Battle Creek commission tables proposed administrative hearings bureau after oversight concerns

The Battle Creek City Commission on July 21 voted to table the introduction of ordinance 16-20-26, a proposed administrative hearings bureau intended to handle code-enforcement matters, after residents and commissioners raised questions about oversight and due process.

During public comment, Joe Harris urged commissioners not to "give up the voice of the people," saying the city manager's sole authority to hire hearing officers would silence public input. Autumn Smith told the commission the proposal "raises serious questions about due process, transparency, and the protection of constitutional rights," and asked how residents could obtain meaningful review if bond or cost barriers were imposed. City Attorney Kim told the commission she had drafted the ordinance with the city manager's appointment authority in mind, saying the city manager "is supposed to appoint all the other employees" and is accountable to the commission.

Mayor Behnke proposed forming a blue-ribbon ad hoc committee to develop a recommended ordinance for full commission consideration; the motion to table was seconded and passed. Commissioners debated committee size and membership, with questions about whether the commission itself could directly hire an independent hearing officer under the city charter. Commissioner Chris Simmons said the charter did not clearly authorize the commission to do so and requested clarification.

The move to table stops formal introduction of the administrative hearings bureau for now and defers drafting to the ad hoc committee. The commission did not vote on a final ordinance at the meeting.