Historical April–May 2004 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Since August 2003, about 150 stakeholders selected by Advance St. Louis have been meeting to discuss features that might be desirable in an enhanced city government. Recently, St. Louis city officeholders have been making presentations to the group.
There are four principal areas of concern: 1. Whether there should be a Board of Estimate and Apportionment (made up of mayor, comptroller, and president of the board of aldermen) in charge of the budget and contracting; whether there should be a strong mayor form of government or city manager form, or a mayor with a professional administrator. 2.
The size of the Board of Aldermen (currently 28). 3. Whether the city’s “county” offices handling revenue (Treasurer, License Collector, Collector of Revenue) should become appointive offices and whether other county offices should remain elective. 4.
The nature of the city’s civil service. By May, the stakeholders and Advance Board Members will decide on the appropriate governmental form for the city that they will recommend to the voters.
They hope to have the revised charter on the November 2004 ballot.
The stakeholders are being assisted by the National Civic League, an organization closely identified with the city manager movement. Dan Schesch, of 60xx McPherson, is a member of the stakeholders.
He has prepared a web site with materials relevant to charter rewriting.
This site can be accessed at htpp://stlcr. home.att.net.
He has provided a way for neighbors to provide feedback. Advance St. Louis also has a web site: www.advancesaintlouis.org. Future meetings will be announced on this latter web site.
The public is welcome. Sometimes you can catch previous stakeholder sessions on Channel 10, the city’s cable station.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, April–May 2004.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2004_04.pdf, printed page(s) 7; PDF page(s) 7.
