Citizen Petition Information

The City Clerk has received a request for a citizen initiative petition proposing a charter amendment to be placed on the November 4, 2025, ballot. The petition has been approved for circulation, as it conforms with legal requirements pursuant to RSMo 81.013.

Submitted by: Carla Murray

Petition Approved as to Form for Circulation: January 24, 2025

Official Petition Language:

We, the undersigned, citizens and registered voters of the City of Pleasant Hill in Cass County, respectfully order that the following question be placed on the official ballot, for acceptance or rejection, at the next election to be held on November 4, 2025:

Shall the Charter of the City of Pleasant Hill, Missouri be amended to specify the position of Mayor as a full-time role, requiring the Mayor to devote full-time attention to the duties of the office? City Council to set the compensation to reflect the full-time status, with these changes to take effect on April 7, 2026.

About the City

Pleasant Hill operates under a special charter, approved by the Missouri Legislature on March 14, 1859. It is one of six special charter cities in Missouri. The City Charter does not specify whether the position of Mayor is full-time or part-time. The City Council has authorized a City Administrator to oversee daily operations, a structure also followed by other special charter cities such as Liberty, Chillicothe, and LaGrange, who similarly do not have full-time Mayors.

How is a petition authorized and will the question appear on a future ballot?
Because the City Charter does not outline a process for charter amendments, the City follows Section 81.013, RSMo. This state statute allows amendments to be placed on the ballot via petition if signed by at least 10% of qualified voters. This number is based on the total votes cast for Governor in the most recent gubernatorial election.

• The petition has been approved for circulation.
• Petitioners are currently collecting signatures.
• The Cass County Clerk is responsible for verifying that signers are qualified voters and determining whether the required number of signatures has been gathered.
• The City does not control the timeline for signature verification by the County Clerk.

If the required number of valid signatures is certified, the petition may be submitted to the City Council. The City Council is then required to pass an ordinance submitting the measure to the voters at the next municipal election. The deadline for certification for the November 4, 2025, ballot is 5:00 p.m. on August 26, 2025.

If all criteria are met by the deadline, the question will appear on the November 4, 2025, ballot for voter consideration. If not, it will not be placed on the ballot.

Election Costs

If the issue is placed on the ballot, the City will be responsible for election-related costs. According to the County Clerk, historical election expenses for other cities with issues on the November ballot have ranged between $35,000 and $40,000. This cost is not currently budgeted and would be paid from the City’s general fund taxes. If the issue is not placed on the ballot, no election-related expenses will be incurred by the City.

Who is a qualified voter for this petition?
A qualified voter for this petition is a person registered to vote within the city limits of Pleasant Hill.

Mayoral Compensation

The City Council establishes compensation for the Mayor and City Council. The Mayor’s rate is currently $600 per month. In accordance with Missouri Revised Statutes, compensation for elected officials takes effect following the next regular election in which that seat is elected by the qualified voters.

For reference, the Missouri Municipal League and various municipalities across the state provide information regarding mayoral compensation in other Missouri cities HERE.