City Council - Regular Meeting

All right, I've got six o'clock. If everybody would please rise, we will do the prayer and then please stay standing. We'll do the pledge of allegiance. Council woman,

let us pray. Dear God, we thank you for bringing us together in the hope this season offers. Guide us to be instruments of your peace, leading with wisdom and compassion within our community. We pray for our neighbor who is lonely, grieving, or facing hardships. The cost of putting food on the table, struggling to maintain a job, or any myriad of reasons may be confronting them this season. May they be seen and comforted by you. Protect our service members, whether serving here or abroad, that they know they are loved and appreciated. Help us be your hands and feet, spreading joy, hope, and your redeeming light through our community and the world. For it is in you we pray. Amen.

Amen. I pledge allegiance 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.

All right, we will go ahead and call the meeting to order. We'll do a roll. Here, Alan here. Wilson here. Joe here. Peter here. Lester here. Michael here. Neely here. Thomas here. Young present. All right. Item three, adoption of the agenda. Second. Motion, a second. All in favor? I. Any opposed?

All right. Item four, miscellaneous. We have none. Item five, opportunity for public comment. We got a couple folks signed up. So, we'll start at the top and we've got four minutes for each. Lorraine Scoffield. If you could just identify yourself. Welcome. Uh, I am Miss Lorraine Scoffield. So, hello council. All right. You hearing that? All right. Um, do I need to reanerate and say my name all over again? Okay, now you're good.

Okay, so I am here speaking on behalf of a resident. Um, she said that she had wrote a letter to the city council and mayor. So, I am just rereading her um letter to you all. It says, "Dear Mayor and Jefferson City Council members, my name is Paty Johnson. I am a Jefferson City resident and taxpayer. writing to request immediate clarity and action regarding the fatal shooting of Eric Spencer and the ongoing public safety concerns surrounding this case. As elected officials, the city council's responsibility includes supporting public uh safety me measures, addressing urgent community concerns, and serving as a le liaison between resident and city departments and courts. Right now, many manyi civilians uh feel that there has been little to no public facing response from the city, law enforcement or prosecuting authority. Despite the seriousness of of an incident where an unarmed man was shot and killed, the lack of communication has created fear confusion and growing distrust in whether public safety resources and processes are function functioning as they should. It is difficult to understand how the community can receive same day updates on other cases while this incident appears to be met with settlements. I am respectfully requesting the city council help ensure the public receives clear answers to the following. Are there city earned own cameras covering the parking lot area where Eric Spencer was shot? If so, where are the cameras located? And were they optional? operational at the time of the incident.

If cameras exist, what is the city's process for confirming functionality? Maintenance and retention of footage. If no cameras covers area, why not? And what steps will be taken to address gaps in coverage? What steps have the city taken to request updates or briefing from the police department and relevant agencies? Can the city council provide public timeline of what has been done since the incident to ensure accountability and community safety? What measures are being taken to reassure the public that the areas is safe and that the community concerns are being heard? Will the will the council schedule a public briefing or agenda items uh to address the Okay. um to address the city community questions about this case and public safety resources. When a person can be killed in public and the comm community receives no meaningful answers, people begin to feel that safety is selective and accountability is optional. In this case, Eric Spencer was unarmed when he was shot and killed by another citizen who act as judge and executor and is still walking the streets freely. That reality serves the community asking who else will he decide he is suitable? Who else will he decide is suitable for their next breath? If this situation is not addressed, transparency, it sends a message that residents concern can be ignored even in the most serious circumstances. Please provide a verbal or written response addressing the questions above promptly or advise who specifically is responsible for responding and when the public can expect a formal update. Thank you for your time and for the service of the

Jefferson City. The community deserves transparency and we deserve to know whether the per public safety infrastructure funded by our tax dollars is present, functioning and being used appropriately. One regards Paty E. Johnson. Thank you. Thank you. Next I have Sarah Bago. If you could just identify yourself. Welcome. I am Sarah Vetrago.

Um, good evening council members and members of the community. My name is Sarah Vetrago and I'm here to talk about the killing of Eric Spencer Jr. and the serious concerns surrounding the city's response and communication afterward. According to police incident report, I'm sorry. According to police incident records reported by local media, officers were dispatched to a public shopping area after a caller reported a man with a gun. Moments later, it was reported that Eric Spencer had been shot and that a window at Old Navy was also struck by gunfire. EMS arrived within minutes and CPR was administered, but Eric Spencer died at the scene. Those are not rumors. Those are details pulled directly from incident reports cited by your own local news outlets. And yet, despite the seriousness of this incident, a fatal shooting in a public commercial space, the community has been given no clear official timeline, no explanation of key decisions, and no meaningful update. Family members and witnesses have been left to piece together what happened through media leaks and secondhand information. That is not transparency. That is silence. One of the most troubling aspects is how quickly this incident has been described publicly as a domestic dispute despite occurring in a public place with multiple vehicles, witnesses, and property damage. I'm asking tonight, who made that determination based on what evidence and what has it not been clearly explained to the public? Labels matter. They shape public perception, influence accountability, and can affect how seriously a case is scrutinized. Community deserves to know how and why that label was applied. I also want to address police response and medical care. We know MS arrived at 7:58. CPR was not administered until 8:02. We know officers secured a firearm. What we do not know is whether the scene was

treated first and foremost as a medical emergency or primarily as a criminal investigation. When minutes mean life or death, those decisions matter. We are also asking about evidence. Were body cameras and dash cameras activated? If so, when will that footage be released? Where nearby business surveillance cameras secured immediately? How many witnesses were interviewed? And were any witnesses sent away without being formally documented? Those are not radical question. These are standard questions in any fatal use of force or homicide investigation. Beyond the facts, there is the issue of trust. Eric Spencer Jr.'s family is grieving. Witnesses are traumatized and the wider community is watching closely to see whether the city values transparency or avoidance. Silence does not protect an investigation. It erodess public confidence. So tonight, I am asking this council to do three things. First, commit to the release of a clear factual timeline of events as soon as legally possible. Second, endure and I'm sorry, independent oversight of this case, whether through an outside agency or an independent review process. And third, commit to public followup. Not a press release, not vague statements, but an open accounting to this community once preliminary findings are complete. I'll end with this. If this were your family member, if this happened in front of your workplace, your store, or your children, would the level of information being provided feel acceptable? This community deserves answers. Eric Spencer Jr. deserves dignity, and trust in our city depends on what happens next. Thank you. Thank you.

Next we have Brenda Johnson. And if you could just identify identify yourself. Thanks for being here.

Good evening. I'm Brenda Johnson. I'm the food pantry director of First Christian Church. Um we operate a food pantry on Tuesday afternoons uh from 12 till 4. We serve about a 100 to 140 families each week, which feeds a considerable amount of people. Um, anyone who's been up and down Capitol Avenue will see the traffic and uh the parking issues we have. We've been fortunate enough to be able to block off a few um uh parking spaces so that neighbors could pull in, go in and get their uh their food items and be able to leave. And we help them out with that. Uh it's my understanding for this evening you're going to be discussing the downtown parking situation. Um, and with the Madison Street parking garage uh closing, I understand you've hired a company, contracted with a company to handle all the things parking. Um, and my main concern is the parking along Capitol Avenue and Monroe Street and State Street and Adam Street. Um, I wonder if there's been any uh outreach to those stakeholders in the areas. There are three rather large churches uh in that area. Uh, and also the News Tribune and a few other businesses and we've got a brand new business going in two doors down from Christian Church starting next month. uh the plan I've seen so far about leasing those spaces on those streets that I've uh referenced uh they will negatively affect the downtown churches uh and ministry programs like we do like

our food pantry and if we have funerals you know parking where are people going to park if those spaces are leased um I would just like to uh to ask for consideration for the stakeholders in that area. Uh if they can be consulted, our arrangements could be made that we have access and our neighbors and our church members and our community members will be able to access our churches and businesses in that area. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks for being with us.

