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Valparaiso council adopts ordinance restructuring Human Relations Council over mayoral-only appointments
Summary
The Valparaiso Common Council approved Ordinance 8-20-25 in a 5-2 vote to change appointment authority and remove “advisory” from the Human Relations Council name, shifting some appointments from the mayor to the council and prompting debate about separation of powers.
The Valparaiso Common Council on July 28 approved Ordinance 8-20-25, amending Valparaiso Municipal Code sections 38.01–38.04 to change the composition and title of the Human Relations Council and split appointment authority between the council and the mayor. The ordinance passed 5-2 on a roll call vote.
Councilwoman Hunt said the revisions “introduce a more balanced structure” and called the change a step toward “building an inclusive, respectful, and equitable community.” The ordinance gives the council six appointment slots and the mayor three, and removes the word “advisory” from the council’s name to make it a public-facing body, Hunt said.
The measure prompted sustained debate about the proper relationship between the mayor’s executive role and the council’s legislative duties. The mayor told the council he was “strongly opposed to this,” arguing the Human Relations body had been effective as an advisory group to the mayor’s office because the mayor oversees city services and daily operations. He said the current advisory structure lets the council “speak into the mayor’s office” on service delivery concerns and warned that shifting the board’s primary reporting toward the council could create operational tension.
Councilmember Domer said the change was intended to foster collaboration and avoid duplication of efforts, calling the proposal a way to “ensure the appointments to this board…are made by more than 1 elected official.” Domer rejected criticism that the ordinance is a “power grab,” saying, “This ordinance isn't a power grab. It's a commitment to democracy.”
Council members who voted yes were Patton, Domer, Capitan, Hunt and Reed. Councilmembers Papillo and Anderson voted no. The ordinance was read aloud on its second and final reading before the roll call.
Supporters said the split appointment authority and removal of “advisory” will increase public visibility and resilience of the Human Relations Council by broadening representation. Opponents, including the mayor, said the change would reduce the body’s advisory connection to the mayor’s office and risk blurring executive and legislative roles; the mayor said he preferred a council-owned committee if the council wanted a separate advisory channel rather than repurposing the existing body.
Council members who supported the ordinance said there is a process to revisit the structure if it does not work and that the existing members were encouraged to remain in their seats. No budget changes tied to the ordinance were proposed during the meeting.
What happens next: Ordinance 8-20-25 was adopted and will take effect according to the municipal code’s rules for adopted ordinances unless specified otherwise. Implementation details — including how the council and mayor will coordinate appointments and any administrative changes to the council’s operating procedures — were not resolved during the meeting.
Votes at a glance and related ordinances were handled later in the same session.
