Worthington voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to change how residents can challenge City Council actions and how the city reviews development and property changes. Issues 35 through 38 would amend the city charter, the document that sets the structure and rules of local government. Three measures were proposed by an 11-member Charter Review Commission appointed by City Council. A resident petition put Issue 38 on the ballot. Voters will consider each separately. A referendum allows residents to seek a public vote on legislation already passed by council, provided they gather enough valid signatures by a deadline. Issues 36 and 38 both propose a 10% signature threshold, but use different elections to calculate it. **Issue 35: Less time to challenge zoning changes** Issue 35 would cut the petition window for a referendum on a zoning ordinance from 60 days after publication to 30 days. Zoning rules govern how land may be used. Worthington voters approved the current 60-day period in 2015, extending a 20-day deadline. The amendment would preserve a prohibition on council using emergency legislation to make zoning changes take effect immediately. It would also specify that the petition rules apply to changes such as zoning classifications and district boundaries, and relocate the provisions within the charter. The Charter Review Commission says the longer deadline can create uncertainty for proposed projects and deter investment. Residents opposing the shorter window say the existing 60 days gives the public time to understand changes and organize. In its June report to council, the commission said roughly three-quarters of comments on the proposed reduction opposed it. **Issue 36: 10% of votes for governor** Issue 36 would require referendum petitions to have signatures equal to 10% of the votes cast by Worthington residents in the most recent gubernatorial election. The city currently follows state law, which raised the threshold from 10% to 35% last year. The commission recommends putting the 10% requirement in the city charter instead. The calculation would be based on Worthington votes for governor, not the city’s population or the number of registered voters. **Issue 37: Combine three review boards** Issue 37 groups the commission’s other recommendations into one package. Its central structural change would combine the Municipal Planning Commission, Architectural Review Board and Board of Zoning Appeals into a seven-member Municipal Development Commission. A City Council member would also serve as a nonvoting member. Two voting members would live in the Architectural Review District, and one of those two would own property there. The district includes the original village, properties along High Street and Dublin-Granville Road, and other areas where exterior changes are subject to architectural review. The commission says one body could reduce overlapping reviews while maintaining public comment. Opponents contend that keeping separate boards provides more perspectives and checks on decisions. If approved, the city would have until Dec. 31, 2028, to complete the consolidation. The package also would allow referendum questions to appear at primary and special elections, rather than only general elections. Other provisions concern public notices, removal and recall procedures for council members, financial controls and limited exceptions to restrictions on city contracts involving officials or employees. Changes other than the board consolidation would take effect once the election is certified. **Issue 38: 10% of votes in the last municipal election** Issue 38 also sets a 10% signature requirement, but bases it on votes cast in the most recent general municipal election rather than the most recent governor’s race. Because municipal elections typically draw fewer voters, this formula could mean fewer signatures are needed. The resident-backed measure applies to “any ordinance or other measure” passed by council. Critics say that language could broaden the range of council actions subject to referendum. Supporters say it would strengthen residents’ ability to challenge city decisions. The Our City Our Vote campaign supports Issue 38 and opposes the other three measures. The Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce supports Issues 35, 36 and 37 and opposes Issue 38. If Issues 36 and 38 both pass and Issue 37 also passes, the signature proposal with more yes votes would take effect. If both signature measures pass but Issue 37 does not, the city says a court would have to determine which provision controls.