What's Happening in Olivette, MO…

Voters in Olivette recently decided to change their city's charter, adding language with regard to the lands that comprise the city's parks.

According to a November 7, 2014 item on the city's website, Olivette residents voted to approve Proposition One, which changes the language that addresses the lease, sale, or disposition of any real estate used primarily as public park land.

The proposition contained two parts. In the first, voter-approved language that says that any real estate owned now or in the future, by Olivette or any of its agencies, and used mostly as a public park, has to come before the public before anything is done to change its status. The language says that such land cannot be given away, leased, sold, or disposed of in any other fashion, or used as anything except a park, unless a majority of voters support the decision to dispose of it, or use it for something else.

In the second part of the proposition, the voters said the City Clerk has to let the county board of election commissioners know about any proposed disposal, lease, sale, or change in use with regard to park land proposed by the City Council. The commissioners will then put the matter before the voters at the first election, where such matters can lawfully be considered.

Olivette officials might work with a postcard printing company to create a mailer for residents to ensure they know the outcome of the vote.