


		for December 15, 2008
		for December 15, 2008

City Council Summary - December 15, 2008

(official Minutes may be obtained by contacting the City Clerk's office)

City Council meetings are held every other Monday at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 830 Boonville. The public is invited to attend. For information about addressing Council on an issue, please contact the City Clerk at 864-1650 or e-mail city@springfieldmo.gov (attention: City Clerk).

The following are the results of the meeting of Dec. 15, 2008. Council members in attendance were: Mayor Tom Carlson; Mayor Pro Tem Gary Deaver; Zone Councilmembers Ralph Manley, Cindy Rushefsky, Denny Whayne and John Wylie; and General Councilmembers Doug Burlison, Dan Chiles and Mary Collette.

1. ROLL CALL

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. - November 24, 2008.

3. FINALIZATION AND APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDAS. CITIZENS WISHING TO SPEAK TO OR REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDAS MUST DO SO AT THIS TIME.

4. CEREMONIAL MATTERS.

5. RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS RAISED AT THE NOVEMBER 24, 2008 MEETING AND CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.

City Manager Greg Burris reported on the morning dedication of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Springfield Crime Laboratory featuring Gov. Matt Blunt and Congressman Roy Blunt. The Crime Lab is a great asset for all of Missouri because it will reduce the backlog of cases for the Jefferson City lab as well as streamline the efficiency for southwest Missouri law-enforcement authorities.

Burris also told Councilmembers about a recent house fire rescue made by the Station 8 fire crew at the end of November. The crew was dispatched to a house fire on West College Street with reports of children trapped inside. They found the first little girl under a bed and the second little girl behind a chair. The three-year-old twin sisters were unconscious from smoke inhalation; the firefighters resuscitated them and gave breathing assistance until the ambulance arrived. Both spent more than a week in pediatric intensive care on ventilators, but both are recovering and have been released from the hospital.

He said the weekly lunch meeting on Tuesday will include a series of budget assumptions based on whether the sales tax proposal passes or not and whether we have essentially flat sales tax growth and a slight growth representing some economic recovery. He said this budget forecast is about 19 months ahead through June 30, 2010. He added that the sales-tax report for December shows revenue is down 2.57 percent for the year-to-date over the same period last year. This month’s check represents sales in the October timeframe as well as businesses that report on a quarterly basis.
Burris said the The Missouri State High School Activities Association announced last week that Springfield has won a three-year contract for the state baseball championships in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The championships will take place at Meador Park, which has recently undergone some improvements that the Association cited in its reasons for selecting Springfield. He noted that amateur sports tournaments are an important economic driver that will bring hundreds of participants and thousands of fans here over the next three years. He congratulated the Park Board and Parks Director Jodie Adams for their effort to win this bid for Springfield.

Councilmembers asked about preparations for this week’s winter weather and Burris said City staff is kept informed by the Springfield-Greene County Emergency Management Office and is prepared to deal with whatever type of wintry mix ends up hitting Springfield.

Councilwoman Mary Collette reminded the public that a second public-input session on animal-control issues will take place from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the Library Station on North Kansas Expressway.

6. COUNCIL BILLS FOR PUBLIC HEARING. CITIZENS MAY SPEAK. NOT ANTICIPATED TO BE VOTED ON.

7. COUNCIL BILL 2008-363. (Carlson)
Amending the Land Development Code, Article I, Zoning Ordinance, Division III, Administrative, Enforcement and Review, Sections 3-3704, 3-3709, 3-3710, 3-3711 and 3-3803, by modifying the deadline for submission of zoning map and text amendment applications and the requirement for a public hearing before City Council. (Both Planning and Zoning Commission and Planning staff recommend approval.) (No members of the public spoke.)

8. COUNCIL BILL 2008-364. (Wylie)
Amending the Springfield Land Development Code, Section 1-1600, Zoning Maps, by rezoning approximately 1.8 acres of land generally located on the East side of the 1800 block South Fremont Avenue and 1815 South Pickwick Avenue, more particularly described in this ordinance, from an R-SF, Single Family Residential District to a GR, General Retail District and an O-1, Office District, subject to conditions. (Planning and Zoning Commission and staff recommend approval.) (By: One Hundred Two Glenstone, Inc.; East side 1800 block South Fremont Avenue and 1815 South Pickwick Avenue; Z-27-2008.) (One member of the public spoke. A motion was made to limit access onto Pickwick. The motion failed.)

