City of Battle Creek Charter Public Feedback

The Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee is an 18-person group tasked with considering potential changes to the city charter.

The committee, established and appointed by the City Commission, will consider potential changes to the selection of mayor and vice mayor; the size of the commission; staggering of commissioner terms; length of commissioner terms; gendered charter language; and any other relevant issues.

The committee wants your feedback on these issues! We appreciate your thoughts and comments. Have more to say? Contact the committee at PublicInput@battlecreekmi.gov. Thank you!

Question Title

* 1. Do you live in the city limits of the City of Battle Creek? (Choose all that apply.)

Yes

No -- I live in a township in the Battle Creek metro area

No -- I live elsewhere

No -- but I used to live in Battle Creek

If outside of Battle Creek, where do you live?

Question Title

* 2. Currently, the mayor and vice mayor are chosen by the City Commission, from among its members, at the November organizational meeting.
What are your thoughts on this issue?

Continue a commission vote on mayor and vice mayor

Allow voters to choose a mayor and vice mayor as a separate ballot question

Allow the top vote-getting commissioners on the ballot to become mayor and vice mayor

Comments and other ideas...

Question Title

* 3. Currently, the City Commission has 9 members - 5 ward commissioners (particular sections of the city) and 4 at-large (entire city).
A majority of cities in Michigan have 7 commissioners, who are all at-large.
What are your thoughts on this issue?

Continue with 9 commissioners, as they are

Increase the number of commissioners (please comment below with the number)

Reduce the number of commissioners to 7

Reduce the number of commissioners to 5 (this is the minimum allowed by the state Home-Rule City law)

Other thoughts regarding size of the commission, ward representation, and at-large service:

Question Title

* 4. Currently, all 9 city commissioners are up for re-election at the same time.
What are your thoughts on this issue?

Continue with all commissioners' terms expiring at the same time

Stagger the commissioners' terms (for example, half could serve four-year terms, and half two-year terms)

Comments and other ideas...

Question Title

* 5. Currently, city commissioners serve two-year terms. (The current commission will serve three-year terms because of the change in city elections from odd to even years.)
A majority of Michigan city commissioners serve four-year terms.
What are your thoughts on this issue?

Continue with two-year city commission terms

Change to four-year terms (the maximum allowed by state law)

Suggested length of terms and other comments...

Question Title

* 6. Parts of the city charter presume the City Manager and City Attorney are men. Definitions indicate that these mentions also are extended to women.
Other Michigan cities have amended their charters to use ungendered language (like "they") throughout.
What are your thoughts on this issue?

Leave the charter's language as it is

Amend the charter to use ungendered language

Other ideas...

Question Title

* 7. The Blue Ribbon Committee may consider other issues related to the city charter. (You can see the current charter at the city's website, battlecreekmi.gov, I Want To... tab, then Find a City Ordinance.)
Do you have any additional suggestions or comments to add to this process?

Question Title

* 1. Do you live in the city limits of the City of Battle Creek? (Choose all that apply.)

Question Title

* 2. Currently, the mayor and vice mayor are chosen by the City Commission, from among its members, at the November organizational meeting.What are your thoughts on this issue?

Question Title

* 3. Currently, the City Commission has 9 members - 5 ward commissioners (particular sections of the city) and 4 at-large (entire city). A majority of cities in Michigan have 7 commissioners, who are all at-large.What are your thoughts on this issue?

Question Title

* 4. Currently, all 9 city commissioners are up for re-election at the same time.What are your thoughts on this issue?

Question Title

* 5. Currently, city commissioners serve two-year terms. (The current commission will serve three-year terms because of the change in city elections from odd to even years.) A majority of Michigan city commissioners serve four-year terms.What are your thoughts on this issue?

Question Title

* 6. Parts of the city charter presume the City Manager and City Attorney are men. Definitions indicate that these mentions also are extended to women. Other Michigan cities have amended their charters to use ungendered language (like "they") throughout.What are your thoughts on this issue?

Question Title

* 7. The Blue Ribbon Committee may consider other issues related to the city charter. (You can see the current charter at the city's website, battlecreekmi.gov, I Want To... tab, then Find a City Ordinance.)Do you have any additional suggestions or comments to add to this process?

* 2. Currently, the mayor and vice mayor are chosen by the City Commission, from among its members, at the November organizational meeting.
What are your thoughts on this issue?

* 3. Currently, the City Commission has 9 members - 5 ward commissioners (particular sections of the city) and 4 at-large (entire city).
A majority of cities in Michigan have 7 commissioners, who are all at-large.
What are your thoughts on this issue?

* 4. Currently, all 9 city commissioners are up for re-election at the same time.
What are your thoughts on this issue?

* 5. Currently, city commissioners serve two-year terms. (The current commission will serve three-year terms because of the change in city elections from odd to even years.)
A majority of Michigan city commissioners serve four-year terms.
What are your thoughts on this issue?

* 6. Parts of the city charter presume the City Manager and City Attorney are men. Definitions indicate that these mentions also are extended to women.
Other Michigan cities have amended their charters to use ungendered language (like "they") throughout.
What are your thoughts on this issue?

* 7. The Blue Ribbon Committee may consider other issues related to the city charter. (You can see the current charter at the city's website, battlecreekmi.gov, I Want To... tab, then Find a City Ordinance.)
Do you have any additional suggestions or comments to add to this process?