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Minutes for SB53 - Committee on Local Government

Short Title

Establishing the membership of the Sedgwick county charter commission which, if created, will review and recommend changes regarding the structure of county government.

Minutes Content for Wed, Mar 17, 2021

The Chair opened the hearing on SB53.

Mr. Heim outlined the focus of the bill, which would establish a charter commission for Sedgwick County.  He gave a brief history of the charter commission statute, which was first initiated for Johnson County in 1975; it was rejected by voters.  A second attempt in 1999 was adopted by voters in 2000. 

Mr. Heim responded to members' questions:

  • The statute is necessary in order for Sedgwick County to adopt a charter commission; it cannot be done at the local level.
  • A charter commission does not restructure a county's government; it simply creates the process through the recommendations of charter commissioners to recommend to voters a restructuring of county government.
  • Presently only Johnson County has a charter commission.

David Dennis, Sedgwick County Commissioner, speaking as a proponent and noting that recent legislation has designated Sedgwick County as an Urban County, stated that the bill would not initiate any changes in governmental structure but would give the County Commissioners the flexibility to do so if it were deemed necessary (Attachment 5).  He explained that the only change in the statute would be to insert Sedgwick County in place of Johnson County.

Mr. Dennis responded to members' questions:

  • The proposed charter commissioners are only authorized to make recommendations to the County Commission.  Only by a supportive public vote could any structural changes be made.
  • There are no planned changes in government structure; the bill simply enables the Commissioners to initiate the process.
  • The charter commissioners will be a voluntary group tasked only with creating a report with recommendations to the County Commissioners.  Their only authority is to make recommendations. 

The hearing on SB53 was closed.