Marion City Council meeting tonight to discuss charter changes

Marion City Council members discuss tonight whether to have a November ballot referendum changing the way council members are elected.

The changes being considered by the council tonight could change elections so that only residents within a city ward could vote for that ward's council member.

As it stands, four members of the seven-member City Council represent each of the city's wards, but voters are allowed to cast votes for candidates outside their ward.

Voters also choose two at-large council members and a mayor, who serves as a third at-large council member.

At their Aug. 4 meeting, council members directed city staff to draft language that could be placed on the November ballot, asking voters to decide if they want to change the city's charter to change the way elections are conducted.

The council meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at Marion City Hall, 1225 Sixth Ave.