Mayor & City Commission

2022-2024 Battle Creek City Commission

City Commission meetings


  • 7 p.m., first and third Tuesdays of the month
  • City Hall, 10 N. Division St.
    City Commission Chambers, Room 301
    Battle Creek, MI 49014
  • Note: Meetings are in person, and air live on AccessVision and the city's YouTube channel. Public comment must be in person, or emailed to CityClerk@battlecreekmi.gov. There are occasions that commission workshops can be held virtually, so please watch for individual public notices for those. 

2024 meeting dates

Pursuant to the Charter of the City of Battle Creek (Section 2.9), the Battle Creek City Commission approved the following schedule for the 2023-2024 City Commission year at their Nov. 7, 2023 regular meeting. The following are the approved dates:

Nov. 21, 2023April 2, 2024Aug. 20, 2024
Dec. 5, 2023April 16, 2024Sept. 3, 2024
Dec. 19, 2023May 7, 2024Sept. 17, 2024
Jan. 2, 2024May 21, 2024Oct. 1, 2024
Jan. 16, 2024June 4, 2024Oct. 15, 2024
Feb. 6, 2024June 18, 2024Nov. 12, 2024
Change due to General Election
Feb. 20, 2024July 2, 2024Nov. 26, 2024
Organizational meeting
Change due to Election Canvass
March 5, 2024July 16, 2024
March 19, 2024Aug. 13, 2024
Change due to Primary Election

Contact the Commission

  1. Mark Behnke

    Mayor, At-Large
    Email
    Phone: 269-441-7663

  2. Roger Ballard

    Commissioner, Ward 1
    Email
    Phone: 269-369-6017

  3. Jim Lance

    Commissioner, Ward 5
    Email
    Phone: 269-441-4522

  4. Jenasia Morris

    Commissioner, Ward 2
    Email
    Phone: 269-419-1910

  5. Patrick O'Donnell

    Commissioner, Ward 3
    Email
    Phone: 269-966-4040

  6. Carla Reynolds

    Commissioner, At-Large
    Email
    Phone: 269-274-0040

  7. Christopher Simmons

    Commissioner, Ward 4
    Email
    Phone: 269-274-8993

  8. Jake W. Smith

    Commissioner, At-Large
    Email
    Phone: 269-967-9799

  9. Sherry Sofia

    Vice Mayor, At-Large
    Email
    Phone: 269-967-8272
    More Information

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

About the Commission


The City of Battle Creek will provide the necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered in the meeting upon seven days notice to the City of Battle Creek. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the City of Battle Creek by writing or calling Victoria L. Houser, City Clerk.

Battle Creek City Commissioners typically serve two-year terms. As of 2020, city voters now elect the mayor as a separate office, to serve a two-year term. After an election, the commissioners will select a vice mayor from among themselves, to serve a two-year term.
The next election of the City Commission will be held in November 2024.
The Commission includes five ward commissioners, representing geographic wards within the City, and four at-large commissioners.

Commission Committees

  1. City Attorney Evaluation/Salary Review Committee
  2. City Commission Ethics and Meeting Rules Committee
  3. City Commission Travel Expense Committee
  4. City Manager Performance Evaluation Committee

Additional Information

  1. Welcoming Michigan presentation to City Commission - Jan. 5, 2016 (PDF)
  2. Roles & Responsibilities of City Officials - 11-17-15 presentation
  3. Roles & Responsibilities of City Officials - 11-17-15 outline