Next is Amy Rogers. again. Welcome. You just identify yourself.

Thank you. Yes, my name is Amy Rogers and I am a member of First Presbyterian Church and although we are located on Madison Street, I want to join together with Miss Johnson in saying that the the parking issue that's going to be discussed tonight is not just going to affect a few people. It's going to affect a number of people, including those that she mentioned, the ones in that frequent the library, some of the downtown businesses that are located on those streets. If those spaces are not available for events like the pantry, like funerals, like the different events that most of the churches in our community hold, not just on Sundays. It's going to negatively impact the entire community. And even though my church is located on Madison, what's to mean? You know, we don't know where this is going to lead to. Are those few spaces going to be enough? Are they going to come down to Madison? We just had two funerals in the last two weeks and the hearses and um the other vehicles that they use from the the funeral companies, they park out on the street. We block off those spots for the funerals. And if I know the other churches do the same thing. Um, I just want you to keep in mind that there are a lot of people that will be impacted if those spaces are rented out. There are other places that we can go. We do have property that we currently lease out to the state for state parking spots. Could some of those be used? There are alternatives.

Could we park them somewhere else and have a shuttle? Just some things to keep in mind um where we don't have to take away the spots from the places that really truly use them and need them. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, that's all we had signed up to speak for tonight. We will move forward to item six, public hearings. Item 6A, pending bill 2025-054,

an ordinance of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, changing, amending, and modifying the zoning map of the zoning code of the city of Jefferson by reszoning.18 acres located at 320 East Miller Street from C1 Neighborhood Commercial to RA2 Highdensity Residential.

Mr. Thank you, mayor. Uh, the property is highlighted up on the screen. It's located on the south side of East Miller Street about 300 ft east of Monroe Street. As clerk read, this bill would reszone the property from its current designation of C1 neighbor commercial to an RA2 residential category. The purpose of the resoning request is to develop the property with a residential duplex. The planning zoning commission uh heard this request at their November 13th meeting and voted on a vote of six to zero recommendation for approval. I'd be happy to answer any questions the council may have prior to opening the public hearing.

Questions now? All right, we will go ahead and open the public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak on behalf of the request? Anybody here to speak in opposition to the request? All right, we'll go ahead and close the public hearing. Last council one additional time. Any questions? All right. You have pending bill 2025-054 in front of you for roll call vote. I Allan

I Hazelton I Peter Lester I Meie I Thomas I Young I bill passes. Great. Thank you. Item 6B, pending bill 2025-055, an ordinance of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, amending chapter 35, the zoning code with respect to setbacks and lot sizes for residential and mixed use zoning districts. Mr. Burn,

thank you, mayor. And this bill would amend the zoning code by reducing setbacks and lot sizes for the residential districts. essentially a recommend a result of recommendations of the 2022 housing study as well as the ongoing discussions within the community with respect to housing development. On the screen is the chart essentially where the the changes would would be made within the zoning code. The the primary changes are reduction of the front setback in the residential districts from its current 25 ft to a 20ft setback. reduction of side setbacks from 10 feet in most districts down to six feet and also a reduction of the rear setback and a general reduction of lot sizes and lot widths among the residential districts. So staff researched a number of other communities when uh putting together the details of this request and we believe that the amendments would bring our zoning code more in line with other communities that we researched. It would also better accommodate the current development trends within the community and bring lot sizes closer to some of their historical what they've been historically. The planning and zoning commission heard this request at the November 13th meeting and voted a recommendation of approval on a vote of six to zero. Within your packets are a number of items of positive correspondence from three different organizations within the community. I'd be happy to answer any questions the council may have prior to opening the public hearing.

Seeing none, we'll go ahead and open the public hearing. I had a comment. Is this a good time for a comment? Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I just want to say that um, Councilman Howerton and Councilwoman Julie and I, we worked on this and our uh, it was initiated due to feedback from the community and I continue to get positive feedback uh, from this. So, um, I look forward to supporting it tonight and I just want to ask my um, fellow council people to help me support this. Thank you, Councilman.

Uh, Councilwoman Young and Allen and Hosen, thank you for your work on this. Uh, I think this is also pretty well would be helpful in in our growth opportunities for housing in Jeff City. Uh we've had uh people from outside the city who want to develop in here uh come before the planning and zoning to to to ask for variances on our setbacks and all that that would help uh their the housing projects we have in here. And with some of the letters I think we're all kind of in agreement on how this can uh help and and add more houses to existing property. And it also mentioned too that it goes back to if you look at some of the old maps of Jeff City, the lot sizes back then and all that, how the city was founded. So, um, I've been in support of this. Thank you all for your work.

All right, we'll go ahead and open the public hearing. Anybody to speak in support of this request? Anybody to speak in opposition to the request? All right, we'll go ahead and close the public hearing. Any other questions or comments from council? All right, you've got pending bill 2025-055 in front of you for roll call. Allan. Hi Huzzleton. Hi Joe. Hi Dan. Peter. Hi Lester. Hi Michael. Hi Neely. Hi Thomas. Hi

Young. I passes. Thank you. Now 6 C pending bill 2025-056. An ordinance of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, amending chapter 35, the zoning code with respect to plan unit development review and approval procedures. Mr. B. Thank you, mayor.

So, as the clerk, this bill would amend the zoning code with edits to the PUD process contained within the zoning code, transforming its current two-step process, a preliminary PUD and a final PUD process into a simple one-step process. We believe that this amendment would provide a little bit more clarity with the PUD process without sacrificing the uh the public involvement component. It's important aspect of that process. The planning zoning commission heard this request at their November 13th meeting and voted on a vote of 6 to zero recommendation for approval. Uh there is one item of positive correspondence contained within your packets uh from a local organization. I'll be happy to answer any questions the council may have prior to opening the public hearing.

Would it be fair to say this council has kept the planning and zoning commission very active this year? Yes, it has. And uh a number of different housing projects and zoning edits and uh so yes, it's been a very active year. They've done a great job and they had a little challenge last week. They had to change the time of their meeting and they got a quorum. So, I appreciate all the work that they do. Councilman Hazelton, did you have a comment?

I I just wanted to say um flexibility uh flexibility guarantees adaptability and survivability. This is part of the way that we are adapting towards the uh new way of going forward, eliminating a lot of the red tape and procedures that aren't necessary and putting folks that are trying to get started in this community through extra procedures, hassles, whatnot. So, this is an excellent step forward. Thank you, Mr. Baron, for all the research and and homework that you've done on this and also uh the rest of your department, too. And thank you the rest of the council for your support on all these measures too. We've made 12 changes in the past two years. Is that about right?

I think so. I've kind of referred to this these two bills together as kind of being package number two and I believe package one had had something to the effect of six or seven changes within it. Um and that place I believe it was earlier this year. Oh, with any luck we'll be looking at package number three here in the coming year. Yeah. Thank you so much. Councilman Thomas.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, so this is cutting out a step and am I reading everything correctly that all other codes, zonings, etc. will apply. It doesn't change anything except take an extra meeting out of the mix.

Yes, that's correct. the the PUD process moving forward would mirror the existing preliminary PUD process. And so what what gets presented to to the council, to the planning, zoning commission, to the public would would essentially be the same. It's just removing the follow-up step that some developments have to go through, particularly subdivision oriented developments. uh removing that step which is somewhat redundant and confusing as it's essentially presenting the same information and seeking the same uh level of approval from the council.

