City Council Agendas

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION November 30, 2020 6:00 p.m. The meeting can be viewed live on Blue Springs Comcast Channel 7, AT&T Channel 99 and www.bluespringsgov.com/CityMeetingsLive and via Public Listening Conference Line - 816-743-4875 - Conference ID 423 742 418# PLEASE NOTE: Pursuant to Jackson County Executive Order dated November 18, 2020 and Phase 2.5 of the Eastern Jackson County Recovery Plan limiting public gatherings, this Work Session will be conducted by taking safe social distancing measures as required by the Order. For this meeting, the public may attend via telephone conference (816-743-4875 - Conference ID 423 742 418#) as provided in Section 610.020(4) RSMo. Members of the City Council will be participating via video-conference and/or telephone as provided in Section 610.020(1) RSMo. AGENDA: 1. Call meeting to order 2. Use Tax Election 3. Outside Seating and Permitting 4. Adjourn This Agenda was posted at City Hall and on the City’s website on Wednesday, November 25, 2020. Sheryl Morgan, City Clerk  Council Work Session Meeting Date: November 30, 2020 Agenda Item #: 2 Page 1 of 2 CITY OF BLUE SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION FORM DATE SUBMITTED: November 24, 2020 SUBMITTED BY: Eric Johnson DEPARTMENT: Administration Ordinance Resolution Presentation Public Hearing Contract Discussion Economic Dev. Other ISSUE/REQUEST City Council discussion regarding placement of a question to the qualified voters of the City on the April 6, 2021 ballot to impose a Use Tax. BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION A Use Tax is a tax imposed and collected on purchases made via the Internet. It typically mirrors the local sales tax rate being collected at brick-and-mortar stores. The City of Blue Springs does not have a voter-approved Use Tax and therefore is not able to collect revenue from online purchases. Online purchases have increased recently as consumer spending habits change due to the ease of technology, resulting in purchases delivered to a person’s front door by companies such as Fed EX, UPS, Amazon Prime, and the US Postal Service. The State of Missouri Department of Revenue has estimated that Blue Springs may be losing approximately $600,000 annually. Other cities in the KC metro area have successfully passed the Use Tax. These include, but are not limited to: Independence, Lee’s Summit, Grandview, Liberty, Platte City, etc. The City asked voters to consider a Use Tax on April 3, 2018. It was not approved. Recently, the City Council has seen renewed interest in putting this back on the ballot in April 2021. In order to do this, the City Council would need to pass a Bill calling for the election no later than January 26, 2021. The discussion by the City Council will give staff policy direction. FINANCIAL IMPACT Contractor: N/A PROJECT TIMELINE Estimated Start Date Estimated End Date N/A N/A Rev. 08/14/2018  Council Work Session Meeting Date: November 30, 2020 Agenda Item #: 2 Page 2 of 2 STAFF RECOMMENDATION Council discussion only; no staff recommendation OTHER BOARDS & COMMISSIONS ASSIGNED Name of Board or Commission: N/A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT N/A LIST OF REFERENCE DOCUMENTS ATTACHED 1. N/A REVIEWED BY Requesting Director: Budget: Eric Johnson N/A Legal: City Administrator: Jacqueline A. Sommer Eric Johnson Rev. 08/14/2018  Council Work Session Meeting Date: November 30, 2020 Agenda Item #: 3 Page 1 of 2 CITY OF BLUE SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION FORM DATE SUBMITTED: November 24, 2020 SUBMITTED BY: Mike Mallon DEPARTMENT: Community Development Ordinance Resolution Presentation Public Hearing Contract Discussion Economic Dev. Other ISSUE/REQUEST Discussion of Temporary Use Permits for outdoor seating for restaurants during the winter months. BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION The Blue Springs City Council granted temporary emergency powers to the Mayor and City Administrator on Monday, May 18, 2020 by Ordinance No. 4907. The purpose of the emergency powers is to waive, modify, or suspend the operation of City ordinance and policy requirements, including but limited to the issuance of licenses and permits and competitive bidding requirements to support and assist in the reopening of businesses in the City effected by the COVID-19 pandemic. On Friday, May 22, 2020, the Mayor and City Administrator approved Joint Order No. 2020-01 to provide relief to businesses that serve food and beverages to customers to allow the expansion of temporary outdoor seating areas for diners, restaurants, and bars. Businesses wishing to expand their outdoor seating areas need to first obtain a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) from the Community Development Department. To date, five restaurants have been approved for outdoor seating through a TUP under the joint order: Pizza Shoppe, East 40 Brewing, Brewers, Rancho Grande and Wind Shift Brewing. Some of the approved outdoor seating areas are located within the public sidewalks on Main Street in Downtown. During the winter months, the City’s Parks Department is responsible for snow removal from the sidewalks on Main Street from 11th Street to 12th Street when snowfall amounts exceed 4”. Parks has requested that outdoor seating on public sidewalks not be permitted during the winter months in order to not impede their ability to complete snow removal. The discussion by the City Council will give staff policy direction. FINANCIAL IMPACT Contractor: N/A PROJECT TIMELINE Estimated Start Date Estimated End Date N/A Rev. 08/14/2018  Council Work Session Meeting Date: November 30, 2020 Agenda Item #: 3 Page 2 of 2 STAFF RECOMMENDATION Council discussion only; no staff recommendation OTHER BOARDS & COMMISSIONS ASSIGNED Name of Board or Commission: N/A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT N/A LIST OF REFERENCE DOCUMENTS ATTACHED 1. List of Temporary Use Permits approved for outdoor seating under the Joint Order, with pictures of restaurants and the outdoor seating areas. REVIEWED BY Requesting Director: Budget: Mike Mallon N/A Legal: City Administrator: Jacqueline A. Sommer Eric Johnson Rev. 08/14/2018 Temporary Use Permits approved under Joint Order No. 2020-01 1. Blue Springs Pizza Shoppe 2 permits: May 22, 2020 to July 20, 2020; July 21, 2020 to September 18, 2020 Did not request renewal but left setting in place. Contacted owner about seating being in the right away and possible concerns with snow removal. 2. Brewers 2 permits: May 22, 2020 to July 20, 2020; July 21, 2020 to September 18, 2020 Did not request renewal and removed setting when it snowed. Contacted owner they stated they do not wish to renew and will reevaluate come Spring. 3. East Forty Brewing 3 permits: May 22, 2020 to July 20, 2020; July21 to September 18, 2020; November 10, 2020 to December 31, 2020 First two permits were the same. Third permit has additional tent, owner worked with city to make sure proper fire safety, occupancy and electrical is in place. Codes department inspected at no cost to the business owner. 4. Rancho Grande Cantina 1 permit: June 5, 2002 to August 6, 2020 Emailed owner to see about renewing permit. No response was given. 5. Wind Shift Brewing 3 permits issued: June 5, 2020 to August 6, 2020 August 7, 2020 to October 6, 2020 November 10, 2020 to December 31, 2020