What it demands: “Shall Section 9 be amended and a new Section 21A of the Boulder Home Rule Charter adopted to authorize the City Council to hold executive sessions in accordance with state law and to implement the transition in accordance with the more detailed provisions in Ordinance 8641?”

What it means: The measure would amend city charter to allow the Boulder City Council to convene executive branch meetings for certain reasons, such as to discuss legal and bargaining strategies. Currently, the City Council and City Council subcommittees are not permitted to hold executive sessions that are not subject to the requirements of the Colorado Open Meetings Law, which allows local public bodies to deliberate, but not vote, on sensitive issues such as real estate transactions and legal conferences.

What supporters say: The measure would allow council members to discuss sensitive issues as a group. This would also increase efficiency because city staff would no longer have to meet privately with council members to avoid violating open meeting laws when discussing legal issues. Under Colorado's open meeting laws, any time two or more City Council members meet, that meeting must be held in public.

What opponents say: All City Council matters should be transparent and conducted publicly. The city council cannot be held responsible if discussions take place behind closed doors.