City Council - Regular Meeting

All right, we've got six o'clock. If everybody would stand out and Aller is ready to do the prayer and if you'd remain standing, we'll do the pledge of allegiance.

Dear Father in heaven, today marks the first day of the rest of our lives. Yesterday, by the dying and raising from the dead, your son conquered all we need to live a peaceful and happy life. May yesterday be that every day in our life. We pray for peace and health for all here on earth and our families. On a personal note, I want to extend and my prayers and pray for the family of Ronnie Won, a longtime barber here in Jeff City whose visitation is tonight at Hower Meard. I pray for peace. I pray for health for his remaining family members. God, I ask you to have mercy on him, forgive him of his sins, and let him enjoy everlasting love and life with you in heaven. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

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. Welcome. It's great to have a full house. We got a long agenda, but we'll try to move through it efficiently, but we appreciate you being with us. And we will go ahead and call the meeting to order and do a roll call. Hollers here. Allan here. Pleton right here. Joe here. Camper here. Lester here. Michael here. Thomas

present. Young present. We have a quorum. All right. Item three, adoption of the agenda. Move. Someone second. We got a motion with a second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? All right. Takes us to item 4A. On part of the meeting, we get to recognize some of our local citizens and retiring individuals. So the first is to recognize Clara Henchin, wastewater treatment plant manager, and she's she's she's retiring with 29 years of service to the city. So Mr. Bremer,

yes, Mr. Mayor, it's with an honor tonight to to uh have Clara up here and celebrate her 29 years. You know, the only regret is man, one more. you know, could have could have got that 30 now. But Clara has Clara has served, you know, us in and many roles out at the wastewater treatment plant. And, you know, here here uh in her last several years, she's been the the wastewater uh plant manager and chief operator. And she's also served these last several months as the interim division director. So, um, you know, I've only been here a year and she has helped me an unbelievable amount, uh, you know, from showing showing me the ropes and what we need to do and making sure that we're on track. But, you know, if you know Clara, that's that's not, uh, anything that's that's atypical. She she is in her role. She uh, you know, serves serves and trains all her employees and others around the state. So, um, she is she's just been invaluable to us and what she's what she's drawing, making sure that that, uh, that our wastewater division and our wastewater treatment plant are running smoothly and and we're not having any issues, uh, with the environment or with our friends uh, friends here in town, Department of Natural Resources. So, she's been she's been unbelievable for us. So, uh, 29 years. Claire, that has it has it felt that long?

No, it went by really fast,

but unbelievable. Um, just congratulations and I hope your retirement is as is as unbelievable and and great and uh as long as as uh you want it to be, you know, and if if you ever if you ever want to help us, you know, you know where we're at and I've got your number. So, but uh with that, Claire Henson you like gonna say thank you. I've enjoyed my time. I'm uh glad that I chose the wastewater field. I didn't realize how interesting it would be until I started over there at the plant 29 years ago. But um it was it was a great career and I encourage anybody to explore it. Well, we had chance or I had a chance to participate in a retirement party not too long ago and it's always interesting to hear those stories and you're going to be missed just based on the comments were made that day. I did present a plaque that day and then we yanked it back but we're going to give it officially for good. Any other comments? I'll come around if if you if you guys want to come up front. We'll do a quick picture. Council will get to practice blading tonight and then we'll move on. I lose weight. Ready?

One, two, three. Perfect. Thank you.

Thank you. Might as well just enter. All right, Mr. Burmer, you get to recognize another retiree. We have Len Bono. I think I went to his retirement party last week.

Yes. Where are you? Did join us up here? Thank you very much. And again, thanks for your years of service. same comments. I heard so many positive comments. Your family was there and I know they're excited to get a little bit more of your time. But we're going to miss you, Mr. Burma. 27 years, right? Yes.

27 years. And I I don't know. I I don't know if I've seen him smile as big as I today. But again, I've had the pleasure of working with Lynn this this past year. And uh Lynn, you know, just unbelievably dependable. shows up reliable and and just like you know similar with Clara. I mean if you got a question um if you need to be taught something Lynn is right there to do it and and has been through his whole career uh you know and talking with with all the all the folks that have been here a long time. I know we have David Bangy in the in the crowd and uh they've been cohorts for how many years?

Almost 24. Almost 24 together. So, um, you know, just whatever whatever, uh, David knows. I mean, Lyn, just take credit for it, right?

But, um, Lynn has been a a plan reviewer for us. Uh, making sure that that we're doing the best that we can uh on the on the development side. And and prior to that, um, I think you came in as a technician. Um and anything if you know engineering at all you know there or the engineering field AutoCAD is a software that that uh we rely upon and and uh Lynn is an expert at it and uh it's it's great to have somebody when you're bringing somebody in that you can say well if you got a question go to Lynn and and uh it's not only that whether it's storm water whether it's AutoCAD what a resource he's been. So, um, just want to say congratulations, Lyn.

Thank you. And, uh, you know where we're at and I made sure I got his number, too. But congratulations. Thank you.

Welcome to the micro. Well, thank you for inviting me. Um, living in Jeff City is very special. Um, working for the city has been special. Uh, a few projects that David and I have worked on in the past has been Greenway Trails, Roundabouts, and my favorite project is the Veterans Plaza in front of the city police station. That's been an honor for that one. So,

thank you. Do it again. I neglected to to indicate to Miss Henin, but if you have family that want to come up for the picture, they're more than welcome as well. One, two, three.

Had two strawberry margaritas last night. What do you say? All right. Item C, presentation to Serve Jeff City, an event coming up on April 18th, and we're going to recognize Serve Jeff City Day. So, I think there's some representatives here and I signed up over the weekend, so I'm good to go.

Very good. Welcome. Introduce your teammates there, Mr. Hudson. Good evening. My name is Ken Hussy. I serve on the planning team. And I'll let them just quickly introduce themselves. Ashley Whisker with JC Parks. Stacey Lane where JC Parks and Canard Public Services. Chris Stern East Side Business and JC Parks. I think that's the group in the room. So, I don't know if you want to read the proclamation or you want just to do some highlights and save you in trouble. Well, if if you want to make some comments, then I'll read it and then we'll get a picture.

Sure thing. So, uh, Serve Jeff City, this is our 15th year, a couple years off during COVID, but 15 years ago, we started this. Um, it's an annual day of service in the community. On Saturday, April 18th, we usually draw 350 to 400 volunteers that give half their day to about 25 to 30 different projects across the community. Um this year we're kicking off at 8 am with breakfast provided by Senator Mike Burnskutter at Memorial Park. Um and about 8:30 8:40 we'll dismiss to our project sites across the community and those volunteers will give about 3 hours of their time doing things like cleaning the greenway, cleaning's creek. Um you get to keep the treasures you find at Creek which is always nice. uh some street cleanups that the East Side Business Association's identified and then a lot of United Way partner agencies that have projects specific to to their needs. Little Explorers Discovery Center has a a whole host of projects. Um Rape and Abuse Crisis Services. Uh Habitat for Humanity needs to clear a site that they're going to renovate the home that's on it. Salvation Army has some thrift store help. And so, uh, we encourage folks to check out, uh, you can go to the United Way website, you can see us on Facebook, get your project, sign up yourself, a family member, a group of people for the project that day and and come out and and enjoy uh, some good pancakes and a chance to serve our community. So, we're fortunate Republic Services again serves as our title sponsor. We've got a whole host of of different organizations and businesses that make this happen in our community that would not be uh possible without their financial support, staff support, and just commitment to making it a great day. So, that's the high level for you.

Now, am I correct? The pancakes are at a different location this year. You are correct. So, we have people do not go to McClung Memorial Park. Uh we have rotated this but we kind of got in the habit of staying at McClung for a while but with the newly renovated pavilion at Memorial we thought it was a great opportunity to shift over there and and try to get a few hundred folks to see the good work that the parks department did there. So, Memorial Park 8 am. Uh, usually the mayor's in charge of the weather that day, so no pressure, Mr. St on a Gary. That's Gary. We need a chamber of commerce kind of day, right? Exactly.

So, we appreciate the proclamation just to draw to attention to it and a chance to to be before you this evening to highlight what what we're up to. Well, I we'll make a pitch. I think there were 17 slots still available on Lafayette. So, anybody that would like to assist me at Lafayette, apparently that was available as of Saturday. We'll see. Maybe maybe they have signed up.

And I would just add one more thing. If somebody fails to sign up and you're you're like me and maybe you're waiting to see what the weather does and you walk up the morning of the 18th, we can still put you to use. So, so walk-ins are accepted. We may not have a t-shirt for you, but there's always a place to serve the community. And I guarantee Senator Burns Sketer will have a pancake for you. They're great banters.

