May 2016 MML Review Magazine

The Missouri Municipal

Review

The Official Publication of The Missouri Municipal League

May 2016

2016 Public Works Issue In This Issue: • Cape Girardeau Weathering Floods • Richmond Wastewater Treatment • St. Charles Designs Great Street • Driving Results For Perryville

In This Issue: In This Issue: • Water• Regulations and Development Workgroups Lee's Summit • Streamlined Sales Tax • PACE Programs • Missouri's AfterSchool Network • City Fiscal Conditions • MML Legislative Conference

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This information is for institutional investor use only, not for further distribution to retail investors, and does not represent an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any fund or other security. Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing in any of the Missouri Securities Investment Program’s portfolios. This and other information about the Program’s portfolios is available in the Program’s current Information Statement, which should be read carefully before investing. A copy of the Information Statement may be obtained by calling 1-877-MY-MOSIP or is available on the Program’s website at www.mosip.org. While the MOSIP Liquid Series seeks to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share and the MOSIP Term portfolio seeks to achieve a net asset value of $1.00 per share at the stated maturity, it is possible to lose money investing in the Program. An investment in the Program is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Shares of the Program’s portfolios are distributed by PFM Fund Distributors, Inc., member Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) (www.finra.org and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) (www.sipc.org). PFM Fund Distributors, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of PFM Asset Management LLC.

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The Missouri Municipal

Review

May 2016

VOLUME 81, NO. 3

The Official Publication of The Missouri Municipal League

CONTENTS

President

Mayor Randall Rhoads Lee's Summit

4/ President's Report

Vice President

Mayor Kathy Rose Riverside Immediate Past President Mayor Bill Kolas Higginsville

e MISSOURI MUNICIPAL LEAGUE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Eric Berlin, City Administrator, North Kansas City; Sally Faith, Mayor, St. Charles; Stephen Galliher, Mayor, Sedalia; Tim Grenke, Mayor, Centralia; David Kater, Mayor, Desloge; *Bill Kolas, Mayor, Higginsville; Donald Krank, Council Member, Black Jack; Chris Lievsay, Council Member, Blue Springs; Paul Martin, Attorney, Olivette; *Norman McCourt, Mayor, Black Jack; Marcella McCoy, Finance Director, Harrisonville; John “Rocky” Reitmeyer, Alderman, St. Peters; Matthew G. Robinson, Mayor, Hazelwood; *Carson Ross, Mayor, Blue Springs; Tom Short, City Administrator, Carthage; Robert Stephens, Mayor, Springfield; Scott Wagner, Council Member, Kansas City; Eileen Weir, Mayor, Independence; *Gerry Welch, Mayor, Webster Groves; Nici Wilson, City Clerk, Pleasant Hill *Past President

e

AFFILIATE GROUPS: Missouri City Management Association; City Clerks and Finance Officers Association; Government Finance Officers Association of Missouri; Missouri Municipal Attorneys Association; Missouri Park and Recreation Association; Missouri Chapter of the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors; Missouri Chapter of the American Public Works Association; Missouri Association of Fire Chiefs. www.mocities.com

5/ 5 Reasons Cape Girardeau Is Weathering Floods Better Than Ever Before

by Nicolette Brennan 8/

Getting To Know You: City of Cape Girardeau Public Works Director Steve Cook

9/

Richmond Takes A Big Step For The Future

by Ron Brohammer

12/ Creating The Legacy Of A Corridor

by Jeremy Lutgen and Kevin Corwin 14/

Driving Results For Perryville

by Stanley Denninger

16/

The ABCs of Being A Newly Elected Official

20/ Public Works Projects Around The State 25/

MML Elected Officials Training Conference

26/ Beyond North Carolina's LGBT Battle: States' War

On Cities

by Alan Greenblatt

DEPARTMENTS 32/

News From The Bench: Macks Creek II

33/

MML Professional Directory

34/ Member News / MML Calendar of Events Cover Photo: City of Cape Girardeau, January 2016 flood.

Laura Holloway, Editor Contributing Editors: Dan Ross and Richard Sheets Missouri Municipal Review (ISSN 0026-6647) is the official publication of the Missouri Municipal League state association of cities, towns and villages, and other municipal corporations of Missouri. Publication office is maintained at 1727 Southridge Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109.

Subscriptions: $30 per year. Single copies: $5 prepaid. Advertising rates on request. Published bi-monthly. Periodicals postage paid at Jefferson City, Missouri. Postmaster: Send form 3579 to 1727 Southridge Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109.

To contact the League Office call 573-635-9134, fax 573-635-9009 or email the League at info@mocities.com.

The League’s website address is: www.mocities.com.

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May 2016 /3

President’s Report. . .

Randall J. Rhoads Mayor, City of Lee's Summit MML President

M

issouri celebrated Local Government Week earlier this month. It is always a wonderful opportunity for communities to be able to celebrate the importance of local government in everyday life.

