City Beat: City Council revisits right-of-way issue

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|bold_on|Right-of-way ordinance |bold_on||ret||ret||tab|

The first reading bill that received the most attention at the March 5 City Council meeting was an ordinance to amend the Springfield City Code by enacting 15 new sections establishing license and franchise conditions for telecommunications users of Springfield rights of way. |ret||ret||tab|

Assistant city attorney Nancy Yendes presented council with the 17th version of the ordinance to be drafted in the last five years. The ordinance would set the rental rate for rights of way as required by the federal Telecommunications Act. |ret||ret||tab|

Yendes said that if a company that uses a right of way to provide services, such as long distance and Internet, it will be charged a percentage of its gross receipts: 0.25 percent for Internet services, 1 percent per leasing capacity and 0.5 percent for all other revenue. |ret||ret||tab|

John Sondag, director of external affairs for Southwestern Bell in St. Louis, expressed to council his concerns of the bill. |ret||ret||tab|

He said Southwestern Bell is mainly against the tax on Internet services and that most other legislative bodies are resistant to taxing the Internet.|ret||ret||tab|

"If the city wants to tax those services, there are conditions by the Hancock Amendment that say it has to go to the vote of the people," he said.|ret||ret||tab|

Sondag added that the new taxes would ultimately get passed on to the customers|ret||ret||tab|

Springfield citizen Robert Eidson also spoke against the bill because he's "already paid property taxes on these same right-of-ways." He said he doesn't want to see the increase in taxes passed on to him and that the passing of this bill might prohibit other communication companies from coming into the Springfield market.|ret||ret||tab|

Councilwoman Terri Hacker pointed out that the city would use the new revenues to pay for the repair and up-keep of the public streets.|ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|St. John's to take Cherokee|ret||ret||tab|

Council voted to pass the ordinance vacating Cherokee Street between Fremont and National Avenues for use by St. John's as part of its 10-year growth plan. It passed by a 8-0 vote, with Councilwoman Shelia Wright abstaining because her husband is employed by St. John's.|ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|City to build baseball, parking, expo facilities|ret||ret||tab|

Council also voted to enter into a developer agreement with John Q. and Juanita K. Hammons and the Hammons Revocable Living Trust Indenture for the purpose of the city constructing a baseball stadium and parking, redeveloping the University Plaza Trade Center and constructing the exposition space and parking. |ret||ret||tab|

Hammons is responsible for the infill of the expo center. The bill, which passed 9-0, also amends the budget for Jordan Valley Park in the amount of $200,000.|ret||ret||tab|

The plan to map transportation improvements for the James River Freeway and Glenstone Interchange also passed unanimously. Under the ordinance, right of way will be preserved for future public street improvements.|ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|SE development study|ret||ret||tab|

Council heard another first reading bill that would authorize Finnie to enter into an agreement with BRW Inc. for the purpose of preparing the Southeast Springfield Development Plan and amending the Planning Department budget in the amount of $70,000. |ret||ret||tab|

The proposed six-month study would determine the best way to develop the southeast part of the city with concern for the city's economics. Councilman Tom Carlson asked if stormwater issues would be considered in the study and Finnie stated that while stormwater is a large issue, it will not be covered in this land-use study and would foster its own specific study.|ret||ret||tab|

Also on the first reading agenda was an ordinance authorizing Finnie to enter into a contract with Southwest Missouri State University for the purpose of conducting a transit planning study and passing the city's annual transportation planning grant from the federal government of $49,303 to the school for that purpose.|ret||ret||tab|

The final bill for first reading would condemn property in the area of 1015 E. Trafficway, east of Hammons Parkway, to be acquired for the Jordan Valley Park baseball stadium and parking.|ret||ret||tab|

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|bold_on|Center city cleanup|bold_on||ret||ret||tab|

A public hearing bill heard would amend the budget for the Community Partnership of the Ozarks in the amount of $10,000 to change a Community Development Block Grant project from minor repairs for housing to a neighborhood clean-up in the center city area by the Community Partnership of the Ozarks.[[In-content Ad]]