9. COUNCIL BILL 2008-365. (Wylie)
Amending the Springfield Land Development Code, Section 1-1600, Zoning Maps, by rezoning approximately 4.6 acres of land generally located on the east side of the 4400 block of South Campbell Avenue (US 160), more particularly described in this ordinance, from a County C-2, General Commercial District, to a GR, General Retail District. (Both Planning and Zoning Commission and staff recommend approval). (By: City of Springfield; 4400 block S. Campbell Avenue east side; Z-28-2008.) (No members of the public spoke.)

10. FIRST READING BILLS. CITIZENS MAY SPEAK. NOT ANTICIPATED TO BE VOTED ON.

11. COUNCIL BILL 2008-366. (Carlson)
Authorizing the City Manager, or the Deputy City Manager, on behalf of the City of Springfield, to enter into an agreement with US Bank for depository services, merchant card services, and safe keeping services and with Bank of America for purchasing card services. (One member of the public spoke.)

12. RESOLUTIONS. CITIZENS MAY SPEAK. MAY BE VOTED ON.

13. COUNCIL BILL 2008-367. (Carlson)
Adopting the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for 2009 through 2014. (Planning and Zoning Commission and City staff recommend approval). (No members of the public spoke.)

14. COUNCIL BILL 2008-368. (Carlson)
A resolution outlining the February 2009 Police-Fire Pension Fund sales tax vote. (Two motions to amend the bill to were presented. The first was to add the words “from the general fund” to clarify that the City’s proposed 29.88 percent contribution would be in addition to potential sales tax revenue; the second corrected the percentage Police/Fire employees currently contribute to 11.35 percent of payroll. Cindy Rushefsky made a motion to strike the provision that the City would not ask for any new citywide tax proposals. The motion failed. The bill was approved.)

15. EMERGENCY BILLS. CITIZENS MAY SPEAK. MAY BE VOTED ON.

16. COUNCIL BILL 2008-369. (Carlson)
Amending the 2008-2009 Public Works Department Budget for the City of Springfield, Missouri, in the amount of $4,500,000 to fund additional sanitary sewer capital improvement project expenses including but not limited to design, right-of-way acquisition and construction, and expressing the intent of the City to reimburse itself for these certain capital expenditures from the proceeds of bonds, notes or lease purchase obligations, and declaring an emergency. (No members of the public spoke. This bill was read with the following two bills. The bill was approved.

17. COUNCIL BILL 2008-370. (Carlson)
Amending the 2008-2009 Public Works Department Budget for the City of Springfield, Missouri, in the amount of $4,500,000 to fund additional stormwater capital improvement project expenses including but not limited to design, right-of-way acquisition and construction, and expressing the intent of the City to reimburse itself for these certain capital expenditures from the proceeds of bonds, notes or lease purchase obligations, and declaring an emergency. (The bill was approved.)

18. PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.

18.5. COUNCIL BILL 2008-381. (Whayne) (Removed from Consent Agenda)
Accept the bid of Clydesdale Utilities, LLC in the amount of $230,127.40 for the construction of sanitary sewers in Sanitary Sewer District No. 160 of Section No. 16, located in the vicinity of Commercial Street and Hilton Avenue in the City of Springfield, Missouri; declaring the work to be necessary; stating the intention to pay for all or part of the improvements from the proceeds of bonds; specifying those costs and expenses to be specifically assessed against the properties in the district and the method by which the costs will be apportioned; setting forth the manner of payment, the lien of the assessments and the duration of the lien; setting forth the interest rate to be charged on the tax bills; authorizing the City Manager, or his designee of the City of Springfield, Missouri, to enter into a contract and to approve the bond for said improvement; and authorizing progress payments to be made to the contractor. (The bill was approved.)

19. GRANTS.

20. AMENDED BILLS.

21. SECOND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE. CITIZENS HAVE SPOKEN. MAY BE VOTED ON.

22. COUNCIL BILL 2008-351. (Wylie)
Amending Section 1 9 of the Springfield City Code, City limits, by annexing approximately 4.483 acres of private property and 0.13 acres of Greene County right-of-way into the City of Springfield, generally located on the east side of the 4400 block of South Campbell Avenue (US 160), more fully described in this ordinance, generally referenced as Annexation A-4-08, and amending Section 46-1 of the Springfield City Code, Boundaries of wards, precincts and council zones, by adding this property to the ward and precinct assigned by the County Clerk. (The bill was approved.)

23. UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

24. PETITIONS, REMONSTRANCES, AND COMMUNICATIONS.

25. Ms. Petra Butler wishes to address City Council. Ms. Butler spoke about the West-Central neighborhood’s concerns and asked for an additional review of the nuisance ordinance.

26. Mr. Ronald Ard wishes to address City Council. Mr. Ard was not present.

27. Ms. Shiela Wegenka wishes to address City Council. Mrs. Wegenka talked about her appreciation for the Mediacom Ice Park and its quality compared to other facilities she has visited with her child, who is a figure skater. She asked for reconsideration of the hours the Ice Park is open since the reduction of opening times due to the Parks Department budget cuts.

28. Mr. Joseph Lapierre wishes to address City Council. Mr. Lapierre was not present.

29. Mr. Carl Herd wishes to address City Council. Mr. Herd spoke about the Police-Fire Pension Fund and his concerns with the sales-tax proposal on the February ballot.

30. NEW BUSINESS.

31. The Mayor recommends the following appointments to the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau: Eric Fjeseth with term to expire January 1, 2011; and Timothy O'Reilly, Kevin Mackey, and Randall Blackwood with terms to expire January 1, 2012.

32. Refer to the Plans and Policies Committee the issue of the West Sunshine/US 60 Corridor Study.

33. Financial Statement for October 2008.

34. As per RSMo. 109.230 (4), City records that are on file in the City Clerk's office and have met the retention schedule will be destroyed in compliance with the guidelines established by the Secretary of State's office.

35. MISCELLANEOUS.

36. CONSENT AGENDA - FIRST READING BILLS. SEE ITEM # 3.

37. COUNCIL BILL 2008-371. (Rushefsky)
Amending Special Ordinance No. 25366 to adopt a connection fee of $0.0636 per square foot of property for the Grandview and Barnes Trunk Sewer.

38. COUNCIL BILL 2008-372. (Carlson)
Authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, on behalf of the City of Springfield, to enter into separate intergovernmental agreements with Greene County, Christian County, E911, the Ozarks Transportation Organization and City Utilities, for the cooperative purchase of Pictometry aerial photography and related products necessary for the communities Geographic Information Systems, and amending the budget for the City of Springfield, Missouri, in the Public Works Department for the fiscal year 2008-2009 in the amount of $196,045.

39. COUNCIL BILL 2008-374. (Whayne)
Authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract between the City and the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission providing for a grant of funds under Section 305.230, RSMo., to the City, by and through its Airport Board, in the amount of $123,750, for an air service project to include regional air service promotion and marketing study updates at the Springfield-Branson National Airport.

40. COUNCIL BILL 2008-375. (Manley)
Authorizing the City Manager or his designee, on behalf of the City of Springfield, to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Greene County, Missouri to reimburse the County for the cost of asphalt overlay on Scenic Avenue associated with the Scenic Avenue force main North of Farm Road 164 to Chesterfield Blvd.

41. CONSENT AGENDA - ONE READING BILLS. SEE ITEM # 3.

42. COUNCIL BILL 2008-373. (Carlson)
Authorizing the City Manager or his designee to apply for a Waste District “O” grant in the amount of $14,800 to purchase two roll-off recycling containers to be used at the City's Recycling Centers.

43. COUNCIL BILL 2008-376. (Carlson)
Recognizing James Robert Burks for thirty years of dedicated service as an employee of the City of Springfield.

44. COUNCIL BILL 2008-377. (Whayne)
Approving the plans, specifications, and bid of Springfield Builders, Inc. for the interior renovations and improvements of the Springfield-Greene County Health Center.

45. COUNCIL BILL 2008-378. (Whayne)
Levy and assess a special tax against the lots, blocks, and parcels of ground hereinafter described to pay for the cost of the construction of sanitary sewers in the City of Springfield, Missouri, in Sanitary Sewer District No. 232 of Section No. 6, in the general vicinity of Benton Avenue at Talmage Street, providing for inclusion of said district in the City Sewer Financial Assistance Program, and authorizing the City Clerk to issue special tax bills and deliver the same to the Director of Finance to be registered in his office in accordance with the ordinance.

