CITY EXAMINES BUILDING NEEDS

A new aquatic center, more fire stations on the west end and additions to City Hall and police station could ease the city's building needs.

But the city must weigh needs of the buildings against other budget constraints and improvement projects, city staff said during a City Council retreat Friday at Black Forest Villages.

About 20 people, including council members, department heads and other staff members, attended the daylong retreat to discuss budget concerns, review building needs and update mission statements.

The city must address both long-range needs and current concerns, said City Manager Michael Miller. By looking at the building needs, council members can address problems, make plans for the future and find money for the projects.

An eight-member team spent a year studying the city's building needs, office space, parks and public safety offices. The list of immediate needs covers public works, fire and police departments, parks and recreation, airport and administration needs.

The highest priorities are:

-- A new site and building for the public works division, preferably one closer to the transfer station, wastewater treatment plant and water plant No. 2.

With more than 31,000 vehicles a day traveling by the public works site on Kingshighway, it isn't at a good spot. Employees make about 100 trips a week to the transfer station or water plants on the southern edge of the city.

-- An annex to the main police station would ease crowded office space and free up space for evidence storage. Opening neighborhood offices also would help alleviate space problems.

-- Relocating Fire Station No. 3 to North Sprigg Street and moving Station No. 4 to the Lexington Avenue area would enable quicker response times to growing residential areas.

Adding two new stations on the west side of Interstate 55 would enable better access to growing neighborhoods in that area.

-- As the city grows westward, more parks will be needed. Replacing an aging pool at Capaha Park with an aquatic center could be an improvement.

That idea was rejected by voters when it was first introduced by the council nearly a decade ago. Mayor Al Spradling III said, "It was a wonderful idea when we did it 11 years ago."

Cost estimates for all the projects over 20 years total nearly $51 million, and finding funding for the improvements could be the key to getting them done. The city's capital improvements budget is tight, and additional funds aren't readily available for new buildings or additions to city offices.

Spradling said, "We're not the only city that has those needs."

Proposed legislation could help solve some of the city's money problems. House Bill 745, which is awaiting a third reading in the Missouri Senate, could allow cities and counties to enact a one-half-cent sales tax to pay for public safety needs.

If the city asked voters to approve a sales tax over a 10-year period, it could mean the city would have the money to pay for its building needs without issuing bonds. Ken Eftink, planning coordinator for the city, said, "It would be pay as you go."

The committee looked at increasing real estate property taxes or imposing use taxes or excise taxes but decided the sales tax would be the best possible way to raise money.

"Property tax affects more lives," said council member Melvin Gateley. Spradling said it has a ripple effect in the city, with increases in property taxes rents increase and housing costs rise.

The city has to find a way to maintain a good quality of life and balance taxes, Miller said.

City building needs

Among major building needs and capital improvements for the city:

Fire Department

-- Relocating Fire Station No. 3 from Emerald Street to North Sprigg Street.

-- Adding a fire training facility, possibly for use as a regional site.

-- Relocating Fire Station No. 4 in the Lexington Avenue area.

-- Adding a fire station west of Interstate 55.

Police Department

-- Building an annex to the main police station to alleviate overcrowding office and storage spaces.

-- Opening a precinct office on the west side of the city, possibly in conjunction with a fire station.

Public Works

-- Relocate public works facility from Kingshighway to an area closer to the wastewater plant, transfer station and water plant No. 2.

-- Build a public works building to replace old buildings in need of repairs.

Parks and Recreation

-- Develop an aquatic center to supplement the city's pools system and to replace aging Capaha Pool.

-- Add space at the golf course clubhouse for lockers, dining room and a pro shop.

-- Add land for the Shawnee Park complex.

-- General park development, to include adding restrooms and upgrading playground equipment to meet safety standards.

Administration

-- Build an annex to City Hall. As city departments grow, more work space is needed. Relocating customer services to Convention and Visitors building will help in short-term.

Airport

-- Make improvements to T-hangars.

-- Make runway improvements for extensions and added traffic.

-- Make improvements to the terminal as traffic expands.