City Beat: City Council considers new salary hike, airport funds

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City pay plan|ret||ret||tab|

In the May 29 City Council meeting, a salary ordinance including a pay plan for city employees was heard as a first reading bill. City Manager Tom Finnie said the cost of the pay plan would be approximately 4.4 percent more than the existing plan, because of general increases in health costs and retirement funds. |ret||ret||tab|

Proposed within the ordinance is a performance-based pay system for the Police Department that has already been implemented for city department heads. Finnie said the performance standards within the police pay plan would be tied to departmental goals. |ret||ret||tab|

"I would fully expect 90 percent to 95 percent of the officers would be eligible for this," he said. "It has worked very well with the department heads and ... I expect this to be considered by other work groups I think there's a lot of merit to it," he added.|ret||ret||tab|

Finnie added that the goal for the city's payment plan is to be ranked in the middle third of a 20-city survey that includes six states. This recommendation, he said, would meet that goal.|ret||ret||tab|

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Airport bond financing|ret||ret||tab|

Another first reading bill would authorize the bond financing for a loan to The Public Building Corporation of the City of Springfield in the amount of $34.55 million to be used for improvements at the Springfield/Branson Regional Airport. |ret||ret||tab|

Rob Hancik, who spoke to council representing the airport, said the money would replace the 28-year-old infrastructure, including expanded runways and taxiways, and increase airport capacity. He added that the loan would only go toward air-side improvements, versus land side improvements which include buildings.|bold_on| Hancik said the airport's present terminal project should be completed by August and is already paid for.|ret||ret||tab|

Hancik also told council that the loan would not affect city taxes because it is federal money coming from a trust fund. He stated the 70 percent of airport users are not Springfieldians, so area residents will not pay for the bond finance.|ret||ret||tab|

A second bill would authorize more financing through The Public Building Corporation. $11.89 million in leasehold revenue bonds would be used for new fire stations and the South Precinct police station, which were approved by public referendums.|ret||ret||tab|

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Fire code amendment heard|ret||ret||tab|

Council also heard a first reading bill that would amend the Fire Prevention and Protection Code to prohibit fireworks in the city. The 2000 fire code included an exception that could have legalized fireworks, but this bill will make the sale, possession and storage of fireworks in the city illegal.|ret||ret||tab|

The final first reading bill would approve the preliminary plat of UMB National Plaza on the southwest corner of National and Battlefield as an addition to the city. The Planning and Zoning Commission and city staff recommend approval.|ret||ret||tab|

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Annexation of private property|ret||ret||tab|

Council heard two public hearing bills, both regarding the annexation of private property adjacent to the city limits. |ret||ret||tab|

The first bill would annex 13.5 acres east of Farmers Branch Road and south of Millwood to be zoned for single family use. |ret||ret||tab|

In the second bill, also a voluntary annexation, the city would acquire about 140 acres southeast of West Division Street and Haseltine Road to be used for the Partnership Industrial Center West. City staff recommends approval of both.|ret||ret||tab|

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Comprehensive plans tabled|ret||ret||tab|

Two elements of the city's comprehensive plan, and of Vision 20/20: the Transportation Plan and the Growth Management and Land Use Plan, will carry over to the next council meeting as public hearing bills. Only one member of the public spoke on the bill, and both Councilwomen Terri Hacker and Mary Collette said they feel these plans should represent public interests. Collette made the motion because of limited public response. Documents of each plan were distributed to council members and can be requested at the city clerk's office.|ret||ret||tab|

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Resolutions approved|ret||ret||tab|

Council unanimously approved the authorization of $7 million in general obligation bonds to improve stormwater control and sanitary sewers. |ret||ret||tab|

Also unanimously approved was a resolution bill that authorized Finnie to enter into a contract with Mathews and Associates Inc. for the preparation of preliminary design plans and cost estimates for improvements to Blackman and Battlefield roads. The bill also said Greene County would share the cost for this project.|ret||ret||tab|

Council approved the Historic Landmark designation for the Mosher House at 1147 E. Walnut Street with a unanimous vote.|ret||ret||tab|

Finally, Council voted unanimously to rezone both the Phelps Grove Urban Conservation District and the Rountree Urban Conservation District, and to adopt a budget for the city for the fiscal year July 1, 2001-June 30, 2002, that was proposed at the last meeting.|ret||ret||tab|

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