City Council - Regular Meeting

All right, it's 6 o'clock, so I think we'll go ahead and get started. If everybody would rise, we're going to do a prayer and a pledge, and then we have moment of personal privilege for moment of silence. Father, Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear Father in heaven, thank you for the blessings of the day, for our health, for our families, for this great country and the state we live. As we start the season of the land, help us remember the love you shared with us to show us your greatest commandment, which is to love one another as I have loved you. Thank you for watching over us and blessing us. We also play We also pray for mercy, forgiveness, and peace to the family of the Reverend Jesse Jackson. May his soul rest in peace, and may perpetual light shine upon him. He has served his faith well, and now let him join you in heaven to show in your to glow in your everlasting grace. Amen.

To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. If you would remain standing, we are going to do a moment of silence. I ask Councilwoman Young to make a few comments.

Thank you. Uh, I did request a moment of silence just so that we could pause and recognize the great late Reverend Jesse Jackson. And um, I just want to read a few words today. We pause to honor the life and legacy of Jesse Jackson, a prophetic force of justice, equality, and faith in action. Reverend Jackson stood boldly at the intersection of ministry and movement, reminding the world that the church must not only preach hope but also pursue justice. His leadership in civil rights movement, his advocacy for marginalized communities and his unwavering faith has left an incredible mark on history. from the pool pit to public s square his cha he challenged us to love deeper serve stronger and stand taller for righteousness so today I would like to for us to celebrate a life that was well-lived a race that was wellrun and a legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come well done thankful leader thank you

thank you for just take a moment of silence All right. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. Thank you for bringing that to our attention. So, we'll go ahead and call the meeting to order and do a roll call. Present. Alan present. Hogson here. Joe here. Peter present. Lester here. Michael here. Me here. Thomas Young present. We have a quorum.

All right. Item three is adoption of the agenda. Move. Second. All right. We got a motion. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? All right. It takes us to [snorts] the fun part in the agenda. Item number four. We're going to recognize one of our maintenance employees at parks and I'm going to ask Mr. Greffrath and Mr. Fischer to come come up to the podium. You brought reinforcements. I got a chance to talk to your wife the other day at park. So, she's a huge supporter of you rightfully so. I agree.

Thank you, mayor, and and council members. Um, today marks the official uh end of Frame Fischer's 30-year and seven-month career with JC Parks. During his career, Frame performed general maintenance on various park assets throughout the years. Over the last 20 years, Frame also poured his heart and soul into both city pools. Always the first person on site, usually seven days a week. Frame always ensured the chemicals were balanced and the water water clarity was crystal clear for all patrons and staff who used the pool. Frra loved hearing and seeing children and families laughing and playing at the pools, knowing his work has made an impact on all the visitors over the years. Today is bittersweet. Not only are we losing one of the most dedicated parks employee, we're also losing one of the most respected ones. and respected one. As a staff member stated, Fra is one of the nicest, nice people you will ever meet. I certainly echo that comment. It's been an honor to work with Frame and on behalf of the department. We wish him a great retirement and he will be missed. Thank you.

Yes. Thank you, Frank. Appreciate it. You are welcome to Mr. Ch. Thank you again for being here. We're going to let you have the key for good this time. So, thank you very much. It's been my privilege to work for the city and especially for parks and recreation and I really enjoy all the patrons that I've ever worked with and all my co co-workers too. It's certainly been a privilege to be here. So, thank you all and continue on with all you do for us. Thank you. Well, your wife was telling me your day started early

at part 3 3:00 a.m. Is that is that accurate? Yes. Yeah. Usually I'd be at Memorial Pool by 4:00 4:30 at the latest. And I always wanted to make sure everything was ready at Memorial Pool. Then I'd head over to Ellis Porter Pool, make sure that was ready before any swimmers got into the pool. So by the time I finished at Ellis Porter Pool, people were in Memorial Pool having a [clears throat] good time. I'm sure the council members from those wards were there just to cheer you on, too. [laughter]

And I even or maybe not. And I even had comments from people that came from outer towns saying that our pools were so beautiful they decided not to go back to their pools. [laughter] Nice. That's a good testament. This town is very privileged to have such amazing parks and it's because of individuals like you. So thank you very very much for giving sure your time to this city. Yeah. I'm going to come around from No, go ahead. I was going to say it's been my honor for doing this. And like I said, I always got a charge out of all the kids just laughing and giggling.

