Battle Creek workshop reviews charter amendment to extend terms, add commission removal power

Battle Creek City commissioners discussed a proposed charter amendment at a workshop that would change mayoral and commissioner terms from two years to four years, move the organizational meeting to the first Tuesday in December, and give the commission limited authority to discipline and remove elected officials.

City Attorney Bill Kim told commissioners the panel "has no authority to extend its own terms," but said the amendment would apply to future commissions and "would not go into effect until the election in November 2026." He described the proposal as three parts: four-year terms for the mayor and commissioners, a fixed organizational meeting date in early December, and a removal process with specified grounds and due-process protections.

Why it matters: The change would alter how frequently residents vote for local leaders and shorten windows for recall elections. Kim said a commission-proposed amendment would require a three-fifths vote of the members-elect (six votes), be submitted to the governor for review, and, if approved or the governor's disapproval overruled, be placed before city voters; the resolution under discussion would schedule a citywide vote as early as May 2026 to meet ballot and print deadlines.

Public comment at the workshop included strong opposition. Autumn Smith of Battle Creek said the amendment was "a…