Jefferson City voters will consider four ballot measures in April

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City Council on Tuesday approved the addition of three initiatives to the April ballot.

Propositions B, C and D will appear on the April 7 ballot along with Proposition A, which was approved for the ballot during a previous council meeting.

Proposition A - Mayoral powers, language updates

If passed, this measure would:

• Update the language in the city charter to be gender-neutral,
• Delete references to dates that are no longer in effect,
• Change the date on which candidates have to meet requirements for elections from the election date to the filing date,
• Capitalize the word "city" in all references to "City of Jefferson,"
• Add "incapacity" as a reason to potentially remove councilmembers or the mayor from office,
• Stipulate that the mayor can't hold any other city office (This rule is already in place for councilmembers),
• Add a section that allows for the removal of the mayor from office upon a 4/5 majority vote (This rule is already in place for councilmembers),
• Add a section that allows the mayor, with city council approval, to remove members of boards, committees or commissions for misconduct or neglect of duty,
• Make the compensation for the city administrator subject to the approval of the mayor and two-thirds of the city council,
• Make some technical changes to the city administrator's powers and duties,
• Change the term "city counselor" to "city attorney," and
• Include a "grandfather clause" for all current officeholders.

Proposition B - Residency Requirements

This amendment would create new charter residency requirements for the city administrator and the city counselor.

It would also provide a six-month grace period for anyone hired as city administrator, city clerk or city counselor to move into the city.

Currently, there is no such grace period for the city clerk and residency requirements for the city administrator and city counselor are governed by ordinance, not charter.

Proposition C - Legislative Procedures

If passed, this measure would make the following changes to the city's legislative procedure:

• All bills would have a primary sponsor with more power than co-sponsors. Only the primary sponsor would be able to put a bill on the informal calendar.
• Any city council member would be allowed to call for a full reading of a bill. This is already a common practice but is not included in the charter.
• Any city council member would be allowed to ask for a suspension of the rule requiring a 96-hour period between the first reading and final passage of a bill. This is already a common practice but is not included in the charter.
• The term "lie on the table" describing bills that stay on the informal calendar would be deleted.

Proposition D - Ethics Reform

If passed, this measure would add two new rules in the city charter for certain public officials.

Proposition D would prohibit former councilmembers and the mayor from taking paid positions within the city government until at least two years after the expiration of their term.

The measure would also prohibit officeholders from also serving in elected offices in other political subdivisions, statewide elected offices or as a state lawmaker during their term with the city, except when serving in their capacity as a city official. This affects councilmembers, the mayor, the city administrator, city clerk, department directors and parks and recreation commissioners.