The Council (cont.)

Section 2.13. Revision of ordinances

Within three years after the adoption of this Charter, all ordinances of the city of a general and permanent nature shall be revised, digested, codified, and promulgated, and a system of continuous numbering and revision shall be established and maintained thereafter in accordance with provisions to be prescribed by ordinance.

Section 2.14. Annual audit

An independent audit shall be made of all accounts of the city government at least annually, and more frequently if deemed necessary by the council. Such audit shall be made by a certified public accountant who is experienced in municipal accounting and who is selected by the council. Such accountant shall have no personal or financial interest, direct or indirect, in the fiscal affairs of the city government or of any of its officers. The results of such audit shall be made public in such manner as the council may determine.

Section 2.15. Investigator

The council may appoint an investigator who shall serve for such term as the council may prescribe. He shall be a certified public accountant or a person specially trained and experienced in governmental or business investigation or administration. His duty shall be to keep the council informed as to the work performed, methods, and financial affairs of the city. He shall not be responsible for the keeping of accounts. He shall make such investigations of the work of all departments of the city and such reports to the council as it shall require. He shall make such other investigations as the council may direct. He shall have access to all books and records of all departments of the city. If the council desires, he shall certify to the correctness of any or all financial reports before the same shall be regarded as official.

Section 2.16. Enumeration of certain powers

Without limitation of the powers conferred upon the city by Section 1.3 of Article I of this Charter, or by any other provision hereof, the council shall have power by ordinance not inconsistent with this Charter to do, but shall not be restricted to, the following:

(1) Assessment, levy and collection of taxes. Assess, levy and collect taxes for all general and special purposes on all subjects or objects of taxation not expressly prohibited by laws, provide for enforcing the prompt payment and for penalties for delinquency thereof, and adopt such classifications of the subjects and objects of taxation as may not be contrary to law.

(2) Furnishing public services; operation, etc., of public utilities. Furnish all public services; purchase, hire, lease, construct, own, maintain, and operate public utilities; dispose of the services and products thereof; acquire, by condemnation or otherwise, within or without the corporate limits, property, or any estate or interest therein, necessary for any such purposes; grant public utility franchises and permits and regulate the exercise thereof.

(3) Public improvements generally. Make public improvements and acquire, by condemnation or otherwise, property, or any estate or interest therein, within or without the corporate limits, necessary for such improvements.

(4) Police, health, sanitary, safety, fire prevention, etc., regulations. Adopt police, health, sanitary, safety, fire prevention, and other similar regulations not in conflict with general laws and provide for their enforcement.

(5) Expending money - Generally. Expend the money of the city for all lawful purposes.

(6) Borrowing money. Issue, sell, pledge, or in any manner dispose of, negotiable or nonnegotiable, interest bearing or noninterest bearing bonds or notes of the city, upon the credit of the city, or solely upon the credit or specific property owned by the city, or solely upon the credit of income derived from the property used in connection with any public utility owned or operated by the city, or solely upon the credit of the proceeds of special assessments for local improvements, or upon any two or more such credits.

(7) Power of eminent domain - Generally. Exercise the power of eminent domain, including the power of excess condemnation as authorized by the constitution or by law, and condemn private property, real or personal, or any use therein for public use within or without the city.

(8) Administering, etc., trusts. Take and hold property within or without the city upon trust, and administer trusts.

(9) Acquisition of property - Generally. Acquire and receive by gift, bequest or devise all kinds of property, real, personal or mixed, or any estate or interest therein, within or without the city, absolutely or in trust, for all public, charitable or municipal uses or purposes; perform all acts necessary to carry out the purposes of such gifts, bequests or devises, with power to manage, sell, lease or otherwise handle or dispose of such property, in accordance with the terms of the gift, bequest or devise.

(10) Same - Further provisions. Acquire, receive, hold, provide for by contract or otherwise, construct, operate, regulate, manage, maintain and improve all kinds of public buildings, structures, public market facilities, airports, off-street parking facilities, public housing, cemeteries, hospitals, parks and other recreational facilities, all other public improvements, and any other property, real or personal, within or without the city, for all such uses or purposes, or for any other public or municipal use or purpose; acquire, receive and hold any estate or interest in any such property; and sell, lease, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of the same or the products thereof. The power herein granted shall be limited only by prohibitions contained in the constitution and laws of Missouri and other provisions of this Charter.
(11) Collection, etc., of sewage, garbage, refuse, etc. Collect and dispose of sewage, offal, ashes, garbage and refuse, or license and regulate such collection and disposal.

