Charlotte City Council to discuss four-year terms

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte City Council members are moving forward with their plans to potentially ask voters to approve four-year terms.

At Charlotte City Council’s retreat in Raleigh, consultant and former president of International City/County Management Association Bob O’Neill Jr. told the council that four-year staggered terms are the best practice for a city Charlotte’s size.

The mayor and Charlotte City Council members currently serve two-year terms.

The full council will discuss the issue at the Feb. 4 strategy session meeting.

[Poll: Charlotte voters overwhelmingly oppose 4-year terms]

Mayor Pro Tem Julie Eiselt, who is in favor of four-year terms, wants the city to host engagement sessions so people can learn more about the issue.

“I think we have to have the opportunity to talk with the community and not just the community talking at,” Eiselt said.

Last year, the Budget and Effectiveness Committee voted to recommend allowing voters to decide by referendum whether the council should move to four-year staggered terms.

“What we are trying to talk about is the interest in building a city with an organization that can actually run a city of our size and accomplishes that,” Mayor Vi Lyles said.

The council is hoping to make a decision soon so voters can decide the issue on this November’s ballot.

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