June 5, 2006 Subject:  AMENDING THE CITY’s CHARTER ELECTION PROVISIONS   Dear Mayor, Members of City Council, Council Members-Elect:   VBTA endorses with qualification holding a referendum this November to receive voter ratification in advance of the General Assembly amending the City’s charter to establish November in place of May as the month for City Council and School Board elections.   VBTA’s qualification is, that City Council, also, place on the ballot this November the referendum question of replacing the current at-large election of City Council and School Board with a district system as was approved by the voters in 1994.  As you will recall, a Balanced District System would require voters to elect only the City Council member residing in their district, plus the At-Large representatives.  As is now the case, the seven borough, or district council representatives would be required to be a resident of the district of which they would represent, while the four At-Large Council members could live anywhere in the city and would be elected citywide by the voters.   Under no circumstances should the City’s charter be amended without voter ratification by means of a referendum.  As with any change there are always unintended consequences, but any change that increases the voter turn out dilutes the skewing influence of special interest group of election results.   There may also be the need of “pen and ink” editorial changes in the City’s charter to be consistent with the proposed electoral changes if ratified by the voters and approved by the General Assembly.   Sincerely John D. Moss VBTA Chairman   Cc: Citizen Action Coalition Incorporated       Council of Civic Leagues       Virginia Beach General Assembly members       VBTA Board Members       Virginia News Source       Virginian Pilot       Mayor and members of City Council       Municipal City Employee Associations