Council tables Community Improvement District bill

Representatives of the steering committee recommending the establishment of a Community Improvement District in downtown Springfield asked City Council to table the CID bill in its July 19 meeting.

Attorney Dudley Martin, who has his law offices in the Keet-McElhaney House on Walnut Street, pointed out to the steering comittee errors in the notification process and the misspelling of a street name, and the committee recommended tabling the bill while errors are corrected.

The committee anticipates bringing the bill back to council in its Sept. 7 meeting rather than trying to meet the Aug. 15 deadline for this year's assessment. This means the CID could be formed in September, but assessments will not be in place until next summer.

Not meeting the Aug. 15 deadline also delays full implementation of the programs proposed to be funded by the CID for one year, according to a city of Springfield press release.

"These are valid technical concerns that need to be addressed," said steering committee chair Allen Casey, who is refurbishing the Sterling Hotel on Walnut Street, in the release. "We will make the corrections, but not in time to have the assessments put on this year's tax records."

If passed, the CID will replace the Special Business District and will use the tax money collected from downtown property owners to manage parking, finance clean-up efforts and enhance the appearance of downtown, said steering committee member Brian Fogle in the July 6 council meeting.

In other business, Councilman Tom Carlson declined Mayor Lee Gannaway's request to chair a committee to research the possible creation of a police review board. Councilman Bob Chancellor is expected to take over the duty.

Council heard a second reading and unanimously approved a bill amending the City Code by rezoning about one-half acre of land located at the southwest corner of Sunshine and Thelma from a townhouse district to a highway commercial district. A second-reading bill rezoning 16 acres of land located at the 3500-3600 blocks of East Seminole from a single-family district to a planned development district passed 7-2, with Councilwoman Shelia Wright and Councilman Gary Gibson opposed.

Council voted to table a special ordinance amending the 1999-2000 city budget in the amount of $5,000 for a contribution to the James River Basin Partnership to be combined with a $15,000 contribution by City Utilities and a $5,000 contribution by Greene County.

An ordinance amending the City Code to clarify conduct that is prohibited in establishments serving alcohol was approved unanimously, as was an ordinance amending the City Code to permit outdoor live or amplified music in the center city district, and to authorize the city manager to issue permits for outdoor music in the center city district.

On the consent agenda, council approved the construction specifications and the bid of Hartman and Co. Inc. for the construction of the St. Louis Street reopening from Jefferson to a point east and amending the city budget in the amount of $146,452 to finance the reopening.

A special ordinance authorizing the city manager to enter into an agreement with the Battlefield Fire Protection district to provide for orderly annexation and tax reimbursement by the city was approved, as was a bill authorizing the city manager to enter into an agreement with Canbrands International Inc. for the purpose of leasing recycling containers from the city.

Also approved was a general ordinance amending the salary ordinance, by the addition of a new benefit establishing a partial cost reimbursement for city employees enrolling in designated tobacco-use-cessation programs.