Council puts container issue on hold

Council was considering an ordinance that would require permits for all on-site storage trailers and limit the number for industrial and retail businesses to one container per 10,000 square feet of floor space.

City staff said the bill was an attempt to regulate the placement and number of containers.

“In many cases, the placement of those (containers) has not been in conformance with existing ordinance,” City Planning & Development Director Ralph Rognstad told council. Rognstad mentioned that some containers – which he estimated number more than 2,000 citywide – have been placed in locations that block required parking spaces or traffic circulation lanes, while others are not properly screened or hidden.

City Fire Chief Barry Rowell told council that the containers, if not properly regulated, also could present significant safety hazards, especially if they block fire lanes or access to utilities.

However, a large contingent of businesspeople in manufacturing and retail spoke against the bill.

Rob Rector, manager of Battlefield Mall, said the ordinance’s proposed temporary permits, which would last no more than 60 days, would hurt retailers’ business.

“Inventories begin to expand to handle the peak holiday and pre-holiday seasons during the month of August,” Rector said. “Many stores simply don’t have the space to handle that inventory. In short, if customers can’t find what they want at one store, they will go somewhere else where they can get it.”

Rector said Macy’s is the largest mall user of storage containers; Store Manager Jo Sharp said that the store can use as many as 20 during the peak holiday season.

Council set a special meeting for 7 p.m. Aug. 20 to continue talks in council chambers, 830 Boonville Ave.

Also on the agenda

• Council also heard an update on negotiations for the vacant downtown land next to the Springfield Expo Center.

Economic Development Director Mary Lilly Smith told council that city staff continues negotiations with four developers: John Q. Hammons, HCW Evergreen LLC, BC Development Co. of Kansas City and Opus Northwest LLC of Kansas City.

Smith said that staff is working to have term sheets ready for council by its Aug. 27 meeting, but more than likely they wouldn’t be completed until the mid-September meeting.

• Council considered a change to the Police Officers’ and Firefighters’ Pension Fund. The proposal would allow retired police officers and firefighters to keep their full pension if hired to work in a different position for the city; current rules reduce the retiree’s annual pension by the amount they earn in their new job.

Assistant City Manager Evelyn Honea said the move is intended to help recruit employees with knowledge of the city system rather than taking positions with other jurisdictions.

Councilwoman Cindy Rushefsky said she’d likely vote in favor of the recommendation.

“I don’t think (new hires) should be punished for the fact that they did their time and earned their pensions,” Rushefsky said.

Councilman Dan Chiles added that the rule change would allow the city to better tap into the rapidly growing baby boomer generation that’s reaching retirement age.

Council is expected to vote on the bill at its Aug. 27 meeting.