City Charter discussion

Updates: Text of ballot questions

Ballot question

Establishing when the term of a newly elected Mayor and City Councilmember begins

Shall Section 2.6(a) of the Lakewood Home Rule Charter regarding terms of office of the Mayor and City Councilmembers be amended to specify that the term of a newly elected Mayor or City Councilmember begins at the first regular meeting following certification of the results of the regular municipal election?

YES/FOR NO/AGAINST

Establecimiento del momento en que comienza el mandato de un alcalde y un miembro del Concejo Municipal recién elegidos.

¿Deberá enmendarse la Sección 2.6(a) de la Carta de Autonomía Municipal de Lakewood, relativa a los mandatos del alcalde y de los miembros del Concejo Municipal, para especificar que el mandato de un alcalde o miembro del Concejo Municipal recién elegido comienza en la primera reunión ordinaria posterior a la certificación de los resultados de la elección municipal ordinaria?

SÍ/EN FAVOR DE NO/EN CONTRA DE

Ballot question

Repealing and replacing Charter 12.12 to prohibit property tax increases without a vote of the electorate

Shall Section 12.12 of the Lakewood Home Rule Charter be repealed and replaced, to repeal obsolete language authorizing an annual property tax increase of up to 7% without voter approval, and to replace that provision with language stating that the City must comply with the Colorado Constitution and may not increase property taxes without approval of the City’s electors?

YES/FOR NO/AGAINST

Derogación y sustitución de la Sección 12.12 de la Carta para prohibir aumentos del impuesto sobre la propiedad sin el voto del electorado

¿Deberá derogarse y sustituirse la Sección 12.12 de la Carta de Autonomía Municipal de Lakewood, con el fin de derogar el lenguaje obsoleto que autoriza un aumento anual del impuesto sobre la propiedad de hasta un 7% sin la aprobación de los votantes, y sustituir dicha disposición por un lenguaje que establezca que la Ciudad debe cumplir con la Constitución de Colorado y no podrá aumentar los impuestos sobre la propiedad sin la aprobación de los electores de la Ciudad?

SÍ/EN FAVOR DE NO/EN CONTRA DE

Ballot question

Establishing time frames for holding regular or special elections for initiative ordinances and referendums

Shall Sections 13.1(d) and 13.2(e) of the Lakewood Home Rule Charter regarding initiative and referendum procedures be amended to extend the time frame for conducting regular or special elections on initiative ordinances and referendums to not less than sixty (60) days and not more than one hundred fifty (150) days after the final determination of petition sufficiency?

YES/FOR NO/AGAINST

Establecimiento de plazos para celebrar elecciones ordinarias o especiales sobre ordenanzas de iniciativa y referéndums

¿Deberán enmendarse las Secciones 13.1(d) y 13.2(e) de la Carta de Autonomía Municipal de Lakewood, relativas a los procedimientos de iniciativa y referéndum, para ampliar el plazo para celebrar elecciones ordinarias o especiales sobre ordenanzas de iniciativa y referéndums a no menos de sesenta (60) días y no más de ciento cincuenta (150) días después de la determinación final de la suficiencia de la petición?

SÍ/EN FAVOR DE NO/EN CONTRA DE

Past updates

During the Aug. 10 Regular Meeting, City Council had public hearings to consider placing four proposed City Charter amendments on November's ballot. Three of the four proposed updates were approved for the ballot, so Lakewood voters will decide whether or not to approve these.

• Watch the Aug. 10 public hearings to learn more.
• See which updates were approved for the ballot:
  • Approved for the ballot: Ordinance 25 -- City Council Terms of Service
  • Not approved for the ballot: Ordinance 26 -- Council Vacancies
  • Approved for the ballot with amended language in the fourth "whereas" recital: Ordinance 27 -- Property Taxes
  • Approved for the ballot: Ordinance 28 -- Election timelines

City Council has set the Aug. 10 Regular City Council Meeting as the date for public hearings to consider putting four proposed City Charter updates on the November ballot for Lakewood voters to decide.

At the Aug. 10 meeting, City Council has the following options: put these on the ballot as drafted, amend one or all of them before placing them on the ballot, vote against putting any one or all of them on the ballot or postpone taking action on one or all of them to a later date. During the public hearing, residents can provide in-person comments in addition to public comment on LakewoodSpeaks.org, when the Aug. 10 agenda is published on this website.

Proposed updates:

• Ordinance 25 -- City Council Terms of Service
• Ordinance 26 -- Temporary Council Appointments
• Ordinance 27 -- TABOR compliance
• Ordinance 28 -- Special Election Timeframe

Four items to update the City Charter have been proposed, and at the July 27 meeting, City Council will consider setting the public hearing date as Aug. 10 for these proposals. Visit LakewoodSpeaks.org to review the proposals and provide comments to City Council.

The Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee provided its recommendations to City Council, and the City Council discussed them at its June 15 Study Session:

• Watch the Mayor's Minute video.
• Review the recommendations.
• Watch the Study Session.

Background information

One of the five goals that City Council identified during its annual planning session for 2026 is the review of the City Charter. As a result, City Council has created the Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee of City Council members to evaluate the City Charter for potential updates, and this project page will help you follow the progress of this goal. Participate in the discussion in the following ways:

• Review City Council March 23, 2026 agenda informationincluding the staff memo and resolution for creating the committee.
• Read committee's initial concepts and the reasoning for them.
• Watch committee meeting videos.
• Visit the project timeline to check on meetings or important steps.
• Ask a question.
• Review answers to frequently asked questions.

Project background

The City Charter is Lakewood’s foundational document -- essentially the city's "constitution" -- that establishes the city's governmental structure, powers and operating procedures. First approved by Lakewood voters in 1983, the City Charter has been updated several times (1991, 1992, 1999, 2004) to ensure it serves the community effectively and transparently. With over 20 years since the last update, City Council is assessing potential needed updates, and any changes that City Council proposes must be sent to the voters for approval.

The Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee will meet publicly for the following tasks:

• Review sections of the City Charter.
• Identify areas that may need updates or clarification.
• Discuss potential improvements based on current practices and future needs.
• Provide an initial report to City Council with recommendations by June 15.
• Explore the creation of a permanent Charter Review Committee for ongoing review.