Committee flags annexation and redistricting issues: contiguous boundaries, timing and notice

The committee spent substantial time on charter language about city boundaries, annexations and redistricting timelines.

Members noted that Littleton spans multiple counties and that the charter’s language referencing boundaries was last amended in 2015. Staff recommended clarifying the charter to explicitly list the counties that now include parts of the city and to add definitions for terms such as "municipal corporation" and "city of the second class" for members who asked what those statutory phrases mean.

The group discussed a charter provision that allows recently annexed areas to be detached by ordinance within 90 days and then only by a vote of registered electors thereafter. Committee members asked whether the charter meant a citywide vote or a vote limited to the annexed residents; staff said they would research statutory interpretation and clarify the language.

Redistricting drew questions about timing: staff said any redistricting must be completed roughly three months before a general election so counties can receive shape files and mail ballots correctly. Staff cautioned that if redistricting is not complete within that statutory window, new lines cannot take effect for that election and would be delayed to the next election cycle.

The committee did not take formal action but asked staff to research which definitions and timing references should be updated to reflect current annexation and redistricting practice.