City Beat: City staff seeks internal auditor

Springfield City Council on Feb. 11 heard a proposal to create an internal auditor position at the city’s Busch Building. City Manager Bob Cumley said the internal auditor, who would be paid up to $80,000 a year, would report directly to the council’s Finance and Administration Committee and initially would be in charge of handling the city’s response to Montee’s other recommendations.

The auditor also would be tasked with auditing city departments’ cash transactions and monthly bank statements.

If council approves the proposal, the city expects to hire an auditor by April.

Cumley said he would like to determine where to advertise the position before council votes on the proposal at its Feb. 25 meeting, and council members agreed.

“That would not give me any heartburn at all,” Councilman John Wylie said at the meeting. “I’d like to see (the process) start as soon as possible.”

Councilman Doug Burlison urged transparency in the selection process.

“I understand that there is some need for privacy early on as we whittle the field down,” Burlison said, “but I’d like to provide citizens the opportunity to give input, at least in the final selection phase, so that the process can be as open as possible.”

Square design

At its Feb. 12 luncheon, council approved Butler, Rosenbury & Partners’ design for the renovation of Park Central Square.

The design is planned in phases. Phase I, which would include filling the inner square to bring the area up to grade, adding greenspaces and renovating the existing fountain, could be completed within the city’s $1 million budget.

The plan for subsequent phases includes streetscape improvements for the four roads leading into the square, four media towers with speakers and lights, and a canopy over the center of the square for outdoor performances and shows.

Concern had been raised about changing the current square design, created by noted landscape architect Lawrence Halprin. Among other projects, Halprin designed the FDR Memorial in Washington, D.C., and Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco.

Halprin extended an invitation to city staff and designers to visit him in San Francisco and discuss ways to modernize the square while maintaining its historic characteristics.

Council, however, decided to move forward with the project, citing in part the agreement with Heer’s developer Kevin McGowan that the city would begin renovation work on the square by Aug. 1.

Councilman Dan Chiles, the lone dissenting vote on the proposal, said that despite the council’s vote, he is not giving up on the idea of meeting Halprin.

“We have a unique opportunity to meet with the guy that is America’s foremost landscape architect, the guy that designed our square more than 30 years ago,” Chiles said, noting that the trip would cost about $10,000. “I think it’s a remarkable opportunity, and I think we should avail ourselves of it.”

City manager’s report

Cumley also briefed council on two major road projects.

One is a $3 million project at National Avenue and Chestnut Expressway that will add dual left-turn lanes and dedicated right-turn lanes in all directions. A partnership with Missouri Department of Transportation, the project is paid for through the city’s V-cent capital improvements sales tax as well as federal and state funds. Construction began last month and is expected to be complete by August.

Another $3 million project at Glenstone Avenue and Primrose Street will add dual-left and dedicated right-turn lanes in all directions. The project is slated to begin in March and should be finished by November.