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Charter Review Commission
Public Meeting Minutes
Gregg-Klice Community Center
June 2, 2005
Members Present
Aggie Stackhaus
Alice Ellison
Jack Holland
Staff Present
Greg Williams, Mayor’s Office
Aggie Stackhaus thanked everyone for coming to participate and also talked about the work so far of the Commission. She said that the commission is pursuing a streamlined, constitutional charter. She said the Charter had been amended numerous times since 1925. Four years ago the effort failed due to hot button issues being all mixed up in Question One. It was her intent that Question One this time would be a clean document which will create a constitutional charter with greater operational flexibility. The City Manager has recommended a General Services Department which would handle those services like purchasing and fleet maintenance, issues that reach city-wide in many departments. Also city employees being unable to pursue election to offices such as school board will be discussed. No decision had been made on that issue.
Zeke Amador said he is doing research on various issues and wanted to listen in. He believes the Charter information on the City’s website should include a Spanish version.
Alice Ellison said she would work hard to make sure the final recommendation is in all the community centers and distributed widely to the citizens.
Mark Esping said he has fought any change in the initiative petition, referendum and recall process. It is not broke and Councilwoman McFadden-Weaver’s recall effort showed the system works. She beat the recall effort. Esping also said that there should not have to be a stated reason for recall. In California they have had lawsuits over “provable” reason. We should encourage voting and voters have the ultimate say. On Parks and Recreation, Esping said even with the private fund-raising argument used to keep the current appointed board, he believes we should elect Parks and Recreation Commissioners and they should be in the City Manager’s structure. He understands there is some overlap with current department functions like mowing, but believes that elected commissioners would be accountable.
Zeke Amador said that Parks and Recreation provides some services well, but sometimes we must babysit the staff. Also they should not be allowed to sell off their assets. Aggie Stackhaus said the City does have ultimate control because they appropriate the money to the department whether the commissioners are elected or not.
Mark Esping said a Parks and Recreation Foundation could be created to be the arm for private fund-raising. Zeke Amador said he can see the differences between parks and community center based on geography. We must use the money in areas of need.
Imani wants the public comments on the web and would citizens have input in the charter changes. Accountability and transparency are very important to me. Alice Ellison said that our intention is to listen to everyone.
Imani asked if the City Manager can be made to take the Auditor’s suggestions and implement them. The auditor’s reports should be part of the City Manager’s decision-making process.
Councilwoman Saundra McFadden-Weaver said that we do take the commission’s recommendation seriously along with public comment and that it is important that the commission’s neutrality and ethical standards are there throughout the process.
Mark Esping joked that if we served refreshments we might have more attendance.
Councilwoman Saundra McFadden-Weaver said in her opinion the recall procedure has some flaws. She spent weeks with Law Department, City Clerk, and election board and did not have consensus on some issues and trying to understand the process. Language suggests you can succeed yourself by resigning, but election board said that was not possible. Also both questions are on the same ballot. It took $250,000 to put on the recall election campaign on her behalf. It took us weeks to get clarity on the situation. She said she could have received 49.9% of the vote on Question One and then someone receiving 20% on question two would have won. The Election Board also had the opinion that people were required to vote on both questions. Also it was very complicated to fill out Missouri Ethics commission campaign reports because technically she was not a candidate so it was really an issue campaign. Also to keep the Councilmember on Question One you had to vote no (against the recall). It is very confusing in the Charter and the only time it has ever been used.
Mark Esping said that the problem is the two elections at the same time. However, he said that the Councilwoman now enjoys a tremendous vote of confidence. Councilwoman McFadden-Weaver wishes she did not have to have that vote of confidence.
Imani said that the only thing that has been exercised is the right to indictment. She needs to know other democratic options.
Jack Holland said that he thinks we should discuss making petitioners state the reason for recall on paper. Mark Esping said that voting is good and voters have the power to make up their own mind for whatever reason they choose and they shouldn’t have to write a reason on the recall petition. Aggie Stackhaus said getting good people to run for office is difficult and recall makes it more difficult. Mark Esping said you should split the recall vote so they don’t happen at the same time…separate the questions. Councilwoman McFadden-Weaver said that clarity is needed.
Imani said that there needs to be an escalation process where everyday citizens can have access and input into the City council members. The citizens need to have face-to-face meetings with those elected officials to make sure they are carrying through on their campaign promises. Recall is now a citizen’s first opportunity for input.
Alice Ellison said citizens must have the right to petition government. Aggie Stackhaus said that each district needs to make sure they elect strong at-large candidates in those six races everyone gets to vote on. Council alliances are what get things done as well as the 3rd District council members working together. Imani said that elected officials should be as active in telling us what they are doing as they do in trying to get elected.
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