During Monday's Jefferson City Council meeting, the council will vote on a construction contract for Veteran's Plaza renovations and introduce new bills relating to the city budget and taxes.
Bills pending
During its previous meeting, the council introduced a contract for $136,800 with SIRCAL Contracting for renovations to Veteran's Plaza, in front of the Jefferson City Police Department on Monroe Street.
The plaza displays bricks residents were able to purchase and have engraved with the names of veterans. Since its construction 14 years ago, the available space to display the bricks has been filled, but there are more bricks to include.
Department of Public Works Director Matt Morasch previously said the renovations will add three new display cases and modify the existing cases to be able to display more bricks, allowing 1,000 more bricks to be displayed.
Funding for the $136,800 project will come from sale of the bricks by the Veterans Committee - which has been held by the city in the JC Veterans Plaza Trust Fund - and a donation from the Jefferson City Veterans Council.
The council will vote on this contract and the supplemental appropriation Monday.
Also during Monday's meeting, the Jefferson City Veterans Council will present Mayor Carrie Tergin with a check for their donation to the project.
Other pending bills to be discussed Monday include adding parking to the 1400 block of Hough Park and authorizing an agreement for a biosolids management study at Jefferson City Regional Water Facility.
New bills
New bills to be introduced Monday will be taken up for third-reading and vote during the council's next meeting Aug. 17.
A bill to authorize a supplemental appropriation for gap financing of the East Capitol Avenue Redevelopment Project will be introduced Monday.
The bill would move $50,357.60 from the city's general fund to pay for the city's obligation to the Jefferson City Housing Authority.
In 2018, the city entered into an agreement with the housing authority that the city would pay the difference between the Housing Authority's costs and the selling price of historic homes on East Capitol Avenue.
To date, the council has appropriated $259,000 to reimburse the Housing Authority, although it was assumed the project would cost more than that. Of that original appropriation, $51,772.55 is still available.
In July 2020, the city received an invoice for $102,130.15 for the reimbursement of 501, 507, 511 and 513 E. Capitol Ave., making a second appropriation necessary.
City attorney Ryan Moehlman will introduce a bill to terminate and dissolve the High Street Tax Increment Financing Plan, which was approved by the council in December 2002 for the redevelopment of 900 and 902 E. High St. The redevelopment project has since been completed and the redevelopment project costs have been paid, so terminating the TIF is recommended, according to city documents. There will be no fiscal impact from this action.
Also Monday, city staff will introduce the 2020-21 operating budget for council approval. The operating budget has been recommended for approval by the mayor.
The proposed general revenue budget is projected to be $32,845,061.69, with the total fiscal year 2021 budget being $64,610,654.
The council's Budget Committee began the process of adopting the new city budget during its first meeting July 27 and will also meet Aug. 6, 10, 13 and 20.
Once approved, the budget will go into effect Nov. 1, 2020, and will run until Oct. 31, 2021.
The city Finance Department will also introduce a bill to establish property tax rates for the 2020-21 budget. The city is required by state statute to establish their property tax rates on an annual basis.
The bill will establish the general fund tax rate at 0.4600 percent and the firemen's retirement rate at 0.5561 percent, which are the current tax rates.
The council will hold a public hearing on this bill at the Aug. 17 meeting.
Other new bills to be introduced Monday include adjustment of the construction permit fee calculation method and creation of a water conditioning contractors license.
How to participate
Residents may attend the City Council meeting in person but must wear a face mask in compliance with the mayor's emergency proclamation requiring face masks during city meetings. Social distancing within the council chambers is recommended.
For residents wishing to participate without attending the meeting in person, there is a call-in option at 1-404-397-1516 or the option to join the meeting via WebEx with the meeting number 146 238 8017 and password 1234.
The City Council meeting will be at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at 320 E. McCarty St.