IRVINE, Calif.—After a heated discussion about giving voters the choice in November to expand the city council from four to six seats and changing how ballots are cast for those seats, councilors voted 4–1 on Tuesday to move the issue into closed session at their next meeting.
The item—brought forward by Councilman Larry Agran last week—intends to not only increase the size of the council, but to split the city into six districts of roughly 52,000 residents each.
If the measure is put on the ballot and approved by more than a 50 percent vote, residents would only cast ballots for the council seat that represents the district they live in—starting November 2024. Currently, councilors are elected through “at-large” voting, meaning residents vote for all five candidates, as well as the mayor….