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03JUL2008

Court Upholds Decision Favoring the City in Cell Phone Taxes Dispute

Today the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a decision in a lawsuit filed by the cities of Springfield and Jefferson City seeking back taxes from cell phone companies. The suit dates back to 2004 and relates to gross receipts taxes. For more background on the suit and the outcome, see the news release issued today about the decision.

A copy of the decision is available as a PDF.

posted by Mike Brothers, Public Information

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03JUL2008

1/8 Cent Sales Tax for Transportation Renewal on Aug. 5 Ballot

Springfield residents should be starting to see information about the Aug. 5 city election issue asking voters to approve the continuation of the 1/8-cent sales tax for transportation.

A flyer about the election is included in all of City Utilities’ July billing cycle. The flyer directs people to the Web site for more information about the current referendum and the other projects completed since the issue was originally approved in 1996.

You can now watch a video about the election on the Web, and it will air on TV23 a number of times through Aug. 5. The video airing schedule is:

For more information about the election, you can call 864-1010 or send us an e-mail. We’re putting together a Frequently Asked Questions list and will add as questions come in. We’d also encourage people to come and visit us at the annual Ozark Empire Fair, where the Public Information Department will have a booth in the E-Plex focusing on transportation. We weren’t at the fair last year for the first time in awhile so we look forward to being back this year. We’ll tell you more about our booth in an upcoming post.

posted by Louise Whall, Public Information

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01JUL2008

Got an IDEA?

Springfield as the Idea City?

That’s the vision laid out by Missouri State University leaders at City Council’s weekly luncheon meeting today.

Missouri State President Dr. Mike Nietzel told Council about the University’s long-range plans for the Jordan Valley Innovation Center at Boonville Avenue and Phelps Street and the “activity center” area surrounding it.

MSU’s vision is called The IDEA Commons, which stands for Innovation, Design, Entrepreneurship and Arts. The “I” and the “A” already are well underway with the rapid progression of the JVIC research center and the completion of the first phase of the Brick City project to welcome more than 400 art and design students this fall.

The University sees much opportunity ahead for more development of the “D” and “E” by creating more facility space available for business development and research activities that have potential for commercialization.

Missouri State leaders used a Powerpoint presentation about the IDEA Commons, (2.9 mb PDF) saying the right elements are in place to grow the concept:

Missouri State bought the original five-building complex that is now JVIC from the City for $1 in 2001, prompting an often-used joke that the University paid too much for the dilapidated former feed mill. Before MSU’s interest in the property, the City had paid $100,000 for the property in order to secure the unused site and reduce its presence as an eyesore along a prominent center city corridor.

Since then, Missouri State’s investment has included:

That investment has created about 60 new jobs so far at JVIC with average salaries of more than $60,000 a year and increased economic development in the area overall, even using the most conservative multipliers, Nietzel said.

Across the street at Brick City, the first phase of art and design classes to move in will bring more than 400 students and 12 faculty members downtown for five undergraduate programs and one graduate program in 10 study areas. Within about 24 months, the rest of the art and design program will move to Brick City, which is being developed by the Matt Miller Cos.

Dr. Nietzel said Missouri State is looking at relocating more programs in the area including Industrial Management; spin-off manufacturing; additional art and design facilities such as performing arts; space for more JVIC affiliates and some entrepreneurial support such as the Small Business Development Center programs.

Calling the synergy between the art and science disciplines a “mix with sparks flying,” Nietzel said University leaders look forward to increasing their commitment to growing the campus toward the downtown area. He said locating in the urban core is an advantage for the university and the stability of the University is a mutual advantage for the city as a whole.

“Universities don’t go offshore,” he said.

posted by Louise Whall, Public Information

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01JUL2008

City Council Recap: Green Buildings Discussed; BKD LLC Agreement Approved

UPDATED: Watch video of the June 30 meeting.

The Council’s main topic of discussion Monday night was a bill to create an additional tax abatement for qualifying projects in the Enhanced Enterprise Zone that would build or expand to a Silver LEEDS certification.

The qualifying projects would be eligible for a 25 percent property tax abatement for a 10-year period. That would be in addition to a 50 percent tax abatement available for qualifying projects. The qualifications require the businesses to be located within a prescribed boundary area and be in certain enterprises, such as manufacturing, mining, warehouse and distribution, and wholesale trade. The new enterprise has to create and maintain at least 50 new jobs.

The proposed incentive for the LEEDS certification is part of a growing trend of communities offering environmental incentives for business attraction and retention.

The LEEDS certification is a national standard that addresses issues such as energy-efficient construction materials and adoption of recycling methods and sustainability principles.

The Enhanced Enterprise Zone extends into unincorporated Greene County and the City of Battlefield so the Greene County Commission and Battlefield city leaders will consider a companion bill for the incentive to be fully approved.

This bill (2008-193) will be considered for final approval in two weeks.

One bill that did receive final approval was the development agreement between the City and 910 Springfield, which is working with John Q. Hammons to build a new office building for the BKD LLC accounting firm. The development agreement in Council Bill 2008-056 lays out details of the incentives for the office building construction and addresses parking rights in the Jordan Valley Car Park, which will be sold to Mr. Hammons.

See the full meeting summary for more details of Monday’s meeting.

posted by Louise Whall, Public Information

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30JUN2008

City Beat - June 30 Edition

This week, City Beat looks at the recent Family Scramble, Snowfest, the Gift of Time Awards, and an even closer look at the Springfield-Greene County Health Department's efforts to help keep swimmers safe.

posted by Mike Brothers, Public Information

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30JUN2008

City Weekly Events for June 30 - July 3

This week's calendar includes City Council on Monday night, the Environmental Advisory Board on Tuesday, and a Watershed Committee meeting on Thursday. It's a holiday week, and City offices will be closed on Friday in observance of Indepenence Day. There are no meetings schedueld for Wednesday, July 2.

The main agenda item for Tuesday's Council lunch is an update on the Jordan Valley Innovation Center by Missouri State University President Dr. Michael Nietzel.

posted by Mike Brothers, Public Information

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