Jefferson City Council to consider community wellness commission

Panel would report to Parks

Jefferson City First Ward Councilman Jim Branch is seen in this Feb. 16, 2015, file photo.
Jefferson City First Ward Councilman Jim Branch is seen in this Feb. 16, 2015, file photo.

The Jefferson City Council will consider a new community wellness commission after a few final tweaks were made to the proposal.

At the Council Committee on Administration meeting Wednesday, a final draft of proposed changes to the ordinance establishing the city's Environmental Quality Commission were presented. The proposed changes would transform the commission to something that focuses more on overall community wellness, an initiative pushed by Mayor Carrie Tergin, who said the commission had largely fulfilled its previously outlined objectives.

Though the proposal was approved by the committee in May, the final changes spurred a new discussion on whether to change the commission's focus or simply disband it and start a new one focused on community wellness.

"I'd rather start from scratch than refocus," said 1st Ward Councilman Jim Branch. "They've done their job. Put it to rest."

Under the proposed revisions, the membership of the commission would expand from seven to nine members, including two who may live outside of city limits. The proposed changes also include the following commission duties:

  • Promote initiatives that support community health and wellness;
  • Collaborate with community leaders, organizations and partners for community engagement to help build a healthy community;
  • Partner with the city's park system to achieve healthier activities, quality of life and wellness;
  • Support and encourage community sustainability;
  • Recommend principles and practices for consideration in transportation projects;
  • Promote the preservation and enhancement of green space, rain gardens, natural drainage corridors, and encourage clean-up activities of creek and stream areas.

The only changes presented Wednesday were to include a voting member appointed by the Parks and Recreation Commission and to move the commission to be under the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, meaning parks staff would serve as liaisons to the commission and provide any administrative support needed.

"These are all things we should be doing, so I think it makes a lot of sense," said Todd Spalding, director of the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department.

Besides the mission of the commission, Branch said he also had issues with allowing two non-city residents to be voting members. Second Ward Councilman J. Rick Mihalevich and 3rd Ward Councilwoman Erin Wiseman both said they would prefer to look at all city boards and commissions at once, in order to evaluate and ensure there were duplicative efforts.

"I would support moving forward with this after we see the big picture," Mihalevich said.

But Tergin urged the committee to move quickly and allow the full City Council to vote on the proposal.

"I would encourage city government not to move so slow," Tergin said. "There are volunteers just ready to get to work."

Janice McMillan, director of Planning and Protective Services, said no other city commission focuses on community wellness, so there shouldn't be any issues with duplicative efforts.

Ultimately, the committee approved moving the proposal to the full council by a 4-1 vote, with Branch casting the only opposing vote.

In other business, the committee also approved a proposal to move the Cultural Arts Commission under the Parks, Recreation and Forestry department, meaning parks staff would serve as liaisons to the commission and provide any administrative support needed.

Spalding has previously voiced his desire to add an arts division to the department, beginning with having staff help facilitate projects and programs for the arts organizations in the area.

The committee approved moving the proposal to the full City Council for review.