Community Involvement Committee

THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING September 17, 2025 12:00 p.m. Councilman Denny Whayne Conference Room (Bush Building, 4th floor) 840 Boonville Avenue MEMBERS PRESENT: Callie Carroll, Chair; Derek Lee; Monica Horton; and Heather Hardinger. MEMBERS ABSENT: None. COUNCIL PRESENT: Bruce Adib-Yazdi. STAFF PRESENT: Maurice S. Jones, Deputy City Manager; Collin Quigley, Deputy City Manager; Cora Scott, Director of Public Information and Civic Engagement; Martin Gugel, Director of Building Development Services; Paul Williams, Police Chief; David Holtmann, Director of Finance; Steve Childers, Director of Planning and Development; Dan Smith, Director Public Works; Jon Mooney, Assistant Director of Public Health and Welfare; Matt Schaefer,; Senior City Planner; Jan Millington, Assistant City Attorney; Julie Greer, Deputy City Clerk; Anita Cotter, City Clerk; and Kristina D’Andrea, Executive Secretary. GUESTS: None. Councilmember Carroll, Chair, called the meeting to order at approximately 12:00 p.m., and roll call was conducted. Present: Derek Lee, Heather Hardinger, Monica Horton, and Callie Carroll. Absent: None. Mayor Pro Tem Hardinger moved to approve the minutes of August 27, 2025, meeting as presented. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Lee and approved by the following vote: Ayes: Lee, Horton, Hardinger, and Carroll. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None. Maurice S. Jones, Deputy City Manager, introduced the review and recommendation of 2026 legislative priorities as the meeting topic. Councilmember Carroll briefly reviewed the General Priorities. She introduced payday loans, a public safety Special Priority, for discussion. She asked for input from David Holtmann, Director of Finance, about any recent developments. Mr. Holtmann responded there were no recent legislative developments regarding this priority. 1 Approved by the Community Involvement Committee Members on October 15, 2025 Mayor Pro Tem Hardinger asked whether legislation related to payday loans was being actively monitored. Mr. Holtmann explained how the interest rates of these loans were often predatory toward low-income households and would require close monitoring. He noted any action would necessitate a policy decision from the City Council. Mayor Pro Tem Hardinger acknowledged the predatory nature of many payday loans. Councilmember Horton advocated for maintaining payday loans as a Legislative Priority. Councilmember Carroll reminded the Committee members of the recent meeting with Will Marrs, Chief Consultant of Governmental Services Group, who recommended reducing the number of Legislative Priorities. Mayor Pro Tem Hardinger inquired about distinguishing between issues requiring active advocacy in Jefferson City and those warranting monitoring only. She asked for clarity on how the City should prioritize these matters. Councilmember Horton responded by expressing concern about the impact on the citizens of Springfield. Mayor Pro Tem Hardinger agreed with Councilmember Horton. After further discussion, the Committee members decided to keep payday loans on the list of Legislative Priorities to be monitored. Councilmember Carroll introduced failure to appear in court for traffic violation, Municipal Court warrants, and municipal community service support as the Municipal Court Special Priorities to be discussed. Councilmember Horton recommended the removal of all three Municipal Court Special Priorities. All members of the Committee agreed to remove all three of these from the Legislative Priorities. Councilmember Carroll introduced property nuisances and dangerous/unsafe buildings as the chronic nuisance properties and dangerous buildings Special Priorities for discussion. She asked for input from Martin Gugel, Director of Building Development Services. Mr. Gugel described the City’s current process for handling blighted buildings and properties as being stable. He recommended the removal of both items from the Legislative Priority list. Councilmember Carroll introduced video lottery terminals and sale of hemp-based marijuana products as the next Special Priorities to be discussed. She asked for input from Paul Williams, Chief of Police. Chief Williams asked to keep both issues as Legislative Priorities. He noted the video lottery terminals needed to be regulated statewide. He also noted a recent legislative bill to restrict Delta 8 and derivatives did not pass. He referred to a Chesterfield city ordinance which restricted hemp-based marijuana products and suggested this could be a model for the City to consider. Councilmember Carroll suggested sending the ordinance to the Law Department for review, and Chief Williams agreed to do so. Mayor Pro Tem Hardinger inquired about hallucinogenic mushrooms. Chief Williams responded the hallucinogenic mushrooms were a different issue, but any marijuana-based derivatives were harmful, unregulated, and easily attainable. The Committee agreed to keep video lottery terminals and sale of hemp-based marijuana products as Legislative Priorities. Councilmember Carroll introduced HB 1662 Homes-based Business Law as the next Special Priority for discussion. She asked for input from Steve Childers, Director of Planning and 2 Approved by the Community Involvement Committee Members on October 15, 2025 Development. Mr. Childers recommended keeping this as Legislative Priority. He discussed how home-based businesses could cause a nuisance in a neighborhood but noted this was not a frequent problem. Councilmember Carroll introduced annexation as the next Special Priority for discussion. She asked for input from Mr. Childers. Mr. Childers recommended the removal of annexations from the Legislative Priority list. Councilmember Derek Lee expressed agreement with Mr. Childers. Councilmember Carroll introduced Ozarks Transportation Organization (OTO) as the next Special Priority for discussion. She asked for input from Dan Smith, Director of Public Works. Mr. Smith recommended keeping this as a Legislative Priority and discussed how critical OTO was to the wellbeing of the local economy, safety, and quality of life. Councilmember Carroll noted OTO was a top priority for regional Legislative Priorities. Councilmember Carroll introduced transportation development districts as the next Special Priority for discussion. She asked for input from Matt Schaefer, Senior City Planner. Mr. Schaefer recommended removing this from the Legislative Priorities, citing the need for comprehensive state statute reform, and suggested some issues could be addressed locally. Councilmember Lee expressed support for removing it. Councilmember Carroll introduced State-provided mental health services as the next Special Priority for discussion. She asked for input from Jon Mooney, Assistant Director of Public Health and Welfare. Mr. Mooney recommended keeping this as a Legislative Priority. Councilmember Carroll noted there would six Legislative Priorities to be recommended to City Council. Mr. Jones advised staff would prepare a document outlining the revised Legislative Priorities for 2026. Councilmember Horton raised the issue of endorsing childcare legislation for workforce development. Mayor Pro Tem Hardinger emphasized the lack of resources to address the local childcare crisis and supported advocating for improvements. Councilmember Carroll noted childcare was the region’s second legislative priority, with changes to facility requirements under consideration. The discussion included workforce training, existing City resources, and regional partnerships. Mayor Pro Tem Hardinger requested a formal City statement recognizing childcare as a concern to support potential state-level advocacy. Councilmember Lee suggested aligning with regional language. Mr. Jones responded staff would follow up. Councilmember Horton moved to present the revised Legislative Priorities for 2026 to City Council. Councilmember Lee seconded the motion, and it was approved by the following vote: Ayes: Lee, Horton, Hardinger, and Carroll. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None. Anita Cotter, City Clerk, noted the Resolution could be ready for the first City Council meeting in October. 3 Approved by the Community Involvement Committee Members on October 15, 2025 Councilmember Lee moved to adjourn. Mayor Pro Tem Hardinger seconded the motion, and it was approved by the following vote: Ayes: Lee, Horton, Hardinger, and Carroll. Nays: None. Absent: None. None. Abstain: None. The meeting adjourned at approximately 12:32 p.m. Prepared by Kristina D’Andrea Clerk’s Note: The Council bill did not appear on the City Council Agenda for the first meeting in October. 4 Approved by the Community Involvement Committee Members on October 15, 2025