Future city employees may soon have to live within the limits of Springfield, per a proposal to reinstate the city’s previous residency requirement.
During his campaign, Springfield mayor Jim Langfelder promised to push for a residency requirement for city employees, and the mayor has now proposed such an ordinance for consideration by the Springfield City Council.
The proposal would require all city employees hired after January 1, 2017, to live within the city limits. Under the city’s existing ordinance, certain members of the mayor’s administration must live within the city or move here within 12 months of beginning employment with the city.
Springfield previously had a residency requirement from 1976 until 2000, when it was repealed. Some of the city’s contracts with labor unions already contain residency requirements, but not the police, fire fighters and CWLP employees.
The city council is expected to discuss the mayor’s proposal at tonight’s Committee of the Whole meeting, which begins at 5:30 in the council chambers at 800 E. Monroe St.
To follow along with the meeting online, visit http://www.springfieldcityclerk.com/Government/OnlineCouncilMeeting.aspx.
The council could vote on the proposal as early the next full council meeting as June 21.
Contact Patrick Yeagle at pyeagle@illinoistimes.com.
Correction: This article has been changed to correct the starting year of the previous residency requirement to 1976.
This article appears in Jun 9-15, 2016.
