The Jefferson City Council is now hoping to fill a soon-to-be vacant seat as quickly as possible in January.
At the City Council meeting Monday, City Attorney Drew Hilpert told council members about the next steps for appointing someone to fill a vacancy, as 5th Ward Councilman Ralph Bray is resigning from the council effective Dec. 31 to take his new position as Cole County recorder of deeds.
Hilpert said the council has two options for appointing Bray's replacement - members can make nominations at the Jan. 5 council meeting and hold a public hearing, followed by a vote at the Jan. 20 council meeting, or they can suspend the rules and make a nomination, followed by a vote all on Jan. 5, seating a new council member that same night.
Because Bray's seat is up in the April election, council members had previously indicated that they hoped to wait until filing for city offices ends Jan. 20 before making any nominations. In November, several council members said they preferred not to nominate a candidate running for the 5th Ward seat if there was a race, so they wouldn't appear to endorse one candidate over another.
Hilpert said waiting until the end of filing, which ends Jan. 20, to even start the process means that any appointment would only serve for about two months before the April elections. He said because of that time constraint, council members have discussed finding a candidate who is willing to serve and agrees not to file for the seat.
As Monday was Bray's final council meeting, other council members honored his years of service to the city. Council members noted Bray's dedication to planning and communication with city residents, as well as his leadership on the council.
"Your leadership is going to be missed," said 1st Ward Councilman Rick Prather.
In other business, the
council approved a new "high density" development on the hillside between Stadium Boulevard and Creek Trail Drive - just west of the JCMG complex, by a 7-2 vote. First Ward Councilman Rick Prather and 4th Ward Councilman Carlos Graham voted against the bill, and 2nd Ward Councilwoman Laura Ward was not present at Monday's meeting.
The developers of the nearly 70-acre property have been meeting with city officials and nearby residents of the development to ease concerns about the impact on the neighborhood. Previously, neighbors voiced concerns about rental properties and property values in the development.
Though Graham, who sponsored the bill, thanked officials from Twehous Excavating and Central Missouri Professional Services for meeting with residents and addressing concerns, he voted against the bill after two residents still spoke against it.
"The people are here. They're speaking to you," said Gary Dey. "We ask you to remember your neighborhood. ... We're asking you to consider us."