Uh that was uh such a thrill for me. So, thank you all. Well, it's always interesting to watch your colleagues at these events. We've been to some with the police department and fire and just the mix of people and the comments that they made that day. I can tell you're going to be missed. There was one lady that spoke that is really gonna miss. She's I guess she passed a lot of knowledge to her. She's hoping it's enough. Yeah. Yeah. Well, get I'm gonna come around front and we'll do a picture. Your wife is more than welcome to come up and be a pass. [laughter] Absolutely not.

Going to be ahead. We'll [clears throat] do it up here. No, you're fine.

All right. Ready? I'll count to three. One, two, three. All right. [applause] Styrofoam kind of goes plastic and see if you want it and then [laughter] thanks for your service. Enjoy your retirement. Come back see us. Come back and swim. [laughter]

Thank you. She used to be a consultant consultant. Those rates are a little higher. [laughter] And I have enjoyed like ice cream. I don't ever eat ice cream. All right. Thank you again. Next item, item five, public comment. We are open for four minutes. I think we have Paul.

Is it Paul Fairchild? You want to come up to the microphone and just introduce yourself? We've got folks watching online. So, if you could just introduce yourself and welcome. There'll be a timer up there. And we appreciate you stopping by. My name is Paula Fairchild. This is my husband, Jim. We unfortunately live at 920 East Drive. And I gather you guys have passed the um apartment complexes that are going up a block across the street and a block basically behind us. Um, we have a few questions about what you guys have in place or have in mind for how you're going to handle traffic. It's already a problem. We almost get hit in our own yard. Um, trying to get mail, trying to get out of our driveway, trying to get into our driveway. It's already a problem. How are you going to handle us not getting killed when you increase the traffic twofold? What are your plans for that? How long has the Eastland apartment project been in plans? I mean, how long has that been going on? How long have you guys been looking at that? How many areas have you looked at instead of Eastland Drive? Um, we live directly across from Shot Road. Who do we get to hold responsible if we get killed trying to get out of our driveway, get into our driveway, get our mail? Um, [clears throat] the noise is already obnoxious. We cannot talk to our neighbors in our front yard. We can't even talk to each other in our front yard. Uh, it's already a

speedway. There's black marks constantly on the road. Uh there is we've requested the the speed limit signs. We've requested noise ordinance signs. We've been there 5 years. Nothing has changed. And it's only gotten worse. Um as a matter of fact, the more pot shops that go up in this town, the worse it all becomes. Everybody likes Taco Bell. Go home, smoke some pot, go to Taco Bell till 4:00 in the morning. I mean, what are you guys going to do to make it better? We're only going to make it worse. I don't I don't see a better happening in any of the plans. So, I left the minute to answer my questions.

Well, this this is public comment. We we do have staff here that's listening. It's been through a a lot of review process. We appreciate you coming by and sharing sharing your your comments. So what when do I need to come so that you can respond? You just don't I don't know what is left on this project. So I mean we will check with staff but I mean it has gone through a fairly extensive public hearing and it's still passed. I'm sorry. And it's still passed. It's still passing you guys.

Even though the public doesn't want it, it's still passed. So, um, so I've looked at the other areas in town that are getting buildings. They're not getting apartment buildings. They're not getting uh lots of [snorts] building the two goodsiz apartment complexes in a very small area causing lots of congestion where there already is lots of congestion. I mean, am I going to have a stoplight right outside my front door now? I mean, can anybody answer that? No, nobody can answer that.

Okay. My husband and I are disabled. Does anybody get two props? Well, again, this is set up as a public comment. We appreciate you coming in and but thank you.

Okay, I think that's all we have listed. Is there anyone else here in public comment? All right, we'll move on the agenda. Item six, public hearings. We do not have any tonight. Appointments by the mayor. Item seven, none before councel. Item eight, presentation from staff consultants and invited guests. I'm not aware of any. Item nine, announcements by mayor, councel, and staff administration committee. Councilman hours.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, our next administration meeting is scheduled for March the 4th at 400 pm across the hall. All right. Finance Council Michael Square meeting tomorrow afternoon 4:00 across the halls assuming it's available. Public safety council. Yes. Our next meeting will be February 26th and we're moving it in here at 3:30 instead of the police training room. All right. And public works. Council Lester.

Yes. We'll be meeting uh here in council chambers uh second Thursday in March uh the 12th at 7:30. [cough] [clears throat] Any other announcements? [clears throat] Planning and zoning also second Thursday end of March uh 5:15.