All right, let's let's do a proclamation. Whereas city of Jefferson is strengthened by the generosity and civic pride of its residents. And whereas Serve Jeff City is an annual communitywide volunteer day of service that brings together more than 350 volunteers from all ages to complete service projects throughout Jefferson City. And whereas volunteers representing nonprofits, churches, businesses, and community organizations unite to improve Jefferson City by promoting cleaner, safer, and more vibrant environments. And whereas serv city is coordinated by a community committee with support from United Way of Central Missouri, JC Parks, Republic Services, and numerous local businesses and organizations. And whereas during Jeff City, Jefferson City Parks and Rec Re recreation partners with Amron to plant trees throughout the community, serving as an anchor for celebrating Harbor Day in Jefferson City. And whereas Jeff City reflects the best of Jefferson City with neighbors helping the community, fostering civic engagement, and building pride in our community spaces. Now therefore, I Ron Fitzwater, mayor of the city of Jefferson, proclaims Saturday, April 18th, 2026 as served Jeff City Day in Jefferson City and encourage citizens to participate in this mean meaningful day of service. And again, we we appreciate our community leaders because these kind of programs don't happen without volunteers. So, I know you've been engaged for many years. So, thank you for your work. Thank you.

And anybody else want to make some comments? There's some other familiar faces from past years. If you see if you see if you see us on around town, there's also QR codes and if you see those, you can snap your photo and that QR code will take you to the volunteer website as well. Good. Yes, it was very easy to sign up. So, whoever set that up right there, that would be the way. We're they're not here right now, but we're fortunate to have their support, their staff that coordinate a lot of the back end for us, too. So, questions. All right, Councilman Hamilton,

are there ways for people to participate if they are unavailable on that day? Specifically, can they participate in projects before in preparation or after? So, the most of the projects that day are specific to that day. What I would encourage folks is to go to the website on the United Way, click on volunteer, and that's kind of a clearing like a one-stop shop for projects that day, but also just volunteer needs that member agencies have that could be other days or at that volunteers's own schedule. So, just go to the United Way website, click on volunteer, and you can find other volunteer opportunities in addition to serve Jeff City. That would be my encouragement.

All right. Thank you. Councilwoman Young. Well, I just want to specifically since it's in W three this year say thank you uh for highlighting the ward and there has been some great work and improvement done in Memorial Park and I look forward u to being with you all that morning and uh I have participated in the past and I know it's a great event and I would like to encourage anyone who wants to participate to be there as well. So, thank you all for what you do. West is best. And I think the West is best. Seconded. All right, let's do a picture. All right, thank you.

Council needs some exercise here. Well, I remember those days. Did you

have he put Ron and then you've been here since Oh god, I'm so sorry. One, two, three. Thank you very much. Those are mine. I can't keep it. You didn't bring it.

I don't know. I think it might be maybe this room only. That's kind of fun. Let's represent and recognize someone else. It is also fair housing month. And we have a proclamation for Logan Gratz, president, Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors. And I think Ann Stratton, is was an gonna help put this one? in here. Mr. B want to help with those ones. Anybody want to help? What we got? I want you.

I I think it's me. Yeah. Well, thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Glad to be here. Hit the right button. There you go. There you go. You can just identify yourself. Yeah. Well, congrats. I'm the 2026 president of Jeff City area board of realtors. Glad to be here. We are honored at the board of realtors to be the welcoming committee to anyone that comes to our city and obviously want anyone and everyone to come. We want to continue the growth that we've had and continue the growth that we're seeing going forward. So, we appreciate the city recognizing April as fair housing month yet again. Uh this is the 18th year we've done the poster contest which we'll get to in a second. So, thank you.

All right. Any comments? All right. Let me read the proclamation and then we'll do a picture and you can have anybody you'd like to come up and join us. The proclamation is whereas April 11th, 2025 marks the 57th anniversary of the passage of the US Fair Housing Law, title 13 of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 as amended, which annunciates a national policy of fair housing without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, familial status, and handicap. And whereas the law encourages fair housing opportunities for all citizens. And whereas the city of Jefferson as well as Jefferson City area Board of Realators are committed to highlight the Fair Housing Law, Title 13 of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 by continuing to address discrimination in our community to support programs that will educate the public about the right to equal housing opportunities and to plan partnership efforts with other organizations to help assure every American of their right to fair housing. Now therefore, I Ron Fitzwwater, mayor of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, do hereby proclaim that April 2026 being Fair Housing Month, begins a year-long commemoration of the US Fair Housing Law in Jefferson City and urge all citizens to wholeheartedly recognize this celebration throughout the year. And again, thank you for for your work on it. And seeing no comments, we'll come up and do a picture. Again, if you have other folks, they are more than welcome to come up or

shift. One, two, three. Please just put me in the position out. Go back. Now we have an opportunity to see some fair housing poster contest winners. Mr. Grass coming back.

Thank you. You brought help this time.

That's right. I brought Kayla Hoy. She is our 20.6 community outreach and diversity awareness chair. Obviously, thank you mayor. Thank you council uh for recognizing fair housing month again this year. As I said earlier, it's our 18th year sponsoring it. Uh we got the opportunity uh to send this out to fourth, fifth, and sixth graders in the jurisdiction of the Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors, which we cover Cole County, Callaway, Monito, and Osage County. This year, our theme was fair housing, what home means to me. You can see all 267 posters that were submitted at the library through noon on April 8th and at Capitol Harbor from April 9th through the 18th during regular business hours. We also want to thank our sponsors, Community Point Bank, Sharon Campbell, uh, Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance, Multiply Credit Union, the City of Jefferson, of course, and we want to thank our judges, some of who are here tonight or were here, uh, Leanne Pllo, City of Jefferson, uh, fourth ward Councilwoman Julie Allen, and, uh, Jefferson City Museum of Modern Art Director Chris Duran. And at this time, we're going to ask our winners to come forward. As your name is called, we'll ask the mayor to come down and take a photo with our winners and then please stay up as they are called for a group photo at the very end. So, I'll have Kayla announce the winners, have the mayor come down, and we'll do some photos as we go through them. Sounds good.

Okay. So, we will start with fourth grade. This is our third place winner, Arya Pringer with St. Joseph Cathedral.

Congratulations.

Stay on up here. We're going to take her foot off. Stand up. Okay. Second place is Anya Normala with Blair Oaks. Congratulations. One, two, three.

And our first place winner is Miles Howard with West Elementary. Okay, now we're moving on to fifth grade. Our third place winner is Whan Wackenberg with Blair Oaks. Our second place winner is Eliza Besson with St. Stannis Sloths.

Congratulations. And our first place winner is Lillian Howard with West Elementary. Congratulations. Great job. Okay. And then sixth grade, our third place winner is Amaya Whitler with Thomas Jefferson Middle School.

Great job. Okay, our second place winner is Ashley Letterman with St. Joseph Cathedral. And our first place winner is Coraline Durham with Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Get a big group full of everybody together.

Smile. Yeah.

You guys ready? Oh god. One, two, three. Congratulations.

And the purse. I even saw the purse. liquor. Okay,

we congratulate all our winners again. I've had the opportunity to go to a few schools over the last couple years and there are some amazing students in this community and congratulate all of them that participated. We are going to move to item five, opportunity for public comment. I think we have one individual signed up, Mr. Plumber. Oh, I'm sorry. Do I speak to that issue at this point? Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Just identify what issue and identify yourself. You have four minutes. Thanks for being with us.

All right. Thank you very much, mayor, members of the council. Uh I wanted to be here on behalf of the chamber which is a business and professional organization with about 950 uh different businesses and about 1,700 individuals who are members of the chamber. um wanted to speak in favor of your consideration reconsideration uh under item 16A bill 2026-079 of the development of a warehouse and self- storage facility located at 1745 East Elm Street. Um I won't require four minutes. Basically, what I just wanted to get across is our feeling that we're we're talking about a development that's sorely needed in this community. We're also talking about a developer with a lifelong reputation, having run his own business in this community and he's still in our city and he's investing in our city and probably will continue to do that. that we would just hope that you would um work with your staff to address any technical issues that may have arisen on this project that I'm not currently familiar with and I have confidence in your staff to to work through that and execute the development of this project in an appropriate manner that protects the interest of the city and we hope that you will give that project a chance to move forward. Glad to try to answer any questions you might have.

Great. We appreciate you being with us. Thank you so much for your comments.

That is all we have signed up under public comment. So that'll take us to item six, public hearings. We do not have any scheduled for tonight. Item seven, appointments by the mayor. None scheduled for tonight. Item eight, presentations from staff, consultants, and invited guests. And we do have an invited guest for a certificate of appreciation to be presented to Bridget Boyce of B&B Alterations, a local seamstress for outstanding contributions to the language club. If you could just come to the microphone, introduce yourself. I think the red light is on. You're more than welcome to make any comments you would like and bring your friend with you too if you'd like. Well, I'm

Well, we'll have to have you come up to the mic because folks at home can't hear you unfortunately. Okay. I'm Bridget Boyce and I have been be alteration for 50 years. That's quite a career. Yeah. We appreciate all you've done for the community. You're welcome. I give all my tip what I get from customers to the veterans. Well, thank you very much. Welcome. There's some veterans in the room. I'm sure they're very appreciative and we thank you. Any comments from council?