Thank you. Um and I just want to reiterate uh Councilman Hustleton, thank you so much for the work that you're doing and planning and zoning wherever you are. um any steps that we're taking to make housing easier here in Jeff City is an absolute positive. So, thank you, Councilwoman Young. Uh I just want to join in. I forgot to thank planning and zoning and city staff as well. Uh you all were very instrumental in helping us to get to this point with the setback. So, thank you. Council M

just a quick question for staff. Would public notice go out at the same time in this revised process for impacted um properties? So there yes there would still be a public notification process associated with the PUD process. Uh as mentioned it would still mirror the preliminary PUD process and that there would still be public notification. PUD projects would still go through the planning and zoning commission for recommendation and city council for approval with uh with public hearings in front of both of those bodies. So uh we believe it's uh still retains the public notification input process. Uh that's one of the hallmarks of the PUD process.

Council, thank you mayor. Just a quick question. taking that step out, how much time did that will that save us roughly?

Uh to give a recent example, uh the Savannah Place subdivision uh recently came forward and was approved for their first section of development uh essentially uh takes that that threemonth process of application going in front of planning, zoning commission and going into city council removes removes that. Uh, in many cases though, they still have to go through a subdivision platting process. And so there's still subdivision plats that uh that would appear in front of you, but there's not a a mirror image public notification process associated with that second step. I hope that's a little clear.

Is there a specific amount of time? Is there excuse me, is there a specific amount of time you think that that saves us or just a process? Uh, it removes a process. Um and um you know the the redundancy associated with that. Um uh you know in in the case of projects that didn't have a subdivision associated with them and for one reason or another had to come forward for a second round of then then the answer would be three months. Thank you.

Okay. We will go ahead and open the public hearing. Is there anyone here to speak in support of this request? Anyone here to speak in opposition? All right, we'll close the public hearing. Any other comments or questions from council? Seeing none, we'll do a roll call vote on 2025-056. Hazelton. Hi Job. Hi Camper. Hi Lester. Hi Michael. Hi Millie. Hi Thomas. Hi Young. I Allan

I bill passes. All right. Item seven appointments by the mayor. You have three in front of you for action. Second. A motion and a second. All in favor? I any opposed? No.

All right. This is item 8. A recognize Jefferson City room. Believe there's some people here in matching sweatshirts. So, I don't know who wants to come forward. Everybody can come forward. Wow. I couldn't find my sweatshirt, so I wore the right color. Just identify yourself and welcome. We'll allow you to make comments. We'll see if there's any comments from council and then we'll get a quick picture and

Great. Uh my name is Sarah Hamilton. I am the chair of Jefferson City Room at the end. Thank you for having us. We've got the invitation from uh Councilman Mey and Councilman Lester. Um they are great supporters as is Councilman Camper and Councilwoman Allen. Um we are thankful for their service to the inn. Um so far this season, we have housed an average of 17.7 guests in the end. Um you know thereabouts. I never knew if I should round up or down, so I'll just go with specs. Um, so for us, especially over this past weekend, that's 17 lives saved. Um, we have 11 volunteers per night that make this happen. And we couldn't be more thankful for the support of the community because all of those volunteers come from the community. Um, and if they can't volunteer, they are more than generous with our supplies. we're having to be creative about where to put all of the supplies that we've been given. Um, so thank you for your support um and the ability to do this for the people of of this city.

Next, I I would just say this I would just say this is that

Yeah. Please identify yourself. My name is Carolyn Carolyn Soe. I'm on the um executive team for JC Ready and been involved since it started five years ago now. Well, that of course was earlier than that. What I want to say is when people come to volunteer, I think almost without fail, they discover how grateful are these people and how respectful of us and respectful of one another. Granted, there are exceptions, but if you come to volunteer, I believe that your your sense of who these people are could be radically affected. So, I'm grateful for anybody who comes to volunteer. Um, thank you.

Thank you. I'm good. John sees also on the executive committee for Jefferson City Room at the end. And I just want to encourage you if you have it on your heart to volunteer. I'd be glad to talk with you what the shifts look like. And I guarantee that by volunteering you will reap benefits more than than the guests even get. It's a really um fulfilling ministry that we're a part of. And I'd be glad to answer any questions as the season goes on. We will need you. Thank you. Thanks. Okay. The others decline. We'll see if there's any comments from council. Councilwoman Young,

I just wanted to say I saw the Miss Sache on the news last week speaking about the room at the end. I've known it for a while what you all do and I just want to personally thank you all. I it really touched me last week when the weather uh was dropping and the temp was dropping. But I did see on some communities where the rooms and um in the end organizations are looking at daytime hours for the residents. Is that somewhere we're moving toward here in this community? I can answer that. Do you want to answer that question? Okay, you can do it. I can do it, but you're fine.

The Jefferson City room at the end is part of the uh falls under the umbrella of housing the community, Jefferson City. And we have hopes, plans, dreams for a uh what we call a day center or a dropin center. Um open doors. Okay.

I should have invited you. Okay. Um we've had plans put in place and then fallen through multiple times. Um we're looking for the appropriate place to do that. Um that's been our biggest issue is finding a place um where we won't alienate our neighbors um but can still be of service to um the the population that we need to be in service to. So we're hoping to get there um with several others help including some of the folks that have already spoken. So um hopefully soon. Again I just want to say thank you all personally and I uh hope to be able to come over and join you one day. Please do. Thank you. Council woman now.

Is that okay? Okay.

Thank you for being here. And like you said, uh when you do volunteer, you realize that uh we're all just people. And um I want to especially thank you all and the downtown churches and any other churches that really spend time um working with a hand alongside individuals who need help. If you've ever been near homelessness before, you realize uh like I have been when I was young, you realize that uh if but for the grace of God, I had not had a helping hand, I don't know where I'd be today. So, I truly appreciate your work and um haven't yet volunteered, but I I look forward to seeing you some point this year. We'll save you a spot.

All right. Well, if you want to come around, we'll get counsel I'm sorry, I didn't see your hand up. Council me, I just want to say thank you and thank you to the the six of you and then to every other volunteer that is part of the organization that spends time helping people in our community. Thank you for the Yeah. I'll try that picture.

Okay. Hotel We need to make room for the mayor. That work? But it's been two weeks. I haven't done I know they haven't done it in a while. All right. Okay. One, two, three.

Great. Thanks. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Christmas. Thanks again for being here. You're welcome to stay. If you have to leave, you're welcome to make your way out as well. Thanks again. Item 8B is presentation approval of the 2026 Garrison City Convention and Visitors Bureau budget. I think I saw a good friend here.

I'm here.

Hey, thank you very much. Um, thank you for allowing me to come tonight to share our budget for 2026. Um, you should have it on your iPads. I submitted to you um the comparison of our 2526 for for you to be able to reference. Um so as you know we are funded by the lodging tax the 3%. So that is the only funding that we do receive. So our mission is to put heads and beds and to bring events into our community that will stay at hotels short-term rentals to generate some lodging tax and also additional sales tax revenues for our community. So I'll kick off our revenue. Um, so for 2026, we're going with a 10% increase at $696,269. That is 10% over our 2024 actuals is what we referred that off of. Um, NDTM MMG co-op that is through the division of tourism. It's a co-op funding program. It's a 5050% for us to help increase our advertising. And so we will receive $96,000 off of that program. AEC fundraiser, that's our athletic events committee that we do two annual fundraisers a year. Uh the money that is generated off that helps bring sporting events into the community with sponsorships. And we did do a little bit of a decrease at 21,500. Uh we are moving our February event out to special um special Olympics training for life campus that we hope we will be able to increase ticket sales that way. But again that event and our prison break are both in months where we could be impacted by weather. So we finally said okay let's be a little bit real here on what our numbers could look like look like. Excuse me. uh prison tour ticket sales, we did a 10% increase and that is based on our revenue this year.

