WORTHINGTON CHARTER ISSUES

November 3, 2026 Election · Issues 35, 36, 37 and 38

Worthington voters will consider four proposed amendments to the City Charter on November 3, 2026. Issues 35, 36 and 37 were recommended by the Charter Review Commission. Issue 38 was submitted separately through a resident petition.

These FAQs explain the proposed changes, the Charter review process, referendum requirements and the separate Boundless referendum.

FAQs

THE CHARTER REVIEW

1  What the Commission is

2  Who served on it

3  Why update a Charter

ISSUES 35, 36 AND 37

4  What Issue 35 changes

5  Why signatures and time matter

6  What Issue 36 changes

7  Is Issue 36 an increase?

8  What Issue 37 changes

9  Public input under Issue 37

10  When Issue 37 takes effect

ISSUE 38

11  What Issue 38 changes

12  Issues 36 and 38 compared

13  How far Issue 38 reaches

14  If Issues 36 and 38 both pass

THE BOUNDLESS REFERENDUM

15  Issue 38 and Boundless

TOPIC 1 OF 4

QUESTION 1

Worthington’s City Charter serves as the City’s local constitution and establishes the framework for how our local government operates.

The Charter requires City Council to appoint a Charter Review Commission at least every ten years to evaluate its provisions and recommend amendments when appropriate.

In 2026, City Council appointed 11 residents to review the Charter. The Commission held six public meetings between April and June, sought community feedback and submitted its recommendations to Council. City Council subsequently considered those recommendations during two public meetings in July and placed them on the November ballot as Issues 35, 36 and 37.

Issue 38 was submitted separately through a resident petition and was not recommended by the Charter Review Commission.

Source: 2026 Worthington Charter Review Commission Summary

QUESTION 2

City Council appointed 11 Worthington residents representing a variety of professional and community backgrounds including elected officials.

The 2026 Charter Review Commission members were Rebecca (Becky) Princehorn, Chair; Ben Collins, Vice Chair; Aaron Brown; John Butterfield; Jamie Cleverley; Mikel Coulter; Kisha Gunn; Stephanie Harless; Beth Kowalczyk; Glen Pratt; and Ram Rajadhyaksha.

The Commission’s meetings were open to the public, and residents had opportunities to provide feedback before recommendations were finalized.

QUESTION 3

A City Charter establishes the framework for local government, but that doesn’t mean every provision should remain unchanged indefinitely.

Over time, laws change, technology advances, government operations evolve and communities encounter circumstances that may not have been anticipated when their charters were originally written.

Worthington’s Charter itself recognizes the value of periodic evaluation by requiring a review at least every ten years. A review does not automatically require amendments. Its purpose is to evaluate whether existing provisions continue to serve the community and recommend changes when appropriate.

Importantly, the Charter Review Commission cannot change the Charter on its own. Proposed amendments ultimately must be approved by Worthington voters.

TOPIC 2 OF 4

QUESTION 4

Issue 35 reduces the time allowed to collect signatures for a referendum involving certain zoning ordinances from 60 days to 30 days.

The Charter Review Commission found Worthington’s 60-day period to be an outlier among the Central Ohio communities it reviewed. Ohio law provides 30 days for referendum petitions, while Worthington provides 20 days for ordinances not involving zoning. The Commission described its recommendation as balancing residents’ ability to petition a zoning decision with a more timely process.

Source: 2026 Worthington Charter Review Commission Summary

Some residents have expressed concern that 30 days provides insufficient time to organize and collect signatures.

Issue 35 does not eliminate zoning referendums. It changes the period for gathering the required signatures from 60 to 30 days.

QUESTION 5

Referendum requirements involve two separate considerations.

The signature requirement determines how much demonstrated voter support is necessary before a Council decision can be placed before voters.

The petition window determines how much time residents have to gather those signatures after a decision is adopted.

Lower signature requirements and longer petition windows generally make it easier to initiate referendums. Higher requirements and shorter windows make the process more demanding while allowing adopted decisions to become settled sooner.

The Charter Review Commission considered both factors when recommending Issues 35 and 36. The underlying policy question is how to balance residents’ ability to challenge legislative decisions with the City’s ability to implement adopted legislation in a timely manner.

QUESTION 6

Issue 36 establishes a referendum signature requirement equal to 10% of the votes cast for governor in Worthington during the last gubernatorial election.

For years, the applicable state-law standard was 10%. The state subsequently increased that requirement to 35%. Because Worthington’s Charter deferred to state law, that higher requirement became applicable.

The Charter Review Commission concluded that 35% was too onerous and recommended placing the previous 10% standard directly into Worthington’s Charter so that it would no longer automatically change with state law.

Source: 2026 Worthington Charter Review Commission Summary

The percentage is based on votes cast for governor within Worthington, not the City’s population or total number of registered voters.

