Latest entries in Live blog: Columbia City Council Meeting (Sept. 20, 2010)
The council will discuss the city budget, downtown safety cameras and medians on College Avenue.
Sept. 20, 2010
Council passes closed campus, police review board changes
The City Council just voted unanimously to pass all consent agenda items. This included the proposed ordinance which will restrict traffic on Rollins Street between Hitt Street and Maryland Avenue by making it part of the “Closed Campus” zone while MU classes are in session.
Also in the consent agenda was the amendment proposed by the Citizens Police Review Board which changes the way in which complaints of police misconduct are handled.
Previously, when a complaint was submitted to the Chief of Police, he or she could rule that the officer did or did not act improperly or that there was not sufficient evidence to prove or disprove the complaint.
The new amendment reworded these choices and added a fourth option in which it could be ruled that the actions complained of did not happen or may have been misconstrued.
Council to hear proposal to expand closed campus area
A proposed ordinance would restrict traffic on Rollins Street between Hitt Street and Maryland Avenue by expanding the “campus closed” zone while MU classes are in session.
The proposed ordinance follows a letter requesting action by the City Council from MU. The City Manager and staff reported in the ordinance that they did not observe any problems with the temporary closure of Rollins Street and supports MU’s request.
Also, since 2007, the intersection of Missouri Avenue and Rollins Street has been controlled by four way stop signs. The proposed ordinance would make these stop signs permanent.
Council passes city budget unanimously
The council has just voted unanimously to approve the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2011. Immediately afterwards, the council voted unanimously to approve rate increases for sewage, water, electric and solid waste retrieval.
The budget gives direction to $384,000,000 of the public’s money. Mayor Bob McDavid addressed everyone in the room by acknowledging the council was aware this is the public’s money and not the City’s to spend. After voting to pass the proposals, McDavid turned to shake City Manager Bill Watkins’ hand.
“Mr. Watkins, congratulations," McDavid said. "You have a budget."
Recent amendments to the budget include a cut to the General Fund of about $125,000 as well as cuts in the funds used to pay for the council’s meals while they are in session. The budget was also amended to reinstate four firefighters and upgrade a vehicle at Fire Station 2.
Next, the Council will address a proposal to make Rollins Street between Hitt Street and Maryland Avenue a part of the “Closed Campus” area while school is in session.
Council pre-meeting: Burton reports on cameras
Tonight's meeting includes the final decision on the budget for Fiscal Year 2011 as well as a report over the feasibility of security cameras that may be installed downtown. Changes by the Citizens Review Police Board over complaints of police misconduct will also be finalized.
Before the actual meeting, the council met for dinner and to discuss a few of the upcoming proposals and reports.
Police Chief Ken Burton began the pre-council meeting by giving his report on proposed security cameras, which if passed, will be installed in four downtown “hotspots”. The corners of Hitt Street and Broadway, 10th Street and Broadway, 10th Street and Cherry and 9th Street and Cherry were suggested by Burton’s research team as key locations for cameras to be installed.
The cameras would cost the City $25,000—money that is already in the budget. Burton said he is hopeful the deterrent nature of the cameras will prevent some crimes from happening in the first place, though First Ward Councilman Paul Sturtz reminded the council that all studies done on deterrents were not optimistic.
Following Burton’s report, the council addressed the proposed electric rate increase. Originally the council was prepared to propose a 3 percent increase for approval, but because of unnaturally cool August temperatures along with relatively cool September temperatures, City Manager Bill Watkins said it may be possible to only increase rates by 2 percent.
The City Council Meeting began about twenty minutes ago; stay tuned to The Maneater for this meeting.
Columbia City Council Meeting: Sept. 20
The Columbia City Council meeting has just begun. On the agenda tonight is passage of the final city budget, changes to the police complaint process and approval of funding for medians on College Avenue. Follow all of it live here on The Maneater.