So, we're looking at $690,000 in prison tour revenues. Uh miscellane revenue did do a decrease on that because we moved some of our numbers around. Uh JC promotional items, these are items that are sold over at MSP and in our office and we did do a an increase on that one. uh we're looking at 114,500 and miscellaneous revenue is at 19,975 for a total 1,727,726 and it's a 9.91% increase. Any questions on revenue? Councilman Thomas. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

Hi. Hi. How are you? Good. So I'm looking at I mean the numbers that you have here is this 2025 budget proposed 2026 and in room room room tax for example the 10% increase what was 24 versus 25. Have you done 10%? No we have not. We've normally done a 3% increase and when we went and did that I did the budget based on 3% and then I went back and looked at our actuals for this year and we were way over those. So I was like, "Okay, how do you do that?" So then since we didn't have all of 25 in yet, we went with our 24 numbers. Okay. So

give us something to at least go off of. So the 632 for 25 is what you budgeted. It's not actual correct. That is our budgeted number. Can you tell us kind of a the ballpark of where you're Yeah. So for October of 3, October 31, we're currently at 633,969. And keep in mind that's two months back. Noted. Thank you. And then uh MSP advertising I noticed is a highly reduced number. We haven't gotten to the expenses yet. So I'll I'll stand down. I'll stand down for now.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

Okay. So, we'll move on into expenses. And I'm just going to highlight the ones that I think you might have questions. If not, feel free to ask ask. Um on the administrative um expenses, line item 6320, telephone and facts. We did uh lower that. We did change our provider and so um it is costing us less for those services at this time. Travel expenses, I did reduce that. Some of the conferences that we will be attending um this coming year are more in a driving range for us to go to. So those expenses have been reduced. MSP credit card fees um that was an increase 37.86% increase. However, just last week, we are moving our ticketing service to a new company and we foresee that expense possibly dropping some but don't have actuals at this time. Graphic and creative design, I did do an increase on that. We have uh new destination videos that are being proposed. So, we have creative and the actual production into that um line item. print print advertising um did do a 47% decrease in that and you will see later on where we have picked that number up. Um this is a new item that we added last year on 6480 which is miscellaneous marking projects. So since we have to have our budget done fairly early there are a lot of lastm minute projects that come up that we don't have funding maybe reserved for. So, by being able to put a lump sum into that, it allows us to make those lastm minute advertising purchases that that in the past we maybe didn't have funds for or we had to delete something to be able to pick up that. So, it just kind of gave us some wiggle room. Uh, worked very well for us this year. We were able to

pick up Brand USA, which was a co-op pro program through the Division of Tourism. It was a $24,000 investment. ended up costing us right around $1,600 after we got reimbursed from the division of tourism. And this is for the FIFA event coming in this year. Um, so it will be a live website that we will be able to keep updated. So it's evergreen. Um, so we felt like it was a good investment on our part, but by having that money in that line item allowed us to do that. Market research I have reduced. we have access to uh division of tourism and they have an incredible amount of research that we can use them as that resource. Um so we piggy back onto that promotion and publicity. Uh we have increased that amount. We've working with the downtown association on doing an electronic touchscreen um kiosk in the downtown area. So we pulled some money into that item to to be able to do that this year. sponsorships. So, sponsorships are a big deal to me. Um, we moved a lot of money out of trade shows in the past because we have people in this community or surrounding communities that want to bring events to the community and but to be able to do that, they might need some additional dollars to help put those events on. So, we found that our money was being better used of being able to provide them sponsorships than traveling to some of these larger trade shows that were trying to convince people to come to Jefferson City where we have people that are sitting here wanting to bring events. So, we have increased that expenses have grown as you all know that. So, that'll give us some additional funding on that end. Uh marketing promo added a little extra dollars in there. It's increase in services for some of these groups coming here. Uh we provide shuttle service for like the big big bam event that comes twice a year uh the camps and we bring

them over here to eat in our restaurants and the shuttle services have gone up ex gone up a lot so we need some coverage on that end of it. Digital marketing we've moved some of the print advertising more into digital this year. Um and that's where the creative and the um is going to play into that digital side of it. Um, athletic events expenses. These are expenses that we help bring events into the community. As I've said before, um, a lot of those expenses are for state track. In addition to state track, we will be hosting the national homeschool track meet at Lincoln in May. So, we will have some additional expenses there. So, that is why we've increased that line item. So, those are kind of the ones I I saw an increase that you thought you might have some questions, but I'm willing to answer any questions at the end.

Questions Thomas. Thank you again, Mr. Mayor. I was just noting the MSP advertising line was down about 20,000, which seemed like a pretty large drop. And I'm assuming that then is getting picked up with the increases in outdoor graphics etc. So I just wanted to make sure my assumption was correct.

You're you're right. And I I do want to clarify that on the MSP expenses we keep two different funds. We have the lodging tax in one fund that f funds CVB and general marketing. And then we have the MSP fund and that is all ticket revenue promotional items that go into that um into that account that pays for all of our MSP advertising. So no lodging tax is being used for the MSP advertising. So if we start seeing that our ticket sales are not happening, we may have to cut back on advertising if the revenue is not there. But we do keep those two separate. Thank you, Mr. Gillespie. Appreciate everything you do.

Thank you, Councilwoman Young. Then Councilman. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think my question is further down. I apologize for that, but I have a question coming up. Okay. Yeah, mine was on line 6800. That's that's where I was. Exactly. That's where I was, but we're not there yet. Right. We can go there if you want to go there. You go ahead. I think we're on the same wavelength then. Yes. I just noticed that it was doubled uh this year and I was just waiting to hear an explanation of our

projected revenues and expenses and that may that may adjust on that part depending how much money. So the MOU that we have with the state is any um net profits that are made off the tour. So we pay for our tour guides, we pay all expenses, insurance, um janitorial services, everything out of the MSP fund and then any remaining funds go into MSP preservation. So then that goes into a separate account and that's what we're assuming that we will be able to move over into the MSP reserve account at the end of the year. But again, that'll adjust based on actual revenues coming in.

Understood. Thank you. We're on the same length. Okay. Why don't we allow Miss Gillette to finish and then we'll go back for any questions that Sure. that everyone may have. Um well, we about finished up. Um office equipment and computers. Um pretty much the same as in the past MSP preservation projects. We do have the 214,900 in there. And then we also have a transfer from from reserves of 10,000. Again, based on revenues, we may not be able to do that or we may not have to do take it from the reserves. Uh we'll make those adjustments when we see revenue numbers coming in.

All right. I think Councilman Helen had his hand up and then Councilwoman Allen. Councilman. Uh, thank you for coming out. Sure. Um, so I do know that in this last year the high street live events have been curtailed. I was wondering does visitors convention have a a hand in restoring that or maybe bringing that back in the next year?

That's an event that is uh put on by the downtown business association. I do know they have had some discussion of trying to bring those back down and what they would look like. Uh we held the one uh the big birthday bash over at the mill bottom that Molly was involved with. It was very successful and so it was even questioned could that also be a location that we could maybe have an event for. So I know there is some discussion going on to bring those events down and what and what will that look like? And I think I think it's fair to say that they backed off of some of them I believe because of everything we had. Yes. For the city's bsentennial. Correct. Yes. Yeah. I I think it's fair discussion for them to have

Yes. 426. Counciloman, I'm sorry. Were you done? Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Miss Gi. Council, thank you. I want to say a couple things is I know a lot of people in the city don't realize how much work you all do both in our sporting events that come here and bringing uh as you say, heads to beds. and I've been able to see a lot of your marketing work and you do do a lot of analysis on your marketing work to see how it is working. So, I appreciate that. Yes. Tell me a little bit about your reserves, what you have in that and what would necessitate a transfer.

