City defends term limits measure before judge

The city was in court Monday defending a ballot measure that voters approved last year that relaxed term limits for the City Council, from two terms to three.

Superior Court Judge David Yaffe tentatively ruled against the city, but after oral arguments said he would take more time to consider the issue.

Two residents have alleged that the ballot measure violated the state Constitution because it asked voters to cast a single vote on two unrelated issues -- term limits and lobbying reforms.

A suit also was brought by different residents last year against the ballot measure but dropped after the measure was overwhelmingly approved by voters in November.