Section 1 of the charter

The opinions which have been inserted are that of the author and not found in the city charter, and are based on the highlighted sections of the actual city charter and the actions of which the city council and city management has already taken in the governance of the city.

Incorporation; Form of Government; Powers; Zones

Section 1.1. Incorporation

The inhabitants of the City of Springfield, within the corporate limits as now established or as hereafter established in the manner provided by law, shall continue to be a municipal body politic and corporate in perpetuity, under the name of the "City of Springfield."

Section 1.1.1. Extended corporate limits

In addition to all that territory in the State of Missouri, County of Greene, included within the corporate limits of the City of Springfield, Missouri, as of November 5, 1985, there shall hereafter be included within the corporate limits of the City of Springfield, Missouri, additional territories in Greene County, Missouri, which extended city limits are not set out in this volume, but may be found set out in full in general ordinances which are on file in the office of the City Clerk.

Approved by vote of the people November 5, 1985.

Section 1.2. Form of government

The municipal government provided by this Charter shall be known as a "council-manager government." Pursuant to the provisions of this Charter and subject only to the limitations imposed by the state constitution and by this Charter, all powers of the city shall be vested in an elective council, hereinafter referred to as "the council," which shall enact local legislation, adopt budgets, determine policies, and appoint the city manager, who shall execute the laws and administer the government of the city.

Section 1.3. Powers of the city

The city shall have all powers of local self-government and home rule, and all powers possible for any city to have under the constitution and laws of Missouri, or those powers which the legislature would be competent to grant; except as prohibited by the constitution or laws of the state, the city may exercise all municipal powers, functions, rights, privileges and immunities of every name and nature whatsoever. Such powers shall be exercised in the manner prescribed in this Charter, or,if not prescribed herein, in such manner as may be prescribed by the council.

"This simple statement is why we the people of Springfield should be watching what our elected government leaders are doing. Simply stated if we the people don't determine if the power actually has been established to do something then the city can either intentionally or accidently acquire powers to which we the people haven't given them".

The enumeration of particular powers in this Charter is not exclusive of others, nor is it restrictive of general words or phrases granting powers, nor shall a grant or failure to grant power in this article impair a power granted in any other part of this Charter; and whether powers, objects or purposes are expressed conjunctively or disjunctively, they shall be construed so as to permit the council to exercise freely any one or more such powers.

"The city has enumerated powers granted to it by the voters of this city, however there are very few limitations within the charter as you'll see as we continue this process".
"As has been evident with the Jordan Valley Project the city can and will take every available means in the abuse of government".

Section 1.4. Zones

The city is hereby divided into four zones, bounded and numbered as in the case of the postal zones existing in the City of Springfield at the time of the adoption of this Charter. Zone boundaries shall be established by ordinance following each decennial census. Zones shall comprise compact and contiguous territory, and contain, as nearly as possible, an equal number of inhabitants.

Section 1.5. Extended city limits

Editor's Note: Section 1.5 of this Charter, establishing the extended city limits of Springfield, was adopted by vote of the people at an election held November 8, 1955. The extended city limits are not set out in this volume, but may be found set out in full in general ordinances which are on file in the office of the City Clerk.