This guide provides information about four City Charter amendments that the City Council referred to voters for consideration in the November 3, 2026 general election.
The City of Chandler does not support or oppose any ballot measure. This information is provided solely to help voters understand what each proposed amendment would do.
Development of the Proposed Amendments
The City Council established the City Charter Amendment Resident Advisory Committee in June 2025. The nine‑member resident committee appointed by the City Council was tasked with reviewing the City Charter and identifying areas for clarification or modernization.
From July through December 2025, the committee conducted a comprehensive review of the Charter, identified potential revisions, and directed city staff to prepare draft amendment language.
On February 2, 2026, the Committee Chair presented the recommendations at a City Council Work Session, and the Council directed staff to prioritize them. Staff returned on April 6, 2026, with the prioritized list, and the Council agreed to advance four proposals.
On April 23, 2026, the City Council approved Resolutions 6001, 6002, 6003, and 6004, referring the four amendments to voters for the November 3, 2026 general election.
Four Proposed Charter Amendments
Below are the four final recommendations, including their official descriptions.
Clarifies that the Vice Mayor is selected at the first regular City Council meeting in January of each year, rather than within a specified number of days after a new council is seated.
Purpose of the change
To provide a clear, consistent, and predictable timeline for the annual Vice Mayor selection.
Brings the charter in line with established practice as well as state statute, which deems an incumbent to have offered themselves for nomination/election (triggering resignation) specifically on the "filing of a nomination paper" per A.R.S. § 38-296(B).
Purpose of the change
To match current state law and established practice, which defines the resignation trigger as the filing of nomination paperwork.
Eliminates the requirement that the City Council consider an ordinance twice – once as introduced and then at a second meeting to adopt.
Purpose of the change
To streamline the legislative process by eliminating the formal two-step reading requirement.
Continues residency requirement for city manager; requires other positions appointed by the City Council (currently the city attorney, city clerk, and city magistrate) to establish residency within 12 months of appointment (previously, six months); eliminates the residency requirement for department heads not directly appointed by the council; declares that all city employees must live within a "reasonable distance" of the city.
Purpose of the change
To clarify residency expectations for key appointed positions and modernize personnel requirements.