You know, um Carol Burkehead is our accountant and I'm going to ask her to step up here and um address that because you know when she gets in the big numbers I let her take over. So, thank you and welcome. If you could just identify yourself for folks at home. Thank you. Come in with us.

Thank you very much. I'm Carol Burkhead and I've been the accountant uh for the CBB for probably 25 years. It's been a really long time. Uh Diane has been one of my favorite executive directors. I will have to say that. She's done a spectacular job and actually pulled forward um the MSP tours in a really big fashion. they were not quite as large when she came and she did a great job of moving those words. So, um when when we first started on the books, we really didn't have any reserves at all in the CBB budget. Um and so she's worked really hard on that. Right now, we have um a pretty good reserve. We we actually have a number of CDs actually that we've been able to do. And so we're looking at oh gosh um probably a half a million dollars total that we're able to um to work with on some of those large projects pulling in and out. Um of course it fluctuates down sometimes maybe there's only 350 but we're doing a pretty good job of of keeping those reserves in in line. That's not including the MSP reserves. Um those sit probably a little bit closer to um a million dollars$1.2 $2 million um for some of those really large projects.

So, thank you. I appreciate it. And especially MSP reserves, you never know with the prison site what's going to happen. So, yes, we did have to do um some pretty big work over there after the tornado hit. And some of those um projects are a half a million dollars, million dollars. And so, um, it sounds like a lot of reserves, but they can go pretty quickly. No, that's right. So, I assume you have policies around your reserves and how you would use them, that type of thing. You don't have to go into detail. I just want to I'm sure you do, but I just want to confirm that. Yes, we do. Okay. Thank you, Council Wel.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just MSP restoration. You obviously identified a little bit of funds there. And I say a little bit. I say that prematurely just simply to state that there's probably some big number amounts to make repairs over there. And I know how intrical the the tours are. Um could they are they being impacted by maybe the lack of resources in order to res properly restore or make areas safer?

Yes. Um, you know, we're waiting to see if OA submits anything or the governor submits anything in their budget for 2026 27, I guess it would be. Um, last May when we lost the 20 million, we also lost the 15 million that was to go to MSP and that would have been used for preservation. So, um, I'm still hoping that there will be some funds to, um, be able to help take care and preserve MSP. Um, I think the only way it's really going to survive for the future is for it to become a state park. Um, and would hope that that could happen in the future. And if that would, then that opens us up for some a grant opportunities that right now we cannot get because it is stateowned properties. So, um, you know, I'm still working it and still hope we can get some funds and and keep the project, you know, going. I see how important it is um not just to our normal visitors but to the youth. Um the amount of of kids that we take through that tour every year is keeping the history of of Jefferson City and Missouri alive.

Yeah, I asked that question for the benefit of everyone sitting here tonight and of course our staff and mayor and council as well as people online. um how important that facility is not just from the historical standpoint but as a visitor and tourism piece to our city. Um we need to pull as many levers as we possibly can pull to bring tourism to Jefferson City. That's one of them. One very important one.

You know, the visitors that we have um each year, about 25% of them indicate that they spend the night in Jefferson City. And be before that, I was told Jefferson City really didn't have a strong anchor to bring visitors in and tour the capital and a reason for them to stay overnight. And that MSP was the one that kind of helped tie that in together. Um, since I've come on board, I've seen it grow up to about 25%.

Thank you for your advocacy for our historic MSP. Absolutely. history needs advocacy and and that's a small piece or I shouldn't say small but that's a you know a large piece of what CBD does CBU does but I think um I was very wise of CBB to do the advertisement on 70 in the last several years and get some of those tourism dollars in Jeff City. Thanks. Yeah, you bet. Thank you. All right. I just wanted to ask you to go back cover one comment you made. You indicated that there's a new group coming to town. Yes.

And I think it just shows the importance of our community being engaged in what we're doing in the partnership because I think it was an individual that helped pull that meeting to our community and creates opportunities for a lot of people. Yes. Absolutely. Pull opportunities here.

Yeah. Matt Clamp Clement was um became the event coordinator for that event. It had been held in Bolivar. Um that gentleman retired and he took it over and said, "I wanted to be in Jefferson City every year." So, it is a state track meet. It's a national track meet about 1,400 youth will come in for this as homeschoolers. So, families will be traveling with them. And the great thing is that it happens during the week. It's a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. and then we roll into state track for two weekends. So May is going to be track Jefferson City. So be prepared. But yeah, we're very excited about it and we partnered with Lincoln University. Um it wouldn't have happened if we couldn't have gotten access to Lincoln University's uh facility to be able to use it for that.

A close friend of mine is Mayor Baler, a pharmacist. So please do not celebrating. Don't tell him. They may not know yet that it's moved. So, don't say anything to me. Don't put that in the paper either. Seeing no other questions, we are going to need a motion to address this budget. Motion to approve. Seconded. We got a motion and a second. They're jumping at the I like it. All in favor? Any opposed? Thank you very much. Thank you and merry Christmas, guys. Have a good holiday season.

Thank you. All right. Item nine, announcements, administration. Councilman Outers. Next meeting is scheduled for January 7th, 2026, 4 p.m. across the hall. Finance Council. Good, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. December 17th, uh, which is after tomorrow, uh, up next door at 4 p.m. and public safety council. Yes. Our next meeting will be January 29th, 3:30 police training. So, you backed off at Christmas Day. Yeah, we have a December meeting.

Thank you very much. and public works and planning Councilman Webster. Uh it will be January 8th uh 26 at 7:30 hearing. Council Chambers and Councilwoman Allen, you have a announcement comment. I do. Councilman Michael and I tomorrow night at HIV will doing we'll be doing a battle of the bells for the Salvation Army from 4:30 to 6:30. We hope you will come out and support the Salvation Army and you know you could give me a dollar instead of Councilman Michael if you want to but regardless just just come out and support us. Thank you.

Any other announcements? Council member uh provided that there is something on the agenda and January 8th planning and zoning 5:15. All right. Any other? Okay. Texas item 10, consent agenda. There's six items in front of you. Move to approve. Second. Motion and a second. All in favor? I.

Any opposed? All right. Bills introduced item 11. 11 A 2025-060. In ordinance of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute the agreement of new singular wireless PCS AT&T LLC for lease of a property for cell tower located on Ellis Porter Park.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, as the city clerk uh mentioned, this bill would authorize a lease with New Singular Wireless uh for a initial 10-year lease uh with four successive 5-year renewals for potential of a 30-year lease uh for that t cell tower to be constructed in Ellis Porter Park. Um this improvement would enhance cellular service on the east side, also benefiting our pool staff, park users, as well as amphitheater staff and patrons. and then also generate additional revenue for the departments. Um, so we're excited to hit the finish line on this one. It's been on the uh in the books and in the works for quite some time. So, we're very excited. Yeah, I'd be happy to answer any questions.

Any questions?

Mr. Mayor, I'd like to put this before the council for a vote. You're asking to suspend the rules. Yes, sir. suspend the rules. Put it to the council for a vote, please. Is there any opposition to suspension of the rules? Seeing none, we'll have the clerk read the bill again. An ordinance of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute an agreement with New Singular Wireless PCS AT&T LLC for lease for property for a cell tower located in Ellis Porter Park. All right. You have 2025-060 in front of you for vote. Is there any other comments or questions? All right. We'll do a roll call vote. Job.