More than any other form of government, local government is

closest to the people. Local citizens across the state demonstrated their trust in local government at the polls this spring. In the April elections, a number of important local taxation ballot initiatives passed throughout the state. From the continuation of the earnings tax in our two largest metropolitan areas to the continued motor vehicle sales tax that levels the playing field in communities of all sizes, citizens have shown strong support for local government stewardship.

One of the best ways we can continue to serve effectively is to educate ourselves. MML’s Elected Officials Training Conference (EOT) is coming up in Columbia June 9-10.

Especially if you are a newly elected official, register today to get a nuts and bolts review of the important issues you will regularly face as a municipal official. This Conference is valuable for experienced officials as well, covering the changes that continually occur in the municipal arena. Find all of the details and registration information at www. mocities.com, and a tentative agenda in this issue of the Review magazine.

Much of the training offered at the Elected Officials Training Conference applies to requirements for the Municipal Governance Institute.

Completing the MGI program allows you to become a Certified Municipal Government Official. More than 100 of Missouri officials have taken the time to become certified and can bring these skills to serve their communities in new and engaging ways. Visit the League’s website to find out more about this program or pick up information at the Conference.

Citizens have shown that they trust local government to use resources wisely and make the best decisions for their local community. Keep that trust by using your resources wisely and staying educated. Use League staff, the website, training and conferences as a continual resource to strengthen the services you offer citizens.

Why Should You Visit MML's Website?

• Current Job Opportunities

• Member City Websites • Daily Local News • MML Conferences • Latest Legislative Action • Publications

Peace of Mind. . .

Secure Retirement Income. . .

More than Just Retirement Benefits. . .

• Sample Ordinances

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Missouri LAGERS Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System www.molagers.org 1-800-447-4334 4 /May 2016

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5 REASONS CAPE GIRARDEAU IS WEATHERING FLOODS BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE

by Nicolette Brennan

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loodwaters are dangerous and destructive.

Anyone with a flooded home, road, car, or property will tell you that flooding is still very much a big problem. However, for most of Cape Girardeau’s residents, flooding goes largely unnoticed except for what they see on Facebook feeds and on the news.

That is in stark contrast to 30 years ago, when a flash flood could mean life or death for residents and shoppers in the middle of town. Cars were swept away from midtown. The City lost people as they tried to get home. It is important to appreciate the real danger of flood waters no matter how many public improvements are made.

To date, there are five big reasons floods are not as threatening to as many people in Cape as in years past.

#1 – Flood Buyouts

“We weren’t there. We got out,” said one resident of the flood of 2002.

Following back-to-back monster floods in Cape Girardeau in the mid-1990s, the City Council took aggressive action to move flood-prone households to higher ground. The following was published by the State of Missouri Emergency Management Agency in 2002:

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Cape Girardeau learned the hard way what the term “100-year flood” means.

In 1993, this historic Mississippi River town (36,625 pop.) watched with horror as floodwaters slowly crept up. As the waters rose, so too did the number of volunteers who came from across the nation to help build sandbag levees around the threatened homes. After the floodwaters damaged 160 homes in Cape Girardeau’s flood plain, volunteers stayed to help locals clean and repair the mud-drenched homes.

At a fall 1993 meeting, the Cape Girardeau City Council considered pursuing a buyout. However, what were the chances of the City experiencing another 100-year flood? What was the rush in removing homes and families from the flood plain? Two years later, the City found out.

In the spring of 1995, the river began rising again. This time, the flood came fast. On

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May 24, 1995, the river crested at 46.7 feet, more than 14 feet above flood stage, and just shy of the highest recorded crest of 48.5 feet on Aug. 8, 1993.

The City had experienced two 100-year floods in a span of three years. As locals learned, a 100-year flood does not mean that such a catastrophic event is likely to happen once every 100 years. Rather, it means that every year, there is a 1 percent chance of such a flood. Over the course of a century, a flood of such magnitude is certain. By May 28, 1995, 100 homes had flooded in Cape Girardeau’s flood plain. Many of them were the same properties that had flooded in 1993. The difference in 1995 was that no one said it would not happen again.

The search for a permanent flood solution began in earnest. With a creative cost-share between federal, state and local governments, as well as charitable nonprofits, the city of Cape Girardeau eventually bought 114 properties in the flood-prone areas and relocated the residents to safer neighborhoods. After demolishing the acquired structures, the land was deed-restricted for open space.

Now, the only cost associated with the land is mowing. Best of all, the vast majority of people who lived in the homes and worked in the flood plain neighborhoods are no longer living in harm’s way.

In May 2002, the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau crested at 45.7 feet, its

May 2016 / 5

Public works crews keep catch basins, grates and driveway pipes clear of debris.

third-highest level after the 1993 and 1995 events. this time, the flooding affected only eight homes.

“It was almost a non-event,” said Doug Leslie, director of public works for the city of Cape Girardeau. “We didn’t have to scramble around to secure our water supply. We didn’t have to sandbag in more than three or four places. We didn’t have weeks of cleanup to go through either. I think we had one dump truck full of sandbags this year compared to the hundreds of dump truck loads in the 1993 and 1995 floods.” The sandbags were not necessary because almost all of the floodprone homes in Cape Girardeau had been bought out and razed.

