City of Park Hills establishes new citizen advisory committee
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To improve public engagement and ensure that the voices of all residents are heard in local decision-making, the City of Park Hill recently announced the creation of the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) through Ordinance No. 1616-25 during last month’s city council meeting. It provides an opportunity for residents to actively participate in shaping the future of their city. The Citizen Advisory Committee will act as a resource for the City Council and Mayor, providing guidance and recommendations on various community issues, from urban planning and economic development to public safety and environmental sustainability.
The Citizen Advisory Committee’s creation is part of a broader initiative by Park Hills officials to foster transparency, build trust between local government and residents, and ensure that the community’s concerns and needs are consistently addressed. Through the CAC, Park Hills aims to create a more inclusive, accessible, and accountable government that reflects its citizens’ diverse interests and priorities.
Purpose and goals of the CAC
Mayor Stacey Easter said she and City Administrator Zach Franklin had discussed the formation of the committee.
“We thought it would be a good idea to have a committee like this, especially as we move forward with our water and wastewater infrastructure. We would use the committee at our discretion, which would help us give direction with whatever we assign the committee to do. It would have six to eight members, which is how we envisioned it.”
City Administrator Franklin said the committee would have no decision-making power, and the city council would continue to make the official decisions. The CAC will serve as a platform for residents to share their perspectives, offer solutions, and participate in discussions shaping Park Hills’s future.
“The idea stemmed from specifically the water and sewer issue, and obviously it would expand way beyond that as we have a lot of different business that goes on,” he said. “But our thought was, as we’re talking these large-scale infrastructure projects that are going to have an impact on our user base, on our water and sewer users, that it would be good to have a committee of individuals together that maybe aren’t involved in the city politics daily that could provide input as we’re talking about these things. So, if we were to do a $20 million project, what does that mean for rates? If we wanted to put a $20 million revenue bond election on the ballot, we could take that to this committee and say, ‘OK, this is what this would do for your rates. Do you feel you, as a voter, would have an appetite for that and those individuals you know who are voters, or do we need to go back to the drawing board, reevaluate this, and reassess where we’re at and where we need to go as a team?’ Again, it extends way beyond that.
All CAC meetings will be open to the public, and meeting minutes will be available on the City of Park Hills’ website for anyone to review. This ensures that residents can follow the committee’s progress and stay informed about the discussed issues.
“This committee represents a significant step forward in engaging our community members in the decision-making process,” said Mayor Easter. “We’re looking forward to hearing fresh perspectives from our citizens.”
Composition and selection of committee members
The Citizen Advisory Committee will consist of up to six citizens who will serve as advisors to the City Council and Mayor.
To qualify for the committee, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Reside in Park Hills or own a business within the city limits.
Committee members will serve three-year terms beginning June 1st, with a maximum of two terms allowed per member. Applications for the committee will be open to any Park Hills resident or business owner who is interested in serving. City employees, city councilpersons, and current members of existing city committees are ineligible for application to the CAC. The City Council will review applications and appoint members based on various factors, including geographic representation, professional background, and demonstrated commitment to the community.
Interested individuals can access the application form and detailed information packet, including a copy of the establishing ordinance, by visiting parkhillsmo.net. The documents can be found on the “Forms” page by selecting “Citizen Advisory Committee Packet” in the “City Forms” section.
The application will require basic contact information, a brief statement of interest explaining why the applicant wants to serve on the committee, and any relevant experience or qualifications.
For additional information, contact: cityhall@parkhillsmo.net
Lisa Brotherton-Barnes is a staff writer for the Daily Journal. She can be reached at lbarnes@dailyjournalonline.com.
