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Elgin’s new Charter Review Committee has organized a series of amendments aimed at modernizing the city’s governing document, including a proposal to lengthen council terms and reduce election frequency.
Committee members presented a summary of their proposed changes during the July 1 City Council meeting. The council will review the finalized recommendations at its July 15 meeting and vote on which amendments to place on the November ballot.
The committee’s work, which began in March, focused on aligning the charter with state law, updating outdated language and clarifying governmental practices — though attention was initially drawn toward potential four-year terms.
“(The purpose is) to allow elected officials more time to focus on important projects and long-term planning without the frequent pressures of running for reelection,” said Jessica Jaimes, committee co-chair. “Longer terms can help improve government stability and encourage more experienced leadership.”
If approved, the change would go into effect with the 2026 and 2027 election cycles. Council members elected in those years would serve four-year terms, with future elections held in alternating two-year gaps.
Half of the council and the mayor would be elected in one cycle and the remaining council members elected two years later, according to the proposal. The recommendations do not include term limits.
Committee members confirmed that while term limits were discussed, they chose not to propose them.
Among the other proposed amendments is a clarification that the mayor and council members must reside within the city and their respective wards throughout their terms.
Another recommendation would change how public notices are published, shifting ordinances away from the city’s newspaper of record — the Courier — to an online-only posting model.
Councilman Liston Crim suggested keeping both methods to serve residents who rely on print publications.
“There are folks that don’t have access, or exercise access, to the website,” he said. “It makes sense to include both options.”
The committee held four meetings this year, with two additional meetings canceled due to lack of a quorum, according to Jaimes. Their final session was held July 2.
The deadline for council members to finalize ballot items is Aug. 18.
