City Beat: Alcohol sales issue likely headed to public vote in November

The question of alcohol sales at city park events is creeping ever closer to the Nov. 5 ballot.

At the July 29 City Council meeting, the bill council turned down March 25 to allow the sale of alcohol at certain Springfield-Greene County Park Board-related events reappeared on the first reading agenda. This time council tabled it.

A public hearing will be held at the next meeting, Aug. 12.

Council may vote on it then, however, if no action is taken it will go on the November ballot.

Councilman Bob Chancellor took part in the petition drive that gathered more than the required 1,454 signatures to bring the bill back to council, and he made the motion to table the bill indefinitely. Chancellor told council, "Our goal was to put this on the ballot in November."

The motion was approved by a vote of 8-1, with Councilwoman Mary Collette registering the lone negative vote.

Park Board events seeking the sale and consumption of alcohol are Dickerson Park Zoo's after-hours activities, adult softball tournaments, Cooper Park tennis matches, Jordan Valley Ice Park hockey games and city-owned golf courses.

Depending on the construction progress at city hall, the next meeting may be held in the City Utilities auditorium.

Red-light cameras

Council passed a resolution urging the Missouri General Assembly to approve state legislation allowing the use of red-light cameras at intersections on state and city roads that have a high volume of accidents.

The resolution also requests the Police Department and Prosecutor's Office continue to impose strict violations for red light runners, and urges the Municipal Court to enforce maximum penalties.

City Manager Tom Finnie said the state legislation would allow the city to have its own program. If the state legislation passes, city staff would prepare and submit to City Council a program to implement such legislation.

The city recently collected Requests For Proposal for the cameras, but it has stalled on the issue because of high costs and fear of litigation, Finnie said.

Also affecting the delay, Finnie said, is the Missouri Department of Transportation's preference to not place cameras at intersections.

In light of MoDOT's position, Mayor Tom Carlson said, "I think the amount of benefit is less than we thought." Because it's a public rights issue, Carlson added, "the public should decide what the rules are regarding the traffic in their community." He said this resolution states that opinion to the state.

Councilwoman Teri Hacker provided the only opposing vote because, she said, it seems like council is making the decision before the legislative package is ready. She also said she fears litigation against the city if a program is implemented.

Street sign costs

A general ordinance heard as a first reading and requested by Springfield Public Works would make subdivision developers responsible for installing new street signs within the development, or they may pay the city to install the signs.

Eastwood Hills

Council heard a first reading special ordinance to condemn right-of-way in Eastwood Hills subdivision for the purpose of constructing and maintaining sanitary sewer and public utility easements in the Jones Branch South Trunk Sewer and Utilities Project.

Finnie said one property owner has not agreed to the easements. It is "the last physical hurdle" to get Eastwood Hills serviced, he said.