Moving Jefferson City toward a civic center

Mayor's priorities alter conference center concept

In kicking off the new year, Mayor Carrie Tergin has brought back an old idea with a new spin - changing from the conference center concept to a civic center.

In her New Year's resolutions, Tergin outlined four priority projects to move forward in 2016 including a civic/sports center. She wrote: "update what has been done in the past, which focused on a conference/convention center, and adapt to a more flexible civic/sports/expo space which fits current needs and is more appealing to the community members and visitors alike."

So what would make this project different from past attempts at a conference center?

Tergin said she's obviously in the very early stages of this concept, noting the conference center has been something the community has talked about for a number of years.

In 2014, the City Council rejected two proposals for a conference center, but the lodging tax has collected roughly $2.8 million for a possible conference or civic center and is expected to raise roughly $9 million.

However, now, she said, she doesn't see the old conference center concept as being exactly what the community needs anymore. Instead, Tergin said she believes Jefferson City needs more flexible space that could support different types of events, from concerts to sporting events to the more standard conferences.

"We want to look at a space that would be more feasible for all kinds of uses in our community," Tergin said. "Civic and expo spaces are very important."

Tergin said the past discussions on a conference center made clear that exposition space is important to include in any conference or civic center project. However, with technology allowing for things like video-conferencing, Tergin said a strict conference center may no longer be necessary.

Also, with a civic center, Tergin said she sees it being able to serve the needs of residents more than a conference center typically would. The space would be mostly flexible, meaning it could host things like concerts or shows, as well as conferences or even sporting events.

"I think that it's something that needs to be used for us, as well, and for visitors," Tergin said. "There's all kinds of uses for space. ... Sports is a piece of that."

However, it's not something to be confused with the project underway on Lafayette Street, where the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission and Lincoln University are partnering for a new wellness and recreation center. Tergin said she would see the possibilities of a civic center as being complementary to those of the wellness center and not something that would duplicate its purpose.

"It could tie in and coordinate and strengthen this facility, too," Tergin said. "Being so central, we do host lots of sporting events, so sports should be looked at."

Tergin specified no plans have been moved forward nor has a timeline been set, but she wants city leaders to start thinking and talking about how best to move forward on such a project.

"My goal is to start the discussion," Tergin said. "Where I want those talks to begin is with the (City) Council."

After the discussion begins, Tergin said, she wants meeting planners, hoteliers and the state involved as early as possible to ensure whatever project is pursued will meet the needs of the community.