The Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission is continuing its discussions with Lincoln University on a potential collaboration for a multipurpose building.
At the City Council meeting Monday, Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director Bill Lockwood said the commission recently authorized a cost-share agreement with Lincoln University dealing with a scope of services for a design contract. He said the Parks and Recreation Foundation also authorized the use of a consultant to look at an ongoing budget for a multipurpose facility as well as how the facility would operate in a partnership with other organizations.
The commission has been working toward construction of a multipurpose building, but has struggled with the project's budget. The department has identified roughly $5 million for the facility, but commission members have indicated a desire for a facility that likely would cost closer to $8 million. In the last few months, the commission has begun looking at possible partners for a facility, including both Lincoln University and Special Olympics Missouri.
The commission has previously identified Riverside Park, on the city's east side, as the location for a multipurpose building.
In other business, the council approved a resolution "setting a policy for code enforcement." The resolution states "some within our community allow nuisances and code violations to exist upon their property and refuse to correct the same even when notified of the violation." It emphasizes that correcting code violations is a high priority of the council and empowers staff to issue tickets to those who violate city code when necessary.
City Attorney Drew Hilpert said the resolution simply signals to staff that the council is supportive of more aggressive tactics to deal with neglected or abandoned properties. Janice McMillan, director of Planning and Protective Services, said her staff has issued just more than 150 summonses since Nov. 1, 2014, noting that the bulk of those issued were for failure to maintain trash services or illegal dumping.
City Administrator Steve Crowell said staff would begin meeting soon to discuss how best to deal with neglected or abandoned properties.
The council also held a public hearing on the draft 2015 budget, which is still being discussed by the council in separate budget meetings. Though no one spoke at the hearing itself, three people spoke at the end of the meeting thanking the council for continuing to fund transit services throughout the city.
"We all need to go places," said Vicki Schildmeyer. "By funding this service from general revenues, you make that possible."