(12) Regulation of businesses liable to be nuisances. Prescribe limits with which businesses, occupations and practices liable to be nuisances or detrimental to the health, morals, safety, security or general welfare of the people may lawfully be established, conducted or maintained.

(13) Weights and measures. License and inspect weights and measures; and inspect, test, measure and weigh any article offered for sale within the city for consumption or use.

(14) Building regulations. Regulate the construction and materials of all buildings and structures and inspect all buildings, lands and places as to their condition for health, cleanliness and safety; and when necessary, prevent the use thereof and require any alterations or changes necessary to make them healthful, clean and safe.

(15) Establishment, improvement, etc., of streets, parks, sewers, etc. Establish, open, relocate, vacate, alter, widen, extend, grade, improve, repair, construct, reconstruct, maintain, light, sprinkle and clean public highways, streets, boulevards, parkways, sidewalks, alleys, parks, public grounds and squares, bridges, viaducts, subways, tunnels, sewers and drains, and regulate the use thereof.

(16) Regulate, etc., grade crossings, airports, aircraft, communication facilities, etc. Abolish or prevent grade crossings, and provide for safe crossings and compel any street, steam, electric railroad or other transportation company or companies affected thereby to pay all or a part of the cost thereof; regulate and control the location of aviation fields, hangars and aircraft landing places; regulate and control the use of all aircraft within or over the city; and regulate and control the location, construction, operation and use of all types of communication facilities.

(17) Investment of funds. Invest funds of the city in:

(a) Obligations of the United States government, the State of Missouri, this city; or
(b) Bonds, bills, notes, debentures or other obligations guaranteed as to payment of principal and interest by the government of the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof, the State of Missouri or this city; or

(c) Revenue bonds of this city; or

(d) Certificates of deposit, savings accounts as defined in Chapter 369, Revised Missouri Statutes or in interest bearing time deposits when such funds are held in United States banks, state banks, savings and loan associations operating under Chapter 369, Revised Missouri Statutes, or savings and loan associations authorized by the United States government so long as such deposits, saving accounts, and interest bearing deposits are secured by one or more of the types of securities described in subparagraphs (a), (b), or (c) of this Section; or

Approved by vote of the people June 11, 1974.

(e) Banker's acceptances issued by domestic commercial banks possessing the highest rating issued by a nationally recognized rating agency; or

Approved by vote of the people April 6, 1999.

(f) Commercial paper issued by domestic corporations which has received the highest rating issued by a nationally recognized rating agency; or

Approved by vote of the people April 6, 1999.

(g) Investments permitted by the City Council which are authorized in the model investment policy prepared by the State of Missouri for political subdivisions.
Approved by vote of the people April 6, 1999.

(18) Annexation and disannexation. Extend or diminish the limits of the city by ordinance subject to the approval of a majority of the qualified voters of the city voting thereon in any general or special election.

(19) Defining and abatement of nuisances. Define, prohibit, suppress, prevent and regulate, all acts, practices, conduct, businesses, occupations, callings, trades, uses of property and all other things whatsoever detrimental or liable to be detrimental to the health, morals, comfort, safety, convenience, or welfare of the inhabitants of the city, and abate all nuisances and impose liens on properties where such nuisances exist for the cost of the abatement of such nuisances.

Approved by vote of the people April 6, 1971.

(20) General welfare, etc. Do all things whatsoever necessary or expedient for promoting and maintaining the comfort, education, morals, safety, peace, government, health, welfare, trade, commerce, or industry of the city and its inhabitants.

(21) Imposition of penalties, etc. Enforce any ordinance, rule, or regulation by means of fines, forfeitures, penalties, and imprisonment, or by action or proceedings in the municipal court or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, or by any one or more of such means, and impose costs as a part thereof and provide for probation and parole in proper cases.

(22) Regulation of businesses generally. License, tax, regulate or suppress all businesses, occupations, professions, vocations, activities (set forth and enumerated by the statutes of this state, now or hereafter applicable to cities of the first, second, third or fourth class or of any population group) which any such cities are now permitted or may hereafter be permitted to license, tax, regulate, or suppress.