Hi. Camper. Hi. Lester. Hi. Michael. Hi. Neely. Hi. Thomas. Hi. Young. Hi. Hollers. Hi. Allen. Hi. Hazelton. Hi. Bill passes. All right. 2025-061, an ordinance of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, amending the 2024 2025 budget of the city of Jefferson, Missouri by supplementally appropriating additional funds from the general fund, parks fund, airport fund, parking fund, transit fund, and wastewater fund to the workers compensation fund.

Mr. grant. Um, this bill would approve a supplemental appropriation for a total of $500,000. We've received final figures for our workers compensation. We have had many workers comp claims this year, so we are short in that fund. Uh, essentially what's before you in the exhibit would break that $500,000 down by fund. Um, so your exhibit actually contains total costs for general fund, parks, airport parking, transit, and wastewater. Moving all of those funds into the workers comp fund. Um, the breakdown is actually based on the workers comp classification for all uh employees on our personnel schedule and it's essentially done by a percentage breakdown by fund. Um, we are attempting to clean up FY25, which is what this would be. And so I am requesting a suspension of rules if Councilman Michael would bring that forward.

I'd be happy to answer any questions. Council Michael, you've been requested. Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor, I'd like to put this on the floor for a vote and I'd like to uh suspend the rules. Is there any opposition to the suspension of the rules? All right. We'll ask the clerk to read it again, then we'll open it back up if there are any comments or questions. An ordinance of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, amending the 204 2025 budget of the city of Jefferson, Missouri by supplementally appropriating additional funds from the general fund, parks fund, airport fund, parking fund, transit fund, and wastewater fund to the workers compensation fund.

All right, you have 2025-061 in front of you. Any questions or comments? All right, we'll do a roll call vote. Camper. Hi, Lester. I like Michael. Hi. Mey. Hi. Thomas. Hi. Young. Hi. Hollers. Hi. Allan. I Hazelton. Hi. Joe. Hi. Bill passes. Right. We'll continue on bills being introduced. 2025-0162. An ordinance of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, modifying and amending various funds related to parking. Mr. Brimmer, welcome.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yes, this bill was heard by public works and planning and recommended for approval tonight. Uh primarily um this bill increases the parking fine. So, the amount paid if you exceed your parking limit for uh our typical uh where we have meters downtown. Uh if you exceed that that time period, uh presently it's a $6 fine. um in most areas and this would this would increase that fine to $25. There's an assortment of other of other fines that uh it's proposing to take from from its current fine amount which is various ones that's in your bill package today. Uh and standardizing our fines for exceeding parking time for parking where where parking is is restricted presently. So uh this bill also um better defines what parking meter uh stands for what it is in our parking code to modernize it uh for u existing uh app appbased services that our parking operator uh uses. So, it also does that. And um and uh we have a meter bagging fee that if a contractor is doing work downtown, uh it adjusts that that rate as well. Um if there's any questions, I'll be glad to ask. I will say that this this fee um our parking operator PCI has recommended this primarily uh with Madison Street garage as you all know is is uh it's impending demolition next uh early next month. um with with that demolition and the displace parkers in the garage. Um it it will allow them to better

handle uh operations of parking downtown and and trying to trying to create the the turnover uh that's necessary uh in the downtown area. Um, so I would would also like to remind folks is if you remember when you guys reviewed PCI's um contract, uh PCI is not uh in directly incentivized on uh collecting on collecting parking fines. Uh so this recommendation is is doesn't go directly in their in their pocket. it it's they're they're not incentivized to produce those those fines. Uh they're they're uh so just wanted to make sure that that that was that you all remember that from from our contract that we have. So if there's any questions, be glad to try to answer

questions or comments. Councilwoman Allen. So, um, you you're talking about incentivizing people to not park where there's a minimum fine and they just stay there for multiple hours or for a day, that type of stuff. Is that what you're talking about?

Correct. Correct. And in our metered areas, uh, most of them in the downtown area, not all, but most of them, uh, 35 cents is the hourly rate. And uh so if you exceed the 2hour uh time limit in that parking area and and the meter expires uh right now you'd be you'd pay $6 and a and a and the fine amount for exceeding that limit and with this bill it would be $25. So we do have instances at times where employees or other individuals may come to the capital and they may stay well past the metered time is what you're saying. And of course human nature I'll just admit it. I know that the fine $6. It it is a minimal amount. And so back way before I was on the council, you know, I can I remember saying, "Well, it's not a very big fine." I was very surprised that the fine was that small. But um so you're trying to incentivize compliance.

Correct. Yeah. With the legislative season coming up, I mean, you're exactly right. There's many that that that uh do work either at the capital or elsewhere downtown that that may have a parking place in in a in another lot somewhere. Uh but because the limited time uh the limited fines that we have right now, uh they take the fine and park on the street and it's not great enough turnover. So in theory and in practicality, it should help those of us who have regular businesses or churches or other facilities in the sense that it should hopefully help us keep from having people parking in spaces for long term that really do not have the authority to park in that space.

Correct.

Okay. So then um I know you talked about in public works too that there is an intent at least initially to give warnings on the first time so that people start knowing uh I know you can't do that you know five years out or whatever but that initially you will be doing some warnings to help educate people. So, I have had I have had contacts and I know probably others had where they're concerned that all of a sudden, you know, we all try to follow the law and those of us who try to follow the law, we're concerned that two minutes that go by and all of a sudden we have to pay $25, but you're, you know, TCI is going to work on the education part and trying to um give a chance for somebody with this being brand new.

Correct. Correct. We uh we realize that some the best advertisement, you know, maybe the wrong wrong word in this case, but the the best education that we can do is is is uh at least that that first time, trying to trying to educate them and encourage that compliance because that's really what we want. We want we want to make sure that that compliance happens and and we're not collecting that fee, that fine. Um because we're we want that turnover. We want that ability for for folks to come in and enjoy downtown. Um but yes, there PCI is more than willing to do exactly what you said.

Okay. And really separate and apart from the fine, we've heard a little bit today about people concerned about the downtown like the churches and those areas and that's something that I'm assuming we will look into and can talk about a little bit. Yeah. So we can look look at those in detail.

I just want to say one other thing too. I've assured people that first of all, you know, there are so many complexities to the parking situation right now with the garage. It has to come down. It is unsafe. It has to come down. And so for at least two years, we're going to have parking that has to happen on the streets. So there are a lot of complexities to that. In addition, we really haven't modernized our parking practices or standards or fees for probably 20 years or so. So, um, what I've assured people is if you have a problem, if you see something, let us know. And, you know, if we're doing it wrong, we'll work to fix it. Uh, hopefully we'll get it all 100% right, but with the complexities, there may be some things we'll have to adjust and we are more than willing to look at that honestly. So, thank you,

Councilwoman Young. everything J said Job and then Councilwoman Thomas. Thank you. So, um when the churches have special events, are they able to purchase the parking meter covers or is that only for people with permits who are working in the area? Just if they wanted to reserve parking for an event, do they have a a means to do that?

Yeah. Pre present presently, uh, yes, the answer is yes.

Okay. Um, and then I just personally have received a lot of feedback from it going from $6 to $25. Um, I mean, I look at the whole table and I understand kind of evening things out, but there is a lot of public concern with that jump. Um, were any ideas discussed of maybe making that less of an increase? So in this case we we really took our our operators experience and uh what they see as industry industry standard and uh what they what they are doing in other communities and what works and so uh the $25 is is per the recommendation. Uh we did not look at at any other dollar figure because we're we're uh we have them we have them um in town doing work here. So Congressman Thomas and Congressman Ken.

So Mr. Bremer, um, with all the technology and everything that PCI is bringing, um, if someone wants to say, well, I was only 2 minutes late. Is there any way to will there be any way to verify that? So, they PCI operate, they have license plate readers. So they'll when they come by and and uh read the license plates, you know, the first time and the next time, they'll be able to see, you know, when they read you the first time, when they read you the second time, and and see if you were 2 minutes late or two hours late.

