In what one councilmember described as “the biggest decision the city has made since its beginning” in 1957, the Fountain Valley City Council has decided to put becoming a charter city to a public vote.

Fountain Valley currently operates as a general law municipality bound by state laws. Adopting a charter, or a city constitution, could give Fountain Valley more autonomy over local affairs related to land use and development, city elections and how tax dollars are spent. But charter cities are sometimes more vulnerable to additional legal costs for taxpayers.

This week, a divided council decided the idea of becoming a charter city was worth putting on the November 2026 ballot for voters to decide next year, with Councilmember Glenn Grandis and Councilmember Kim Constantine opposed.

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