City Council members on Tuesday decided to delay action on an ordinance aligning the city's recall provision with that of the state.
The topic will get more discussion at a council committee meeting next Tuesday at 1 p.m.
The council also delayed action on two topics brought up by Councilwoman Deborah Scott - setting term limits for council members and moving city elections to November instead of March. Ms. Scott said she has overwhelming public support on both issues.
But Councilwoman Carol Berz said she was not interested in taking up either of the issues now.
Councilman Jack Benson said there had been a long discussion of term limits earlier by the council and he became convinced it was not a good thing to impose.
On the recall, most council members spoke in favor of moving to the tougher state standard for recall petitions.
Councilman Benson said the current city charter "gives carte blanche" on launching recalls, even if the reason is "that they're bald-headed."
Councilwoman Sally Robinson said it "really troubles me" that recall efforts can be put in action without some type of criminal behavior or malfeasance on the part of a public official.
Councilman Russell Gilbert said, "It should be for some criminal act, not just something you don't agree with."
Ms. Berz said, "I don't think City Council people should be held hostage by fear that you're going to get recalled if you do something we don't like." She said council members "should not live in fear of the recall gnomes."
But Ms. Scott warned the council "not to put ourselves so insulated from the will of the people that it's impossible to recall."