“It would’ve gotten us this year,” said Woody Sadler, who lived for 47 years with his wife Virgie in Cape Girardeau’s flood plain before participating in the buyout program. “A lot of homes and people would’ve been flooded again. But we weren’t there. We got out.” For more about these programs, visit www.fema.gov.

Cape Girardeau was among many cities responding with a flood buyout program to help individuals and families move to higher ground and repurpose the flood-prone areas into parks and green space. Households were relocated and buildings were demolished for a cost exceeding $2.7 million. Though the City coordinated the effort, the City’s financial share of the cost was 3 percent, with the majority of the funding coming from the FEMA flood buyout program.

State funds and grants made a major impact in addition to support from the Salvation Army of St. Louis and Interfaith Disaster Response.

6 /May 2016

# 2 – Lasalle Basin, Cape Lacroix Creek And Walker Branch

Before the creeks were channeled as they are today, flooding, particularly flash flooding, was a severe threat to midtown. The Southeast Missourian reported that in 1986, 6.64 inches fell quickly causing “the most costly and damaging [flood] in Cape Girardeau’s history.” The most devastating part of the story, “two local residents, a 53-year-old man and a woman in her 70s, were apparently just feet from safety when the rushing water pulled them to their deaths. Their truck had stalled in the rainwater and they were attempting to get to their nearby home, wading through the flooded streets in the dark. They never made it.” Read more on their website at http://www. semissourian.com/story/1727746.html.

Today, the Cape Lacroix Creek and Walker Branch channels so much of the area's stormwater safely away from homes and businesses. To the far north, the 100-acre Lasalle Detention Basin and Dam controls the flood of water pouring into the City’s creeks.

Lacroix Creek is a scenic companion to the aptly named Lacroix Recreation Trail, an almost 6-mile mixed-use trail that connects a Missouri Department of Conservation site on the far north of the city, to the Shawnee Fields and Sports Complex site on the City’s far south. Protecting midtown actually starts miles away to the north.

#3 – Voters

The Cape Splash Family Aquatic Center gets a lot of attention for being the signature project of the Parks

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and Recreation and Stormwater tax approved by voters in 2008. In fact, most of the Parks and Recreation projects from the tax initiative have been very visible. Getting less attention, but certainly no less deserving, is a short list of neighborhood stormwater projects. By focusing on street access for emergency vehicles, erosion-control and increased capacity, the city of Cape Girardeau identified 12 projects. Of those, 10 projects have been completed and each was completed under budget.

Some of the savings have been put toward moving a railway this summer to make room for a Corps of Engineers' project to improve floodwall drainage.

The remaining two projects that are onhold affect Arena Park, site of the SEMO District Fair and many other large events.

Voters also approved two ballot issues in 2011 that brought a new wastewater treatment facility online in 2014. During wet weather events, the City would bypass the treatment plant because it only had a 7 million gallons per day (MGD) capacity.

When Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ regulations compelled the City to upgrade wastewater treatment, sinkholes also plagued the area of the original site, making expansion unfeasible. The new facility has a capacity of 11 MGD (dry weather) and 50 MGD (wet weather, peak flow). All wastewater will be treated per state regulations. In addition to regulatory compliance, the increased capacity will position Cape Girardeau for residential growth and economic development.

A 1996, 1/4-cent sales tax also funded water improvements, including a project to transition the City to well water following 118 years of relying on the Mississippi River to provide fresh water to the community. It took 17 years of research and design, but the result was better water for Cape Girardeau and fewer issues associated with flooding.

#4- Floodwall And Pump Stations

Cape Girardeau’s floodwall is as fun as it is functional. Among the star attractions downtown, Riverfront Park is lined by the floodwall that is covered in state and local murals and portraits.

More importantly, the floodwall is a part of a system that provides riverfront protection against a 180-year flood of approximately 54 feet on the gauge.

www.mocities.com

The floodwall, numerous drainage systems, two pump stations, and earthen levees work together spanning nearly 23 football fields to surround the downtown district, the casino in the north, to the performance campus near the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge, and connecting Cape Girardeau and Illinois, in the south.

In 2008, the ownership, operation, and maintenance of the floodwall and levee system was transferred to the city of Cape Girardeau. Prior to 2008, the North Main Street and Main Street Levee Improvement Districts, funded by property taxes at the time, operated the system. Productive partnerships between the former Levee Districts, the City, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, local businesses, and local property owners have provided for the continuing success of the Cape Girardeau Flood Protection System.

One of the pump stations was recently dedicated to its former operator, Andy Juden of Cape Girardeau.

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#5 – People Power: Inspections, Maintenance And Response

A combination of people and technology check and monitor more than 800 locations each rain event.

SCADA systems monitor key creek levels, basins, and rain gauges across the City. Public works crews keep catch basins, grates and driveway pipes clear of debris. They maintain 200 miles of storm water facilities and more than five watersheds throughout the year, while mowing 44 detention basins and maintaining creeks, channels, and various culverts and piping.

During the record-setting 2016 New Year Flood, the whole city entity came together with agency partners to coordinate response, services, and information. In the emergency operations center, the conversation was as focused on tasks at-hand, as it was on how it “used to be.” Maintenance workers, firefighters, police, engineers, and other employees recalled all of the rescues, the sandbags, and the problems. The change is a testament to

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the power of public investment, sound management, and hard work.

Conclusion

The danger of floodwaters and the devastating effects it can have on property can not be overstated. City officials are proud of work on these issues, but recognize the awesome power of Mother Nature’s forces.

Officials hope public awareness of “turn around don’t drown” and other safety messages have helped curb the number of dangerous flood-related incidents.

It is important for everyone to remain mindful of flood conditions.

Nicolette Brennan is a passionate supporter of open, accessible government with degrees in both mass media and information technology. As the city of Cape Girardeau's public information manager, Nicolette oversees website activity, social media, announcements, and facilitates media access to officials and information.

May 2016 / 7

Getting To Know You: Steve Cook Public Works Director, City of Cape Girardeau

Steve Cook Public Works Director City of Cape Girardeau

C

ape Girardeau’s Steve Cook is as highly regarded as he is humble. Nearing 40 years of service to the City’s 38,000 residents, Cook’s resume is a lengthy list of accolades and accomplishments.

Cook recently took the helm of the Public Works Department in June 2015, superseding former director Tim Gramling.

As Gramling prepared to leave the City, Cook was serving as the assistant public works director and was planning to retire. However, he was the default interim director choice and it didn’t take long for city management to ask Steve to hold off on his retirement plans.

“We were at a critical time with a lot of important projects and new processes," said Cape Girardeau City Manager Scott Meyer. "We had to find someone with a high

level of knowledge and experience, but more importantly, someone who the employees could trust immediately.”

At that time, the Department was still wrapping up a major construction project and gearing up for another. The new wastewater treatment facility had just come online and work to configure dryers and other details was ongoing. The department had also just partnered with Republic Services to build a $3.8 million City-owned transfer station that will increase material processing from 100 tons of waste per day to 180.

Steve started his Cape career as a wastewater laboratory technician in 1977 and gathered several recognitions as he ascended the ranks through wastewater, to environmental services coordinator and finally department management. His work led to, among other awards, the 1998 Governors Pollution Prevention Award for the Combined Sewer Removal Projects and the Recycling Program. His induction into the Missouri Water Environment Association’s “Golden Manhole Society” in 2002 sums it up well as he was recognized for “significant effort over an extensive period of time, positively contributing to the betterment of individuals associated with collection system.”

The department is especially honored by the 2002 William D. Hatfield Award from the Water Environment Federation. Recipients are recognized for “outstanding

performance and professionalism in the operation of a wastewater treatment facility.”

With the full-time employee equivalent count hovering right around 86 since the 1990s, Cook credits each of those Cape Girardeau Public Works employees with every success along the way. In just the last few years, the department added automated trash collection and single-stream recycling, a new wastewater facility, a new transfer station, expanded leaf pickup and street repair programs, and passed multiple tax initiatives to fund some of the work. Managing all of this growth and change has been all about having the right attitude.

“We’re here to serve,” said Cook. He says employees are most productive when they have the tools and training to get the job done, and they’re empowered to make decisions and recommend improvements. “We have opened the lines of communication with all city divisions,” Cook added. “The flow of knowledge and information back and forth has benefitted the City as a whole.”

Only two people currently working for the city of Cape Girardeau have served its citizens longer, making Cook the “most senior” member of the City’s department heads. His experience brings historic reference and a breadth and depth of knowledge to the city leadership team. Most importantly, the City appreciates his all-in support for the employees and their ideas.

Cape Girardeau Wastewater Treatment Facility

8 /May 2016

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RICHMOND TAKES A BIG STEP FOR THE FUTURE

by Ron Brohammer

Wastewater treatment is one of the single most important services a city provides its residents. The city of Richmond operated two treatment plants for more than 30 years, but growth and much-needed repairs presented a challenge that would take teamwork for success.

Growing Pains

The proposal included $5.1 million in bonds In 2009, the city and approximately of Richmond was $4.7 million in grants faced with a serious through the United dilemma. Since the States Department early 70s, the City of of Agriculture and approximately 6,000 the Community residents operated two Developmen t B l oc k wastewater treatment Grant Program. The plants. In 1972, the issue was presented city of Henrietta to Richmond voters in was connected 2010; they approved a to Richmond’s $5.1 million bond issue wastewater treatment for plant upgrades system. Since Henrietta in April 2010. is south of Richmond, it Unfortunately, due to made sense to operate federal funding issues, a south wastewater The operations of the Richmond sewer plant are consolidated at one $4 million in grants fell treatment plant and a location, including the control center, lab, maintenance area and storage. through.

This left the City north treatment plant. short of the funds needed The majority of the to complete the required City’s activity and commerce, however, Natural Resources (MDNR) notified work, estimated at $9.8 million. was toward the north – the larger the City that no additional customers Shortly after the loss of the treatment plant. Over the years, both could be connected to the south plant. plants have undergone numerous It had reached its capacity. Meanwhile, grant opportunities, it was suggested changes and upgrades. In the 90s, the due to revised rules from the National that operations of the sewer plant north plant was converted from drying Pollutant Discharge Elimination System be consolidated at one location with beds to an oxidation ditch. About the (NPDES), the City was notified that sewage pumped from one location to same time, a second oxidation ditch was some sort of discharge disinfection the other. For years, city leaders had added to the south plant. would have to be added to the north been told a single plant would not A s t i m e p a s s e d , g r o w t h i n wastewater treatment plant. By 2009, work; however, this was erroneous. It Richmond increased significantly and the City was facing a near crisis in one was very possible and had originally the south plant capacity was approached. of its most important services, and been proposed in 1999. At that time, however, there was no great impetus to Compounding this situation, the second future growth, was stymied. complete major changes at the plants. oxidation ditch began to shift and Many options were explored, significant earthwork was required seemingly each one more expensive to prevent it from failing. Ultimately, than the last. After review, the City Exploring Options Faced with a clear dilemma, the cracks did occur in the walls that while selected an option that would address temporarily sealed, were edging toward the disinfection treatment at the north City decided to explore new options. ultimate failure of the system. Finally, plant and address the issues at the south Olsson Associates of Kansas City by 2006, the Missouri Department of plant by building a new oxidation ditch. concurred that a single plant would

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May 2016 / 9

work and should be located at the south facility, as the north plant was too marshy and the amount of piping already in the ground would make it a difficult site for development.

Engineering work began. The City reapplied for loans and grants and went back to the voters with more information and a new proposal to pass an additional bond issue. A public hearing was held, informational brochures were distributed and briefings were provided to various groups throughout the community. In essence, the City informed as many people as possible by briefing various groups about the new plant and advising them that if the project was to be accomplished, voters would have to approve another $4.7 million bond issue. This totaled $9.8 million in bonds that voters faced in two consecutive years with no work other than preliminary designs completed.

The City would also seek nearly $1.9 million in grants and low-interest loans through USDA and CDBG. Voters were informed that the base charge for sewer rates would be nearly $20 per connection, plus user fees.

10 /May 2016

Building Begins

The new plant called for a pump station to be built at the north plant site, and a completely new plant to be built at the south plant site to include a five-million-gallon equalization basin to handle storm surge. The initial cost estimate was $10.8 million. Initial planning called for all wastewater to be processed at the south plant using an oxidation ditch system. City staff began working on funding issues, while engineers developed plans for the new plant. The first steps involved establishing a bond rating for the City that consisted of Standard & Poor’s reviewing all city finances and interviewing city staff. The City had no established bond rating. After a thorough review, the City’s first bond rating in 2011 was an A- for general obligation bonds. Subsequently, revenue bonds received an A rating in 2013 and 2014. This was especially significant at a time when many cities were facing hard financial times and some were near bankrupt. The city staff, as well as City Council, were all very pleased with the bond ratings.

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Sequencing Batch Reactor

It was not all smooth sailing when the engineering estimate for construction came in more than $2 million over budget. It was quickly determined that no one had an appetite to go back to the voters a third time.

As the City was scrambling for a way forward, engineers offered a new proposal for wastewater treatment; a sequencing batch reactor (SBR).

SBRs represented a significant savings in construction costs due to ease of construction, fewer moving parts, and less equipment. Initially, city staff was reluctant to accept this type of system.

Concerns were allayed, however, after engineers took staff members to visit several very successful SBR operations.

Another novel approach to the new plant would be a belt filter press (a dewatering system) that would allow the City to save about 90 percent of costs to dispose of the treatment plant residue.

In the meantime, the City qualified to receive a $968,000 low-interest loan, a $416,100 grant from USDA, and a $500,000 grant through CDBG.

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The effluent (water) that leaves the treatment passes over several banks of ultraviolet lights, in order to kill any remaining bacteria that have not been removed through the processing by the plant's sequencing batch reactor.

The two grants provided an extra $916,100 when coupled with the $9.8 million bond authority. This resulted in slightly under the $10.8 million estimate ($10,716,100); the City was also able to commit up to $600,000 out of reserves, if needed. Contracts were awarded to Ross Construction for the plant itself and to KAT Construction for the 3.1-mile pipeline and a new 5,000,000-gallon detention basin. The combination of financing methods made the project possible.

Contractor, engineer, and staff met prior to project initiation. Everyone clearly understood the cost constraints and were ready to move forward.

Formal groundbreaking was held on Aug. 28, 2013, and construction was underway. It had been more than four years since the initial decision was made to move forward, and work progressed steadily. Engineers, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and staff all worked exceptionally well together. Reports to USDA and CDBG were timely, and other than

a few weather delays, absolutely no work stoppages or problems arose. In the course of the construction, only three minor change orders requiring additional funding were required. The plant was completed in November 2014, with a final cost of $11.275 million. It is working superbly – meeting and far exceeding all MDNR requirements.

The City recently received a series of exceptionally heavy rains; the plant processed five million gallons per day and operated well within MDNR limits for treated sewage.

This project was a major success because everyone involved – citizens, council, staff, engineers, contractors, suppliers, MDNR, and funding agencies worked as a total team. It was a textbook project.

plant has allowed several projects in Richmond to move forward. The keys to this entire project were information, understanding, cooperation, and an unsurpassable spirit of team effort. Ron Brohammer is the city administrator for the city of Richmond. He also serves in the capacity of the public works director. Brohammer has served in these roles for the past five years. Visit the City's website at www.cityofrichmondmo.org.

Bright Future

Richmond has a wastewater treatment plant that will function for decades to come and is designed for expansion, if required. The new

MIRMA

BENEFITS:

Missouri Intergovernmental Risk Management Association Phone: 573.817.2554 Web: www.mirma.org

Missouri’s First Municipal Self Insurance Pool

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This project was a major success because everyone involved – citizens, council, staff, engineers, contractors, suppliers, MDNR and funding agencies worked as a total team.

One comprehensive package!

Proactive loss prevention training On-site safety training Annual police firearms training Risk Management Grant Program Aquatic audit reimbursement Police accreditation reimbursement Seminars & workshops Video library

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 The keys to this entire project were information, understanding, cooperation, and an unsurpassable spirit of team effort. 

COVERAGE:

Workers’ Compensation Property General Liability Public Officials Liability Employment Practices Liability Law Enforcement Liability Automobile Boiler & Machinery Airport

May 2016 / 11

CREATING THE LEGACY OF A CORRIDOR

by Kevin Corwin and Jeremy Lutgen

I

n 2011, the city of Saint Charles recognized a national and r e g i o n a l movement where existing roads were being reimagined to generate economic growth. The idea centered on enhancing the social benefits of existing communities by improving streets so they serve the neighborhood and all modes of transportation. The design concept is called “Great Street.”

Great Street creates a sustainable atmosphere where walkable, inviting spaces facilitate collaboration and promote commerce. The street reflects the community it passes through. It is scaled, designed, and built on the desired character of the neighborhood and its uses. Capable of generating considerable economic value, these streets become a destination where people want to spend their time and participate in commerce.

The city of Saint Charles viewed Fifth Street as a possible Great Street since it is the first major northsouth route serving the City west of the Missouri River. Although the road serves as the primary access for retail development at the Streets of Saint Charles, Ameristar Casino, SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital – St. Charles, government offices and tourist destinations along Main Street, it was not unlike other commercial arterials 12 /May 2016

across the region. It was uninviting, uninspiring, and unappealing. When first constructed, the roads’ central purpose was the movement of vehicle traffic from one point to another. The relationship between the street and its adjacent buildings and neighborhood was not a consideration. It was not meant to be conducive to any activity other than moving vehicular traffic.

To be successful, a street improvement project requires a mindset of teamwork, geared toward problem solving. When planning, scheduling, and constructing a road improvement project, the city of Saint Charles has always considered numerous factors, including: business owner concerns, retail shopping patterns, holidays, tourism, potential weather concerns, material transport, differing site conditions, and residents. Most change is difficult and a major street revival is just that – difficult. The city of Saint Charles knew it could make better use of connections to the historic neighborhoods and their adjacency to significant employers along Fifth Street.

A transformation would unlock value for property owners and indirectly the City, but the public needed a voice in the process.

On the evening of June 9, 2011, the City hosted a public workshop.

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The meeting provided residents and business owners with a platform to share ideas with the City on how Fifth Street could be great. It was a conversation that built into a four-day planning session and came to involve other streets that serve as “gateways” to the City’s downtown area. Together this group created a detailed series of recommendations, high-quality plans and renderings that accurately reflected the vision of the community. The planning session raised expectations and built enthusiasm. The outcome was a solid master plan.

There was a plan and support, but the Fifth Street Gateway was estimated to cost nearly $9 million. The City had to address funding. In 2012 and 2013, the City applied to East-West Gateway Council of Governments for federal funding to support the design and reconstruction of Fifth Street.

Applications were submitted to the Saint Charles County Road Board to receive funds from the countywide half-cent transportation tax.

The applications were successful and created multiple funding sources that would make the project a reality.

On the horizon, was a sustainable future for Fifth Street that would improve the quality of life for Saint Charles residents, businesses, and www.mocities.com

visitors. This project would create an official entrance to the City and create a space that would separate it from other municipalities. This future would see businesses thrive as they became guardians of an area that embraced community, became a destination, changed the existing landscape, and encouraged new and repeat visitors. Redeveloping the physical infrastructure of Fifth Street, while balancing the needs of businesses and residents, would be challenging. In order to achieve this type of sustainability within a road improvement, the City would be required to monitor every change and communicate these changes effectively to stakeholders.

To build upon the flow of communication coming out of the planning session, the engineering design team held a number of public meetings to garner input on the final design.

When the time came for construction to begin, the Saint Charles Department of Economic Development organized weekly progress meetings with business stakeholders. The meeting locations varied to show continual progress on the construction. One week the meeting would be held at a bank. The next week, the meeting would take place in a strip mall. Every meeting was attended by the city project manager, the contractor,

city engineer, various public works employees and the department of economic development. If a stakeholder could not attend a meeting, answers were never more than a phone call away. The department of economic development spent many weeks simply visiting business owners. These visits were meant to address concerns headon. In many cases, the business would be provided with the phone number or email addresses of a contractor or someone within public works.

The reconstruction of Fifth Street began in early 2015 and progress has been continual throughout the project.

Drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists are now welcomed to Saint Charles by an almost calming, river wall “gateway” structure along Fifth Street, north of Boone’s Lick Road. Overhead utilities have been removed and sidewalks have been widened on both sides of Fifth Street. Decorative lighting was added from Boone’s Lick Road to First Capitol Drive to promote pedestrian activity and safety improvements have followed the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. An intelligent transportation system infrastructure with signal coordination was added to reduce congestion on Fifth Street during peak-traffic periods. This will improve safety for vehicles and pedestrians.

New pavement will be laid from

Bass Pro Drive to First Capitol Drive.

Streetscape plantings and trees will be added from Boone’s Lick Road to First Capitol Drive in the coming months. Improved wayfinding will be completed by implementing standard signage throughout the corridor. The project, when complete, will improve traffic flow and safety while enhancing the aesthetics of Fifth Street. The project was, and is still, predicted to take just over 400 working days, with substantial completion in June 2016.

The city of Saint Charles has taken steps with its gateway project to separate itself and attract redevelopment to a unique region. This capital investment project, when completed, will allow Saint Charles to stand apart from other communities and help nurture economic growth. Fifth Street will no longer be just a transportation channel. It will be a cog that powers businesses and Saint Charles’ local economy. Fifth Street will be reborn and become a sustainable model for the City moving forward. Kevin Corwin is an engineer with the city of Saint Charles, and Jeremy Lutgen is the public works coordinator with the City. Learn more about Saint Charles at www.stcharlescitymo.gov.

Photo by Matthew Seeds

www.mocities.com

The Missouri Municipal Review

May 2016 / 13

DRIVING RESULTS FOR PERRYVILLE

by Stanley Denninger

Despite our best engineering and maintenance efforts, traffic volume, heavy weight loads, and inclement weather destroy our roads over time. This leaves our county and city planners to sort through the usual list of complaints and various field trips to view and prioritize problem areas. It can be a challenge to plan a solution for the problem, especially on a limited budget, but there is hope.

City Of Perryville And Zahner & Assoc. (Partnership)

The city of Perryville contracted with Zahner & Associates to use a new approach for monitoring and maintaining road infrastructure. Like most municipalities, the City knew that its aging asphalt roads were in disrepair. The City needed an efficient and objective method of evaluation.

Using the Leica Pegasus 2 Mobile LiDAR Unit, the City was able to collect data to allow the evaluation of current road conditions with more precision than ever.

Approach (Technology)

Mobile LiDAR is an innovative mapping solution that incorporates the most advanced LiDAR sensors, cameras, GPS, and IMU technology to collect survey-quality point data quickly and accurately. Mobile LiDAR offers numerous advantages over aerial mapping and conventional ground

14 /May 2016

surveys. This non-invasive method of surveying can be operated day or night, with efficient acquisition of millions of 3-D design points per minute.

Mobile laser scanning provides data density of up to 150 points per square foot, allowing for faster coordinate acquisition compared with all other survey methods. This saves time and money, while increasing safety.

Using this equipment, the City acquired LiDAR data, as well as photo imagery, of all reported roads while driving. No traffic diversion or personnel were needed to physically leave the vehicle while gathering the data.

Solutions (Deliverables)

The data provided the City with an analysis of all the selected roads and an overall rating system of the roads.

Based on the condition of a road, a choice could be made between repairing or replacing the surface.

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In this plan, the contractor can provide crack analysis on asphalt streets that can be delivered in a few different formats: Rating Sheet - A file that provides a rating every 10 feet, an average rating for the street, and a ranking compared to other streets.

GIS - A file that is easily utilized in Google Earth or Arc GIS for realworld position that provides a pinpoint position every 10 feet with rating attributes for location coordination with maintenance crews.

Video - A compilation of the pictures captured during the roadmonitoring process that corresponds to the rating sheet. This effectively brings the ability to simultaneously view street and survey results from the convenience of an office.

Aside from the requested data that was collected for this project, there is a wealth of additional information that can be made available to the City www.mocities.com

from this scan. During the process, the Leica Pegasus 2 Mobile LiDAR picks up data that provides survey grade information on curbs, manhole and storm inlet locations, signage locations and condition, paint striping locations, along with all above ground utilities.

