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Charter Review Commission Meeting
March 4, 2005
The meeting began at 8:05 a.m. and the following commission members were in attendance: Terry Ward, Alice Ellison, Edie Ballweg, Carolyn Vellar, Karen Pletz, Ricardo Herrera, Tom Brown, Mary Jo Longstreth, Jack Holland, Kelley Martin, Jim Rice, Dan Porrevecchio, Pat Jordan, Aggie Stackhaus, Frank Ellis, Joseph Moreland, Phil Snowden and Calvin Williford. Staff members present were: Bill Geary, Assistant Law Department; Greg Williams, Mayor’s Office; LaTrisha Underhill, City Manager’s Office; and Millie Crossland, City Clerk were present. Mayor Kay Barnes and City Manager were scheduled to appear before the commission during today’s meeting.
While waiting for the guest speakers to arrive, Mr. Ward stated that he would review what he felt were revisit sections. Greg Williams would integrate the items into the commission’s schedule. The commission would also be adding items based on input from the day’s meeting from the Mayor and City Manager. All City Council members have been invited to speak before the commission. No correspondence had been received from the public. Once information is received then it will be distributed by Greg Williams. The plan is also to hold the timeframe to the 2 hours between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. The schedule has been distributed with changes to the dates in June and July. The resolution requesting the extension for the commission to present recommendations to the council had been introduced to the council for consideration.
Items to be revisited were:
- Language of 3 branches of government
- “unlawful differences”
- Terms of office
- Authority of Mayor as CEO or submitting budget (Stronger Mayor) If this item isn’t addressed then it stays in as a recommendation
- City Manager
- Housing Court – there was agreement that it should exist but not in the Charter
- Homeland Security – this item is not in the Charter
- Initiative, Referendum and Recall
- Budget Process – Recommendations from the Mayor and City Manager as it relates to City of Kansas City, Mo
- Bond Issues
- Purchasing & Contracting – doesn’t address current contracting practices and procedures
- PILOT’s – Enterprise funds (How they should be treated)
The next meeting, scheduled for March 18th, would be dealing with term limits, form of government (City Manager & Mayor). Initiative, Referendum & Recall will also be discussed. The commission needs to determine how much time to spend on these issues. Some can be left open and returned to at a later time, if desired.
City Manager Wayne Cauthen spoke before the commission at 8:25 a.m. He talked about Charters across the country. He emphasized the fact that most of these City Charters were created in the 1920’s for whatever reasons the founding official saw fit to create them. The process of doing business in the cities today varied greatly from what was experienced as much as sixty years ago. One item that the City Manager saw as restrictive dealt with procurement. This issue needs to be addressed. The city doesn’t have the flexibility of those companies in the private sector. A centralized procurement for all city departments could be more effective. The city should have the ability to compete with the private sector. Another item would be the ability to shift responsibility of departments. Example would be trying to centralize purchasing. Mr. Cauthen gave examples of the types of problems that cause the city to duplicate purchasing services, duplicate city provided services and create a redundancy in everyday city government operations. Construction issues also need to be addressed.
Jim Rice responded to Mr. Cauthen by stating that a division of power versus a centralization of power would only be a limited fix in the city process. The issues add a retardiveness to getting growth in the city.
Mr. Cauthen stated that Kansas City wasn’t the only city in the country that had those types of issues. The officials can’t lock in to what happened sixty to seventy years ago. Learn from what happened and why it was done but move on.
Tom Brown felt that the City Manager was on target with goals that he had established. He asked about what specific recommendations the City Manager might suggest to the commission.
Mr. Cauthen replied that while consolidations are permissible under the Charter he would like to see a procurement facility established for the whole city. He would also like to see some divisions redefined but didn’t want the commission to spend a lot of time on that issue. Some departments were created out of scandal within the city, but the past history needs to be reviewed to find out why things were done the way they were. But he reminded the commission that business entities could do their business anywhere but the chose to do it in Kansas City, Mo.
Jack Holland agreed. The structure of city government can confine the operation of the city. Did the city manager want to see that structure confined or broadened?
Mr. Cauthen answered broadened. It is difficult to change things within the city government because the city is dealing with public monies.
Pat Jordan asked what other cities or resources can be visited?
Mr. Cauthen suggested the National League of Cities, the US Conference of Mayors-Best Practices, the City of Cleveland, Ohio, and the City of Kansas City, Mo. private/public partnership for solid waste. The city contracts with the private sector for part of the solid waste pick-up. This keeps both agencies honest and accountable.
Dan Porrevecchio talked about the city being in competition with other municipalities. He wanted to know how the city could compete better. How could the commission develop a charter that could look forward and work for the next hundred years but be able to keep it honest and competitive?
Mr. Cauthen responded that the city is currently trying to address the problem of accountability by establishing performance measures and goals.
Jim Rice asked how the commission could make a transformation between centralization and decentralization happen for the city. You have to look at departments, not the Mayor and City Council. He didn’t think it would be easy to bring ideas into play.
