(The Center Square) — After a fiery discussion the Bossier City Council decided to introduce an ordinance Tuesday to amend its charter without term limits.
The council can vote to approve it at the next meeting. The newest version of the charter, proposed by the Charter Commission, is supposed to be a compromise. This is also the first time in 20 years changes to the city’s charter could be adopted.
The compromise was not received well by some community leaders in attendance. The resounding feelings of rejection despite majority of the charter changes being positive are for one reason: Term limits.
“Putting this on the agenda sounds great in theory. However, where is the term limits petition ordinance?” Bossier City resident and member of the coalition Cassie Rogers said. “For y’all to block the people’s petition continuously shows us exactly who you are.”
Rogers also said why she thinks the council couldn’t agree to let all term limit possibilities reach the ballot.
“It would affect the March election, which these men don’t want to do. Because I think they’re afraid that the people’s petition, the one that 3,000 people signed, that’s the one that’s going to win and then they won’t be able to be in this office again.”
The Bossier City Term Limits Coalition brought a lawsuit after the council refused to put term limits on the agenda. After the coalition won that lawsuit, three council members still rejected the item, which had to be unanimous and decided to appeal the decision.
The meeting Tuesday was the last chance for the term limits to be put on a ballot this winter. District 1 Councilman Brian Hammons voted for the term limit resolution, but said accepting this now would muddy the waters for a future special election based on the court’s decision in the appeal.
The council can still vote on all the charter amendments from the Charter Commission at once in the next meeting on Oct. 22 as previously stated.
