Voters will get a once-a-decade opportunity to change how Honolulu government works on Nov. 7, when they will decide on a dozen proposals that include setting aside money for affordable housing and even term limits for city officials.

Those are among a dozen measures, culled down from more than a hundred, that made the final list of charter amendments.

The Trust for Public Lands has been a major supporter of Charter Question No. 3, which asks if voters want to set aside 1 percent of annual property tax revenues for land conservation and affordable housing.

The trust's Hawaiian Islands program director, Lea Hong, said citizens generally back the idea, especially when they realize that it sets aside tax revenue without increasing taxes.

"Some people were concerned that this could raise our taxes," Hong said. But when they realize that it could help the county to get more matching funds for conservation and affordable housing — both from state and federal sources — they grow more supportive, she said. "You can turn $1 million into $2 million or $3 million," she said.

But business groups, the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai'i and the city administration have been reluctant to support the move. Some fear it could push up taxes. Others think the city's charter — essentially the city version of the constitution — is the wrong place to call for such a policy decision.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann's spokesman, Bill Brennan, said making those issues a priority is a sound idea.

"We don't disagree with the concept but we don't think it belongs in the charter," he said.

Brennan said the same is true of a separate charter amendment that would make the city more bicycle-friendly. "Some of them are better done by resolution or ordinance rather than becoming permanent fixtures in the city's constitution," he said.

Hong, however, said having a steady source of funds could help the city with decisions like the acquisition of Waimea Falls Park on the North Shore.

She said Maui and Kaua'i passed similar legislation in 2002 without any tax increase since.

Hong said she thinks the idea of providing funds for affordable housing and conservation land link together as two high-priority issues where voters want action.

While most people want to preserve the natural environment, she said they also want to ensure that "folks at our neediest level of society are cared for."

Another hot-button issue addressed by the charter amendments is whether to keep term limits for Honolulu City Council members and the mayor.

Councilman Gary Okino, who has been elected to his second four-year term, said he favors term limits and hopes they stay in place, even though it would directly prevent him from running for another term. Right now, each is limited to two consecutive four-year terms although someone may serve longer if he or she first finishes a term cut short by a vacancy.

"I don't think it should be a lifetime job," Okino said. "I'm strongly for term limits." Okino said such limits bring in new ideas and a fresh perspective from new people.

Hannemann also thinks term limits should remain in place for council members and the mayor and personally would vote against a move to abolish them or shift them.

He noted that it wasn't long ago when "nearly 80 percent of voters approved that and their wishes should still be respected." Term limits took effect in 1994.

Okino, who retired after 30 years as a city planner, knows the value of experience, but also sees merit in change. "After eight years, you kind of lose that fire," he said.