HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-10-26Minutes of Workshop Meeting Of
Board of Aldermen of City of Riverside, Missouri
October 26, 2009
A workshop meeting for the City of Riverside, Missouri, was held in the City Hall of
Riverside, Missouri at 6:00 p.m.
Those in attendance were Mayor Kathy Rose, Aldermen Fuller, Cope, Thatcher, Hurt, Super
and Bruns.
Also present were David Blackburn, City Administrator, Mike Duffy, Director of
Community Development, Louise Rusick, City Clerk and Mike Duffy, Community Relations
Director.
Mayor Rose said the meeting was called to inform the board of the guidelines put
together to form a Riverside Economic Development Committee with the following topics as
listed below:
• Purpose
• Guiding Principles
• Activities
• Benefits discussion
• Membership
• Partnerships
Alderman Fuller asked when the committee meets, if the meetings would be posted and
wants to know what the City's legal obligation would be for this. Mike Duffy said the Interim
City Attorney is looking into this as Mike Duffy has been told it depends on how the structure of
the committee is formed and following all sunshine law requirements.
Alderman Fuller's concern was posting the meetings incase some of the board members
attend. Mike Duffy said the City Clerk posts any meetings at the present time where there are
multiple members that aze attending. Also, Alderman Fuller's concern is if there is an open or
closed meeting if he could attend. Mike Duffy said this is one of the reasons he has contacted
the Attorney for a response.
The idea of the committee is to draft alonger-term policy for this type of development
for the City that says as projects come forwazd we are interested in pursuing them. Then we
can tell the people bringing a proposal forward, "Here's the tool kit of all the various options
available" to allow the City to pursue them based on what they bring back to the City. If a
project is presented and the applicant can answer these questions (guiding principles), then
they can be brought back to the board for review to see if we should go forward and the
decision is not made at the staff level only.
Alderman Cope said this was decided a month and one-half a go that the boazd wanted
to be informed on some of these opportunities that staff is presented with and that's why this
committee was mentioned to be formed so we have a board liaison.
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Alderman Thatcher said we must be cazeful of the City's obligation to be open in the
best interests of the residents and the general public. Also, we have to be careful of our
obligation to people we would potentially be doing business with and make sure the board is
giving equal diligence to both the areas, opened and closed and figuring out what the
boundaries are as to what is going to be opened or closed.
Alderman Fuller also would like to know if the boazd is going to look for (accelerate)
hiring a full time Attorney or else. In his opinion, he would like to have an Attorney at the
board meetings for any questions that may arise from the boazd or staff that requires the
Attorney's advice. Alderman Thatcher said it needs to be decided what the functions ate and
what parts they want the Attorney to sit in on. Mayor Rose said this needs to be established so
we can move forward.
Alderman Fuller said it was also decided when an outside Attorney (as Joe Bednar who
the City contracts with) is brought in, there would be a "ball park" figure presented for the
project he would be working on. Mike Duffy said we can define the amount of the projects as
they move along and the board will be provided with the cost so they can make a decision.
Alderman Fuller asked if this is an ongoing committee and Mike Duffy said "yes" and there
needs to be 2 groups formed, one that puts together the development policy and can be brought
to the boazd and be approved and a group to "vet" the process as development projects come
in.
Alderman Bruns asked, "What's the difference between this committee and all the
others set up?" Mike Duffy said the others aze recommending committees. Alderman Bruns
also asked if the Attorney will be involved. Mike Duffy said if there is legal questions and in
this case the Attorney would be involved is the use of potential incentive programs and this
example would be tax increment financing and new market tax credits and haw to get our area
designated for new market tax credits from the state requiring the Attorney's assistance. Joe
Bednaz's services gives us access as to what other potential tools of funding outside is
available to us. Joe's services gives us access as to what other potential tools of funding
"outside" that is available to us.
Mayor Rose said we azen't the only City doing this, other cities have Economic
Development committees.
Alderman Hurt said if there's no Attorney present at the meetings and the committee
decides something is a good deal with programs set up and the attorney gives us the "whys and
why Hots" we're spinning our wheels unnecessarily. Mike Duffy said if a proposal is presented
for some kind of partnership, they have a development attorney on their side and then the
proposal must go to our attorney for review. Mike Duffy said Joe Bednar was asked to be a
part of this because of what be brings from the state level and when the ordinance was passed
previously to obtain Joe's services, it included dealing with levee and economic development
issues, but the city attorney may be used also for some of those activities that aren't related to
some of those other areas.
Alderman Bruns said he would still like to know what's going on with Economic
Development from the staff whether or not a committee is formed. Mike Duffy said,
"Absolutely". Mayor Rose said this is a starting document and forever changing document as
moving forward. Alderman Fuller said he wants the ability to attend the meetings.
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Alderman Thatcher moved that the Boazd of Aldermen authorize the Mayor to
provisionally create an Economic Development Committee based on guidelines presented at
this meeting October 26, 2009 and Alderman Super shall be appointed as the liaison of the
Board to the Economic Development Committee, seconded by Alderman Hurt, the vote was:
Aye: Aldermen Thatcher, Cope, Fuller, Hurt and Bruns. Abstain: Alderman Super
abstained because he was voted as liaison. Motion carries.
Alderman Super moved to adjourn at 6:40 p.m., seconded by Alderman Cope, the vote
was: Aye: Aldermen Fuller, Bruns, Thatcher, Cope, Hurt and Super. Motion carries.
L ise Rusick, City erk
Mins. 10/26/09