTIL FOUR (4) YEARS
HAVE ELAPSED SINCE THE END OF THE LAST TERM SERVED AS MAYOR,
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION 2.06(C).
(3) NO PERSON SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO BE ELECTED TO THE OFFICE OF
COUNCILMEMBER
OR
MAYOR
AFTER
SERVING
SIXTEEN
(16)
CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF COMBINED SERVICE IN THOSE OFFICES UNTIL
FOUR (4) YEARS HAVE ELAPSED SINCE THE END OF THE LAST TERM
SERVED, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION 2.06(C).
(4) NO PERSON WHO HAS SERVED TWO (2) FOUR-YEAR TERMS AS
COUNCILMEMBER FOLLOWED BY A BREAK IN SERVICE OF TWO YEARS
OR LESS AND TWO (2) FOUR-YEAR TERMS AS MAYOR SHALL BE ELIGIBLE
TO HOLD THE OFFICE OF MAYOR OR COUNCILMEMBER UNTIL AT LEAST
FOUR (4) YEARS HAVE ELAPSED SINCE THE END OF THE LAST TERM
SERVED, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION 2.06(C).
(5) ELECTED OR APPOINTED TERMS OF LESS THAN FOUR (4) YEARS AS
COUNCILMEMBER OR MAYOR SHALL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE ABOVE
TIME LIMITATIONS.
(f) Elections. Elections for Mayor and Councilmen COUNCILMEMBER shall be held in
each even-numbered years as provided in article VII of this Charter.
(g) Incumbents. If additional terms for the office of mayor are approved by the voters,
incumbent councilmembers and the mayor holding office on May 19, 1997 are eligible for
election to such additional terms.
Resolution 5913
Exhibit B
Page 1
EXHIBIT "B”
CITY OF CHANDLER
SPECIAL ELECTION
NOVEMBER 4, 2025
PROPOSITION ___
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CHANDLER CITY CHARTER
BY THE CITY COUNCIL
OFFICIAL TITLE: Amending Article II, Section 2.01 of the Chandler City Charter regarding
the clarification of term limits for councilmembers and mayor.
DESCRIPTIVE TITLE: The 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.
A “yes” vote shall have the effect of clarifying term limits for councilmember and mayor,
including the limitation of two consecutive four-year terms for each office and sixteen years of
consecutive service as a combination of councilmember and mayor, establishing limits that may
apply when there are two years or less between service as councilmember and mayor, removing a
limitation on the eligibility of officials who resign, and eliminating outdated language.
A “no” vote shall have the effect of retaining the existing charter language.
Shall the above-described charter amendment be adopted?
YES
NO
TAGLINE TEXT
Shall Article II, Section 2.01 of the City Charter be amended to clarify terms limits for
councilmembers and mayor, including limits of two consecutive four-year terms for each office,
and sixteen consecutive years as a combination of councilmember and mayor, establish limits that
may apply when there are two years or less between service as a councilmember and mayor,
remove a limitation on the eligibility of members who resign, and eliminate outdated language?
YES
NO