Florissant City Council Passes Charter Review Commission Bill
Despite its passage, the ordinance could face the same fate of its predecessor--a veto from the mayor.
Photos
Monday night, the Florissant City Council passed its second attempt at a charter review commission after a 40-minute debate. However, it appeared that similar concerns and questions surrounding its predecessor haunted the new bill.
The council faced the same situation in 2010. At that time, it passed a bill to form a charter review commission with a vote of 5-4, but Mayor Robert Lowery vetoed the bill, and the attempt to override the bill failed.
During that time, according to reports in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Mayor Lowery and other speculated that the bill was an attempt to change the strong-mayor form of government to one where a city manager would be used.
Following the failure of the override, council members agreed to form a subcommittee to review the charter, line-by-line and page-by-page as well as hold public hearings.
However, Ward 1 Councilman Tim Lee pointed out during Monday night’s meeting that a year has gone by, and nothing had been done with a subcommittee or the public hearings.
For a majority of Monday's meeting, council members and the public, including all of the candidates for the Ward 3 and Ward 6 seats, spoke out positively and negatively on the bill.
But history could be on the verge of repeating itself if Mayor Tom Schneider were to veto the current bill.
Ward 2 Councilman John Grib spoke out first in regards to the bill. He said that he’s interested and supportive of reviewing the charter, but he’s opposed to the method of establishing a commission for reviewing. Instead, he proposed a series of public hearings for residents to voice their thoughts on what should be reviewed in the charter.
“I like the idea of every citizen being on charter review commission,” Grib said. “The council doesn’t change the charter, the people change the charter.”
Ward 5 Councilman Keith Schildroth chimed in to say that he thought the council should take time to review the charter, and he’d be willing to meet however often needed to accomplish that.
The rest of the council, led by Ward 7 Councilwoman Karen McKay, believed a charter review commission would be the best thing for the city, especially in a time where the council has so much on its plate.
“It’s about reviewing the charter and the law of our city,” McKay said. “Important documents you look at, you study, you review.”
The council audience seemed to stir the most upon Mayor Schneider’s attempt to read a letter and was stopped by council president Keith English.
Audience members demanded in shouts and screams for the letter to be read out loud, but it was included in the public segment and as a part of the public record.
During the public segment, several voiced their support and opposition to the charter review bill.
Ward 3 Candidate Elizabeth O’Fallon addressed the council and the mayor to say that she believed everyone should support the bill.
“Florissant has seen a lot of changes in 37 years,” she said, “and I think the charter should reflect those changes.”
Ward 6 candidate Pat Stinnett didn’t share the same opinion, however.
“Residents of my ward are not talking about a charter review,” he said. “It’s a noble cause, but this is way down the list of priorities.”
Although the City Council passed the ordinance, it remains in the mayor’s hands to sign or veto.
In that case, Ward 7 Councilwoman McKay made it known that the city council would need to set aside some time to review the charter before the end of the year.
In This article
-
Florissant City Hall
955 Rue St Francois, Florissant, MO -
-
-
-
More from the web
- STL Today Proposal to review Florissant's city charter draws controversy
- STL Today Florissant City Council Takes Over Charter Review
- Independent News Veto Holds for Florissant Charter Review
Maria Jansen
4:47 pm on Tuesday, July 12, 2011
In my opinion, John Grib presented a very inefficient, ineffective solution. It is standard procedure to commission a small, well-represented group of people to research an issue and present various paths of moving forward.
Already, any resident may have input, offer ideas, write their council member or speak at meetings about the charter. This bill would move forward on what Ward 6 candidate, Pat Stinnett, described as a "noble cause."
Unfortunately, it seems like those against forming a volunteer committee to review the charter and make suggestions may simply be trying to stall any action on it until after the special election, hoping their men win and they will be able to stifle progress on the issue longer-term.
