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2025 Charter Commission
The City Charter requires the formation of a Charter Review Commission at least once every 10 years to evaluate the document and recommend potential amendments for voter consideration.
The Commission was approved by the Board of Aldermen in January 2025 and included two residents from each of the City’s four wards and one elected official including:
- Ward 1: Lisa Bozdeck & Matthew Koehler
- Ward 2: Christopher Pickel & Bob Sweeney
- Ward 3: Megan Vedder & Ted Yemm
- Ward 4: Beth Johnson & Angela Sebben
- Elected Official: Mayor Scott Shipley
They met monthly from March through November 2025 and conducted multiple reviews of the Charter. Following that process, the Commission recommended four proposed amendments.
The Four Proposed Ballot Propositions
Each of the four ballot propositions is independent, meaning approval or rejection of one does not affect the others. Each proposition requires a simple majority vote to pass.
Below are copies for each of the four proposed ballot propositions along with the official language to appear on the April 7, 2026 ballot.
View the Proposed Changes
- Ballot Proposition 1, "Clarifications" Approved 9-0
Summary
Amends sections to correct misspellings, grammar errors, and update terms for consistency.
Key Changes Include
No substantive changes.
Voting “YES” means
The misspellings, grammar errors and terms would be updated and corrected.
Voting “NO” means
The misspellings, grammar errors and terms as written would remain unchanged.
Language To Appear on the Ballot
PROPOSITION 1
Shall Sections 3.2, 3.4, 3.9, 3.10, 4.1, 4.3, 4.7, 7.2, 8.1, 8.3, 8.4, 9.5, 9.6, 9.7, 9.8, 10.5, 10.6, 11.1, 11.2, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3, 13.8 and 15.4 of the City’s Charter be amended to correct misspellings, grammar errors or update terms for consistency, as proposed by the Charter Review Committee and more fully set forth in Exhibit 1 to Ordinance 5610?
YES
NO
View the Proposed Changes
- Ballot Proposition 2, "Efficiencies" Approved 9-0
Summary
Amends sections to enable City government to work more efficiently.
Key changes include
- Allowing the Board of Aldermen to set meeting start times by ordinance.
- Establishing procedures for covering mayoral absences by ordinance.
- Providing flexibility for a one-year or two-year budget cycle by ordinance.
- Allowing limited extensions of auditing services when necessary.
Voting “YES” means
The Board of Aldermen has more flexibility to set meeting times, manage mayoral absences, adopt one- or two-year budgets, and allow limited extensions of auditing services by ordinance.
Voting “NO” means
The current City Charter provisions remain in place.
Language To Appear On The Ballot
PROPOSITION 2
Shall Sections 3.9, 3.10, 3.12, 4.7, 5.2, 7.2 and 13.5 of the City’s Charter be amended to enable City government to work more efficiently, including allowing the Board of Aldermen to establish by ordinance how mayoral absences are covered, set meeting start times, determine whether the City uses a one-year or two-year budget cycle, and allow limited extensions of auditing services if needed, as proposed by the Charter Review Committee and more fully set forth in Exhibit 2 to Ordinance 5610?
YES
NO
View the Proposed Changes
- Ballot Proposition 3, "Election Alignment" Approved 9-0
Summary
Amends sections to align City elections with Missouri Statutes designating April as the General Municipal Election Day. This would avoid additional costs for special elections and ensure consistency with state law.
Key Changes Include
- Filling vacancies in the office of Mayor.
- Tie vote procedures will be updated to follow state law.
- Initiative and referendum timelines.
- Petition submission and recall election requirements.
- Charter amendment submission process.
Voting “YES” Means
If a special election is required, it would be held during the next April General Municipal Election rather than on a separate election date.
Voting “NO” Means
If a special election is required, it could be held on a separate election date, and the tie-vote process will differ from state law.
Language To Appear On The Ballot
PROPOSITION 3
Shall Sections 4.7, 8.3, 9.1, 9.7, 9.8, 10.3, 10.6 and 13.7 of the City’s Charter be amended to align with Missouri Statutes which designate the April election as the General Municipal Election Day intended for local municipal election ballot items and avoid costs that could be incurred for special elections, as proposed by the Charter Review Committee and more fully set forth in Exhibit 3 to Ordinance 5610?
YES
NO
View the Proposed Changes
- Ballot Proposition 4, "Four-Year Terms" Approved 8-1
Summary
Amends and adds a new section to update terms for the Mayor and Aldermen from three years to four years beginning with the 2028 municipal election.
Key Changes Include
- Term limits would remain unchanged at three consecutive terms.
- Transition schedule for elections from 2026 to 2031, with new four-year terms beginning in April 2028.
Voting “YES” Means
Beginning in 2028, newly elected officials would serve four-year terms (current officials’ three-year terms would not change).
Voting “NO” Means
Officials would continue to serve three-year terms.
Language To Appear On The Ballot
PROPOSITION 4
Shall Sections 3.4, 4.3, 8.3 of the City’s Charter be amended, and a new Section 15.5 of the City Charter be enacted, to change and implement the term for all elected officials (Mayor and Aldermen) to a four-year term beginning with the 2028 municipal election, as proposed by the Charter Review Committee and more fully set forth in Exhibit 4 to Ordinance 5610?