Okay. Because I know one of the concerns, like everybody else here, um that I've been hearing from residents is, you know, I'm just a minute late. It's going to be $25. And I just I would encourage a lot more education and communication with the public about it because I totally understand the need for it. Um, and the fact that we're really behind the times in terms of updating sooner our pricing, etc. Um, but the public perception is that that the city and PCI are are profiting off of this unnecessarily, which is pretty far from the truth. So, just want to make that clear. Thank you, sir. Cam, Peter, uh, just from experience working uptown, um, I believe the $25 is is great because every day there's cars that will be parked on High Street. Well, High Street's in East Capital. They're not metered, but there's a sign that says, you know, 2-hour parking, three-hour parking, and then they're all day every day. Um, and so they're either not getting a ticket or they're just paying the 12, $6, $12 and it's not bothering them. So now it's going to be 25 or 50. Um, I think a lot of people that you hear talking about it are not up on East Capital or up town every day and sees the same cars in the same spots every day. Um, and so if you want to park up town, I mean, we've got to move people along or they have to, you know, pay the thing. It's no different than if you get a speeding ticket. If you're one over, you know, you're still going to get you could get a ticket. If you're one minute late, you're you know, you're going to get a fine. It's no difference. So, I'm I'm 100% for it. Councilwoman

Young,

I just wanted to ask because it has been expressed to me the concern over the fees although my thoughts are with uh as I said with those have been expressed but uh can you tell me how this increase in fees compared to other cities um this size? Yes, that that's um I can I can really only tell you what what PCI uh the the customers or or the the communities that PCI runs because that's what they they based off of. So like the city of Omaha is is $25. Uh I believe the city of um city of Columbia uh which obviously BCI does not run that one but but uh just north of us they are uh around $15 for the fine. I think uh there's some court costs and things like that that that uh that increase that. Um again with in our case that with with the Madison Street garage

and the decreased volume you know of of you know there was over uh you know close to you 500 and you know 90 parking spaces in that garage I believe and with that uh that go the garage going down uh that kind of creates a special case uh for us right now. Thank you. That's I just want that for the record. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. PCI reflects these fees, right? These late fees or parking fees, right?

Right. They they uh they do the initial collection of of uh uh parking meters to uh or the app based uh spots and and what but what we're talking about today is the fine amounts. Yeah. So, so how do they collect those fines? Like if somebody's parked there all day and they got a $25 fine, they don't come in this week, next week, week after to pay it and continue to park somewhere. Maybe they get additional fees. How do they chase that down? They are they are ticketed on the vehicle.

So once they're paid, how they how do they chase it down? So if they if they don't so if they don't pay it then then uh they they uh either through our prosecutor or collections um

yeah I might just add it's it's all through their license plate. So if it's the same license plate it'll track through that license plate number. It'll be like going to a toll and getting a bill from it.

Um I might save some of my comments for when this is second read if we have any public interest. But um the city of Columbia is 1550 if paid within 15 days. Clear that up. My question I guess tonight would be related to the the method of payment. So if I get a ticket based on the contract that this body approved, the ticket is paid through a vendor's website. Correct. They the ticket is paid with their application. Okay. Is there any processing fee with that on top of the ticket price?

Yes. What is that processing fee? I mean, I can go look if you don't know that it's top your head, but um off the top of my head, I can't think of what it is. I have to go look at it. Probably similar to an industry standard of 3 or 4%.

So, so it's more than 25. Um what? So then then once they collect the 20 I think this is where the question was going. Once they collect the $25, the remittance of that fine is submitted to the city by PCI proportionately based on the contract. Is that right? So they they keep a portion of revenues and then pay and then the city collects a portion of of that revenue.

I don't know if I totally understand your question. They they PCI has paid a base fee for operations and then a percentage over over what is um collected uh for um you know our parking lots, our standard rates for our parking parking permits, our parking lots, our parking meters, but but it does not include parking fines. So, okay. So, the full 25 is remitted to the city and then I think the contract is a quarterly basis of Okay. All right. Thanks, Councilman Thomas.

I'm sorry to drag this out some more. Uh, Mr. Bmer, do you know um because I know I've been communicating with PCI just as a resident, you know, how do I pay a fine and they're referencing the the app? If someone wanted to just mail a check in, do you know is that possible or does it have to go through the app? Um PCI um I believe I I will double check with them, but I think that they they have the mailing address um on the on the

citation itself. So I believe it can be mailed in, but uh I will I'll double check. I know that that there is a flux, you know, they are in flux right now given that the the existing uh location of of where their offices is actually in the Madison Street garage and uh so they will be displaced here um here shortly uh to to uh uh city hall and then uh from there they they they will uh get a different office. So, uh, that address will have to be continuously updated here in the near future as we are in a in a flex time period. But for the benefit of our, uh, taxpayers that that'd like to feed quarters into the machine, etc. They do not necessarily have to use the app to pay a fine should one occur. And I understand you need to clarify that.

Thank you, sir. Council, just just for reference, Fulton's illegal parking violation fine is $20. Thank you. All right, seeing no other comments, we will move to item 2025-063. Bills introduced amending the 2024 2025 budget by creating two full-time street maintenance worker positions within the Department of Public Works while increasing the street cuts revenue account. Mr. B.

Yes. Uh this bill um as mentioned will will add two street maintenance workers uh back into the street division. As you recall, uh we reclassified two positions um in in our last in our 2025 budget uh to compensate uh for our rideway management. uh they're they're required. Uh there was a need for three rightaway uh construction inspectors and our rideway management uh side of things and and to react quickly, we reclassed two street maintenance workers uh to to those positions. Um we also modified our fees um recently which uh let's say five six months ago and um uh in your packet you will see the the uh uh kind of how those how our new fee is is uh what it's bringing in. Uh last year we had we had budgeted $35,000 approximately. Um and uh from when we changed that fee four or five months ago uh to presently we are we are now um collecting $50,000 last budget cycle. Um fast forward that to um this next year, we anticipate the collections to to be about $300,000. And uh that again that goes to support u not only the construction inspectors that that were added last year uh but also the administrative staff that that uh um helps guide that work. So there's some questions that answer.

Councilman Thomas. I can't think of anything more important than our street maintenance people and therefore I make a motion to suspend the rules tonight and forward this for approval. Is there any opposition to suspending the rules? Hearing none, I'll have the clerk read the bill again. amending the 2024 2025 budget by creating two full-time street maintenance worker positions within the Department of Public Works while increasing the street cut revenue accounts.

All right, any other comments? All right, you have 2025- CO you have a comment? Sure. Um, I just want to say too, thank you for this work. Um, our streets are important and our workers are important to us and so I really appreciate your work on this. All right. Got 2025-063 in front of you for roll call. Lester, I Mey. Thomas. Hi Young. I Allan. Hi Joe.

Hi Camper. Hi. Bill passes. All right. Takes us item 12 pending bills. We've already done 054 055 056. So that takes us to item B 2025-057. An ordinance of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, amending the 2025 2026 annual budget of the city of Jefferson, Missouri by appropriating additional funds within the police department fund. Chief,

thank you. In January of this year, one of our vehicles from our patrol fleet was involved in a traffic accident and the uh result was a day-to-day complete loss. So, the insurance proceeds um the city received in the amount of $40,331.50, we are requesting um to utilize that fund or those those dollars uh towards the purchase of the new police vehicle to replace the uh the damaged one. So, I'll be happy to answer any questions if you have. All right, seeing none, we'll do a roll call vote 25-057. Lelie, I

Thomas, I Young, I Allan, I Joe. I Cam Peter, I Lester, I Bill passes. All right. 2025-058. An ordinance an ordinance designating a portion of the city of Jefferson, Missouri as a redevelopment area. Approving the downtown conference center and hotel downtown revitalization preservation program redevelopment plan. Making findings related there too. Approving a redevelopment project for the redevelopment area and adopting a downtown revitalization preservation program with respect there too and authorizing certain actions by city officials.

