City Beat

by Steven Diegel

A resolution, to be

voted on April 13, would outline location criteria for the centers

A proposed amendment which would regulate the location of community corrections facilities dominated discussion at last week's City Council meeting, leaving council members with the choice between developer freedoms and neighborhood concerns.

The resolution would establish new location criteria for correctional facilities, including minimum distances of 750 feet from schools, libraries, museums or residential zones, and 2,000 feet from any other correctional facility, emergency shelter or soup kitchen.

One additional clause would also require developers to seek a conditional-use permit, mandating public notification regarding the facility and a public hearing before final approval could be granted by the city.

"The proposal would require that community correction facilities obtain a conditional-use permit to be located in those districts," said Mary Smith, principal planner for the city of Springfield.

A number of area residents at the meeting said requiring a conditional use permit would allow them to express their opinions on any new facility and avoid any surprise additions. Many said they were not given a voice when the Rivendell facility was built.

"We are not against correctional facilities," said Lisa McMurray. "We just feel the use permit will give the community the chance to speak about the facility that comes into the neighborhood."

The council is expected to discuss and vote on the matter at its next meeting, scheduled for April 13.

The council also heard discussion on an ordinance and related enforcement options to prevent the dumping of trash and other debris into sinkholes. City officials reported the measures would require violators to clean up affected sinkholes or face fines to have them cleaned by the Public Works Department.

"This council bill amends the city code to make it illegal to place debris and trash into sinkholes," said Tom Finnie, Springfield city manager. "It also allows certain enforcement activities if it is not abated."

If the violator does not cease the nuisance, Finnie said, the new enforcement options would allow the city to deny building permits for the tract of land and to have the sinkhole cleaned, with the cost to be passed on to the owner.

Council members unanimously approved a special ordinance to accept a Narcotics Control Assistance Grant in the amount of $185,835. The grant funds four new Drug Awareness and Resistance Education officers for Springfield middle schools.

"This is for additional D.A.R.E. officers to go into the middle schools," Finnie said, and it expands the antiÐdrug teaching program currently conducted in the elementary schools.

The cost of the grant would be divided between the city and state, with 75 percent ($139,376) originating from the state and 25 percent ($46,459) to be funded by the city.

Several issues discussed at previous meetings were unanimously approved by council members, including the early appropriation of more than $19.1 million toward citywide capital-improvement projects.

The funds were originally to become available later this year as a result of the quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters in February. But city officials felt the early access to the funds would permit a head start on planned right-of -way acquisitions and other priority projects.

The council also gave a green light for changes to the city's transit system which take aim at reducing bus fares and re-establishing greater ridership.

Kathy Fritts, transportation manager for City Utilities, previously proposed a number of rate adjustments aimed at increasing overall ridership on the system, including less-expensive youth and student rates, unlimited passes and discounted annual passes.

Last year CU increased fares across the board and reduced the overall number of citywide bus routes. While revenues increased $97,000, ridership dropped considerably to just over 1 million last year from the 1996 total of 1.3 million.

No discussion took place on the measure, which council members unanimously approved.

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