2009-083: Amended the 2008 Consolidated Plan Action Plan to create a new Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP); authorized the city manager or deputy city manager to apply to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for HPRP funding in the amount of $551,673 and to select and contract with service providers for the program; amended the budget for fiscal year 2008-09 in the Department of Planning and Development and declared an emergency (however, the bill was listed under Council bills for public hearing under the agenda as "not anticipated to be voted on," rather than the emergency bill listing).
This bill passed with the approval of Mayor Jim O'Neal and Council members Ralph K. Manley, Scott Bailes, Robert Stephens, Dan Chiles, Doug Burlison, Cindy Rushefsky and John Rush. Councilman Nick Ibarra opposed the bill's passage.
Councilman Ibarra issued the following statement as to his reason for opposing the bill:
"As someone who is opposed to the philosophy behind the stimulus package in whole, I do understand that there is money that the City may very well need to secure. Having said that, President Barack Obama has stated that the money from the stimulus package is meant to go towards job growth, job creation, and infrastructure. When presented with a bill that does none of those things, but instead simply pays rent and utilities of one from the pockets of another, I cannot support it. It comes down to responsible spending; if we must be put in a situation where securing stimulus funds is a necessity, I would hope to secure those monies for what they are meant to be for… nothing more.” -Councilman Nicholas Ibarra via email April 23, 2009
RESOLUTIONS
2009-089: Approved the plans, specifications and bid of Harman Construction in the amount of $1,169,500 for the construction of National Avenue and Grand Street intersection improvements.
Other bidders for the project were: Newman Bros. Construction, Inc., $1,211,950.85; Emery Sapp and Sons, Inc., $1,303,784.61; Sprouls Construction, Inc., $1,439,418.50; D & E Plumbing & Heating, Inc., $1,562,357.
The engineer's estimate for the project was $1,569,166.15.
The bill passed with Mayor O'Neal and Council members Manley, Bailes, Stephens, Burlison, Rush, Rushefsky and Ibarra in support. Councilman Dan Chiles opposed passage of the bill.
Councilman Dan Chiles issued the following statement by email this afternoon, as to why he opposed passage of 2009-089:
" The reason I voted against the intersection bill 2009-089 is because I wanted to see more details about two things:
1. Given the accidents that have occurred there in the past, are we taking careful steps to insure pedestrian safety?
2. Are we making provisions for alternative forms of transportation? Examples include bicycling, scooters, walkers, moms with strollers, NEV's (neighborhood electric vehicles) and Segways. Given that the neighbors that surround that intersection are filled with people who walk to MSU, are we including their interests in our new design or are we only planning for SUV's?
Our future transportation system will not look like it does today and intersections are built for at least 50 year life spans. So, are we looking ahead 50 years when we design them?
I hope we can have that discussion on a city wide basis." -Councilman Dan Chiles via email, April 23, 2009
EMERGENCY BILLS
2009-093 (removed from the Consent Agenda): Authorized the city manager or designee to accept an increase of $326,614 from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and amended the budget provided for the Department of Health of the City of Springfield for fiscal year 2008-09 in that amount.
The bill passed unanimously; Councilman John Rush abstaining.
SECOND READING
2008-071: Amended General Ordinance 5475, Urban Conservation District 1, and the Springfield Land Development Code by rezoning approximately 18 acres generally bounded by properties on both sides of the 900-1200 blocks of South National Avenue. The area is locally known as the Walnut Street-West Urban Conservation District.
The bill was passed unanimously by the City Council.
CONSENT AGENDA
One Reading
2009-091: Accepted the bid of Rockbusters, Inc. in the amount of $72,409.94 for construction of sanitary sewers located in the vicinity of Kansas Avenue and Mount Vernon Streets; declared the work necessary; stated the intention to pay for all or part of the improvements from the proceeds of bonds; specified the costs and expenses to be assessed against the properties in that specific district and the method of apportionment of the costs; set the manner of payment, the lien of the assessments and the duration of the lien; set the interest rate to be charged on the tax bills; authorized the city manager or designee to enter into a contract to approve the bond for the improvements and authorized progress payments to be made to the contractor.
There was a total of 13 bidders for the project, ranging from $72,409.94 to $115,663.60. Rockbusters, Inc. was the low bidder. The engineer's estimate was set at $141,534.
2009-092: Declared it necessary to construct district sanitary sewers in the general vicinity of Missouri Avenue at Woodridge Street and provided for publications and notices.
Second Reading
2009-075: Authorized the city manager or designee, to accept an increase from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and amended the 2008-09 budget in the Department of Health of the City of Springfield in the amount of $326,614.
2009-076: Authorized the city manager or designee to make application for a $75,000 Emergency Shelter Grant with the Missouri Department of Social Services for sub-granting to eligible homeless service providers; to enter an agreement with the Missouri Department of Social Services; to accept the grant; to enter subcontracts to carry out the grant objectives; and to implement the grant.
The consent agenda bills were passed unanimously by the City Council.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No comments:
Post a Comment