During its Oct. 24 meeting, Montgomery City Council discussed the potential of extending the terms of council members from two to three years.

Zooming out

Currently, council members serve two-year terms. City Administrator Gary Palmer said council members can change their term length to a maximum of four years through a referendum with a majority vote by qualified voters.

If the vote passes, the new term length would only apply to newly elected council members—not council members currently serving, council member Casey Olsen said.

What they’re saying

• “The city is growing so much, and a two-year term really—you don’t get a lot done,” council member Cheryl Fox said. “And it doesn’t have a lot of continuity with all the growth and everything in the area. ... A three-year term would be good. ... That way, your council would be more consistent and have more continuity.”
• “When we swap out half the council every year, basically, it really throws a [wrench] in agendas,” Olsen said. “We get a plan going, and then all of a sudden, here it is, we have three new members who have a whole new idea, and it’s really hard to get things done.”

Learn more