(23) License taxes generally. To impose a license tax upon any business, vocation, pursuit, calling, animal, or thing.

(24) Issuance of process, etc. Compel, by the issuance of process, the attendance of witnesses and production of papers and records relating to any subjects under investigation in which the interest of the city is involved, and call upon the proper officers of the city or county to execute such process.

(25) Contracts, suits, etc. Contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued, except an ordinance authorizing the city to enter into such contracts with the state and federal government for the purpose of receiving grant monies from the same may be passed at the meeting of the council at which it is introduced or later at the pleasure of the council.

Approved by vote of the people April 4, 1978.
(26) Assessment and collection of special assessments. Make and collect special assessments on public or private property for public improvement, and provide for enforcing the prompt payment thereof by any appropriate means.

(27) Enumeration of inhabitants. Provide for the enumeration of the inhabitants of the city for any purpose whatever.

(28) Zoning regulations. Divide the city into districts and for each of such districts impose regulations, restrictions, or prohibitions designed to promote the public health, safety, convenience, comfort, morals, prosperity, or general welfare, governing the erection of buildings and other structures and governing premises to be used for trade, industry, residence, or other specified purposes; designate the kinds of classes of trade, industries, residences, or other purposes for which buildings or other structures or premises may be permitted to be erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, repaired or used; regulate and limit the height and bulk of buildings and other structures; regulate building lines and limit the percentage of lot occupancy; and regulate and limit the area of courts and other spaces.

(29) Legislative power generally. Enact, adopt, and enforce all ordinances, rules, and regulations; do all things, and exercise all governmental and municipal authority necessary, needful, and convenient, contributing to, or bearing a substantial relation to the full and complete exercise of all the powers in this Charter enumerated.

(30) Cooperation with other governmental bodies. Cooperate, or join by contract or otherwise with other cities, with counties, states, the United States, or other governmental bodies, singly or jointly or in districts or associations for promoting or carrying out any of the powers of the City, or for the acquisition, construction, or operation of any property, works, plants or structures convenient or necessary for carrying out any of the purposes or objects authorized by this Charter.

(31) Regulate utility rates. Establish and enforce gas, electric, and public transportation rates, and rates and charges for all other utilities owned and operated, or services furnished, by the city; and establish or approve and enforce all rates and charges of privately owned utilities operating within the city not regulated by other public authority. All such rates and charges shall be determined after a public hearing and in accordance with regularly established procedures to be prescribed by ordinance.

(32) Incur debts. Incur debts by borrowing money or otherwise and give any appropriate evidence thereof.

(33) Regulate water courses. Improve water courses and regulate the use thereof.

(34) Regulate poles, wires, etc. Direct, regulate, and control the location and construction of all poles, wires, conduits, subways, pipe mains, or other structures or erections of any kind in or under or over public streets, alleys, highways or places in the city.

(35) Purchase property for delinquent taxes, etc. Provide for the purchase by the city of property levied upon under execution or process in favor of the city and of property when sold for delinquent taxes and assessments, and sell and convey the same.

(36) Care of sick, insane, neglected or delinquent children, etc. Provide for the support, maintenance, and care of the sick, aged, or insane poor persons and neglected or delinquent children; and provide for the punishment of parents, guardians, or custodians for neglect of children.

(37) Operation, etc., of eleemosynary institutions, etc. Acquire, operate and maintain charitable, educational, comfort, recreative, curative, corrective, detentive, penal and other institutions, departments, functions, facilities, instrumentalities, conveniences, and services.

(38) Employment of personnel. Provide for the employment of all personnel necessary to carry on the function of all departments and agencies of the city.

(39) Limitation of the power to tax real property. In the event a city sales tax is adopted for general municipal purposes in the City of Springfield in an amount of 7/8 of one percent or more, the authority of the city council to tax real property for municipal purposes at a rate of one dollar on one hundred dollars assessed valuation under provisions of Article X, Section 11(b) of the Constitution of the State of Missouri 1945, as amended, shall be limited by this Charter Section to an amount not to exceed fifty cents ($.50) on one hundred dollars assessed valuation, provided, however, this limitation shall not be effective until the first calendar year after the calendar year in which the City has adopted the sales tax.

Approved by vote of the people April 4, 1978.