Nevada City Council considers use of development incentives

Wednesday, September 3, 2003

If you want to build a residential development in Nevada, the city will now have a greater ability to help coordinate resources and options to cover the cost of building the sewers for the project. Tuesday night the city council gave preliminary approval to a revised list of incentives the city can offer to developers to include the option of establishing a Neighborhood Improvement District ,which will have a special tax assessment to cover the cost of extending sewers to the new development. The developer will still have to cover the cost of the streets and other necessary infrastructure; however, the NID financing of the sewer lines will remove a significant financial barrier to building in the city limits. "The 2010 sewer line extension program is limited to residential developments in the city limits of Nevada that are initiated prior to January 1, 2010," Craig Hubler, city manager told the council. "We expect 500 new housing starts during this time period. It's a significant incentive," he said. While there are other economic incentives available for retail and industrial developers, there are no existing programs to help with residential developments. "This is unique. I've never known of another town that pays for installing sewers in new developments," Hubler told the council. Hubler said that this is not a program to just install new sewers to make property more valuable for the owner. The developer will be required to have a development agreement, approved by the city council, that spells out what the developer must do, he told the council. In other business the council: * Let a motion to allow the Community Council on the Performing Arts to operate a beer garden in conjunction with a barbecue/chili cook-off September 27 at Candle Creek, die for lack of a second. Council members Marie Wessley and Bill Edmonds said that they did want to set a precedent that would put the city in the position of picking and choosing who would be allowed to have a beer garden. Councilman Mike Straight, who owns Landmark Skate Center, said that he opposed the license because he did not think Nevada residents were ready for a family event that includes a beer garden, even though the beer garden would be separated from the rest of the activities. * Voted 4-0, with Councilman Tim Moore abstaining because he is president of the Vernon County Chamber of Commerce, to approve paying Wilson, Chapman, Re~ $4,050 to develop a public relations campaign to let the world know about any new industries or other significant economic developments located in the Nevada area. The money for this campaign, which came from a recent Vision 2020 meeting, will come from the city's special project fund. * Accepted the bid of $3,770.11 from Alliance Medical for a defibrillator for the Nevada Fire Department. * Approved the purchase of a mandatory update to the city's utility billing, payroll and budget and accounting software from ACS Government Systems, Inc. for $6,600 plus $858 for the first year's customer support fee. * Approved paying $12,500 to recipients of tourism grants. The grants, which are included in the 2003 tourism budget, include $5,000 for the mural at the southeast corner of the square and a total of $7,500 to Champion Diamonds; $6,000 to help cover the sanctioning fees for the USSSA baseball tournaments held at the Champion Diamonds complex and $1,500 for the National Baseball Congress qualifier tournament held in Nevada over the Fourth of July weekend. The Nevada Griffons won the tournament and placed in the top 16 teams in the NBC World Series in Wichita, Kan. in August. * Passed on first reading a special ordinance amending the city agreement with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission to allow the city receive a total of $32.733 in state in Federal funds to operate the city's taxi coupon program. The total includes $1,443 from the state and $31,290 in Federal funds. Voted 4-0, with Brian Leonard abstaining because he works for the R-5 School District, to pass on first reading a special ordinance approving an agreement between the city and the Nevada R-5 School District to jointly fund the school resource officer position in the R-5 district. * Gave final approval to the city's financial disclosure and conflict of interest ordinance. * Passed of second reading a general ordinance establishing a no-parking zone to be used as a fire lane in front of the Fox Theatre building as required by the city's fire code. * Passed on second reading a general ordinance clarifying the city procurement policies. * Passed on second reading a general ordinance establishing guidelines for hiring outside legal counsel. * Gave final approval to a general ordinance establishing the city's policies and procedures for travel expenses. * Passed on second reading a special ordinance to opt out of the sales tax holiday the Missouri Legislature established on the second weekend of August 2004.

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