An Austin City Council member who has long opposed proposed changes to the city’s charter said her position on the issue has changed — but her vote hasn’t.

Councilwoman Marian Clennon, who previously maintained that the proposal to move city job descriptions from the charter and into ordinances was the reason for her opposition, said Monday that she now simply thinks the issue should go to citizens, not city council.

The Austin Charter Commission, which brought forth the proposed changes after a roughly two year examination of the city’s governing document, originally tried to go the council route late last year. But unanimous support was needed for the changes to pass, and Clennon and fellow council member John Martin voiced their opposition then and have maintained their stances ever since.

However, Martin, who did not return a phone call Monday for this story, has been more consistent in his reason for opposing the proposed changes. The councilman has said it would be simply disrespectful to alter something the city’s forefathers worked so hard to create — a position he claims he has held for three years.

“I said it back then,” the councilman said in a previous interview. “We should not be messing with this document.”

Clennon said her personal reason for opposing the changes no longer matters, as she has decided that the issue should have gone to the public from the beginning. That’s what the charter commission is planning to do now, because without unanimous council support, the proposal will have to go on the ballot in November and pass during the election.

Clennon said citizens she’s talked with, whether they agree with the changes or not, want to see this happen.

“They’re saying, ‘I think I ought to be the one voting on it,’” Clennon said. “(And) they’re right.”

Before that happens, however, the charter commission will work to make sure most people vote “yes.” To do this, the commission will be launching a public awareness campaign over the next few months, details of which will be discussed further during a Wednesday meeting.

Commission member Chuck Moline said the commission will emphasize why the changes — which include structural adjustments such as trimming down on the charter’s length, as well as substantive proposals like increasing the terms for mayor and council member at-large — will be good for all of Austin.

“This message is a positive message,” he said.

What: Austin Charter Commission meeting

When: Wednesday, March 24, 4 p.m.

Where: Austin City Hall

Why: To discuss the next steps in garnering support for proposed changes to the city’s charter