Elizabeth O'Fallon
1:22 am on Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Absolutely agree Maria. This Charter Review needs to have a Commission of citizens available who can spend time reviewing the document in detail. While I do recommend that the Commission have a forum where citizens can speak their minds on the subject of the Charter, public hearings alone will not accomplish much. We need an informed group of citizens, who are dedicated to this specific purpose, to go through our City Charter line by line and make changes where necessary.
We have put this Charter Review off for far too long already. Similar bills have been passed by the City Council twice now. It's time for the Mayor listen to the recommendations of the Council and not veto the bill.
Kevin
8:45 am on Wednesday, July 13, 2011
John Grib states he is supportive of reviewing the charter. Yet he thinks the only way to do this is to have public hearings and let the residents give their input either at the public hearing or through e-mailing the City Council members. Two months ago I wrote the Council regarding the need for the Charter Review Commission and I received no reply. Mr. Grib feels the Charter Review Commission is not necessary. Yet Florissant is a city of commissions and committees. There's the Mayor's Commissions, Youth Advisary Commission, Parks Commission, Traffic Safety Commission, Citizen's Participation Committee (CPC) etc.
The City Council MUST form a Boundary Commission SOON! According to the City's Charter we MUST create a commission as soon as the US Census Bureau statistics are released to the City. Yet we haven't even touched on that yet! Mr. Grib seems to think a Charter Review Commission isn't necessary because as he puts it, "it isn't a full time commission." There are no regularly scheduled meetings for many of the committees and commissions as it is now. P&Z is about the only regular commission, yet they don't hold meetings ever month or on a regular basis.
This must also mean Mr. Grib is against a Boundary Commission too, since this commission only meets every 10 (ten) years when the US Bureau of Census releases the statistics that reflect our population and the amount of sales tax the City receives from the tax pool in St. Louis County.
Kevin
8:46 am on Wednesday, July 13, 2011
I wish everyone would e-mail both John Grib and Keith Schildroth and ask them about the facts that I posted here. Also, e-mail Mayor Schneider and ask him why he is against the Charter Review Commission. Let your voices be heard and let them know that this is YOUR City too! Not just their City.
Public hearings are fine and dandy, yet Mr. Schildroth claims he would work on this Charter review every day of the week. Yet he wasn't able to make it to the beginning of the only work session the Council had this year due to his commitment to the North County Labor picnic. He showed up thirty minutes late because the work session wasn't his priority that night!
Grace hercules
10:26 am on Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Kevin
Just wanted you to know the Florissant Senior Commission holds meetings at least once a month, and spends hours giving of their time and talents to provide activities and programs for Florissant Senior Citizens. No other City can compare to what Florissant offers, because of this very dedicated group!
Grace
Kevin
11:36 am on Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Grace, thank you for the correction. I'm glad you clarified that for me. I didn't intentionally overlook the Senior Commission. You, Peggy and all the committee do a great job for the seniors and I know most of the good things you all do for the seniors in Florissant. You know I respect you very much and all your dedication. My mom loved all the trips and functions at the JJE Center. I have the utmost admiration for you and all involved in the Senior Commission.
WAYNE E GRENARD
5:03 pm on Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The Council meeting Monday night was quite entertaining, but I walked away with one obvious conclusion: Nothing will be accomplished by these politicians until after the elections of April 2012! How sad it is for Florissant that progress is being held at bay due to an outdated Charter that is so difficult to amend.
Mr. English, who sets the agenda and runs the meeting, is stalling on the important issues. Why you say? Why can we not appoint members to the Boundary and Charter Commissions at the next meeting on the 25th? Only Ward 3 has to wait.
Why does he waste our time to let candidates running in the August elections have free advertising on TV? The new candidates will not take office until September, but then we will have to study the Budget, but wait, don't we have to redraw the boundaries of our nine wards first. Will our Charter issue be resolved before the next April elections?
This time, please don't forget to include money for extra snow removal and mosquito fogging.
If ever we needed a Commission, it is one to study and make recommendations about our ongoing foreclosure crisis in the city.