Yes, counciloman.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um I I um just wanted to thank the council for supporting me in bringing Bridget here today. uh when I went into her um business and realized that she was actually donating her tips back to the community, uh I felt this is definitely the kind of person we need to be recognizing. Um people want to believe that we've gotten away from that and you reminded us that people like you still exist. So, I want to personally thank you. Um, and I'm sure the council agree with me on that and thank you for what you do for our community.

Thank you for doing that for me. Thank you.

Thank you so much. We'll meet you down here. We'll do a quick picture and then we'll let you get back to your seat. But thank you so much. I want to make sure you all saw me on the background.

One, two, three. Miss on that side.

Okay. I appreciate you working with us tonight. We're getting close to the end of our business here and we just had some unfinished business we wanted to make sure we got taken care of. So, we have one additional to recognize Jefferson City Boys and Girls Clubs youth of the year. We have two here with us. And who is bringing them to the podium? Are you welcome to come to the podium? We'll introduce you.

You're shy. Aviana is shy group, so I don't play.

Hi everyone. Um, my name is Kelly Smith. I'm the director of operations at Boys and Girls Club. And today I have um Aviana and she is our junior youth of the year candidate for Boys and Girls Club representing Jeff City. And we have Tyler um who's the um youth of the year candidate representing us here for Boys and Girls Club. And I have here also with me is Nick Smith. He's the unit director at the teen center, the future blue tiger teen center. Um, so we've been prepping for a couple months, I would say, or weeks. No, I would say months. Um, so every year, uh, Boys and Girls Club host the junior youth of the year and youth of the year speech competition here at Boys and Girls Club. Um, so all the candidates from Missouri Boys and Girls Club come to Jeff City to compete. So next week, Tuesday, we will have our speech competitions and Aviana and she's so shy. you see her. She did so great in our So what we did at Boys and Girls Club, we had a local competition and um all the candidates from um all our four sites, we encourage them to participate and what I do is I go around and I force them to participate because they have so much potential and they are so shy to speak in front of people and they're always talking to their friends and I try to encourage him. I'm like, you're talking about yourself. Like, you know these things, right? And um true fact, Tyler with him, I've tried to get him to do this for the past 2, three

years, and every time he's like, "No." And he has a shy demeanor, but he is not shy anymore, you know? And so this time around, I just laid it out and I'm like, "This is what you're going to And he's like, "That's it. Oh, I can do it. Okay, finally." You know, so he he worked on his speech and he has to memor he has to have his speech memorized for the speech competition. The older kids do. Um, and he did very well. He didn't look at his paper. He looked down once for a last line that he added last minute, you know, but he did so great. um and won with flying colors. Um so he'll represent our youth of the year and I I I believe that we can bring home the win. Um and then Aviana, like I said, look at her. But she she did so amazing. Um and this is her second year trying out and she won for her category and so she'll represent us next week as well. So yeah, I'm super proud of them. Um Mr. Nick will be working with them, taking them to the capital next week. They get to miss two days of school. Um, so, you know, yay for them, maybe. Um, so yeah.

Oh, would would you like to say hi, Eva? Yeah. Say hi. Say hi. Right here. Come on. You can do it. You're going to practice next week. You're going to be in in front of people. Hi. How about you, Tyler? Hello everyone. We appreciate you being here.

Yes. You'll come down front. I got a little challenge coin for you and we'll we'll give those. We'll take a picture and then we'll let you get back to your studies because I know you can't can't wait. You guys want you want to come up?

Yep. One, two, three. Thank you.

Thank you. Again, thanks thanks to the public and thanks to the council for working with us and for your recommendations on some of these awards. It takes us to item C, Jefferson City Task Force on Homelessness. The final report. We have put together or have put together a group of I think 18 individuals that have been working for quite some time on a comprehensive report that should be in the council members packet. And we've got Susan Cook and Scott Johnston here. So, we'll turn the microphone over to you. We'll go through the port report. Thanks for all your work on it. I see some other task members in the audience. I know it's a very comprehensive project. Welcome. I think the microphone is off.

There you go. So, if you just identify yourself and then welcome me up here. It's cold. I need the body warm.

All right. So over the last year and a half, um the task force has met consistently to better understand homelessness in our community. The mayor did a great job of putting together a mix of people and skills to serve on this task force, including social service agencies, government officials, law enforcement, um local businesses, and more. And I have to say, I think we took our job very seriously. um not just reacting to what we saw in the community, but truly trying to understand what was beneath it. One of the most impactful meetings that we had was when we invited individuals who were currently unhoused or formerly unhoused to come speak directly to us. Uh they shifted our immediate thinking from statistics and members because they were sharing their life stories. The main thing that we heard when they described their life stories was how incredibly difficult it was to navigate the resources. Where do you go first? Who qualifies for what? What happens if you don't have a phone? Transportation, proper documentation. Even as a committee made up of professionals who work in housing, healthcare, nonprofits, government, we struggled to map out a clear path for people. And what we learned if it was really hard for us to do that, it was exponentially harder for people who were facing a crisis. One woman in particular challenged many of our assumptions. She was well educated. She had professional work experience and a full resume. She didn't struggle with addiction. She simply fell on hard times and she didn't have a safety net. Her story reminds us that homelessness does not always look like what we think it might

look like. It can happen faster than we realize and to people we didn't expect. Another big thing that our task force learned is that homelessness is layered. It intersects with housing affordability, mental health, employment instability, domestic violence, and transportation barriers. It's not a simple issue, and we learned very early on we weren't going to have a simple solution. But what did become clear to us is that while we have the resources in our community, they are fragmented. Without coordination and a clear entry point, people fall through the cracks and they often repeat the cycle. So, the task force and the city may not be able to fix homelessness overnight, but we can build smarter systems. We can create clear pathways and we can ensure that when someone reaches out for help, they don't have to navigate that maze by themselves. And so with that, I'll turn it over to my body warrant, Scott Johnston, to discuss some of our recommendations and how we're going to move forward.

Well, I'm Scott Johnson. Uh it's been a privilege to serve on the task force and Susan, that was a great job of really summarizing our experience over the past about year and a half. In fact, it was April of 2025 when this council and the mayor uh passed a resolution to form uh the homelessness task force. And the charge for the homelessness task force was to study, discuss, and make recommendations on how to address and alleviate the issue of homelessness. I want to just say before I get in the recommendations, the task force was really incredible. Um, I've always been impressed with how this community engages and turns out when there's a need. And the members on this task force really participated and engaged in helping develop our findings and our recommendations. And I really appreciate that. I think the cover uh on the report that you were all provided lists all the names of the folks of the task force and uh the representation across the community was great. So, we're here to share. I'm here to share what we've learned in terms of the specific recommendations and a path forward and the you know there was a group of us that sat down tried to write an executive summary. Uh what we found was the report is about eight pages long with lots of findings and lots of re recommendations. It was very difficult to write concise executive summary. So what we did was we developed this graphic to help with this presentation to kind of let you know what the key recommendations were and if you get a chance and I hope you all do to read the report the findings are important and that they support the recommendations. So everything we're recommending is grounded in a core principle and that is coordination and accountability.

accountability to the community and accountability to those we serve. I want to emphasize what Susan said. There's a lot of great stuff happening in Jeff City right now to help the unhoused and the homeless and those vulnerable to be homeless. But there is a fragmentation and a lack of coordination among all those services. So we really feel that with better coordination and better communications among those providing services to the in-house we can improve our efficiency and effectiveness of the services we're trying to provide to those folks. The four pillars that we identified for this coordination accountability are pretty simple. Inter agency collaboration, sharing data and referral systems better, talking about how we actually refer people to access services, uh, and and a way for us as a community to continuously look at what we're doing, how we're doing it, and how to do it better. And finally, if we talk and work together better, we can talk about how best to access funding in terms of braiding it, uh, blending it so that it's more effective for our community rather than everyone going out for their own funding for similar purposes. So, this leads directly to our central uh recommendation, which you'll see in the center of the graphic. It's a one-stop resource center. Now, the one-stop resource center is critical because it allows us to better do the coordination accountability. So, the one-stop resource center could be a physical location or it could be something online or could be both. The idea is to provide a means for people to access easier services and to understand where to go and how to go and what to do. Basically, coaching and navigation for folks. it would be better to have a place to do it and do it face to face

but we felt like if we couldn't get there then something online for the different agencies to utilize would be really helpful. So without we believe you know without coordination and accountability all the good work that's going on could be better which leads directly to our central recommendations. The first one is, as I mentioned, the resource center. Um, but also, uh, we're looking at housing. Now, the the task force was well aware of a lot of good things that are going on in the city and the county in terms of expanding affordable housing and housing in general. And it may seem like a no-brainer, but you know, the task force had to address that issue because without a focus on affordable housing for low and moderate income individuals, uh the folks that were on this task force and in town that are working with the unhoused, if they can get them ready to be independent, it's it's like the Dickens to be able to find an apartment or a house that's affordable. And so that's a major stumbling block. Uh we have all the transitional housing programs in the world. if they can't transition into something affordable, we're kind of stuck in a circle. Another focus area was tenant landlord strategies. The focus here is on prevention. Are there things that we can do as a community and we looked at other communities that are doing things and they're included in the report that touch on ways to prevent people from being evicted. There's also ways to incentivize landlords uh perhaps establish a centralized rental application and screening system and an early rent intervention um and mediation services. One of the simplest ideas that I think we often is a no-brainer is that is if someone is being evicted during the