All right. Seeing no other ones, we will go to item 10, consent agenda. You have four items in front of you on the consent agenda. Make a motion to do that. Second. Motion and a second. All in favor? I any opposed. All right. Item 11, bills introduced 2025-072. An ordinance of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, vacating and discontinuing the right ofway for Grand View Drive in the Grand View Place subdivision.

Mr. Brown. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yes. This is an old piece of undeveloped rideway. I believe was bonded in in the 1950s and uh and has just never been developed and uh there's a request to vacate that right away. There's really no public use for this rideway. So, uh staff is supportive. Seeing no questions, move on to item 12, bills pending 2025-070. An ordinance amending schedule A speed limit section D of the code of the city of Jefferson, Missouri by the addition of Wildwood Drive.

Mr. Brown, yes. It's just simply establishing the speed limit over on the new section of Wildwood. All right. No questions. You have 2025-070 in front of you for roll call vote. I, Alan, I. Hazelton. Hi Joe. Hi Camper. Hi Lester. Hi Michael. Hi Elely. Hi Thomas. Hi Young. Hi. The bill passes.

All right. 2025-071 item 12B. An ordinance amending schedule G stop intersection section B of the code of the city of Jefferson, Missouri by the addition of Bobby Court. Mr. Brimmer, you're back. Yes. Uh this is a newer subdivision um street over off of CC. So this stop sign at that intersection CC. All right. Seeing no questions, you have 2025-071 in front of you for roll call. Alan, I Hzelson. Hi. Joe, I Camper. Hi, Lester. Hi, Lel. Hi,

Neely. Hi, Thomas. Hi, Young. I Bill passes. All right. Item 13. There is nothing on the informal. Item 14. Resolutions 2025-66. A resolution authorizing the city to modify the personnel recruitment incentive system for the Jefferson City Police Department. Go ahead. I'd like to go ahead and lay this on the table for consideration. Second. All right, we got a motion and a second. All in favor?

I. All right. You have resolution 2025-66 in front of you, Chief Welding. Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, Jeff City Police Department currently offers a recruiting, hiring incentive of $10,000 for post approved licensed police officers and $5,000 for no experienced applicants that come into our employment. Uh, we're facing a bit of a struggle right now getting recruits uh to apply at the police department. So, we're proposing to change that uh and offer 15,000 for post approved officers and and eliminate the $5,000 subsidy. So, be happy to answer any questions that you have.

All right. Seeing none, you have resolution 2025-66 in front of you for a roll call vote. Hazelton, I Joe. I Lester, I Michael. Hi, Millie. I Thomas Young I Hollers I Allan I resolutions adopted. All right. Resolution 2025-67. A resolution of the city of Jefferson authorizing the city administrator to execute an agreement with Berkeley life and health insurance company for stop loss insurance. Councilman Alers.

Thank you Mr. Mayor. I'd like to lay this on the table for council consideration. Second. Got a motion and second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? All right, Mr. Buckley.

Uh, so it's just a resolution to approve a removal of the city stop-loss insurance. Um, this is through our broker um with March Plan. And uh this is like I said just a renewal from last year's stop loss that covers uh any claims any individual claims on our health insurance for people on our plan over 150,000 will go into the stop-loss coverage. So it reduces the liability to the city uh because we're self-insured. Um so it's pretty standard plan. cost for this year is uh 1 uh 1.14 million which is actually down from last year uh which was uh by about 100,000 um and just the sad thing. So um yeah, that's what this is and we're just looking to get that approved. We're actually already under this. Um it came to us a little bit late in the game and and uh uh so um you know we've been already working we working with this coverage but this just gets it in place so we can actually sign off on the contract.

M thanks. Uh just two quick questions Mr. Buckley. So I guess just because of timing is why this didn't go through committee. Is that a fair assessment? I I I wasn't informed that it was necessary to go through committee. If it needed to go through committee, I think you could send it there. Um and then I was having a hard time reading the packet and all the numbers, but is uh does this change anything for our participants in terms of coverage? No, it's just renewal. Exactly. What we last year was Sunlife and it's changing to

it's these insurance companies change. There's acquisitions all the time. It's Berkeley Sunlife. It's Stealth. Uh, you know, I I I don't know. I'd have to get back to you on who owns the company, but the participant won't have any coverage issues. Won't change a thing. Thanks. All right, Councilman Allen, thank you. I just had one question. Paul, do they offer like a two, three year contracts or do they is this something that could change from year to year? That's why we we want to renew year to year. Do they offer us a long-term we would lock we'd like to lock you in at this?

