I emphatically OPPOSE the City becoming a Charter City.
Transitioning to a Charter City would create very costly long-term administrative obligations and would limit the City’s ability to maintain Local autonomy. Legal costs would soar. There would be less flexibility in procurement and contracting. There would be continuous difficulty in determining if issues are statewide vs municipal. The charter processes would require a very costly election for voter approval. In light of these and several other concerns, why would the City Council put any more effort in discussing the topic of a Charter City? Really, why? Just stop!

I support moving forward with the charter city process and giving the residents of Orange the opportunity to vote on it. A charter is fundamentally about local control, allowing our community to make decisions about our own elections, governance structure, and municipal priorities rather than relying solely on Sacramento’s one-size-fits-all rules. Charter cities have greater flexibility in areas like procurement, contracting, and local governance, which can help cities deliver projects more efficiently and tailor policies to the needs of their residents.

Most importantly, this process is about transparency and letting voters decide. The proposed timeline provides multiple public hearings and ultimately places the question before the voters in November 2026, ensuring the community has time to review the charter and weigh in before any change takes effect. I encourage the Council to continue engaging residents, refining the proposal, and allowing the people of Orange to determine whether a charter city is the right step.