Wake up City Council. In reality, Ward 3, 6 and 8 are not being represented by the people, but you can still make timely progress for our city. How long can Mark miss meetings until a special election is needed? One more possible issue to stall again.
Kevin
5:30 pm on Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Many residents blame only the Mayor and City Council for the budget and the operation of the City. When in reality, blame can be shared by all in Florissant. Residents of Florissant, it's also part of your responsibility to question our elected officials. The 2011 Budget Sessions were held last October. The maximum people in attendance was 5 (five) residents. The final day, on Saturday morning only Mr. Behlmannn and I were in attendance. It's easy to blame only the elected officials. But I never hear anyone complain that the residents aren't attending or watching meetings. I read the Council Agenda and it's always the same people writing the elected officials with their concerns. Yet when something like reviewing the City's Charter, increasing business licensing fees or keeping Walmart out of Florissant, people come to City Council meetings. They don't even know what they are talking about when they get up to speak because special interest groups solicit them to do their bidding.
Mark Behlmann
4:02 pm on Thursday, July 14, 2011
Part 1
“The debate about City Charter Review”, is very simple to understand for many of us who have routinely attend council meetings over the years.
When it was first brought up by Councilperson McKay, the first notion Mayor Lowery assumed was that it was a maneuver to remove the strong Mayor form of government, labeling McKays ploy as a way to unseat the Mayor. That analogy became the necessary advertisement to solicit many community business leaders support, “Do Not Review The Charter”. Most in opposition to a charter review were forced fed that interpretation. All public documented letters to city Council (in support or opposition) of which I have obtained indicate that singular message. Even the very letter Mayor Schneider, had read, pointed out that single concern, “do not give up the Mayor's position”. Never in all of my communications with council members on the PRO side did I ever heard that the intent was to change from a full-time mayor's position to a city manager's position form of government. (It was an assumption.)This has been a excellent maneuver, well orchestrated, by the CON side.
I am in support of a charter review. The city charter provides the basic framework for the conduct of city government. It provides the governing body sufficient flexibility to deal efficiently with the problems concerning the city and contains the necessary safeguards, to protect citizens against the abuse of power.
Mark Behlmann
4:05 pm on Thursday, July 14, 2011
Part 2
I support a review to address the following reasons,
land use and zoning results, procedures of upholding current ordinances, matters concerning current bidding process, modernization of city laws, synchronization of city laws with state, fiscal reform, and general verbiage correction.
These are my reasons to review the Florissant City Charter. The charter can be found on my website for anyone's review. How can anyone, refuse the shareholding residence the opportunity to come together as a committee, the right to review and make recommendations of the city charter? I wish to be a transparent leader, what is it they have to hide?
Mark Behlmann-Markbehlmann11@aol.com
RM
3:13 am on Friday, July 15, 2011
I support and applaud your Part 1 & 2 comments on the Charter Review Commission. I know you are currently in an election campaign and although I am not in your Ward, I would believe that you, through talking to the residents as I have, find a lot of support for reviewing the Charter. I appreciate you making it further available through your website. I believe that reviewing of the Charter should probably be done periodcially as a matter of practice to make sure that now and in the future, it is still serving the best interests of the residents of Florissant. Though I'm not saying that we should rush to judgement to change things just for the sake of change, but certainly a review by responsible people would be a great start to putting "our" house in order through a meaningful discussion & discovery process. Some things like the recent moratorium on liquor vs food/liquor permit requirements, shows that just because something has been done for a long time doesn't mean it necessarily makes sense to continue the practice. I would hope that Mayor Schneider would show some leadership here on supporting the Charter review process.
concerned citizen
4:28 pm on Sunday, July 17, 2011
The charter review is very important to our city, and WHY would Mr Grib and Mr Schildroth be against a review BY THE CITIZENS? If Mayor Schneider vetoes like Mayor Lowery did last year, it will be a sad way for him to start his firs year as mayor.