Probably the most emotional and divisive issue that I have seen in my time on City Council is on the agenda for Monday evening.  The petition circulated by the Ozarks Minutemen was certified by the City Clerk as having enough valid signatures and is up for the first reading.  

     This petition mandates that all businesses within the city limits of Springfield utilize the federally-provided “e-Verify” system to determine work eligibility and to screen out undocumented workers. The Minutemen say it’s a free service that simply ensures that federal law is being followed by businesses in Springfield.

     Folks all over town have been gearing up and planning their strategies for the evening.  We anticipate that there will be many, many speakers signing up for their opportunity to speak on the issue.  Some will speak passionately and eloquently; others emotionally; still others will be nervous, but will get through their allotted time.  There will be accusations that this petition is racist in nature, that it targets Hispanics and Latinos. The Minutemen will argue that everyone is checked through the system and therefore it’s non-discriminatory. Business groups will state that this will put an extra burden on commercial enterprises, especially small businesses, and will require much more administrative time, cost for equipment, and broadband access for businesses currently not “wired.”  And other speakers will lament the further damage to race relations in Springfield that they see this petition causing.

     Unfortunately, they will all be wasting their collective breath.

     If you look at the way the Springfield Charter is written, with a petition initiated by citizens, City Council only has two options:  a) it can immediately accept the language in the petition as law or b) it can vote to place the issue on the next regularly-scheduled election.  Also, per the Charter, City Council cannot amend the petition language in any way.  And finally, if City Council does not perform either a) or b) above, the petition language automatically becomes law in 30 days.

     Even though I suspect most of the speakers will be addressing the content of the petition, City Council—while there may be comments from individual members—is only allowed two choices—pass it as law or put it on the next ballot.  Considering the content, modifying the content, eliminating parts of the content, adding content—these are not options available to Council during this process of first reading, second reading, and vote.

     The Mayor, in order to accommodate the large number of speakers anticipated, is asking City Council to suspend our normal rules of 5 minutes per person and use a three minute time limit for comments and 2 minute time limit for Council questions. I would not have an issue with this.  I have noticed over the years that, with five minutes, many times a person will start repeating himself or herself needlessly.

     One reason for the Mayor’s request is to help the petition proceedings move along. The other is that this issue is not the only thing on the agenda.  He is trying to keep folks from having to sit through a five- or six-hour meeting, waiting for their chance to speak.