Columbia-Boone County League of Women Voters Local Program 2003-2004

In addition to providing candidate information for voters, the local league monitors local issues, studies them, and sometimes takes a position on them, urging its members to contact local officials and attend events pertaining to the proposal, problem or legislation being discussed. Items on the Local Program form a focus of discussion at the monthly meetings of the local League.

The items the LWV Columbia-Boone County plans to pursue, or continue pursuing, in 2003-4 are listed below. Following each item is the year that item was added to the Local Program, in parentheses, when this is known. Example: Support of effective government for Boone County (1982).

Structure and Administration of Government

Natural Resources

Social Policy:

• Child Abuse
• Childcare
• Education
• Health
• Housing
• Human Rights
• Justice
• Library

Structure and Administration of Government

• Support of effective government for Boone County (1982)
• Support of a Charter and/or Constitutional Government for Boone County (1977/1988/1995)
• Support of the City Charter and evaluation of any proposed charter changes (1974/1977)
• Support of the council-manager form of government (1971/1972)
• Continued study of the effectiveness and use of City Boards and Commissions (1982)
• Support of public hearings on city county budgets before adoption
• Support of improved election procedures
  • Monitory local reapportionment and redistricting (Ward and Precinct)
  • Fairness of ballots
  • Get Out the Vote campaigns
  • Investigate Instant Runoff Voting (2001). [To view a PowerPoint presentation prepared by Rachel Brekhus on IRV, click here].

Natural Resources

• Continued action on local energy issues, including Columbia's power alternatives: support of comprehensive energy efficiency planning and implementation, and use of renewable energy resources (1982-3/ 1996)
• Support of comprehensive physical planning for Columbia and Boone County. (1974-75/1998-99). Study smart growth and impact fees (2000, 2002)
• Support of action to enhance the quality of living in Columbia through improved recreational facilities including development of the downtown portion of Flat Branch area (1975), and encouragement of alternatives to auto transportation (1974, 1998). Study of billboards (2000)
• Action on county and/or regional waste management with emphasis on reclamation of valuable resources; action on recycling of wastes in Columbia (1970, 1995). Support of the bottle deposit ordinance (1977, 2001) Study and monitor recycling efforts (2002)

Social Policy

• Child Abuse:
  Support of the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect (2001) and monitor related laws and the role of public agencies (1980, 1997)
• Child Care:
  
  • Support of adequate child care services, including after-school programs and day care and nursery programs and facilities
  • Support of governmental funding at all levels (1986)
  • Continued concern about problems of teenage parenting (1988)
• Education:
  
  • Support of the arts as an integral and vital part of education (1981)
  • Support of needed tax levies (1977, 1999)
  • Support of school libraries (1976)
  • Support to improve the quality of special education programs, to support programs
    • for the gifted;
    • for a school-community program of early childhood screening;
    • for improved reading programs at all levels;
    • for the expansion of the elementary counseling program; and
    • for improvement of the secondary counseling program both in numbers and in diversity (1975); with an emphasis on non-violent conflict resolution (1994);
    • for expanding vocational educational programs and facilities including full use of existing community involvement (1975)
  • Support of the Partners-in-Education program and encourage League in the Classroom as a "Partnership Friend" (1993)
  • Support of the use of volunteer and paid aides in our schools (1975)
  • Study of Charter Schools (1999) and voucher programs (2001)
  • Study of community based education and service organizations (2001)
• Health:
  
  • Support of cooperation between city and county in an adequate public health program (1968/1970, 1999), including facilities (2001)
  • Support of county-owned nursing home facilities to meet the need for practical and/or professional nursing home care for residents of Boone County who primarily are unable to finance care in privately owned nursing homes (1977)
  • Support of continued supplemental funding of non-profit home health care by city and county government to support continuity of adequate health services (April 1978, 1999)
  • Support of a school health program in the clinical services, a healthy school environment and a health education program (1977)
  • Support of a program providing dental services for the medically indigent of Boone County, with emphasis on children (1977, 1999). Action to find a solution to the lack of dental care for Medicaid patients. Look for need of expansion of the city health department, including a dental unit (2000)
  • Education for change in the Missouri laws to include: the use of marijuana for medically approved therapeutic purposes and scientific research; and drug education (1980, divided into Justice and Health, 1997)
  • Monitor the Mental Health Board of Trustees (1993). Interest in use of mental health options to jails for the mentally ill (2001)
• Housing:
  
  • Housing is a basic human need. Support of the National LWV Position: "The League's dual commitment to work for fair housing and an expansion of housing supply for low and moderate-income families continues at every level of government." (1984)
  • Continue to work for measures and adequate funding to assure safe, energy-efficient, affordable housing:
    1. Up-to-date building codes and minimum energy standards for new construction in Columbia and Boone County
    2. Timely inspection and enforcement of rental housing standards
    3. Adoption of an energy efficiency ordinance for existing housing
    4. A local Office of Energy Management which offers residents energy conservation information, free energy audits, and incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements
    5. The use of community development funds for insulation, weatherizing and rehabilitation (Study 1984, section reword 1997)
  • Support cooperation between the Columbia Housing Authority and the city administration (1984)
  • Work to encourage greater participation of county government in federally funded housing programs to benefit low and moderate-income persons (1984)
• Human Rights:
  
  • Support of an effective Human Rights Commission and a minimum wage ordinance along with equal opportunities for employment and housing (1984) for all Columbians (1968)
• Justice:
  
  Support of the provision of adequate city and county detention facilities and rehabilitation programs for juvenile and adult offenders, and release on recognizance where appropriate (1975) (local update 1982; study ballot issue 2002)
  • Education for change in the Missouri laws to include: the removal of marijuana from its current Schedule I classification; and the reduction of penalties for possession and sale of marijuana (1980; divided Health/Justice 1997)
• Library:
  
  Support of adequate funding for the Daniel Boone Regional Library and work to increase the local levy as needed (1973, 1999)

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A service of the League of Women Voters of Columbia-Boone County, Missouri
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