Democracy on the Front Lines
City Administrator’s Blog
Walter Denton
December 11, 2009
Here is a summary of Monday’s City Council meeting agenda items. The items are listed in the order as they appeared in the agenda. Click here to see the full texts of the resolutions, ordinances, and staff reports. As a reminder, resolutions, motions, and special event permits only need to be approved once to become official. Ordinances are required to be approved in two readings (over two meetings) before they become official.
Here are the items that were approved by the City Council:
Resolution to set Planning and Zoning fees: At the November 19 City Council Planning Session, the City Council considered methods to diversify revenue and find services that can pay for themselves. Many Planning and Zoning fees have not been changed since the 1980s. Staff conducted an analysis of the staff time and costs to process services such as re-zonings, variances, special uses, plats, and others. The resolution increases fees to cover those staff costs to process the applications.
Ordinance to approve the property tax levy (First Reading): This is the annual process to file a Property Tax Levy with the county by the fourth Tuesday in December. The levy reflects the council’s guidance to keep the property tax rate as low as possible and is a reduction of .0017 from last year’s rate. The levy is based on the previous year’s budget and a city can not levy more in the next year than it budgeted the previous year. The EAV is the base for the next year’s estimate and had a multiplier added by the county. The 2009 levy reflects a $29,293,401 increase in new property in O’Fallon. This is a 4% increase in new property this year and continues a trend of increasing EAV going back to at least 1992.
Ordinance establishing the Regency Park Special Business District (First Reading): In 2004, the City established three Special Service Areas (SSA) to finance development along Regency Park Drive. The concept envisioned selling bonds to complete the infrastructure of a large undeveloped area into a retail center complete with Big Box retail. The bonds were to be repaid with a special property tax that was to float above the regular property tax for a period of 20 years. The retail complex did not materialize, the property was sold and a new concept was embraced to develop a Corporate Campus complete with Hotels, Restaurants and a Conference Center. This concept was off to a good start when the economy took a downturn and development slowed to a stand still. The economy is beginning to show signs of recovery in the near future and we now
find the SSA tax applied six years ago has become a detriment to development of the area along with undermining and a lack of roads. In particular, the lots along I-64 designated for up scale restaurants are not competitive with lots just across I-64 due to the SSA adding a rather large extra tax for 20 years. This SBD is designed to help alleviate some of this negative tax by allowing the merchant/restaurateur to collect one extra percent on sales and apply it to the SSA tax. The SBD requires two ordinances, one to establish and designate the district and another to establish the tax to be collected (1% on retail sales and Hotel/Motel occupation).
Ordinance establishing the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program (First Reading): To help maintain the safety, value, and stability of the rental properties in O’Fallon, and the neighborhoods they are located in, this ordinance creates the Crime Free Multi-Family Housing Program. The program consists of two phases (landlord and/or manager training and environmental inspection) that must be completed under the supervision of the O’Fallon Police Department. Property managers can become individually certified after completing training in each phase and the property becomes certified upon successful completion of both phases. The anticipated benefits are reduced police calls for service, a more stable resident base, and reduced exposure to civil liability. The program is separate and distinct from Code Enforcement and the occupancy
permit process but will work very closely with that program to ensure consistency of enforcement. The program will look specifically at public safety factors, not property maintenance code items. The Planning and Zoning Department will provide administrative and licensing support to the PD for the program.
Ordinance to approve the Frank Scott Lakeside Apartments (Second Reading): Balke Brown Associates has filed an application to build 232 luxury apartment buildings on 20.13 acres of land at 1146 Frank Scott Parkway.
Ordinance to approve the Crocker Development (Second Reading): Applicant is requesting to rezone and locate an office at 8670 East Highway 50.
Motion allow a 12-month extension to the Airport Storage Center project: On November 3, 2008, the City Council approved the Airport Storage Center at 8520 East Highway 50. As with all Planned Use ordinances, the approval was valid for 12 months. The applicant, Century Development, LLC, filed a written request for a one-year extension to this approval, citing the weak economy as a reason for not moving forward with the project to date.
ON HOLD Tax Increment Financing Ordinances: Five Second Reading ordinances dealing with the proposed Regency Park Tax Increment Financing District are on hold for legal review.
Now you’re up to date. Next Monday’s committee meetings will be Parks and Environment at 5:30 p.m., Community Development at 6:00 p.m., and Public Safety at 7:00 p.m.
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