What does a YES vote on City of Mesa Question 3 mean?

Mesa's charter Section 209(A) would require that setting the time and place of regular council meetings, giving public notice, and the purposes of executive sessions follow state law.

What does a NO vote on City of Mesa Question 3 mean?

Section 209(A) of Mesa's charter on council meetings would not change.

Would the Council stop meeting twice a month?

The ordinance says the Council does not intend to substantially change its current schedule (first and third Mondays), but would have flexibility to meet fewer times in some months, for example during recesses.

Would open meeting rules get weaker?

The Charter would instead require compliance with state open meeting law (A.R.S. 38-431.02 and 38-431.03), which the City says it already follows and which includes posting notices online and 24-hour notice except in actual emergencies.

Why tie it to state law?

The City says this removes inconsistencies and means the Charter will stay in line with state law without future amendments when state law changes.

How many votes does City of Mesa Question 3 need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on City of Mesa Question 3?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

City of Mesa Question 3 — Charter Amendment: Section 209(A), Council Meeting Procedures and Public Notice (Maricopa County)

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 4:33 PM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026 · Mesa voters

What it does: To conform with state law, shall Mesa City Charter Section 209(A) relating to Council meetings be amended to require that the procedures for fixing the time and place of regular meetings and giving public notice of meetings, and the purposes for executive sessions be in accordance with state law?
A YES vote means: Mesa's charter Section 209(A) would require that setting the time and place of regular council meetings, giving public notice, and the purposes of executive sessions follow state law.
A NO vote means: Section 209(A) of Mesa's charter on council meetings would not change.
Needed to pass: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Left–right lean: Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Explained

Today

Section 209(A) of Mesa's City Charter requires the City Council to hold a regular meeting at least twice a month, at times and places set by ordinance. City Code now sets regular meetings for the first and third Mondays at 5:30 p.m.
The section also lists some public-notice rules (such as 24 hours' notice of special meetings 'whenever practicable' and advance notice to local media) and some purposes for closed executive sessions.
The City says this wording includes some, but not all, of the state's open meeting requirements and does not always reflect state law accurately.

If it passes

The Council would set the time and place of regular meetings by ordinance in accordance with state law, without a charter minimum of two meetings a month.
Notice of all regular and special meetings would be given as state law requires, and executive sessions could be held only for purposes state law allows, with any required Council action taken in a public meeting.
The ordinance says the Council does not intend to substantially change its current meeting schedule, but wants flexibility to hold fewer than two regular meetings in some months, such as during scheduled recesses.

Who would notice

The Mesa City Council and residents who follow or attend its meetings. It does not change any tax.

How it got here

The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 6017 to put the amendment on the ballot. Charter amendments also require approval by the Governor of Arizona after voters approve them.

Written by SpectrumVote from 2 linked sources (1, 2). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

Background

The amendment was proposed by Mesa City Council Ordinance No. 6017. It says the current Charter Section 209(A) language on meeting schedules, public notice and executive sessions does not always accurately or fully reflect state law, so the council wants the charter to defer to state law instead.

The ordinance notes the charter now requires at least two regular council meetings every month. It says the change would allow fewer in some months, such as during scheduled breaks, but the council does not intend to substantially change the current schedule of regular meetings on the first and third Mondays.

A city staff presentation says charter amendments approved by voters take effect only after the Governor's approval, and that Mesa voters have approved charter amendments at 14 elections since 1967.

Put on the ballot by Mesa City Council, Ordinance No. 6017 (adoption date and tally not recorded in the city's Legistar record).

From official source 1, official source 2, official source 3.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on City of Mesa Question 3 mean?: Mesa's charter Section 209(A) would require that setting the time and place of regular council meetings, giving public notice, and the purposes of executive sessions follow state law.
What does a NO vote on City of Mesa Question 3 mean?: Section 209(A) of Mesa's charter on council meetings would not change.
Would the Council stop meeting twice a month?: The ordinance says the Council does not intend to substantially change its current schedule (first and third Mondays), but would have flexibility to meet fewer times in some months, for example during recesses.
Would open meeting rules get weaker?: The Charter would instead require compliance with state open meeting law (A.R.S. 38-431.02 and 38-431.03), which the City says it already follows and which includes posting notices online and 24-hour notice except in actual emergencies.
Why tie it to state law?: The City says this removes inconsistencies and means the Charter will stay in line with state law without future amendments when state law changes.
How many votes does City of Mesa Question 3 need to pass?: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Should I vote yes or no on City of Mesa Question 3?: SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.
When is the vote?: The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Maricopa County ballot.

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