Council identifies legislative priorities

Springfield leaders agree on the key points they want to communicate to state lawmakers during the 2010 legislative session.

At its Feb. 5 meeting, council passed an ordinance and one of two proposed amendments to provide guidance for the city’s lobbyists in Jefferson City.

The multipage document, simply called the legislative policy, details the city’s stance on a range of issues, and while council members unanimously passed the ordinance, some also voiced their reservations about the details.

Of the 2010 priorities highlighted in the approved ordinance, economic development and fighting poverty topped the list. Other key issues the city is weighing in on are: maintenance of local government control; protection of the environment; and efficient traffic enforcement.

Council unanimously approved adding Springfield’s involvement in a national discussion of high-speed rail lines. The federal government has earmarked $8 billion to promote high-speed rail services, awarding Missouri $31 million to strengthen existing passenger rail service between St. Louis and Kansas City.

“Part of the attention for this is simply to raise our hand, for anybody out there that’s planning a high-speed rail and the installation of passenger rail, and say, ‘Springfield is interested,’” Councilman Dan Chiles said.

Council voted down an amendment recommending the Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System offer a defined contribution option for all retirees.

The idea failed because council agreed it needed further discussion.

Councilman Nicholas Ibarra noted that some priorities, such as one recommending that state laws address red light camera enforcement, weren’t necessarily his own.

“Not any one of us at this table could sign off on every item that was in here,” added Councilman Doug Burlison, chairman of the plans and policies committee.

“I dove into this process with the thought in mind that this is a shared document and I need to be mindful of priorities of my colleagues as well,” he said.

Green light for green jobs
Council approved a U.S. Department of Labor grant in the amount of $40,000, which will by used by the city’s Department of Workforce Development to evaluate green jobs in the area. The study will look at businesses that claim to offer green jobs to make sure that the jobs really are green, department Director Bill Dowling told council.

“If they are determined to be truly green, (the study) would look at what training would be needed for local citizens to be able to occupy those jobs in the future and how to expand those opportunities,” Dowling said.

The 10-county study will be conducted by the Ozarks Regional Economic Partnership, Dowling said.

In a separate action, council passed an ordinance to deposit $7.45 million in settlement money from a lawsuit between the city and AT&T Missouri into the Police-Fire Pension Fund.[[In-content Ad]]