History of Kirkwood’s Boards and Commissions

Boards and commissions in Kirkwood have a long history, and have formed an integral and important part of City government. Residents who volunteer to serve on a board or commission dedicate many hours a month without compensation to make Kirkwood’s government reflective of the attitudes and beliefs of all of its residents.

All board and commission members are appointed by the City Council upon recommendation of the Mayor or a Council Member. In many cases, a resident may express to a Council Member a desire to serve on a City board or commission. Sometimes, as a result of being observed carrying out other volunteer work within the community, a person may be asked if he or she has interest in serving. In any event, the City Council attempts to appoint individuals who have the appropriate skills and interests for a given board or commission, and they try to appoint a representative cross-section of the Kirkwood community.

In order to bring more diversity to boards and commissions, the City Council has adopted a policy that members can be appointed to only two consecutive terms. While this concludes an individual’s work after completion of service, it also brings new ideas and vitality to the boards and commissions.

Most commissions and boards get their authority from the state statutes. There are some distinct differences between boards and commissions. All commissions are advisory to the City Council. They may study specific issues, such as a change in zoning, or they may provide general oversight of a specific City government function, such as Community Development. In either event, the City Council receives important advisory information from these commissions, but retains the ultimate decision making authority of the City.

City boards, such as the Local Housing Authority, Board of Adjustment, or the Kirkwood Park Board, have more specific responsibilities that are somewhat independent of the City Council. The Park Board and Library Board, for instance, have complete administrative control over the expenditures in their respective areas. The Board of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial body, which exercises its decision-making authority totally independent of the City Council.

Regardless of which board or commission a resident serves on, he or she plays an important part of Kirkwood’s municipal government. Without their help, Kirkwood could not be the quality community it is today.

To find out more about each board and commission, keep reading. If you’re interested in becoming a member of a City board or commission, call or E-mail the City Clerk’s office at City Hall to request a Board & Commission Volunteer Profile Form.

City Clerk: 314-822-5802 or montanbk@kirkwoodmo.org

Information On Each Board & Commission

Below are links to a brief description of each of Kirkwood’s boards and commissions.

ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD

BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT

CIVILIAN PENSION BOARD

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

DOWNTOWN SPECIAL BUSINESS DISTRICT 
          ADVISORY COMMISSION

FINANCE COMMITTEE

GREENTREE FESTIVAL COMMITTEE

HUMAN RIGHTS ADVISORY & AWARENESS 
          COMMISSION

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

LANDMARKS COMMISSION

LIBRARY BOARD

LOCAL HOUSING AUTHORITY

MARKET/COMMONS COMMITTEE

PARK BOARD

PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION

POLICE & FIRE PENSION BOARD

URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION

 INTERESTED?  Call or E-Mail the City Clerk and ask to receive a Board & Commission Volunteer Profile Form. 
The City of Kirkwood appreciates your interest in serving on a City board or commission.

City Clerk: 314-822-5802 or montanbk@kirkwoodmo.org