Things are really heating up with the charter commission. After a surprise vote to reduce the number of city council districts in the draft charter from 7 to 5 last Saturday, the commission met last night to wrap up the last of their unfinished business.

According to Chair Ford, they received much comment after the 2 public hearings on May 14 and 21; those proposals and feedback were to be addressed last night during a scheduled meeting at Northwest Activities Center. A packed room of citizens came out to express their displeasure at the change to city council.

As someone who's been to every meeting, I have to say it was great to see some folks come out to speak...finally. However, with the tight deadline for the draft to get its proper review from the Attorney General and submission to the clerk, it is unclear whether the decision to reduce council can be reversed.

In order for the charter revision commission to reconsider a prior vote, they must have a super majority - 6 members. Last night, 5 members were supposed to be in attendance, but only 4 showed up. Because of this, no discussion or meeting could be held. In accordance with the Open Meetings Act, the commission cannot conduct business without a quorum. Two commissioners were absent - unexcused.

The question now is: where are our charter commissioners? If you are concerned about the reduction to council, call those commissioners [[who you voted for) and make sure they show up to this Saturday's meeting. It's the job they signed up for, and it is disgraceful to see things unravel like this in the 11th hour.