Mr. Cauthen said that there was a problem with department heads not talking to each other. There was no communication between departments as to what was being done within the city. Coordination is a must in any organization. It is the City of Kansas City, Missouri that is responsible to the citizens for issues, not departments.
Mr. Cauthen continued by talking about the issue of transportation even though it might not be a charter issue. He asked why the city was dealing with the ATA. Was it a charter issue? He talked about seeing buses from other municipalities sitting at bus stops waiting for riders to go back to their communities outside of Kansas City when the ATA could be doing the same task. The transit system is needed but it could be better. He explained that in order for Kansas City to become a world-class city officials have to figure out a way for the city to be competitive. Border areas are not unique to Kansas City.
Kelley Martin asked if Mr. Cauthen would talk about required departments under the City Charter.
Mr. Cauthen stated that he was glad that the Aviation Department was now under the City Manager’s Office. He was certain that the airport would experience even more growth in the years to come which is importance for commerce for the city. An Assistant City Manager is needed to make sure the directives of the City are being met.
Aggie Stackhaus talked about the Board of Jackson County Land Trust. She stated that it was a good time to develop guidelines on how the City should operate. She asked how he would feel about having checks and balances approved by the City Council.
Mr. Cauthen explained that he was hired by the City Council. There are reasons why the city does what it has to do because of the City Charter or State Constitution. The city needs to develop another method of dealing with issues. Otherwise you have redundancy. He found that his biggest issue was trying to recruit people to come and work for the city. The problem is to try to sell Kansas City to potential recruits.
Aggie Stackhaus stated that the commission had recommended that the Police Department be brought into City Hall. What were his thoughts about bringing Parks Department back into the city?
Mr. Cauthen replied that the history of the department must be understood. The question “is this a best practice model” has to be answered. Efficiency would bring the department back into the City system. The Park Board should be retained. He understood the history and why things are done the way they are. Officials need to see if issues are still in place and if so, how to address those issues.
Pat Jordan said that she was sure Boards would serve in the best interest of the city. She asked if Mr. Cauthen could respond, in writing, as they relate to changes to the Charter.
Mr. Cauthen answered that he would. Meanwhile he suggested that the commission members talk to the business person or the developer about how they feel about the city and what made them choose Kansas City to do business.
Phil Snowden suggested that staff members look at the 2001 draft document and the recommendations made by the last commission. The more general the document the more flexibility you have in trying to attract new business.
Jim Rice stated that it would be extremely beneficial to have the City Manager’s thoughts on what he would like to see in the charter. Everyone understands that the City is under funded. What can be done there?
Mr. Cauthen agreed with Mr. Snowden about flexibility. He also said that officials need to show citizens what can be done. He would like to see a change in the fiscal year. Currently the city is basing budget issues on future estimation of funds. The problem with that system is you don’t know what type of spending or collections
Terry Ward thanked the City Manager for speaking before the commission. He also asked that he forward any additional recommendation requests that he would like to see added to the commission.
Mayor Kay Barnes also spoke before the commission. She thanked the commission for their participation in the Charter Review process. The extension of time to complete their task was also fine with her. She asked that the commission take Mr. Cauthen’s suggestions seriously. She also stated that she had very few specific items to talk about. Originally she had made a pitch for a change in the form of government. It would not be professional to oppose the new city manager. She stated that she is very comfortable with the new city manager and is not appealing for a shift in the role of the City Manager.
Her first recommendation was to change election dates. The perception of weather being a factor for low voter turnout has always been an issue. She also recommended considering the length between the primary and general election. There is not enough time between the two elections for candidates to regroup. She suggested lengthening the days between the election being verified and taking office. Instead of ten days she suggested 20 days. The possibility of changing voting to Saturday should also be looked at. The mayor wasn’t sure if that would require a state legislative change but it was something that she would like to see the commission consider recommending.
Mayor Barnes stated that she didn’t believe in term limits. She believed that eight years was too short of a time for a person to serve in one capacity. Maybe three terms lifetime (for each: mayor and city council) would be better. She felt that it was up to the citizens to decide the number of terms a person could run for office.
Tom Brown asked if the recommendations made by the last commission were adequate in relation to three terms applying to each of the positions.
Jack Holland added that there was not a recommendation for change in government but a change in accountability. Who is accountable to the citizens of the city?
Mayor Barnes answered that she wouldn’t have minded having a stronger role in city government. The form of reference is now different than in the past. The mayor also talked about time restraints on public officials when serving only two terms. Compensation was also discussed as a possible issue. Upcoming elections have issues that are important for the future of the city. She wasn’t sure what could be done or changed.
Frank Ellis asked the mayor what her thoughts were on ballot issues around voting on a new charter.
Mayor Barnes said it was important to keep issues separate. The most challenging issues will be the housekeeping items. Her recommendation would be that the issues would not be listed as a single issue. She would recommend no more than six.
Calvin Williford asked if the mayor had a preference with regards to term limits.
Mayor Barnes answered that three consecutive term limits made sense. As long as there was an option for a third consecutive term was her suggestion.
Terry Ward thanked the Mayor for speaking before the commission.
The meeting adjourned at 9:35 a.m.
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