46. COUNCIL BILL 2008-379. (Whayne)
Levy and assess a special tax against the lots, blocks, and parcels of ground hereinafter described to pay for the cost of the construction of sanitary sewers in the City of Springfield, Missouri, in Sanitary Sewer District No. 108 of Section No. 5, in the general vicinity of Jean Street at Missouri Avenue, providing for inclusion of said district in the City Sewer Financial Assistance Program, and authorizing the City Clerk to issue special tax bills and deliver the same to the Director of Finance to be registered in his office in accordance with the ordinance.

47. COUNCIL BILL 2008-380. (Whayne)
Levy and assess a special tax against the lots, blocks, and parcels of ground hereinafter described to pay for the cost of the construction of sanitary sewers in the City of Springfield, Missouri, in Sanitary Sewer District No. 107 of Section No. 5, in the general vicinity of Fort Avenue at Kerr Street, providing for inclusion of said district in the City Sewer Financial Assistance Program, and authorizing the City Clerk to issue special tax bills and deliver the same to the Director of Finance to be registered in his office in accordance with the ordinance.

49. COUNCIL BILL 2008-382. (Carlson)
Authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, and the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, to apply for and accept a grant in the amount of $180,000 from the Missouri's School-Age Community Grant (SAC) Program for the purpose of providing funds for the School-Park (SPARC) Program; amending the budget provided for the Parks Department of the City of Springfield, Missouri, for fiscal year 2008-2009 in the amount of $60,000, which is the amount of the first annual award; and declaring an emergency.

50. COUNCIL BILL 2008-383. (Whayne)
Initiate a rezoning of property generally located in, around and adjacent to the Springfield-Branson Airport from Airport Overlay Districts AO-1, AO-2 and AO-3 to Airport Overlay Districts AO-1 and AO-3.

51. CONSENT AGENDA - SECOND READING BILLS. CITIZENS HAVE SPOKEN. MAY BE VOTED ON.

52. COUNCIL BILL 2008-352. (Carlson)
Amending Chapter 2 of the Springfield City Code, Section 2-91, Merit Rule 25.1, City Health Care Plan, by amending certain provisions of the plan relating to plan benefits and coverage of retired employees and their dependents, specifically by amending provisions of the Plan Document and Summary Plan Description of the Springfield Retiree Health Plan (Non-Medicare Eligible); and establishing an effective date for said amendments.

53. COUNCIL BILL 2008-353. (Carlson)
Amending the Springfield City Code by enacting a new Division 5 of Chapter 96, Stormwater, relating to land development and land disturbance activity, to consolidate existing erosion and sediment control and land disturbance codes, and to transfer authority for administration and enforcement from the Building Development Services Department to the Public Works Department.

54. COUNCIL BILL 2008-354. (Carlson)
Adopting a new Fee Schedule for Land Disturbance Permits in accordance with the requirements and provisions of Chapter 2, Article VI, Division 3, Section 2-425(a) of the Springfield City Code.

55. COUNCIL BILL 2008-355. (Whayne)
Authorizing the Director of Planning and Development to accept the dedication of the public streets and easements to the City of Springfield as shown on the Preliminary Plat of Airport Commerce Center 5th Addition, generally located on the north side of the 4500-4600 blocks West Kearney Street, upon the applicant filing and recording a final plat that substantially conforms to the preliminary plat; and authorizing the City Clerk to sign the final plat upon compliance with the terms of this ordinance. (Planning and Zoning Commission has approved the Preliminary Plat. Both Planning and Zoning Commission and staff recommend that City Council accept the easements.)

56. COUNCIL BILL 2008-357. (Carlson)
Authorizing the City Manager to accept a Safe Routes to School Grant in the amount of $24,779.00 from Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) for the purpose of creating a pilot project in four (4) Springfield Elementary Schools to teach pedestrian and bike safety, and encourage children to walk or bike to school for health, social, and physical benefits; to enter into an agreement with MoDOT for the purpose of the grant; and amend the budget provided for the Public Works Department of the City of Springfield, Missouri, for fiscal year 2008-2009, in the amount of $24,779.00.