YES
NO
Additional Information
Timeline Overview
- March 10, 2025: Charter Review Commission's first meeting
- November 2025: Target completion of potential amendments, staff to finalize ordinance for Board review/approval
- December 2025: Board of Aldermen to review and approve proposed amendments, as needed
- April 7, 2026: Crestwood residents will vote on the Charter amendments at the General Municipal Election
Charter Commission Monthly Updates
November 2025
The eighth meeting of the Charter Review Commission was held on November 10, 2025. The Commission reviewed all potential amendments for Articles 1-15 of the City Charter and voted on the proposed propositions to take to the Board of Aldermen on November 25, 2025 and then the voters on April 7, 2026.
- To learn more about the November meeting from the audio recording, the agenda, and the minutes, please visit -https://www.cityofcrestwood.org/129/Agendas-Minutes
October 2025
The seventh meeting of the Charter Review Commission was held on October 13, 2025. The Commission reviewed all potential amendments for Articles 1-15 of the City Charter and discussed how they would be combined moving forward. All changes proposed have been through the Charter Review Commission and the City Attorney for review for the Ordinance that will be before the Board of Aldermen on November 25, 2025. To view the redlined version of the Articles 1-15 working document, as proposed at the October 13 meeting, including potential groupings, please click here: October 2025 Redlined Version (PDF)
- To learn more about the October meeting from the audio recording, the agenda, and the minutes, please visit -https://www.cityofcrestwood.org/129/Agendas-Minutes
September 2025
The sixth meeting of the Charter Review Commission was held on September 8, 2025. The Commission reviewed all potential amendments for Articles 1-15 of the City Charter and discussed accordingly. All changes proposed will go through the City Attorney for review before the Commission formalizes potential changes at a future Commission meeting. To view the redlined version of the Articles 1-15 working document, as proposed at the September 8 meeting, please click here: September 2025 Redlined Version
- To learn more about the September meeting from the audio recording, the agenda, and the minutes, please visit -https://www.cityofcrestwood.org/129/Agendas-Minutes
August 2025
The fifth meeting of the Charter Review Commission was held on August 12, 2025. The Commission reviewed the potential amendments for Articles 11-15 of the City Charter and discussed accordingly. They also discussed the potential language remitted from the City Attorney, regarding Articles 1-10 of the Charter. All changes proposed will go through the City Attorney for review before coming back to the Commission at a future Charter Review Commission meeting. To view the Articles 1-15 working document, please click here: Charter, Articles 1-15 Working Document
- To learn more about the August meeting from the audio recording, the agenda, and the minutes, please visit -https://www.cityofcrestwood.org/129/Agendas-Minutes
July 2025
The Charter Review Commission that was scheduled to be held on July 14, 2025 was cancelled. The next meeting of the Charter Review Commission will be held on August 11, 2025.
June 2025
The fourth meeting of the Charter Review Commission was held on June 9, 2025. The Commission reviewed the potential amendments for Articles 8-10 of the City Charter and discussed accordingly. They also discussed the potential language remitted from the City Attorney, regarding Articles 1-7 of the Charter. All changes proposed will go through the City Attorney for review before coming back to the Commission at a future Charter Review Commission meeting. To view the Articles 1-10 working document, please click here: Charter, Articles 1-10 Working Document
- To learn more about the June meeting from the audio recording, the agenda, and the minutes, please visit -https://www.cityofcrestwood.org/129/Agendas-Minutes
May 2025
The third meeting of the Charter Review Commission was held on May 12, 2025. The Commission reviewed the potential amendments for Articles 5-7 of the City Charter and discussed accordingly. They also discussed the potential language remitted from the City Attorney, regarding Articles 1-4 of the Charter. All changes proposed will go through the City Attorney for review before coming back to the Commission at a future Charter Review Commission meeting. To view the Articles 1-7 working document, please click here: Charter, Articles 1-7 Working Document
- To learn more about the May meeting from the audio recording, the agenda, and the minutes, please visit -https://www.cityofcrestwood.org/129/Agendas-Minutes
April 2025
The second meeting of the Charter Review Commission was held on April 14, 2025. The Commission reviewed the potential amendments for Articles 1-4 of the City Charter and discussed accordingly. All changes proposed will go through the City Attorney for review before coming back to the Commission at a future Charter Review Commission meeting. To view the Articles 1-4 working document, please click here: Charter, Articles 1-4 Working Document
- To learn more about the April meeting from the audio recording, the agenda, and the minutes, please visit -https://www.cityofcrestwood.org/129/Agendas-Minutes
March 2025
The first meeting of the Charter Review Commission was held on March 20, 2025. The Commission's elected official, Mayor Scott Shipley, welcomed the commission and explained the foundation, rarity, and importance of the City Charter. The Commissioners discussed how meetings will work and elected their Chairs. The timeline of the Charter Review Commission was outlined, starting with reviewing Articles 1-4 for the April meeting.
To learn more about the March meeting from the audio recording, the agenda, and the minutes, please visit -https://www.cityofcrestwood.org/129/Agendas-Minutes
February 2025
Over the years, particularly in early 2025, Mayor Shipley collected recommendations from various City staff, the City attorney, Board of Aldermen, and others for potential amendments for the City's Charter. All proposed amendments will be discussed by the Charter Review Commission, before being formally voted upon during the General Election in 2026.
- To view the initial working document, please click here: 2025 City Charter (Working)
January 2025
During the January 28, 2025 Board of Aldermen meeting, the Board unanimously approved the appointments to the Charter Review Commission which included two members from each of the City's four wards and an elected official.