Council Recap: Proposed Entertainment District Stalls

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The City Council heard several proposals, ranging from the creation of an entertainment district downtown to the replacement of a blower unit at the wastewater treatment plant. Shannon Stroud, Human Resources Manager, presented an ordinance for the approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the Excelsior Springs Hospital for lab services. Meanwhile, Melinda Mehaffy, Economic Development Director, presented a proposal to add an entertainment district, while Vonda Floyd, Finance Director, proposed an amendment to the summer sewer credit program. Let’s take a closer look at each of these stories.

Presentation of Placier.ai 4th Quarter Report, Annual Placier.ai Report, and 2022 Annual Report from Downtown Excelsior Partnership

Director of the Downtown Excelsior Partnership, Lyndsey Baxter presented 3 reports, Placier.ai 4th Quarter Report, Annual Placier.ai Report, and the 2022 Annual Report from Downtown Excelsior Partnership. See the reports listed below:

Consideration of Blower Unit #5 Replacement at the Waste Water Treatment Plant

Council heard from Chad Birdsong, Public Works Director, about the need to replace Blower Unit #5 at the WWTP (Waste Water Treatment Plant).

According to Birdsong, there are currently 5 blower units at the WWTP that are used to provide air for aerating the two oxidation ditches that are part of the treatment process. However, one of the units stopped working, and upon inspection, it was discovered that the blower motor casing had failed and needs to be replaced.

To address the issue, the city went out to bid for the replacement of the blower motor casing, and two bids were received. The low bid was from Aerzen, the manufacturer of the blower units, for a total of $27,836.78. Birdsong noted that the city’s own staff will install the blower casing with the assistance of JCI if needed once it comes in.

A resolution was prepared and presented to the City Council for their consideration and approval of the blower unit replacement. The Council ultimately approved the resolution and authorized the replacement of the Blower Unit.

Consideration of MOU with Excelsior Springs Hospital for Lab Services

The City of Excelsior Springs is requesting the approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Excelsior Springs Hospital for certain lab services. Shannon Stroud, Human Resources Manager, presented the request to the Council.

Under the proposed MOU, the city would utilize the Excelsior Springs Hospital for new employees and random drug collection results. The hospital would provide a 7-panel drug screening service in-house, and the process, rate, and time frame for the screening services would be outlined in the MOU.

Stroud noted that utilizing the services of the Excelsior Springs Hospital would provide the city with significant savings in screening services and ease of the process for employees. The rates for negative test results and non-negative test results are also listed in the MOU.

The MOU between the City of Excelsior Springs and the Excelsior Springs Hospital would allow the city to continue providing essential lab services for its employees while also saving money.

Consideration of Amending Chapter 600 to Include an Entertainment District, and amendment of corresponding codes.

*A flyer describing the proposed entertainment district* included as part of the proposal.

The City Council is considering an amendment to Chapter 600 to include an entertainment district in downtown Excelsior Springs. Melinda Mehaffy, Economic Development Director, presented the proposed amendment to the Council.

According to Mehaffy, the Downtown Excelsior Partnership approached city staff about the opportunity to allow for open containers within an entertainment district, similar to what other successful downtowns have begun doing. Representatives from the Police Department and Community Development met with Ms. Baxter, of the Downtown Excelsior Partnership, to discuss the parameters for creating an entertainment district.

The proposed parameters include restricted hours of 11 am to 10 pm daily and requiring that alcoholic beverages be purchased within the entertainment district and not allowed outside of it. The beverages would be in a branded container, and outside beverages are not allowed to be brought into the district to be consumed publicly.

A map of the area of the entertainment district, outlined in dark blue, was included in the proposal. A majority of the area impacted lies along Broadway Ave, Spring St., and Thompson Ave.

Mehaffy noted that city staff hosted a listening session with local businesses within the district and received very positive comments and support for such a program. Staff and the Downtown Excelsior Partnership have agreed to review the program six months after implementation to address any changes needed.

Several members of the council voiced concerns over the proposed district and suggested an additional listening post to garner feedback from community members. The proposal was tabled for 1 month to give time for additional feedback. The City Council will vote on the amendment at a future meeting.

The proposed changes to create the entertainment district

Consideration of Amendment to the Summer Sewer Credit Program

Excelsior Springs City Council considered an amendment to the summer sewer credit program that will extend the number of months available for a reduction in sewer usage charges from three to four months. The proposal, which was presented to the council by Vonda Floyd, Finance Director, will reduce sewer usage charges for the months of July, August, September, and October. Billings of those months of usage will appear on August, September, October, and November invoices. The calculation of the sewer credit average will remain the same, averaging sewer usage based on January, February, and March.

According to Floyd, the change has been proposed due to requests from residents to better accommodate water used in lawn care winterization, which does not go through the sewer system. Extending the available credit into October is expected to encourage lawn beautification. The proposed amendment to the summer sewer credit program is set to be considered at the Finance Council Meeting on February 21, 2023.

A concerned citizen, Carol Baxter, approached the Council and said she is a vegetable gardener and she would rather see the amended months run from June through August. Council members Spear and Kowalski suggested taking a closer look at the “data points” before making a final decision. The proposal was temporarily tabled to give time for additional analysis. The City Council will vote on the amendment at a future meeting.

See the full Council agenda attached below or visit https://cityofesmo.com/index.php/council/