Bill #2021-087
Establishing a Charter Review Commission to Review the City’s Charter and Recommend any Proposed Amendments Thereto. Doug Colvin, Assistant City Administrator and Public Works Director, discussed the census data and boundary changes. Depending on how long it will take the Home Rule Charter Commission to discuss changes to the Charter and redistricting, which could cause issues with committee members not being in the same district. Colvin presented two (2) options for Council, to approve the Ordinance or postpone untilredistricting has been completed. Council asked if they could reassign committee members. Woodman stated there isn’t currently a Charter Commission, so Council would reconvene a Commission at any time as long as the Commission met the requirements. Council held a brief discussion on postponing the Ordinance and decided to postpone the Charter Review Commission Ordinance until November 8th, 2021. Mayor Steele opened the public hearing for comments.
Kent Ward, 201 W. State St., stated that as a citizen who was asked to serve on the Commission, he agrees that Ordinance should be postponed.
Ron Sanders, 976 Glen Oaks Dr., stated he agreed the Ordinance should be postponed. He discussed the number of votes needed to trigger a recall and the Charter Commission and the hearings they should hold.
Council responded that all events on the website are public meetings.
Julie Helterbrand, 712 E. Meramec Ln., stated she understands there needs to be a postponement. She also discussed the numbers needed to trigger a recall.
Council stated that no one knows how the Commission will change the Charter.
Bethany Morgan, 660 N Rockingham Ave., discussed the Home Rule Charter Commission. She stated that everyone is represented by Council, not just the citizens who voted. Morgan stated that postponement is a good idea until the redistricting is completed.
Jeff Belcher, 203 S. Ellen, discussed the numbers needed to trigger a recall, as well as voter turnout.
Sandy Karnes, 622 N. Maplewood Hills Rd., discussed the numbers needed to trigger a recall.
Andy Davis, 881 W. Pembrook, questioned if the recall procedure done by the recall committee was done according to Charter. Council responded that the committee followed the Charter’s recall procedure. Davis then questioned how long the recall procedure has been in the Charter. Council responded that it has been in the Charter for 10-11 years. Davis then discussed the recall committee following the Charter’s procedures.
With no further comments, Mayor Steele closed the public hearing.
Mayor Steele called for a motion to postpone the ordinance. Giddens made a motion to postpone Bill #2021-087 until November 8th, 2021, with Hoogstraet seconding with all Council Members voting aye.
Bill #2021-088
Transferring the Nixa Municipal Court to the Associate Division of the Christian County Circuit Court. Robbins discussed the Office of State Court Administrator (O.S.C.A.) review that was done earlier in the year. She stated there were two (2) areas of concern: financial and supervision change recommendations. Robbins also said that if the Municipal Court was moved to County, the City would still receive court fines, but court expenses would be less. Robbins also discussed that the Municipal Court has two (2) current staff members that the City would try to absorb if they chose to apply for open positions. Robbins stated that if Council were to approve the move, the projected stated date for Municipal Court being held in Christina County would be in January 2022. She also discussed that Barb Stillings, Circuit Clerk, has requested the City and the City of Ozark help pay for an additional clerk in her office. Council asked if the City could recommend one of the City’s clerks be hired. Robbins stated it would be up to the County who they hired; however, there are current openings at the County. Council held a brief discussion about the O.S.C.A. review being public. Robbins stated yes, anyone could view it. Council held a brief discussion about the financial savings the City would have if the Municipal Court were to move. They also discussed Senate Bill 5 and the requirements it has on Municipal Courts. Mayor Steele opened the public hearing for comments.
Alan Hines, 812 E. Kings Mead Cir., urged Council to keep the judge local. Hines then questioned the checks and balances of the court and a part-time judge supervising two (2) full-time employees.
Council responded that the changes that are being required are per O.S.C.A. and have tried several years to met and maintain O.S.C.A.’s requirements as well as changes that might still be becoming.
Jeff Belcher, 203 S. Ellen, discussed the changes to the Municipal Court and how the decision regarding the status of the court keeps changing.
Ron Sanders, 976 Glen Oaks Dr., discussed the concerns with moving the Municipal Court. He also questioned how/when the Municipal Court would be brought back.
Kristy Fairchild, Nixa, discussed the types of cases tried in Municipal Court and that Christian County is also our court.
With no further comments, Mayor Steele closed the public hearing.
Mayor Steele called for a motion to approve the ordinance. Orf made a motion to approve the ordinance with Giddens seconding and Giddens, Peterson, Graham, Hoogstraet, Lucas, and Orf voting aye on roll call.