eviction process to give them a flyer or handout that lists some of the resources in town that they could pursue to help them find another place to live. Mental health and safety is and physical health are another key issues that we identified as needing um to focus on improving. Now again, JCPD does a great job with their officer leaison and the officer leazison backup. That's really fantastic. We have uh uh crisis intervention team. We have um the judicial system and the prosecutors and the police work really well together. Um but we really felt that we could we could do better. Uh we're also blessed here with Compass's ACT team uh which is a multidisciplinary team that focuses on providing treatment and counseling services to the unhoused. That's all great, but I think any one of those folks that are working in those programs will tell you the demand exceeds the capacity for those agencies to do what they want to do. Another area we looked at was surprising to me uh was employment and employment supports. Uh in our research on that, we found that there's really not a lot going on in Jeff City to help people get ready to take a job um to find a job um and perhaps to have the kind of supports or the uh help necessary to get them job ready. And so we're just recommending that we look at that area closely and try to develop improved services for folks that may need help addressing the barriers to employment. And I know there's a lot that goes on in the city to try and do that, such as child care and transportation and common ground does a great job with IDs and all that, but there's still that need out there that is related to folks that find themselves without a place to live. Public awareness is kind of an obvious

one. I think through the efforts of Jefferson City Room at the end, uh with so many volunteers working there, um the efforts at First Methodist Church, um at least the Salvation Army, we have a lot going on here. And all the citizens that volunteer and engage in those programs and agencies learn better about homelessness. They talk to folks and they begin to understand that these are just people that have made maybe some bad decisions or have run into some circumstances that they couldn't prevent. And so that awareness really helps us be a caring community, but we think we could do more to reach out to the community to improve understanding. So, the task force is done, but we really at the last meeting, aside from uh struggling with doing an executive summary, I think there was consensus that we didn't want this report, like so many reports, sit on a shelf somewhere and collect dust. We really wanted to be able to uh move forward and and build some way to follow up on these recommendations and findings. What we're proposing tonight is that the task force uh meet as an independent group at the same day and time and and probably a new location as we have been for the past year and a half and sit down and figure out how we're going to organize ourselves into an independent organization to follow up on these recommendations and all the hard work that's gone on for the past year and a half. the city would be invited, of course, and we will continue to collaborate with the city. Um, but that's that's the idea right now is to go ahead and meet in May, try and figure out how we move forward as an independent organization here in town, hopefully with the same type of representation that we've had on the task force so that we have a good broad perspective on these issues.

So, in closing, I just want to thank the mayor and I particularly want to st thank an and Rachel uh the planning staff. They were really fantastic people to support the work of the task force. I want to again recognize the task force members and all the f other folks that came and attended these meetings and participated in our efforts. We do look forward to continuing to work together as a task force. We'll have to see how it goes. Uh but we're all committed to trying to alleviate and improve the situation for folks that can't find a place to live. Thank you. Well, first thanks for your work and completing the task force. I mean, I know it was a huge responsibility. The other task force members who are here, do you mind just raising your hand and identifying yourself? I know there's a number of people in the room that participated in the process. We appreciate your commitment. I think it is symbolizes many other activities in life. the less you know about the topic, the easier the solutions seem and once you start digging into it, you find that the solutions are very complicated. So, I appreciate the work. We asked the task force to do a lot of things. Look at what's going on in other communities, but don't use that as the final resource. Create something that is specific for Jefferson City. I mean council as they read through it, you'll find there's some action items that we're going to have to sort through as as we move forward as as a council that I agree with you. It cannot be a document that just sits on a shelf somewhere. We continue to have issues. Winter brings about issues as you're well aware at the room at the end. Summer brings about other issues because it's easier for people to maneuver around our cities. So it brings a different set of issues. So we know it's

not an issue that's gone away. You I compliment Chief Willy for the work that he has done in the department that tried to add that piece and I think some of the folks on the task force were not aware of how engaged they were. So yeah, I think there was a lot of information that was shared through the process. So I appreciate your work. We're going to have to figure out where we go from here, but doing nothing is not an option. It became very clear through the process and to our community. So with that, any comments from council members? Counciloman,

I want to say thank you to you and each of you all that are on are on and work on the task force. I know it was a lot of hard work and so I appreciate and our city staff especially. Uh, I really appreciate your your work and mayor for having the foresight to do this. I think it's um very appreciative. I'm sure the rest of the council feels that way too. And you know, I like to tell a little story because sometimes you don't realize what can happen until you've experienced it. But when I was about 18, I was on the street and the only reason why I had somewhere to go and it's very emotional for me was because my sister lived in the same city and she was willing to help me. But with if that had not been the case, I would have been without anywhere to stay and I probably wouldn't be sitting here today. So it is an important uh that we have compassion I feel like for everybody um no matter what your walk of life is. We may disagree sometimes what that means on you know how we get to where we're going but I know we respect each of ours um dedication to helping others and so I just wanted to say thank you.

Yeah. I too just really want to say thank you. This is a really serious issue here and for other cities as well. But again, I want to thank the mayor. I want to thank the task and I want to thank the city staff for seeing a need to bring such a task force to this city. Um I am particularly um looking forward to seeing the next steps. Um we've done a you've done a lot of work already and I want to thank you all for that. Um, and uh, just want to say thank you. Uh, like Councilwoman Allen, it's a very emotional issue for me because I know a lot of people. Um, and so just thank you all. Thank you. Great work.

Thank you. I would just say, you know, when you go through the report, there's a there's a lot in it. And we realize that a lot of the recommendations may not be practical, may not be feasible, uh may not fit here in Jefferson City, but we hope as we continue to work on this, we can identify those that are doable and we be most practical and impactful.

All right, seeing no other comments. Again, thanks to the work, thanks to the committee members who gave up your time and yeah, I know you were diligent. except through most of the meetings, not all the meetings, but I know many of you were at all the meetings. So, thank you very much. We appreciate it. All right, that takes us to item nine, announcements. Admin committee Councilman Allers, any announcements? uh tentative is scheduled for May 6 4 pm across the room and moved back there all for administration.

I will remind folks it'll be a new council at that time. So we're setting anytime before the end of the year after I gave that qualifier. Thank you, mayor. We'll have meetings plan for April. The budget season is nearing quickly. Well, they do. I got a smile down there. Can't wait for budget season.

Councilman Allard, you you amending your report? No, I'm just going to reiterate we expect the same five members on the uh administration meeting and we are tended for May 6th 4 p.m. Are you we're going to move along to Councilwoman Joe public safety? Yes, we're planning our next meeting for April 30th, 3:30 in the building across the hall and public. Council Lester, uh, no, no meeting scheduled for April. We'll see what happens in May. He took the hat.

Councilman Hazelton, would you like to talk about planning and zoning? Well, um, there is no planning and zoning, so we are zoned out for April. But, uh, we are planning on planning in May. That is you planning to plan on May? Yeah. All right. Any other announcements? Item 10, consent agenda. The four items in front of you. Motion carried. Second. Thank you. All in favor? I. Any opposed? All right. That takes us to bills introduced item 11 A 2025-083.

An ordinance of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, accepting and approving the final subdivision flat of the ridge subdivision, a subdivision of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, amending section 19-401, streets and highways scheduled J, parking prohibited, pertaining to on street parking in the ridge subdivision. Mr. Hm, it took us an hour to get you in the meeting, but walk. Here we go. Here we go.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, the bill being introduced tonight is for the final subdivision plat for the Ridge subdivision that's located at 3920 Country Club Drive. The bill is going to be introduced tonight and then we'll be back before you on April 20th. The location of this property is on the north side of Country Club Drive about 1,500 ft west of Truman Boulevard. It's an 11 and a half acre um undeveloped parcel um that is zoned currently PUD. The preliminary plat and PUB plan was approved by council in August of 2025. Um that plan was for six two-unit town home style residential buildings and one single family home. This uh final subdivision plat divides the property into seven lots, one reserve track, and creates a new street named Irvine Court and approves a parking plan that would prohibit parking on the east side of that street. And before you on the screen is the final subdivision plat that is uh before you. Um be happy to answer any uh questions. This did go to planning and zoning at their March 12th meeting and passed on a vote of 7 to zero. Questions on 2025-083.

All right. Thank you, sir. Takes us item B 2025-084. An ordinance of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute a $100,000 agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for the Jeff Trans systemwide transit study in FY 2026.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh the bill being introduced to you uh tonight is for the grant agreement with MDOT. Campo staff were successful in obtaining a $100,000 grant for the purchase or the purpose of the DRA comprehensive transit and mobility study. Um this bill would approve that agreement uh with MDOT. Um the study is an approved budgeted uh project and city staff is currently in the process of procurement to hire a consultant and this funding would replace currento CPG funding that has already been previously dedicated for this uh study. Happy to answer any questions.

