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Good evening! It's somehow already Monday, and I'm on my couch again with a hot cup of tea getting ready to watch this installment of #sgfcouncil. Follow along here as I relay the action, tell some bad jokes and probably correct myself once or twice. Let's get started!
First up tonight, as always, the city manager's report.
In a report on Springfield Police Dept staffing. Minority and female hires have doubled over the past 10 years, he says, with 16% of the department's employees now being "minorities."
In a report on Springfield Police Dept staffing. Minority and female hires have doubled over the past 10 years, he says, with 16% of the department's employees now being "minorities."
And now we're on to Clay Goddard's report from the health department.
Cases are still up, hospitalizations continue to be around 85, and he makes his "broken record" pitch to be vigilant and take precautions.
Cases are still up, hospitalizations continue to be around 85, and he makes his "broken record" pitch to be vigilant and take precautions.
He also mentioned colleges coming back, and I'd urge everyone to follow education reporter @CRileyNL's coverage in the coming weeks as she follows those developments. https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/education/2020/08/24/missouri-state-university-covid-cases-first-week-classes-coronavirus/3431443001/
We're tearing through a lot of these second reading bills.
The current one would vacate S. Crenshaw Road between South Kissick Avenue and East Ridgecrest Street. Residents said last meeting getting rid of that street would require ppl to use a dangerous intersection.
The current one would vacate S. Crenshaw Road between South Kissick Avenue and East Ridgecrest Street. Residents said last meeting getting rid of that street would require ppl to use a dangerous intersection.
The property is currently owned by CU and its near the power station. Now that the power station hasn't been used as much, the road is hardly used for its original purpose. CU said there's a lot of vandalism and dumping in that area, but residents still use the route often.
The city's traffic folks have installed signs along Kissick to make sure people reduce their speed and have cut back some of the overgrowth so people can see better.
But residents said at the last meeting that intersection has pretty much a blind turn due to a hill, and they were worried about people's speed.
That passes 8-1 with Councilman Hosmer being the only "no."
The next item is a very small plot of land near the intersection of W. Sunshine and Kansas that ppl want to change from residential to limited business. P&Z voted against it.
The next item is a very small plot of land near the intersection of W. Sunshine and Kansas that ppl want to change from residential to limited business. P&Z voted against it.
Council members said there isn't enough room to get in and out right now, and while they think that area will eventually be commercial, right now it's not a good idea to change that one lot.
That fails 0-9.
That fails 0-9.
Now, a housekeeping item that would put the city ordinance in line with state law that allows people to ride motorcycles without helmets.
Hosmer says "I won't be party to the Legislature's failure on public safety."
Hosmer says "I won't be party to the Legislature's failure on public safety."
Schilling and Lear will join Hosmer in voting against it.
Everybody else said while they don't agree with the policy, they're going to vote for it in order to make laws consistent. That passes 6-3.
Everybody else said while they don't agree with the policy, they're going to vote for it in order to make laws consistent. That passes 6-3.
Okie doke, now we're on to resolutions!
The first will officially declare the city election results of imposing a fee for short-term lenders. I wrote about it here: https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2020/08/04/missouri-primary-election-results-springfield-approves-payday-loan-fee/5572388002/
The first will officially declare the city election results of imposing a fee for short-term lenders. I wrote about it here: https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2020/08/04/missouri-primary-election-results-springfield-approves-payday-loan-fee/5572388002/
According to initial calculations, we have roughly 30 short-term lenders (which seems like a lot for a city our size but idk). The annual fee would then take in around $150,000.
McGull also asks about enforcement, which city inspectors can do. They can also audit.
McGull also asks about enforcement, which city inspectors can do. They can also audit.
Ferguson asks whether there is a way to make sure fees aren't passed on to customers.
City attorney Rhonda Lewsader says if they're already lending at the state cap, they can't charge ppl any more. Also, 'passing on' costs to ppl would result in a few $ per person.
City attorney Rhonda Lewsader says if they're already lending at the state cap, they can't charge ppl any more. Also, 'passing on' costs to ppl would result in a few $ per person.
Now, we have a grant that'd fund a program to be the first of its kind in the country where people will get apprenticeships to work with people with disabilities. That's through the city Dept. of Workforce Development. I love hearing about all these programs. Sounds cool.
*Not first of its kind in the country. First of its kind in the STATE
(See, I told you I'd have to correct myself). That passes unanimously.
Now we have another grant to pay for job and skills training for 17 ppl to get training after being displaced during the COVID crisis. Most will be delivery and truck driving.
Now we have another grant to pay for job and skills training for 17 ppl to get training after being displaced during the COVID crisis. Most will be delivery and truck driving.
Alright, now for perhaps the most controversial item of the night. We're continuing to hear testimony from people about a proposed re-zoning for a complex along Lone Pine Ave. across from Sequiota Park. There are 39(!!!!) speakers. Here's what the plan is: https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2020/05/13/missouri-springfield-galloway-sequiota-park-apartment-development/3098090001/
Now we're hearing from Patrick Platter, an attorney who is speaking on behalf of neighbors.
He says Lone Pine is going to have a big increase in traffic and notes the city doesn't have any immediate plans to make improvements to account for it.
He says Lone Pine is going to have a big increase in traffic and notes the city doesn't have any immediate plans to make improvements to account for it.
Now we have an attorney for the developer. He's going piece by piece through the neighbors' opposition. Many are technical points that I can't explain in a couple sentences
A big one is height of buildings. He notes the developer reduced the height of structures along the street
A big one is height of buildings. He notes the developer reduced the height of structures along the street
Now we have a surveyor who has worked with many developments over the years. He says he's concerned about the sustainability of the new buildings. The main opposition is not to the commercial part closest to the road, it's against the apartments, he said.
And another person opposed to the development. He's speaking about tree preservation, and notes building these apartments will require them to tear down trees.