QUESTION 7

It isn’t. Issue 36 actually lowers the number of signatures required today. State law now requires 35%. Issue 36 brings that down to 10% of the number of voters in the last gubernatorial election, restoring the standard Worthington had used since 1955 until the state changed it last year.

QUESTION 8

Issue 37 includes several amendments intended to update the Charter to reflect current laws, technology and City operations.

One of the most significant changes is consolidating three existing development-review bodies into one commission:

• Municipal Planning Commission
• Architectural Review Board
• Board of Zoning Appeals

The Charter Review Commission concluded that the existing structure can require applicants to appear before multiple bodies and go through multiple review cycles for the same project. The proposed consolidation is intended to create a more streamlined process while still providing the public ample opportunity to provide comments.

Source: 2026 Worthington Charter Review Commission Summary

Issue 37 also includes other updates addressing City practices, elections and Charter language.

QUESTION 9

No. Issue 37 consolidates three existing review bodies into one commission, but it does not eliminate public review or public comment.

The consolidation is intended to reduce confusion and overlapping reviews by bringing responsibilities currently divided among three bodies together in one place.

These responsibilities extend beyond major development projects. They can also involve matters affecting individual homeowners, including certain exterior modifications, variances and zoning matters.

Those favoring consolidation argue that a single commission would make it clearer where decisions are made and where public comments should be directed. Those who prefer the existing structure argue that separate boards provide additional perspectives and layers of review.

The structural change and the opportunity for public participation are therefore separate questions: Issue 37 changes the review structure while retaining public participation.

QUESTION 10

Most approved Charter amendments would take effect following certification of the November 2026 election results.

The transition from the three existing development-review bodies to the new commission would not need to be completed immediately. The proposed amendment provides a transition period through December 31, 2028, allowing the City time to establish the new structure and make the necessary administrative changes.

TOPIC 3 OF 4

QUESTION 11

Issue 38 is a resident-petition Charter amendment addressing referendum requirements.

Like Issue 36, it proposes a 10% signature threshold. However, it calculates that percentage using the number of voters in the last municipal election, rather than the last gubernatorial election. Because municipal elections generally have lower turnout, the Charter Review Commission estimated that Issue 38 would require approximately 300 fewer signatures than Issue 36.

Source: 2026 Worthington Charter Review Commission Summary

Issue 38 also contains language concerning referendum powers over “any ordinance or other measure passed by the Council.” That raises a separate question about the scope of the referendum provision in addition to the number of signatures required.

QUESTION 12

Both establish a 10% referendum signature requirement, but there are important differences.

Issue 36 was recommended by the Charter Review Commission and calculates 10% based on votes cast for governor in Worthington during the last gubernatorial election.

Issue 38 was submitted by resident petition and uses the last municipal election as its basis. The Commission estimates this would require approximately 300 fewer signatures. Issue 38 also contains additional language concerning the power of referendum over ordinances or other measures passed by Council.

Source: 2026 Worthington Charter Review Commission Summary

So the differences involve both how the signature requirement is calculated and the language governing referendum powers.

QUESTION 13

The scope of Issue 38 would ultimately be a matter of legal interpretation. Issue 38 applies the power of referendum to “any ordinance or other measure passed by the Council.” That language is prefaced by “Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Charter,” which could give the new provision priority where it conflicts with other Charter language.

While the Ohio Revised Code and our current Charter contain similar language, Issue 38 applies it generally, without the zoning-specific limitation in our current Charter, raising questions about how it would interact with other Charter provisions.

Because the meaning and application of that language could ultimately be challenged in court, it creates some legal uncertainty and potential risk for the City.

QUESTION 14

Issues 36 and 38 propose competing changes involving the same area of the Charter, so approval of both could create a question about which language controls.

Issue 37 contains language addressing conflicting Charter amendments approved at the same election. Under the City’s explanation, if Issues 36, 37 and 38 all pass, the amendment receiving the greater number of affirmative votes between Issues 36 and 38 would take effect.

If Issue 37 does not pass while both Issues 36 and 38 do, determining which language controls could become a legal question.

TOPIC 4 OF 4

QUESTION 15

Although both involve referendum rights, they are two separate matters on different election timelines.

Issue 38 is on the November 3, 2026 ballot. It proposes an amendment to Worthington’s City Charter that would affect the rules governing referendums beyond a single development project.

The Boundless referendum will be on the November 2027 ballot, not the 2026 ballot. It concerns one specific zoning decision involving approximately 20.4 acres of the former Harding Hospital/Boundless property.

The key distinction is that Issue 38 proposes changes to the rules governing referendums, while the Boundless referendum asks voters to decide whether a specific zoning approval should stand.

The two are separate ballot questions. A vote on Issue 38 in November 2026 is not a vote on the Boundless development.

FROM THE CITY

The City of Worthington posts the Commission’s full report, a letter to the community, and the Charter with every proposed change marked. See the proposed Charter amendments on worthington.org.