All right, seeing none. Item C 2025-085 an ordinance of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, amending the parks budget of the city of Jefferson, Missouri. Mr. Griff prefer. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, this bill being introduced this evening will authorize a budget amendment to use park funds from the sale of assets for the purchase of the property at 1117 Missouri Boulevard uh for future wayfinding and traffic infrastructure improvements. This partial actually sits right next door or adjacent to the Washington Park Ice Arena. And this purchase has also been voted on and approved by JC Parks Commission as well. I'm happy to answer any questions.

All right. Seeing none, item D 2025-086, an ordinance of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute an agreement with the Jefferson City Convention of Visitors Bureau and with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for the purpose of erecting a welcome sign. I'll ask Mr. Brimmer to make his comments. Then there may be an action after that. Mr. Brimmer.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh yes, this bill would uh authorize and we like this like we like a check mark. We see a check mark on our agenda today um to we've got some convention visitor visitors bureau um financing funding that that they were able to procure for for some uh um welcome signs to the city of Jefferson. And uh we've have an agreement in the package uh with the CBB and an example uh agreement with MODOT. Um and there's a funding timeline on this. That's why we we would uh like like it to hurry through the council. If there's any questions, be glad to answer.

Council, thank you. Just one quick question. the the one that's out on the east side of Jeff City by the uh Walmart. Is that something along the line? We keep it uniform on making sure they look alike or that that sign is being uh looked at as the model for for for what we would like to do here. Uh MDOT will kind of have the final say on what they will allow, but that is on MODOT right away there. So, we think we've got a good opportunity. Thank you, Council Launcher. Okay. I would request that we suspend the rules so we can move on this bill tonight. Second request. Is there any opposition to that?

All right. Hearing none, we will have the clerk read 2025-086. Again, an ordinance to the city of Jefferson, Missouri, authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute an agreement with the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau and with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for the purchase purpose of erecting a welcome center. I do not have 2025-086 in front of you. Any other comments or questions? Councilman Thomas, am I correct in understanding this like five signs at various entry points or three? I'm trying to remember what that was.

There are five locations that are being looked at. Um, how many will depend upon how how far we can stretch that funding. Thank you, sir. All right. Seeing no comments, you have 2025-086 in front of you for a roll call vote. I Allan I Puzzleton I Joe I Cam Peter I Lester I Michael I Thomas I Young I bill passes.

All right. Thanks. Item 12 128. These are bills pending 2025-081. an ordinance for the city of Jefferson, Missouri, amending chapter two of the city code by the addition of one new section regarding the personnel manual. Mr.

Yeah. Hi. Um so yeah, this is the bill we introduced last time that um just allows the city administrator, the administrative authority to approve um employment policies uh that do not alter the uh uh pay or benefits of of city employees or create new positions or alter the ad status. but but the things that we need for our administrative operation um as we go forward and and update our manual um uh based on the uh policies we received from Lexipol. Um so that's uh that's that's what this will do and I'm happy to answer any questions. All right, seeing no comments, you have 2025-081 in front of you for roll call vote. Allen.

Hi. Hamilton. Hi Joe. Hi Camp Peter. Hi Lester. Hi Michael. Hi Thomas. Hi Young. I colors I bill passes. All right. Item 12B 2025-082. An ordinance of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute an agreement with Allied Services LLC DVA Republic Services of Jefferson City for solid waste collection services.

Mr. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh like the clerk said, the bill before you is authorizing a contract with Allied Services doing business as Republic Services of Jefferson City. Uh this is for the solid waste uh removal and collection inside the city limits. The current contract for solid waste services expires at the end of May. Um we have engaged uh the public and city council and went through an RFP process for a new solid waste uh service provider. One company submitted a bid which was Allied Services. Um, as far as the highlights of the contract, uh, very similar services to what we have. Uh, number of pickups, can size, recycling, bulky item pickup. Um, rates are consistent with the current contract with the rate rate increase based off of the water, sewer, trash index. Um, it is a 10-year contract. Uh, universal coverage is required. Um, all the billing will be performed by the vendor. dedicated construction account manager position uh to serve as a point of contact for contractors operating in the city would be a a perk that we would get this year um that we don't currently have and that would be somebody that would act as a point of contact for contractors in the city that are working on projects. Another new thing with this contract is the creation of a Jefferson City dedicated micro site for information related to specific Jefferson City solid waste and recycling uh information and questions. Um I'd be happy to answer any questions and we also have representatives from the company here as well.

Would it be fair to say there could be bulky item pickup days in our near future? Very soon. Uh, I will have them in just a moment. All right. Any other comments, Councilman? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you and your the staff for all the work they've done. I We talked about a local number, too. Correct.

I think that's the micro site you're talking about and all that stuff. I had a somebody asked me about that and I said I know we were talking about that through the contract and um and soon that whenever that'll be published that'll be good. I can you know just let them know there's a a number you can call locally. So thank you. I didn't mean to catch you off guard there.

Yep. And so west of Highway 54 the uh bulky item cleanup is April 13th through the 17th. and east of Highway 54. It's April 20th through the 24th. And we ask that uh you don't get too excited and put it out too early. Uh that way if we get weather, it's not all over your neighborhood. Um but do get it out um you know prior uh beginning the Sunday before your scheduled trash service. So that way you don't miss your chance to get your items uh picked up. You want to get it out in time to get the lawn chair out to watch the folks come up in they're very creative and yes they are rearranging it.

Any other comments? You have 2025-082 in front of you for roll. I Joe. I Camp Peter. Hi Lester. I Michael. Hi Thomas. I Young. I Hollers. Hi Ellen. Hi. Bill passes. Right. That takes us item 13A. We have one item on the informal. Councilwoman Joe. It's going to remain on the informal calendar for this evening. All right. So that item will remain. That will take us to item 14A, resolutions. Resolution 2025-76.

A resolution of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute agreement with Eminem Landscaping and Construction LLC in the amount of $283,691.50 for the 1511 Missouri Boulevard sewer project. Councilman. Yeah, I would uh move to bring this uh to the table for consideration and vote. We have a second. Second. All right. You've got resolution 2025-76 in front of you, Mr. Bummer. Comments.

Yes, we have a failing sewer line behind MODOT on Volvo. Uh this uh this contract would cure that failing system. Eminem is the uh is the low bidder. Any questions? Seeing none, you have resolution 2025-76 in front of you for roll call vote. Joe, I Camper Hi, Lester. Hi, Michael. Hi, Thomas. Hi, Young. Hi, Alers. Hi, Alan. Hi, Puzzleton. I resolution is adopted. All right. Resolution 2025-77,

a resolution authorizing the city to participate in the interlocal agreement between the city of Jefferson and the county of Cole 2025 burn justice assistant grant program. Joe, yes. I'd like to bring this forward for council consideration. We have a second. Seconded. We got a motion second. You had 2025-77 in front of you, Chief W.

Thank you. As the clerk indicated, this resolution would allow the city to enter into an interlocal agreement with Cole County uh for the receipt and distribution of justice assistance grant fund from the Bureau of Justice Assistance. Uh that is in the amount of $11,241. It's been located for allocated for our community. Uh so once we get that agreement in place, we would distribute the funds to co county and keep our portion as well. Happy to answer any questions. All right, seeing none, you have 2025-77 in front of you for a roll call vote. Peter, I Michael, hi. Thomas, I Allan, I

Joe, I resolution is adopted. All right. Then item C, 14 C, resolution 2025-78. A resolution of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with the county of Cole regarding building safety inspections. Council Lester. Yes. I'd like to bring this resolution forward for consideration and vote. Second. All right. You got a motion and a second. you have resolution 2025-78 in front of you and Mr. Nicholas.

Thank you, your honor. So, as you know, over the years, we've had uh struggles with the county and other other governmental agencies about jurisdiction for who gets to uh inspect buildings when another governmental entity is building them. And uh in particular, we have reached an agreement with the county uh whereby even though it's widely acknowledged that the city actually has that jurisdiction, uh it seems better to reach an agreement with them and uh and work things out rather than battling it out in court. Uh so well this agreement essentially says that either side if we're building out in the county or if the county is building inside the city limits they will come to us and take out an application. We will not issue them a permit. Uh they will provide their own inspectors. Those inspectors have to either be their county inspectors or they can hire a third party inspector. They will not be allowed as they were in past years to use their own use the contractor as his own inspector. That didn't work out well. Um and uh we will not charge them any fees. That's basic sum of the agreement.

Councilman Hos I I was looking at this and I it did bring to mind a question. What is our current uh our current arrangement with other governmental entities such as the state? Is is this policy mirroring what our policy is with the state of Missouri as well?

No, it's different with different entities. So, the state is is exempt from our building codes and and does regularly build buildings without complying with our building codes. I think we have been negotiating with them to try and get them to at least let our you know people do a cursory inspection uh because there have been problems over the years but they are they are clearly exempt from our laws. Uh we have done different things with the school district. To my knowledge they do follow our building codes and use our building inspectors but we give them a discounted fee. Mr. helmet.

