City Planning & Zoning-Zoned Out?

The Monroe City Council, during the Tuesday, September 12, 2023 meeting, approved the final adoption of an ordinance, a "proposed reorganization and amending" the Monroe City Charter to provide for the reorganization of the Engineering and the Planning and Urban Development Departments. While many see nothing wrong with the Ellis administration reorganizing its departments, it appeared that the method in doing so raised some questions. Community activist Verbon Muhammad stated as such, except when the ordinance would amend the city's charter without what he believes the approval of the voters. Muhammad said it "was concerning" that the council was approving something without citizen approval to amend the charter.

"To take action without the citizens of Monroe's input is really against the charter," said Muhammad. Newly appointed city attorney Brandon Creekbaum said there are instances in the charter that are "specific provisions" that allow for changes to be accomplished through ordinances. He referred to the changes in the mayor's and council members' salaries as examples. According to Creekbaum, Sec. 411 of the Charter reorganization provision states that the council, within 60 days following the reorganization proposal from the mayor, shall by voters approve/disapprove but not amend except through written consent of the mayor for the proposed reorganization plan. So, that charter was written expressly contemplating what could be accomplished by ordinance. Muhammad once again admonished council members that if the charter is going to be amended, it should be brought before the citizens of Monroe.

The administration's position appears to be that moving Planning and Zoning and Engineering, and what some believe, "take over" is to make the operations "more efficient". However, there is the belief that Planning and Zoning are under attack, as conversations and concerns were mentioned during dialogue among council members, perhaps indicating that a move was already made within the administration to make changes through reorganization within several departments. The administration is calling the process "streamlining" which raised some concerns from District 3 Councilwoman Juanita Woods, as there appears to be "issues" between Planning and Zoning with Engineering regarding developers. The two departments also appear not to be "seeing eye-to-eye" when hearing from Engineering. Streamlining is a hot topic within the administration and with those who want to do business with the administration, such as DBEs. They don't want to be "pushed to the side" and hope there will continue to be open communication with the new city attorney as with the former city attorney. "That is the one thing(streamlining) that concerns me most," said Woods.

The charter is being changed because of Engineering "concerns", but the "process" between the two departments is something that the city is seeking to change because of some frustrations that have been brought to the attention of the mayor. Has there been "tension" between the two departments? It would appear that there were when Attorney Creekbaum mentioned what had been going on in the cross-department process. The ordinance passed by a 4-1 vote, with Woods voting no.