Saint Joseph council approves consent agenda, emergency police vehicle purchase and zoning-vote clarification

The Saint Joseph City Council approved a multi-item consent agenda, adopted an ordinance clarifying the votes required by the Board of Adjustment, and approved an emergency police-vehicle purchase at its meeting.

During the consent agenda, the clerk read numerous items: reappointment of Seth Slade to the zoning board of adjustment (term ending 02/23/2029), nomination of Kendall Randolph to fill a vacancy on the zoning board (term expiring 08/09/2026), several ordinances to bring the code into compliance with state law, budget amendments, and multiple River Bluff Gateway Project grant awards. Council member Davis moved to accept the consent agenda and Council member Trout seconded; the clerk announced the motion passed with "7 ayes with 1 abstention on number 8." (The transcript records the abstention but does not provide the abstaining member's name.)

The council also approved an emergency ordinance authorizing an amendment to the police department general fund budget to purchase a 2024 Chevy Tahoe for the school resource officer program for a total not to exceed $66,872.37 (purchase, outfitting and insurance). The clerk reported the motion passed after roll call.

Earlier, the council adopted an ordinance amending sections of Chapter 31 of the zoning code to clarify the number of votes required to approve exceptions or variances by the Board of Adjustment; the public hearing on that item produced no public speakers and the item was closed before a voice/roll-call vote that carried.

The meeting included a large reading of first-reading bills (redistricting, plats, conditional use permits, procurement and grant items) that will return for later consideration; no final votes on those first-reading items appeared in the transcript.

Provenance: the consent-agenda reading and vote are in the transcript at the clerk's reading and the roll-call/motion segments; the police vehicle emergency ordinance and the Board of Adjustment vote are recorded where the clerk read the bills and the council cast votes.