City Council Agendas

CITY OF BLUE SPRINGS, MISSOURI MINUTES OF WORK SESSION JUNE 29, 2020 A Work Session of the City Council of the City of Blue Springs, Missouri, was held on Monday, June 20, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. in the Howard Brqwn Public Safety Building, Council Chambers, with Mayor Carson Ross presiding. COUNCILMEMBERS Jerry Kaylor Galen Ericson IN ATTENDANCE Chris Lievsay Kent Edmondson Ron Fowler Susan Culpepper CALL MEETING Mayor Ross called the City Council Work Session to order at 6:00 p.m. TO ORDER BUDGET UPDATE Assistant City Administrator Christine Cates gave an overview of the current budget in light of the offset of revenue projections due to COVID- 19 and Stay at Home Orders. Ms. Cates stated the proposed FY 2020-21 budget will be presented to Council by August 1, 2020 as required by the Charter and will be discussed in a Work Session scheduled in mid-August. COVID-19 CARES Ms. Cates updated the Council with the County's allocation of $3.2 million FUND for COVID-19 CARES funding (from the previously announced $4.4 million). The City will need to submit an agreement with the County and proposed budget outlining how the funds will be used. Staff will be looking to Council in the future as to their priority on how the funds should be used. CITY RE-OPENING Public Works Director Chris Sandie stated there has been an uptick in PLAN AND PHASE 3 numbers of positive COVID-19 tests. Mr. Sandie stated the key statistic to OF JACKSON look for in his daily emails is the number of hospitalizations. Jackson COUNTY RECOVERY County is now requiring the use of masks. The situation remains fluid and PLAN there is frequently conflicting information available to the public. The City's phased reopening plan was scheduled to open City facilities on July 6, but this will be put on hold until the County order to wear masks has been lifted. We will plan to give a week's notice to staff to prepare for the opening. STRATEGIC PLAN City Administrator Eric Johnson stated it has been five years since the current Strategic Plan Framework was created. Mr. Johnson advised the Council that staff will be working with ETC Institute to facilitate the project and anticipates a late August/early September timeframe. A local business community survey will be conducted in advance of the Strategic Planning Session. CITIZEN COMMENTS Councilmember Kent Edmondson proposed changing the order of the DURING COUNCIL Agenda to move the Visitor's Section to immediately after the Consent MEETING Agenda. This will allow the public to give their thoughts on general items and comments on items on the agenda that will not have a public hearing, such as Final Plats and Code amendments. Mayor Ross agreed to have this change take place on the first meeting in October. BOARD AND Councilmember Galen Ericson stated he would like the Council to be COMMISSION involved in the appointment process, since the Charter states the Mayoral REVIEW appointments are made with the advice and consent of Council. Council discussed the concerns regarding attendance and the inconsistency of the June 29, 2020 COUNCIL WORK SESSION Page 2 structure of the City's boards and commissions. Council also expressed concern about the longevity and qualifications for some of the commission members, as well as having Councilmembers serve on some of the boards as a voting member and the purpose for each board . Councilmember Culpepper asked to have all qualifications in order to serve on a Board be outlined in writing for applicants to review prior to submitting an application. Mayor Ross suggested if any Councilmembers have a citizen desiring to serve on a board , that they should direct them to complete an application to be considered. Council agreed to discuss the City's boards and commissions as a part of the Strategic Planning process and would like each board 's structure and purpose clarified in the City's Code. CONDITIONAL USE Council discussed the history for approval and appeals of Conditional Use PERMITS Permits. Council directed staff to draft an amendment the Unified Development Code to have all Conditional Use Permits come before the Council for final approval after review by the Planning Commission. ECONOMIC City Administrator Johnson updated the City Council on recent economic DEVELOPMENT development projects throughout the City. Council discussed whether UPDATE there could be assistance provided for road improvements to assist with the empty businesses at 1-70 and 7 Highway. Council agreed that recruitment for the Economic Development position is a priority. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at 7:55 p.m ., Mayor Ross declared the Council Work Session adjourned. CITY OF BLUE SPRINGS ~ ATJ£ST: Carson Ross, Mayor