In the end, the Jefferson City Council did the right thing by voting to reject both conference center proposals.
The vote was 9-1 to reject both, but it was preceded by a failed 4-6 vote to move one proposal into the pre-development phase.
Although council sentiments were mixed, the decision was necessary. Council members ultimately decided the proposed relationships were not in the city's best interests.
But it was no easy choice. The council - and the two developers - devoted nearly two years of time, energy and money to the process. Although council members realized a satisfactory conclusion could not be reached, we suspect no one walked away without some misgivings.
The process, however, is not a failure if it helps clarify approaches to some important questions. Among them:
• Is growth desirable and, if so, what kind? We have heard some public sentiment that Jefferson City doesn't need to become "bigger." On the opposite end of the spectrum are residents who believe the city must grow.
Much growth in the past has been tied to state government and major manufacturers, but continued growth in those sectors no longer is guaranteed. A conference center is designed to promote growth in tourism by capitalizing on history and government. Do other community assets - expansions in health care facilities or the arts community, for example - offer growth potential?
• What is and is not negotiable? For example, during the conference center process, everything - size, costs, incentives, location - seemed to be on the table. Although this invites the widest range of proposals, it also may muddle the process.
If the city decides what is acceptable, rejection of the unacceptable can be swift and decisive.
• What are the city's priorities? Although the word, vision, often is overused, it is applicable here.
Does our community have a shared, collective vision?
Municipalities must react - to needed infrastucture maintenance, public safety issues, budget anomalies, for example.
But cities also must be proactive. Regarding the conference center, we discourage actively seeking new conference center proposals at this time. We do believe, however, that city officials should establish criteria to evaluate any unsolicited proposals.
The criteria for what constitutes an acceptable, negotiable conference center offer should be created as part of a larger initiative.
If the city is able to establish a vision, set priorities and develop strategies, it is less likely to endure vacillation and frustration dealing with specific issues.