Buffalo Charter Revision Commission July 8 agenda: elections, budget, police oversight

Buffalo residents who want a close look at how the city’s charter could change next are getting a clearer “what’s on the docket” document from the City of Buffalo’s Charter Revision Commission.

The commission posted a July 8, 2026 agenda that lays out three major tracks: electoral reform, budget process reform, and a proposal for a Civilian Police Advisory Commission. The agenda also includes a Public Comment Period (< 10 minutes), so residents will want to check the meeting packet details before counting on extra time to speak.

Where to find the official July 8 agenda and draft materials

The City hosts a Charter Revision Commission meeting hub with posted materials. The July 8 agenda is available as a standalone document, and the commission’s election topics are also supported by a dedicated Election Reform Proposals packet that groups draft language by topic.

Electoral reform on the docket (ranked-choice, semi-open primaries, ballot access)

On the July 8 agenda, the commission lists electoral reform items for discussion, including:

Ranked-choice voting (Electoral Reform—Ranked Choice Voting #1).
Semi-open primary election reform (Electoral Reform—Primary Election Reform (Semi-Open Primary Elections) #2).
Ballot access reform tied to petitions/signatures (Electoral Reform—Ballot Access Reform (Petition Reform & Reducing Signatures) #3).

The election reform packet spells out the kind of ballot-access change being discussed. One ballot-access proposal would reduce by 50% the number of signatures required for designating petitions and independent nominating petitions for mayor, comptroller, and common council.

Importantly, the election reform packet frames these documents as draft proposal language presented for comparison and discussion—not as already-final election changes.

Budget reform as a separate agenda track (draft charter language posted)

The July 8 agenda also includes two budget reform discussion items: Budget Reform Proposal #1 (Steven Polowitz) and Budget Reform Proposal #2 (Maria Whyte).

As context, Investigative Post reported that the charter commission is moving forward on a reform to the city’s budget process that would give the city comptroller more control over the annual spending plan. The City’s posted materials also include a Commissioner Maria Whyte Budget Proposal document tied to this budget-reform agenda topic.

Again, the July 8 agenda is a docket for discussion—so residents should treat the draft language as what’s being debated next, not what has already been adopted.

Civilian Police Advisory Commission proposal: what the idea would do (and not do)

The July 8 agenda includes a Civilian Police Advisory Commission Proposal (Caitlin Crowell).

Investigative Post reports that the concept would be an advisory body—without the power to discipline officers and without the power to subpoena police records—but empowered to gather complaints and information and make recommendations to city leadership.

Public comment: short, meeting-day timing

The agenda lists a Public Comment Period (< 10 minutes) as its own numbered item. If you plan to attend (or prepare remarks), make sure you review the specific agenda/packet language so you’re working with the commission’s actual time limits.

What to watch next

The commission hub lists its next full meeting for Monday, July 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. in City Hall Room 912.

That’s the next place residents may see the commission move from the posted July 8 discussion agenda toward further procedural decisions about which draft charter provisions advance.

Sources

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