That is correct. They do um submit their plans to us for review and our inspectors go through and do a full inspection um same as any other commercial or new structure inside the city limits. Um and they do pay for the building permit fee.

Other question from camp heater. Uh just I guess I didn't figure this out. Does so they have their own inspectors but they're not following they're going to follow the county's codes not the cities or are they following the cities and using their inspectors the city and county use the same code? No, they they're going to they're bringing their code up to our Mr. Crane.

Yeah. This agreement requires them to follow our code, but they can use their inspectors to do that. All right. See no other comments. You have resolution 2025-78 in front of you for roll call vote. Lester I Michael I Thomas I Young I Allan I Helenson I Joe I Camper I resolution is adopted. All right. takes us to item 15, approval of March 16th, close session minutes.

Motion to approve. Second, we got a motion, a second. We'll need to do a roll call vote on that. Michael, I Thomas, I Allan, I Joe, I Camper I Lester I minutes are approved. Right. Item 16A, we've got an item from the last meeting, potential reconsideration of bill 20 and it should be 2025-79. Councilman Camper. Yeah, I'd like to motion to reconsider. Second.

All right, we've got a motion and a second. Is there any discussion on the motion to reconsider? All right. Were they on the Were you on the prevailing side? Yes. All right. We'll do a roll call vote. Thomas, I Young, I Allan, I Joe, no. Camper. Hi, Lester. I Michael I motion to reconsider is approved.

Okay. You have bill 2025-079. Do you want to read that again in front of you? An ordinance of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, approving a PUB plan for property located at 1745 East Elm Street. Mr. Helmet, did you have any more comments? I know that there's some representatives. There was some questions last time, so you know, I'll kind of turn it to you or they're more than welcome to address questions or make comments as well.

Yes, thank you, mayor. Um, there is no new information um on the city's part. I do have the same presentation from before if if we need to pull it up. Um, as you stated, there are representatives from the project here and they have a slideshow as well. Um, if uh we could have them come up.

Okay. Would council like to see any of the previous or you want to go to the the new material? Is that does that work? Okay. Welcome. if you could identify yourself. We appreciate you sitting through a longer than normal meeting, but we had That's right. fun things to do. So, well, hopefully it'll be worth it. So, um my name is Patrick Dubbert with 4208. Okay, you can hear better now.

Well, and the people at home can hear you. So, that's the key for Okay. Yeah. seat uh practically bard and live at 4208A little lake court

and um I lived in city since 1966. My father moved here and he owned the business in 1966. And since u since then either my father or myself, my brother or my son have always multiple businesses in Jefferson City continually over that period of time. And uh we brought this project um uh through the planning and zoning and work with the city and work with the um state mold you know wor about the water drainage and all that and u uh the past planning is zoning 8 to zero and then we work with the city like I said on what we're going to use as far as a drag and um there's a baffle system and I think it might have been some confusion last time and I apologize for not being here but uh like said um I had some surgery done at the in Kansas City University of Kansas and um so I couldn't be here to answer some of those questions didn't know if there was going to be a lot of opposition or not um but I apologize for not being here to answer anything that anybody had but we've looked at several different u uh things to put on that land, you know, like residential or spinball or something like that. And it's just hard to get it all to work out because it's such a tight footprint and in order to put this training system in and all that, it just seemed like this was the the best use for that property. So, anyhow, I think Brian's got a short presentation here trying to give you an update to show you a little bit more about what the buildings would look like. We're trying to build something that looks nice and acceptable to the area and um so and I'll be here to answer any questions that you might have

tonight. So I appreciate you giving me the time to speak and uh discuss this again. So I'm going to thank the mayor and the council for doing that. Thank you. Hey Brian, do you have two more copies of that? Yes. Thanks. Mayor, while you clear the nose, I'd like to pose this question to Pat real quick. You being a proud Missouri guy, I'm sure it bothered you to have to go to University of Kansas to have that surgery.

Well, yes. And I'm sorry to say, too, I've got a grandson that's a sophomore at KU. So, maybe I should mention that tonight, but but I am proud sponsor. You know that back? Yeah.

Hi, Brian McMillan with Barland West 601 Monroe and I'm also here as a resident, too. This this project's in my ward that I live. I live in Ward One and I drive by it every day. So, I kind of, you know, I do projects all over the state, sometimes all over the country and and uh so it's always nice to have something close to home and and take a personal interest in it. So, I tried to do that with this one, but uh thank you for listening to us again tonight. But uh I'll just quickly go through uh get off that first page where I misspelled the word. Uh but the this was the plan we submitted. The blue buildings were self- storage units. And um one thing we tried to do is uh when we do self storage, the code requires you to have a some sort of barrier around the outside to kind of block the view from from outside the facility. And and we try to put the buildings along the outside. So you're basically looking at the back of the buildings and instead of just putting a fence there. And so that's why we have the skinnier units kind of around the outside to to be a barrier for that. And um and then um so the blue units are self storage. And then the the green building is a uh the warehouse shop building. It's a it's a bigger building. It's it's a it's kind of what you what we want you to see when you look at this facility. and uh it's it's kind of in front of everything where where you actually have a view from the street and so we wanted that one to kind of look nice but um so just a quick recap uh this lot is set empty since uh becoming a parcel in the mid1 1990s. Uh new developers have looked at it for various uses. Some problems include significant storm water issues. It basically sets in a hole. Um it it sets way below the highway. you don't really have good visibility. It's on a steep street uh as you're going down the hill, so you don't really see

it from a commercial standpoint. And it's a really odd shape to kind of a triangle shape, and it's hard to find a good way to develop it. Uh this was approved at the planning and zoning meeting by an 8 to nothing vote. Uh there was no opposition to planning and zoning. Uh we presented at the last council meeting. Uh, one person raised concerns with which were not necessarily factual, which I'll kind of cover here in a little bit that ODAT had cleared the trees and there's also a comment about the first thing you'll see driving in the just storage units. So, I'll kind of hit those in a little bit. The bill for this case failed by 5 to three vote and there was no discussion as to why any council member opposed it and so that kind of kind of surprised us, but uh but it is what it is. So, Um so basically uh you know there's a comment about mod has cleared the slope. I took this picture yesterday of the site. You can see that there's there's a pretty good stand of brush and timber along the slope. Uh that you look over the top of them and you basically see sky. I think a comment was made. You look over the top and see the site. U now we have no control over that. Modok could go out there and clear it tomorrow. Uh, and we don't we don't list that on the plan as being a buffer for any reason uh because we have no control over it. But, uh, just wanted to make sure I pointed that out that that that was not exactly accurate comment. And, uh, there was also a comment that the first thing you see when you drive into Just City is going to be storage sheds. Uh, I took a picture myself, but it's hard to get a good one when you're driving and and at that angle down the highway. Uh, the other picture was on the exit ramp, so it's a little bit slower, but uh, I borrowed this one from Google Google Street View, but you know, that's the site. You're seeing the top of the uh, you're you're not even going

to see the the site. It's you might see the top of the u of the warehouse shop building, but that's, you know, the one we're trying to make look really nice. So, uh, another view as you're going along there. Just to the left there is the scythe. Uh, once again, you're you don't see you're not going to see those storage sheds. They set the hole, which is kind of one of the reasons we thought this might be a good use for this property. And like I say, I drive by this every day and think about it and and whatnot. So, so some benefits that I that we see to the city, it's it's a convenient neighborhood stealth source facility. Uh there's a you know, the council approved of an apartment complex just over up the street uh at the last meeting and those are big users of storage facilities. They don't have a lot of storage room in their apartment complex. So, this would be a real convenient place for them. It's a good use for this undevelopable lot. Uh, like I say, I'll hit on a little bit some other stuff that we've looked at in the past. Um, it will help some solve some storm water problems in the area. I'll kind of hit on that real quick, too. Uh, is a low traffic impact use. You know, people's comments when they oppose something is always, "Oh, the traffic. It's going to make the traffic worse." There's really no traffic to this facility. The people that go to storage sheds, they're doing it in at nighttime or on the weekends, and it's just not a not a big traffic generator. and and that guy. And kind of number five there fits with the first comment, but it fits with the recently approved multif family housing. And you know, there's duplexes being built down the street right now. And there's a apartment complex uh going to go in across the street that the council approved at a previous meeting. And that one uh I think kind of why I thought this one would pass with no problem because that project across the street, the entire neighborhood opposed it and the PUD approved it and the council

