June 12, 2025

“1. ©0145-25 Order/s/ Councilor Stephanie Martins, as President An order requesting approval of the report and recommendations of the City of Everett 2024 - 2025 Charter Review Committee Councilor VanCampen, chair of the charter review committee, explained the process of the charter review, which is required every 10 years to ensure the charter is still functioning effectively. He recognized the committee members and highlighted some of the recommended changes, including making terms gender neutral, changing numbering and format to be more user-friendly, and changes related to recall elections and felony convictions. Councilor VanCampen moved for favorable action on the report, seconded by Councilor DiPierro. Councilor Marchese asked about the process to make changes. VanCampen explained the Council can petition the state legislature for a special act at any time, separate from this process. Councilor Smith asked why a pending home rule petition from 2022 regarding municipal employees holding office was not incorporated. VanCampen deferred to Attorney Lauren Goldberg, who stated it would be strange to have it in another bill when it's already pending separately. Councilor Hanlon asked when the charter commission completed its work, which VanCampen said was sometime in April. Council President Martins said she was told the Council could make changes because the report would come before them. She is not comfortable approving it as is and would like the Council to have input before sending it. Attorney Goldberg stated her opinion that the pending question is on the entire report, and the charter requires an up or down vote with no further business until acted upon. This does not limit the Council's ability to approve other charter amendments separately. If the report was rejected, the committee's work could still be used as the basis for a new amended proposal. Motion for favorable action on the charter review committee report MOTION: Favorable Action MOVER: Robert Van Campen SECONDER: Anthony DiPierro RESULT: Passed [10 TO 0] AYES: DiPierro, Garcia, Hanlon, Marchese, Matewsky, Rogers, : Pietrantonio, Smith, Van Campen, Martins NAYS: AWAY:.” (Motion: Robert Van Campen, second: Anthony DiPierro)

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)