Mr. Crane. Yes. Thank you, Mayor Mark Spikerman with Gilmore Bells on and he's going to go through the summary. Welcome. Thank you. Can you hear me? We can. Thanks for being here.

Great. The uh this was uh the subject of a public hearing and introduction of the bill two weeks ago. This is the redevelopment plan which uh is the first step in participating in the state's downtown revitalization preservation program. The purpose of participating in that program is to access uh state sales tax that could be generated from the uh future hotel conference center project. basically capture that future sales tax, use it to be able to pay off uh bonds that go to finance the uh the construction of the project along with other uh city and special taxing district taxes and and hotel revenues. I'm happy to um if you want me to walk through the plan again, I'm happy to do that or I'm happy to answer questions, whatever you prefer.

I think we're good. We'll try to see if there's any questions and that may spark some need, but we'll see where where the questions lead us. Councilman Thompson. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Spikeman, um we're approving a lot of special taxes and applying for some state relief here. Basically with this particular issue, what happens if the taxes don't come in as projected? the um in in our overall financing plan, the taxes uh that we're talking about, both the uh sales taxes that could be redirected as part of this plan as well as the special taxing districts uh would be pledged to a series of bonds that would not be guaranteed by the city. Uh so the city wouldn't have any uh should those taxes be less than anticipated and not able to cover the bonds, the city would not necessarily have to reach into other sources to cover those bonds.

Not necessarily or not. It it would be your choice. Meaning meaning not legally required to do so. Thank you. I just I want to make sure that this conference center as built etc um a is very successful but in the off chance it's not I just want to make sure that our taxpayers understand that that we're not legally responsible to to cover the back end so to speak. That's a true statement. You confirm that?

That is true. Yes. And and I will note um the the guidance we've gotten from the city's financial advisor is that uh these bonds would be written at a uh underwritten at a 1.75 coverage ratio, which means there'd be basically projected $1.75 for every dollar needed to to pay the bonds. So that's a that's a very large co coverage ratio. there's a large margin of error there uh that the bonds could still be supported and and revenues come in much less than anticipated which of course we don't hope to ever be the case but absolutely we're covered there. Thank you sir.

Thank you Mr. Mayor. Just just a point maybe to add to that. If if the city if for whatever reason uh taxes coming in as um forecasted or projected um it would be up to to the city to determine if they wanted to pay the shortages. Correct. That that's what you just said. But but they'd also if they chose not to there could be an effect to to to their borrowing capability or the rating that the city would have. Is that true?

So the um is the question then if these bonds were to go into default would it affect the city's credit rating? Yes.

Yeah. That um that's a tough question to answer. Um, we've seen it occur both ways. I mean, these these bond documents will be written in a way that makes it clear that the city has no obligation to do so. Um there is a uh uh city in Illinois um a year or two ago uh that that did receive a credit downgrade when they chose not to uh to come out of pocket to pay bonds. Uh the industry I mean that I would suggest you you talk you know more about that scenario with your financial adviser at Piper Sandler. Very good. Thank you. I just want to make sure we we added that point of clarification on there for everyone.

Councilwoman, just to be clear, this topic that we're on tonight really does not have anything to do with bonds. This is a redevelopment plan that we would be applying to the econ to the state of Missouri Department of Econ. I can say about the acronym that I just gave. There is no shortage of acronyms in our financing plan. Yeah.

Um and and you are correct. This this refers only to the uh application of this redevelopment plan to the state of Missouri to participate in the downtown revitalization preservation program. Any issuance of bonds would be subject to future legislation uh you know sometime in 2026. Yeah. And this could potentially open up other avenues for us of funding and that type of stuff. But this DRPP drip, I think is what you called it, maybe. Um, yeah.

Is really simply us approving the application to DED for this designation. we would receive some state sales tax, but it's really a minimal amount, if I remember right, over the life of the of this um uh I don't know that I would call it a minimal amount. It's still several million dollars, but it's um you know, there are there are plenty of other financing sources that are going to go into this capital stack, and that's like over.

Yes. Y and and this ordinance uh does um make the findings required to participate in the program, including that the area is a blighted area and and needs the assistance of the the drip program to uh to be redeveloped. Councilman,

I think at the last meeting we kind of referred this as to a things we have that are already approved in the city of black tiffs that we're going to u you know utilize ourselves instead of a developer asking for them. We're doing the same thing with the state to be able to use some of the revenue that from the taxes collected to be brought back into that development just like a a few other developments here in town. That that is correct. This is very similar to uh when the city council approves a tiff redevelopment plan.

All right. Seeing no other comments, you have 2025-058 in front of you for roll call vote. Millie, no. Thomas, yes. Young, yes. Hollers, yes. Allan, hi. Hazelton, hi. Joe, no. Pamper, hi. Lester, I Michael, I. Bill passes 8 to two.

All right. Item 13, informal calendar. None. Item 14, resolutions. Resolution 2025-53. 55 55. A resolution of the city council of the city of Jefferson, Missouri, authorizing the filing of a petition for the formation of the downtown Jefferson City Conference Center transportation development district and certain actions related there too. Councilman Ellers, would you like to get this on the table and we can go through discussions? Mr. Mayor, thank you. I would like to put this on the table for council review and discussion. We have a second.

Second. All right. You got 2025- 55 in front of you, Mr. Crane. Yes. Thank you, Mayor. Uh, this TDD uh is going to be covered by Mark again.

Mark, welcome back. Thank you, mayor. Thank you, city council members. Um, once again, Mark Spikerman from Gilmore and Bell. Uh, this also relates to the hotel conference center project. This, uh, the transportation development district or TDD is one of three special taxing districts we hope to create, each of which would uh impose a 1% sales tax on just the hotel and conference center, not anywhere else in the the city. Uh this transportation development district is created uh by petition of the property owner through the circuit court. Uh as you are aware the only property owner in our proposed district just like the uh the drip district is the city itself. Uh this resolution therefore authorizes the city as property owner and Gilmore and Bell as council to the city to file the the petition with the circuit court to go ahead and create that transportation development district. Happy to answer any questions.

Questions of Mr. Spikerman, Mr. Councilman Allers. I'd like to put this before the table. vote this before the council for a vote. Second, we did that again. You already did that. That's fine. You want me to repeat that? Not again. Thank you.

Any comments or questions for Mr. Spectre? All right. You have resolution 202.5-55 in front of you for roller Thomas. No. Young. Yes. Hollers. Hi. Allen. Hi. Hazelton. Hi. Joe. No. Camper. Hi. Lester. Hi. Michael. Hi. Neely. No. Resolution is adopted. 7:30.

All right. Item 15, new business. I'm not aware of any. Item 16, unfinished business. We have none. Item 17, adjourned and going to close. So, we're going to ask our clerk to read the statement. We will take a motion. The chair will entertain a motion to adjourn the public session and pursuance of section 61021 of the revised statute of Missouri go into close session to discuss the following attorney client privilege subsection one negotiated contract subsection 12. Mr. Mayor, I would like to um move that this meeting be adjourned and we pursue and move into 12 session. Second. Thank you.

All right. We will do a roll call vote on on that motion. Young. I Allan. I Hazelton. Hi Joe. Hi Camper. Hi Lester. Hi Michael. Hi Eli. Hi Thomas. Hi Those