approved it. So, and we had nobody opposing this one but anyway. Um, so this this here is a view of an early concept. This was the first thing that uh that Bo wanted to do uh apartment complex and uh he sees the need for apartments in this community and that's what he really wanted to do and we tried to make it work. Uh but it just the the cost to construct on this lot, it just he just couldn't make it work. Uh he kept having to go up enough to get enough units to make it work. And then the more units you have, the bigger your parking lot gets and then now you've run out of room to to put the amount of parking you need. So So that idea was scrapped and we had to look for another alternate. Uh this was a past use and I don't know if anybody knows the history. This this lot was actually purchased by Missouri Credit Union in 2005. I believe I actually did this plan. Uh at the time it was a PUT plan just like this. Uh went through the process. It got approved and uh but then I think they saw that this just wasn't a good site for visibility and and the commercial presence that they wanted. So uh they ended up moving up by Walgreens uh when that opportunity became available. And uh so this basically is set empty again and that's I believe who uh Mr. D purchased this property from was Missouri Credit Union. Yeah. And so anyway, like I said, when I got involved in this and and we decided we want to do self storage, I said we really need to make this look good. And and they had already come up with the idea of doing this warehouse uh building. Uh so it's going to be more than just self storage. And I know Bo really likes the concept of a modern looking building. And he he kept mentioning this building in Columbia that's across from the Nissan dealership that has a aluminum panels and just a

really modern looking building. And that's kind of what we were going for in this this view here. And you can kind of see it better down below on the elevation views. But uh but but we also, you know, he has some other inspirations. the one up there in the upper leftand corner, that's one that's going in very similar facility to what he's proposing on Creek Trail Drive that's just been built and uh it's in use right now. And u the one on the upper right that was an early concept also that we looked at just a diff same building just a little bit different sha uh shape and whatnot. the building on the bottom that's actually at the Lake of the Ozarks. Also the same same type of concept we're looking at. You know, nice garage doors, uh not just a big white garage door and a standing seam metal building, you know, something that's modern looking and that's what we want people to see from when they first look at this as they're driving by on the street. So, so just real quick on the storm water issues. Um, I tried to quantify, you know, the drainage area that goes drains to this site. That that dash blue line is what I call the drainage area roughly 16 acres. Uh, all drained down across the site. Uh, goes all the way to the gas station, part of McDonald's, and then east little ways east of the interchange. And you have one, two, three, four, five, six different pipes that dump down onto the side. One is actually dumped onto the site from Elm Street, a city inlet. At the time it was a mod inlet when they realigned Elm Street back in the 90s, I believe. So, um, so anyway, and then those red lines are kind of the the the flow path, and all that water just runs across the lot and dumps down on the street. No, no piping. It just basically um unchecked down the slope. So, we were

hoping, you know, we could we could fix that and greatly improve uh and slow slow the water down because I know there's been concern with with storm water problems down the down the down stream. So, that's kind of what uh I've tried to highlight here. U the blue lines are the mod water and the water from offsite. Uh the yellow is kind of potentially where the underground detention would be. We try to sometimes the piping with the underground detention and you know as part of our our code requires us to clean the storm water uh on the site but uh but we don't for the new development but we don't necessarily have to clean the offsite water. And our plan right now is to, you know, gather all that water from off-site, run it through the system, make sure we clean the on-site water, which is usually called the first flush, and then also detain the water from offsite. And I think we can do that fairly efficiently by combining the pipe runs with the tension storage. And uh then then of course we just pipe it with kind of that uh magenta colored line down and tie into the inlet so we wouldn't have water just cascading down the slope dumping onto the street and whatnot anymore. So another thing uh that's good to hit on, you know, the need for self storage. Uh I pulled this data off of a website called Storage Cafe. They're a they specialize in storage facilities all over the country. So they have real real time data and this is very this is 2026 data says one in three Americans use a storage facility and it's expected to grow by 18%. uh who's who uses it, those not having enough storage space at home, those people moving. I I had to do that. I moved in 2018 from the south side of

Jeff City to the east side where I'm at now and had to get all my junk out of the house and store it somewhere so I could get my house cleaned up to sell it. And it worked great. I rented a place out on Easter party street and and I never thought I'd need one like that, but I did. uh people downsizing, changes in household size, uh storing for business purposes. I know a lot of businesses that need a place to put their files, and you know, we I think they're considering doing a um climate controlled storage on some of the buildings that that would meet that use for a lot of the businesses in the area, home renovation and other uses. So, anyway, just to close, uh we feel this is a good use for a mixed area, mixed use area. you know, there's everything in this area. There's commercial, fast food, multif family, single family, offices, banks, credit unions are all in this area. So, you know, it's not like it's this is totally different. Uh I will note that city staff recommended approval. U we feel it'll improve storm water problems in the area and it supports the re recently approved multif family uses in the area. Uh also keeps money spent on the on these uses in the city. You know, a lot of people don't want to drive uh to halfway to Eugene or halfway to or down Route C to find a storage facility when they could get one here in town and and we could keep that money here in town and then um it provides a good use for one of these last empty parcels in the area. So with that be happy to take any questions.

Questions council.

Thank you mayor. Uh couple comments. The first one's more of a broad comment and Brian, you just kind of tapped on it there. What I was going to briefly talk about is is there's few and fewer of these parcels inside the city limits that and there's a reason why there's a few left is because they're a challenge to develop. Um and and this is one of those and and the second one is is both to Brian, Pat, and Bo. uh thanks for bringing this back and asking us to reconsider because uh I can't speak for everybody else but I voted against it just merely because of uh initially because of the thought of storage units so close to the road and main thoroughfare inside the city limits that was the crux of it um having since that night drove out there I don't know a few days ago can't remember the day and week it is even hardly but anyway last I think Wednesday or I drove back out there and kind of looked at it and and noticed that it's it's a fairly blind spot, particularly coming into town. Um, so anyway, that's why I second the motion tonight to reconsider and of course be voting to support it based on that. So, thank you for your diligence and your willingness to invest.

Thanks, President. Go ahead. I just want to say that we try to take that in consideration during our planning as well because those storage units monthto month or whatever however they might be rented out are in the back part where you can't really see it coming down and the other ones you know are the larger ones that be like 30 by 60 units and there'll be five of those and you'll be able to see those more from the road on uh Elm Street there and then um uh there also are some trees but you'll see the back side of those warehouses you home more so than what you're going to see storage unit. So, we try to take all that in consideration is what I was trying to explain. Yes.

Can I follow you up?

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, I too want to thank you for bringing this back. Um, one of the things that held me back last time was the storm water issue. I know that there's flooding in that area and I don't think we discussed that a lot last time. And so I've done a little research between here and now and um I'm happy to see that that was something that you had already addressed. I do trust city staff um on this issue as well and I'm sure that they had already looked into it but I just didn't hear about it and so um with that that's what uh helped me be confident in voting yes. So thank you. Yeah, I appreciate your comments and um I felt like I mean I was in Kansas City, I still watched the council meeting on, you know, and um I was a little bit surprised I'd be lost of it that that's beside the point, you know, but I think it it was a little confusing on some of those things. They probably didn't give you the right answers that you needed

and uh maybe didn't talk about it enough. So anyhow, I appreciate your comments on it. Thank you, Councilwoman. Good evening. Thanks for coming. I appreciate y'all coming back too and I appreciate your investment in our community. Um tell us when you talk about the contractor, you know, sort of area. Um that's similar to Creek Trail, right? Trail and I know if you haven't been out to Creek Trail, it's really I mean it's really a very nicely done and it's a lot of the community in the area is excited about it. I'm excited about Creek Trail. So if you don't mind just to educate all of us.

Yeah. you know, we've looked around storage units and all that, even putting them somewhere else, but we felt like in this location that we could do something similar to that. I've been I know Todd very well, you know, and they put several of those uh projects in Jeff City and um uh you know, modeled it somewhat off of that, but we also looked at places down the lake or Kansas City and talked to some friends we know that are in this type of business and it seemed like there even some realtors and stuff that there's a need for something like this like uh Price Burns getter, you know, built several houses and stuff, you know, in Jeff that he he wound up buying two of those. He uses one to run his business out of as far as a showroom and all that and the other one he runs his shop out of. Now, if we can wind up selling all five of those or two of them or one of them or whatever for somebody to do something similar to that, sell it or lease it or whatever. Uh we're open to uh how that might work out. So, that's why we're sort of openended on that. That's our I think somebody come in there. Uh you can put a second story on it if you want to put an office up there or whatever or some other storage and um and we got a lot of comments from other contractors and some other businesses that they uh would like to have something like that and that's how we came up with the idea and plus um better places over in Columbia u and I don't think we showed those but you know they're just similar to this mainly what they are is just uh something very similar to this and um uh people were running gyms out of them or something else or some type of an office or something out of it instead of a regular strip mall. So, we like the concept. We thought it was worth looking into more and we want to try to get our approval. We know that the underground um detention centers system is going to be expensive. We

looked into it somewhat. We don't know exactly how much yet, but we know that we get the code and we think that it's going to really help out with any water issues downream because you're going to be capturing some of that up front first, right? So, so I appreciate your investment because I know this is not an easy space, right? But I also I know there's nothing like that in the area for our contractors and so it will really I think I've heard from several of them that that will help them too. And uh not that this really matters, but the reality is we have storage sheds coming in on the west side of town. You know, it it's sort of life. But I do appreciate you all making them really as nice as you're going to,

right? And you know, and that's the thing. We go to west town where everybody else is. We wanted to go on the east side of town. I had a business over there, you know, for 38 years. And um we just feel like that's the next area where they start developing more and more. And so we think it's a good fun. Yes. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Allard.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Dubert, thank you. And Mr. Mill, thank you for reappearing and going over the presentation again and u giving the other council members more insight on u you know the details and all that and it's greatly appreciated and like you said, Mr. Dub with Midwest Block and Brick that's been a staple on East McCartney for it seems like a hundred years. But the business you've had there that successful was it there are a few sites on the east side especially the first ward as you go out to the city and with the Mr. West's uh development up there by Gerbs and then with the other that the Delero subdivision has gone through and hopefully some other things that could be happening out there. It's at I think it was a good location. It's kind of a a triangle situation right there. I think it it's well suited and I just want to say I would urge my colleagues to um if I bring this up to vote for it. I'm not sure at the appropriate time, Mr. Mayor, when you would like to uh make a motion for that, but I would like to do that at the appropriate time to have the council vote for it and pass it.

