Action - Independence City Council

The Independence City Council meets regularly the first and third Mondays of the month, with study sessions on the second and fourth Mondays. The council met Monday, Dec. 1, 2008. Council Members Will Swoffer and Jim Schultz were absent. All votes were 5-0 unless stated. All dollar figures have been rounded off.
           
Opening action
The council:

• Approved minutes for regular meetings July 21, Aug. 4, adjourned meeting Aug. 11 and regular meeting Aug. 18, 2008.

Consent agenda
The council approves items in the consent agenda, including reports and resolutions, with one motion and vote. The council:

• Approved price agreements with Diamond International and Central Power Systems and Services, Inc., for IHC, diesel and transmission parts & service for various City departments.
• Approved the application of Hy-Vee, Inc. for a retailer of intoxicating liquor in the original package license and Sunday sales license for Hy-Vee Gas No. 1 located at 1523 East 23rd St.
• Approved a purchase order to Archer Engineers in the amount of $33,095 for the engineering design of storm water drainage repairs and improvements in six residential neighborhoods located throughout the city.
• Approved a price agreement with Midwest Wheel Companies for transmission and power take-off parts and service for the period of Jan.1, 2009, through Dec. 31, 2009. 

Resolutions   

• Approved a Christmas adoption special for kittens/cats and puppies/dogs to run from Dec. 13, 2008, through and including Dec. 20, 2008, by forgoing $10 of the adoption fee for kittens/cats and $20 of the adoption fee for puppies/dogs and forgoing the $10 microchip during the time period.        
• Approved reappointing Clifford McCormick to the Independence Park Commission for a three-year term.
• Approved reappointing Lloyd Briggs to the Public Safety Sales Tax Oversight Committee for a three-year term.
• Approved reappointing Michael Evans to the Citizens with Disabilities Advisory Board for a three-year term.
• Approved reappointing Michael Hinojosa and Shirley Timmerman to the Storm Water Control Oversight Committee for three-year terms.
• Approved reappointing Oneida (Beeman) Lorimer to the Truman Memorial Scholarship Candidate Selection Committee for a three-year term.
• Approved reappointing Dr. Roy H. Schaefer to the Human Relations Commission for a three-year term.

Ordinances

• Approved changing the zoning classification from industrial to two-family residential with a special use permit for cultural activities for the property located north and south of West Linden Avenue, east of South Pleasant Street and west of South Liberty Street.
• Approved changing the zoning classification from industrial to historic, single-family residence for the property on the west side of South Osage Street and south of West Walnut Street.
• Approved changing the name “South Lynn Court” north of East 35th Street and west of South Noland Road to “South Weatherford Road.”
• Approved a change order to the construction management contract pertaining to the Strode Road Bridge project with Shafer Kline and Warren for an increase of $67,100.
• Approved a contract with the Jackson County Board of Election Commissioners for the calendar year 2009 for services provided to the Jackson County Board of Election Commissioners.
• Approved amending the Independence city code by repealing the business licensing requirements for private detectives and private detective agencies and classifying them as exempted businesses effective Jan. 1, 2009.
• Approved the revision of the legal description of Parcel No. 24, of the Round Grove – 35th Terrace to Home sanitary & storm sewer improvements by amending ordinance no. 16737, which was previously amended by ordinance no. 17145.

First readings
Ordinances require two readings before the council passes them. The following ordinances have been read once and will be on the Dec. 15, 2008, agenda for a vote.
n An ordinance for a revised zoning map amendment by changing the zoning classification and an amended preliminary development plan for the property generally located northwest and west of Necessary Road and south and east of the future Little Blue Parkway.

• An ordinance changing the zoning classification for the property located at the northeast corner of South River Boulevard and East U. S. 40.
• An ordinance approving a zoning map amendment by changing the zoning classification for the property located north of Interstate 70, south of East 39th Street and west of South Lee’s Summit Road.
• An ordinance requested by Harve Sommers to vacate a 7.5-foot-wide rear utility easement at the rear of Lots 4, 5, 6 and 7 of Salisbury Estates PUD.
• An ordinance amending Article VI.C, Employee Benefits, of the Personnel Policies and Procedures to consolidate retirement benefits into one section and to create eligibility periods to receive retirement health insurance for employees hired prior to Jan. 1, 2009 and for employees hired on or after Jan. 1, 2009.
• An ordinance to enter into an amended license agreement with Missouri Logos to allow posting of Trailblazer signs in city rights-of-way and limiting those signs to three hotel and/or restaurant signs per pole and two poles per intersection.
• An ordinance establishing a crime tip program for crimes against property within the corporate boundaries of Independence and using the Truman Heartland Vandalism Reward program sub-account to fund the disbursement of rewards.
• An ordinance amending Section 1.23.002 of the Independence City Code, authorizing the Chief of Police and Fire Chief to administer oaths or affirmations of office.
• An ordinance to sign a contract with Shafer Kline and Warren to provide engineering services for the Bly Road Bridge project for an amount not to exceed $150,050.

 
Emergency ordinances
The council can read emergency ordinances twice and pass them in one meeting with five votes. The council approved:

• An emergency ordinance to amend the agreement with The Benham Companies LLC to extend the length of the contract by two months, formally recognizing Benham as project manager for the duration of the project and authorizing Benham to assist with acquisition of furniture, fixtures and equipment for the Events Center.
• An emergency ordinance increasing appropriations in the amount of $688,363 in the operating and capital budgets for various departments and capital projects and making other budget adjustments as necessary for the fiscal year July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. 

Citizen requests

• Erin Burroughs spoke to the Council regarding bus transit cuts.
• Bruce Van Compernolle spoke to the City Council regarding a change in proposed retirement benefits.
• Kirk Stobart spoke to the City Council regarding a change in proposed retirement benefits.

   
Council member comments

• Lucy Young praised work done so far on Truman Road.
• Mayor Don Reimal advised citizens of a potential investment scam by a group fraudulently representing Citi Financial.
• Marcie Gragg urged citizens to stay healthy during the holidays.
• Jim Page urged caution driving during the holiday season.