What is Ballot Question 3C in Arvada?

ARVADA, CO. – Arvada voters will be asked four ballot questions to change the City of Arvada Charter. The Arvada Charter is reviewed every 10 years by a committee of Arvada citizens and can only be changed by Arvada voters. On the ballot this November 2021 are four ballot questions for voters to consider pertaining to the length of time to fill a city council vacancy, removing a prohibition on council eligibility and extending the timeframe for citizens to submit signatures for a referendum or initiative. These are Arvada ballot questions 3C, 3D, 3E and 3F.

Ballot Question 3C asks Arvada voters:
"Shall Chapter IV, Section 4.3. "Qualifications," of the Arvada City Charter concerning qualifications to be a candidate for City Council, be amended by deleting language that prohibits an employee from another municipality from holding public office in Arvada? "

A YES vote will eliminate this provision that does not allow a person who is a resident of the City of Arvada, but is employed by another city, from being able to run for or be elected to the Arvada City Council. This rule denies otherwise qualified persons the opportunity to serve, and it denies Arvada voters the opportunity to vote for otherwise qualified persons.

The fact that the existing Charter language is only applicable to employees of other “municipalities,” and counties, fire protection districts, parks and recreation districts, school boards or the State government demonstrates that it is Arvada voters who ought to be able to determine if conflicts of interest exist on a case by case basis – not by broadly prohibiting only employees from one kind of governmental entity from running for City Council.

"Arvada is the only Colorado city I know of that performs a comprehensive review of its charter every ten years." says Mark McGoff, Chair of the 2021 Charter Review Committee. “Our City Council appointed 20 diverse representatives from the Arvada community ensuring that our charter evolves to meet the needs of the community.”

“The Charter Citizens Review committee worked for four months to complete a comprehensive review of the current city charter,” said Arvada City Council member John Marriott. “The final recommendations put before the council were reasonable and I look forward to seeing these issues on the ballot for Arvada citizens to consider this November.”

More information about the Arvada ballot issues can be found at www.ArvadaCharter.com or by contacting Mark McGoff, Chair of the 2021 Arvada Charter Review Committee at 303-945-0059 or via email at mlmcg41@comcast.net.