In Council: December 17, 2009

Sorry for the delay in getting this out this week. There was a lot to go through. I'm still working on cleaning up after my template fiasco last week. Most of the work is done, but I still need to get the my blog roll up.

Because of the holiday there is no City Council meeting this week.

Sewer Bonds Approved

The Council finally approved $16 million in revenue bonds. Revenue bonds are paid back from revenues generated by the use that they fund, not from general tax revenues. In this case the bonds will be paid from fees for sewer services. The bonds approved last week are low-interest bonds being made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Project

The City Council prioritized the projects eligible for low-income housing tax credits. Low-income housing tax credits are federal tax credits administered through the states, in our case by the Missouri Housing Development Commission. The program provides tax breaks for investors who invest in affordable housing. One of the requirements of the program is that only projects with local support are eligible. Hence the prioritized list from City Hall this week. Here's the list:

• East Village Apartments (Swope Community Builders) Downtown, East side
  
• Columbia Lofts (DLS Historic Developers) This might be the Columbia Burlap building in the west bottoms. I wasn't able to nail it down.
  
• Basie Court Apartments (Dalmark Development) 1940 Woodland Ave. This is near the Jazz district.
  
• Chatham Apartments – (Landmark Investment Group) As I recall, this building on Broadway was turned down several years ago for Tax Increment Financing, even though such a project would fit the intent of TIF better than the projects that actually do win that type of financing. I haven't heard anything about the disposition of this building in a while. I'll be anxious to see what happens.

Combat Pay Exempt from Earnings Tax

The Council voted to exempt pay earned in a combat zone from the city's earnings tax.

More Signal Coordination

It's a simple fact, a logical extension of the law of supply and demand. If you want to improve the air quality in this area, you have to reduce driving. A measure that reduces the time cost of driving doesn't do that. The Council went ahead with the measure anyway. I don't really blame the council for this one. The local culture starts with the primacy of the automobile as it's base assumption.

Other Business

• By a unanimous vote the Council adopted a resolution calling for a feasibility study regarding the idea of capping I-678.
• The proposed creation of the Power and Light Oversight died this week by unanimous vote when Councilman Skaggs moved to hold the measure off the docket.
• The Council formally adopted its wish list for the second session of the 111th Congress. 
• The City Council approved Tax Increment Financing for the Vitagraph building in the crossroads after the TIF Commission deadlocked on the same issue. The Vitagraph building is being renovated by Shirley Helzberg for administrative offices for the symphony. TIF funds will be used to add two floors o the Vitagraph building.
  
• The City Council approved increases to licensing fees for businesses.
  

Land Use and Sustainability

Around the country developers are building walkable neighborhoods, mixed-use developments that combine living, working, and shopping within the same package. It almost goes without saying that they wouldn't be doing this if it weren't making them money. Our local developers haven't figured this out yet.

• A plat was approved creating 12 multi-family condominium units on a half acre near North Brighton and 152. The project takes advantage of existing arteries. There are no employment or shopping opportunities within a quarter mile walk of the development.
• The City rezoned 2.2 acres at 34th and Prospect for the construction of housing for senior citizens. Although this project will use existing infrastructure, it uses a suburban development style (sprawl) and requires tearing down existing urban structures.
  

Looking Ahead

I'm running a bit behind this week. I'll post the look ahead later in the week.