So much for fear of commitment.

Last month, Fresno's City Council briefly debated two competing versions of state constitutional reform -- one calling for a constitutional convention and the other proposing a more modest series of initiatives.

Both were intended to fix what many city officials see as a broken state budget process. But the council stopped short of backing either plan. Instead, it scheduled presentations from each side's advocates.

Thursday, the council heard those arguments and still couldn't decide.

"There is a 7-0 vote I believe on this council for reform," Council Member Henry T. Perea said. "The question is which avenue do we take."

In the end, consensus won out over clarity. The council voted unanimously to endorse both a constitutional convention and a series of initiatives. Grateful for the support, both sides said they were happy with the decision.

"I don't think it sends a mixed message myself," said one of the initiative effort's backers, former Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo.