Centerville council approves change to City Beautiful Commission ordinance to qualify for Keep America Beautiful affiliation

Centerville City Council on March 3 approved Ordinance 07-25 to amend the municipal code for the City Beautiful Commission so the city can apply to become an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful.

The change increases the commission’s minimum size from five to seven members, allows members to be residents, property owners, or managers of businesses or organizations within Centerville, and removes named staff liaisons in favor of an unspecified staff liaison role, City staff said during the public hearing.

City staff presenter Kate Botstorf told council the changes are needed to meet Keep America Beautiful’s requirements and to update the ordinance. Botstorf said the commission’s previous language required all members to be city residents and identified specific staff liaisons who were not currently serving in that role. Under the amendment, the commission would “promote and support public initiatives for clean and green projects, including annual cleanup operations” without designating a fixed date in May for an annual cleanup day.

Mayor Compton opened and closed the public hearing on the ordinance; no members of the public spoke. Council Member Morales moved to approve the ordinance; Council Member Sayer seconded. After a voice vote the mayor announced the motion carried and “Ordinance 07-25 is approved.”

The ordinance change clears the way for Centerville to pursue affiliation with Keep America Beautiful and alters how the City Beautiful Commission will be staffed and populated. Council members did not add amendments during the hearing. The council scheduled no additional steps in that meeting and did not solicit further public comment on the item.

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