You offer a motion, council, if I can control time. Yes. I would like to make There's a lot of time for debate. So, okay. Uh yes, I would I would like to make a motion that the council pass uh bill 2025-079, which is um I'll just briefly just say it's the um the warehouse self storage unit for East Elm Street. Second. All right, we got a motion, a second. You still have the bill before you for comments. Council,

I just I just wanted to say it's uh as as a sponsor, I wanted to thank the council for being willing to bring this back for debate. It's uh takes a takes a little bit of humility to admit that sometimes the system didn't work, but I'm glad that we have a chance to fix it. So, we're here to make it right. Thank you, Councilman Camper. Yeah. Um, I was, this, this is going to sound weird, but like I told you in the past, I was kind of surprised that it didn't pass last time as well, and I, I mean, voted no for it. Um, but mine, like we've already discussed, was more for just, you know, I think there was questions that were asked that couldn't be answered because, you know, you weren't here, right?

Looking back, I should have just asked if we could suspend it to the next meeting. But, um, so that's why I reconsidered or brought, you know, brought it back up today. Um, I appreciate that. Other comments? All right, we've got a motion and a second. We've got bill 2025-079 in front of you for a roll call vote. Young, yes. Hollers, I Allan, I Joe, no. Cam Peter, I Lester, I Thomas, I passes. Thank you, gentlemen. I appreciate it. All right. Thanks.

Thank you.

All right. That takes us to item 16B, nominations to Phil War 2, city council member. And I've got something to read to council and then we'll get into that. But pursuant to section 1218 of the city code will now entertain nominations to fill the vacant war 2 council seat. A council member may nominate any person eligible to fill the vacant seat. To be eligible, a person must be at least 21 years of age, a citizen of the United States, a qualified voter, and have resided in War 2 for at least 6 months. In addition to be eligible, the nominee must not be in a rears on any unpaid city taxes. If you wish to nominate someone, raise your hand. I'll call on you. Each nomination must be seconded and each council member may only nominate one individual. Councilman Camper.

Uh yes, I would like to nominate Mr. Cody Holtz.

Second. All right, we got a nomination and a second. Other nominations. All right, we'll close nominations then. after nominations. Just remind those nominated that you must to those of you nominated, due date is this Friday, April 10th at 5:00 to turn in item one, resume, cover letter, and three, notorized candidate endorsements to the city clerk. Clerk has endorsement forms tonight if you need one. Two, drop off the documents. You'll be asked to show two forms of ID and fill out the declaration of candidacy form. A public session has been scheduled for Monday, April 13th, which is next Monday at 5:30. Council will have opportunity to ask questions of the nominees and the public will also have the same opportunity and then council will vote during the first meeting on April 20th to fill the war two vacancy. Are there any questions or comments? Councilwoman Allen, it is the question since we have one nomination by code. Do we have to have this next meeting? I mean,

well, I was just wondering the same thing. I I'll look at it. Not that I'm not happy to sit here and do that, but um if we don't have to do it by code now, I don't have a problem with hearing from our nominee, but for us to sit and ask questions and stuff seems we don't have multiple people to choose from. So I'll leave that to legal counsel to opine on I will get back with you with an answer. Councilman Thomas.

Yeah. I just I think the point of that session also was for the public to be able to at least hear if not ask questions as well. It's a public forum. Um, so while I largely agree with Miss Allen's uh comments, I think not having that bad public service.

All right. My my job is just to say whether you can or can't skip it. Whether you want to skip it is that's you all have to vote on that. So the recommendation is we proceed with April 13th. I'm going to make a recommendation all the question before me is can it be skipped? I will get an answer back to you all right away on that and then you have to decide what you want to do. I saw Councilman Thompson saying the Councilman Camp Peter. I'd

like to make a motion that the April 13th meeting proceed as scheduled. I'll second that. We got a motion and a second to proceed with the schedule meeting on April 13th. Any discussion? Councilwoman Allen. I think that's sort of backwards because no, maybe I've confused myself. Um, okay. Sorry. No comment. All right, we'll do a roll call vote. Is everybody clear what the motion is?

It is that we proceed with the April 13th meeting.

Council Lester. Yeah, just I I I agree with Councilman Thomas that uh it's good to hear from the candidate and good for the public to hear the candidate and you available to answer questions publicly. Council me um so if if we're going to if there's an option that we do it. My question is is it only Ward to members of the um public that can ask questions since they're the only ones that could have voted for them? I just it basically says the public. I don't think it clarifies in the code that they have to be in that ward. So I believe we would interpret it that if the public has a question. Yes.

That's the way that's the way I read it too. The procedures that we've outlined would be that questions will be submitted in writing and uh whoever is moderating that will read out the questions. Councilman Caper after this vote can I make a motion before you move on back? All right. Do a roll call vote on the meeting on April 13th. Hi. Allan. No. Hosson. I Joe I Camper

abstain Lester I Michael I Thomas I Young I seven I's motion passes. on the third. Yeah. I'd like to make a motion that uh after this process is done that we redo the process because nobody likes it. We're just following it. Um yeah, I don't how how we redo it, but we need to redo it because nobody likes it.

I can think of that if that's appropriate. Yeah, I I think the suggestion would be that you refer the issue to admin. Yeah, motion should be send to admin. Yeah, I'll second that. All right, we got a motion second. I saw Did you have a comment, Councilman Thomas? No, no longer. Thanks. Did you have Councilman Lightful? I I did, but it doesn't have anything to do with that motion. It has something to do with what we just voted on. So I don't know when the appropriate time to say it. Well, let's get let's take care of that motion then we'll come back to a comment. Did you have a comment council?

All I wanted to say is this is a issue for the admin community of the future of the next session. So all right, the motion is that the issue in regard to that section of the code be referred to admin for review. Does that summarize your and the second? Comfortable with that? All right, we'll do a roll call vote. Ellen, hi. Hazelton, hi. Joe, hi. Cam Peter, hi. Lester, hi. Michael, hi. Thomas, no. Young. Hi. Wers. Hi.

Motion passes. Councilman W, you had a comment. Thank you, Mayor. Um, on the previous vote that we voted the way that we did to do the 13th, we don't necessarily need any clarification from from our city attorney at this point, right? We're doing it anyway, right? Just may I guess the only question would be that will be a regular meeting of council. Correct. 13th work sessions.

It's a work session but work sessions are just different different council meeting. The followup question is, can they go ahead and make the motion at that meeting to elect or do they still need to wait till the 20th? They could make a motion at that meeting. Is that a question you were going to ask? Uh, sort of. Go ahead. Yeah. I was just going to ask like so now that we have that meeting, what like how does it work? I mean, does Mr. Hull just sit here and I mean, it's never happened that I know of. So if we could if somebody could just give a little bit of a

So the process that I've sketched out would be that the candidate in this case candidate would come in and make a brief remarks limited to five minutes and then uh followed by public questions. Those would be in writing. We would read them and and the reason for that was sometimes people are not very good at phrasing their questions you know or they're they kind of end up being more like speeches or questions. So we would we would sort those out. Of course you never know what someone's going to say. So sort of as a filter we would read the questions and then they would answer those and then when that session that portion is done and that's capped at 45 minutes. I was thinking more candidates. I was writing this um then you would have uh the council would have time to ask questions and discuss. That's unlimited time.

Councilman Camp. Okay. So since you said they're written, are I guess the resident supposed to come in and with a piece of paper something or is we have open pieces of paper for Okay, thank you. Third month. All right, everybody comfortable with the process? Mr. I say on 13. Sounds good. Bring me your paper. If you bring your paper.

All right. Item 17, unfinished business. We have none. Item 18, recess closed. I'll ask the clerk to read the statement and then we'll I'll accept a motion. The chair will entertain a motion to adjourn the public session and pursue it to section 61021 of the revised statutes of Missouri going to close session to discuss the following attorney client privilege subsection one real estate subsection two negotiating contract subsection 12. Mr. Mayor I move that we go to recess to court. Second. A motion. Second. Do a roll call vote. Hazelton.

I I Joe. Hi. Camper. Hi. Lester. Hi. Wel. Hi. Thomas. Hi. Y. Hi. Hollers. Hi. Allen. Hi. Motion passes. Republic. We will reconvene when the close session is completed. Thanks everybody.