Uh I I could look into that. I've not heard of such thing, but no, that's not been offered. Mr. Crane out of college. Yeah, typically not. They they re um they re-evaluate every year at at enrollment time to see what they think the cost should be. So, they have to do that annually, which is why it's not a multi-year deal. Thank you. All right. See, no other questions. You have resolution 2025-67 in front of you for roll call. Joe, I Campber. Hi, Lester. Hi, Michael. Hi, Mey. Hi, Thomas. Young. Hi, Hollers. Hi, Allen. Hi, Hazelton.

I resolution is adopted. All right. Item C, resolution 2025-68, a resolution authorizing the use of community community development block grant disaster recovery funds for a 911 facility study. Joe, I'd like to go ahead and lay this on the table for consideration. Second. All right, we got a motion second. All in favor? I need sir. I can speak on behalf of the chief if since he had to step out. I'm willing to do that as well. Okay. Anyone opposed to taking this item up?

All right. So, Chief Scoffield, you want to take or

Yeah, I'll I'll do I'll do the first part and then we can talk about the funding if uh director wants to do that. So, yes, this is a a a long-term initiative undertaken for many years that we've been working on trying to improve 911 communications throughout the city and county. And uh this particular portion of it is kind of the final phase of study. You may recall that previously we did complete a staffing study and had recommendations from that. Uh now the next and final part part two of that is to uh develop this um facility study and we hope to gain information uh from experts in this field that actually helped us with the part one. Uh it would be the same u the same consulting group. So they have a lot of the base background information and they're willing to uh take on this final phase. At the conclusion of this, we would hope to bring back information to both city and county stakeholders for recommendations about what the path forward is for 911 communications for both their organizations.

Happy to answer any questions. I think we have some folks from mission critical here. So, Mr. Hick, did you have anything you wanted to add to [snorts] questions? Any questions, comments? All right. You have resolution 2025-68 in front of you. Chief, was there anything that you wanted to comment? I apologize. No, you're fine. Second. All right, we'll do a roll call vote on 125-68. Tam Peter. Hi, Lester. Hi, Michael. Hi. Me. Hi, Thomas. Hi, Yellen. Hi,

Olers. Hi, Alan. I Hazelton I Joe [clears throat] I resolution resolution 2025-69 a resolution approving the execution of certain documents in connection with the termination of the city's taxable industrial development revenue bonds series 2015A and series 2015B and authorizing certain actions relating there too thank you Mr. Mayor like to put this in front of the council for consideration. Second. Got a motion. Second. All in favor? Any opposed?

All right. Welcome. [cough and laughter] Thank you, Laura. Members of the council, city attorney's office has been working with your bond council, Gilmore Bell, together [laughter] packet of information uh you're uh voting on this evening. Uh 10 years ago in December, the city entered into a chapter 100 financing uh with a with a a company. Uh you may recall uh on those types of financing, the city essentially is deed the property. Uh the city owns the property while the the the lease purchase is being paid off. That has now occurred. The documents in front of you are the city selling it back to the company at the completion of the financing which will put this back on the tax rolls.

All right. Seeing no questions, you have 2025-69 in front of you for roll call. Lester, I Thomas, hi. Young. [snorts] Hi. Hollers. Hi. Allan. Hi. Hazelton. Hi. Joe. Hi. Camper. I. Resolution is adopted. All right. Item 15. We have some close session minutes. So, we'll need to take action on those. Motion to approve. Second. We got a motion, a second. We'll need to do a roll call vote. Wel I. Mey. Hi. Thomas

Young. Hi Olers. Hi Allan. Hi Hazelton. Hi Joe. Hi. Camper. Hi. Lester. Hi. Minutes are approved. [clears throat] All right. Item 16 new business. There is none. Item 17 unfinished business. None. Takes us to item 18. We'll ask the clerk to read statement. The chair will entertain a motion to adjourn the public session in pursuant to section 61021 of the revised statutes of Missouri go into close session to discuss the following attorney client privilege subsection one real estate subsection two and personnel subsection 13.

Yes, Mr. Mayor. I move that this meeting be adjourned and be moved into close session. Second motion a second. We'll do a roll call vote. Meie, hi Thomas Young. Hi hi Allan. Hi. Hi Joe. Hi Peter. Hi Lester. Hi. Bye.