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Results

Brent Buerck, city administrator for the city of Perryville was a driving force in putting this new approach to work. “Our town fathers began requiring concrete curbs, guttering, and streets many years ago but, even now, about one-third of the streets remain asphalt (although they have concrete curbing),” said Buerk. “We started looking for a way to quickly prioritize repairs and schedule street projects for the upcoming years. The team at Zahners put this information together very quickly and turned the raw data over to us, along with an associated score for all of the streets. It will help focus our direction for many years to come.”

In addition to the use of Mobile LiDAR for the evaluation of the city streets, the LiDAR technology played a part in managing recent flooding in the Perry County, Missouri, area.

“During the past New Year’s flooding, our emergency management team needed a way to review our levee.

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The LiDAR technology helped to survey the entire levee and pinpoint low spots so we could identify the areas that most needed focus. It was extremely helpful to survey the levee to focus repair efforts before the flood waters arrived,” said Buerck.

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been in the surveying business since 1997.

He was an early integrator of GPS solutions at Zahner & Associates and has a vast amount of experience with project management, route surveys, construction staking, laser scanning, and design build projects. Denninger is a member of the Missouri Society of Professional Surveyors and the National Society of Professional Surveyors.

Stanley Denninger is a professional land surveyor. Licensed in Missouri in 2003, Denninger studied surveying at Jefferson College and has

The data provided the City with an analysis of all the selected roads and an overall rating system of the roads.

Based on the condition of a road, a choice could be made between repairing or replacing the surface.

www.mocities.com

The Missouri Municipal Review

May 2016 / 15

THE ABCs OF BEING A NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIAL

by Randy Van Vleck

Congratulations! You have been elected as a city official and have begun serving your community. There is a great deal of information to learn. Keep these ABCs in mind for a solid start to success.

Attitude. The right attitude is essential. You may think that this is your opportunity to “change the world” or at least your little part of it.

Municipal government is a complicated business. Before embarking on a crusade of change, take the opportunity to listen and to learn about the business of governing from those who have governed and also from those who are governed.

Budget. The budget is much more than dollars and cents. It is the most important policy document you will ever put together. Municipalities must have a budget that is balanced, yet one that provides an appropriate level of services to its inhabitants. Care must be taken to obtain accurate predictions of municipal revenue and to limit spending to an amount that can be covered by anticipated revenues and reserved savings.

Conflicts of Interest. As a member of the governing body, you are prohibited from taking an official act (such as voting) for the primary 16 /May 2016

purpose of directly enhancing your financial interest or the interest of your spouse or dependent child. An elected official should treat the office as a public trust. Full disclosure of real or potential conflicts of interest should be the guiding principle.

Debt. A debt is an obligation resulting from borrowing money or entering into contracts for the purchase of goods and services. Debts of governments may also include bonds.

No individual elected official may bind the municipality. It is the collective decision of the governing body that is required to bind the municipality financially.

Employees. Employees are your most precious asset. Treat your employees with care and respect.

Public employees are a rare breed of individuals that are willing to sacrifice the larger salaries of private life for the feeling that they have done something to promote the public good. Employees are there to make the municipality a better place to live and work – a goal The Missouri Municipal Review

that should be shared with everyone in the public service.

Freedom of Information. The activities of public employees and elected officials are the public’s business. The Missouri Open Records and Meetings Act provides the vehicle for making the actions of public officials open to public inspection. You should be mindful that the actions you take are and should be open to the public and that the municipality should strictly comply with the procedures provided for to allow inspection and copying of public records.

Gifts. Be cautious of accepting gifts of any kind from businesses, community members and acquaintances. You are in the best position to make an informed and unbiased decision when you have refrained from accepting a gift or favor.

Even good decisions can be faulted if your motives have been perceived as influenced.

Home Rule. Home rule municipalities are those that have www.mocities.com

undertaken the process for adopting a local charter. Home rule municipalities must have a population more than 5,000, and they have the advantage of being able to legislate and act on all matters unless the legislature has expressly prohibited the municipality from acting in a given subject matter.

Experts in Municipal Bond Financing

Internet. A wonderful tool that places almost infinite information at your fingertips, including the Missouri Municipal League’s website at www. mocities.com. Use the internet as a starting point for your research but always rely on primary sources over those found online.

Judge. The municipal judge is a partner in the governing of the municipality. The judge is responsible for hearing criminal cases involving the violation of municipal ordinances.

Separation of the judicial functions from the executive and legislative branches is the cornerstone of government structure in the United States and Missouri. Make the judge feel like they are a member of the team, while at the same time respecting their boundaries.

Kickbacks. A kickback is the illegal act of receiving something of value in exchange for providing help (or a vote) in a secret and dishonest business deal. Kickbacks are one of the most common forms of government corruption and are easily avoided; just say no.

Liability. Elected officials will generally not be held liable for acts or omissions that are within the scope of their duties as an elected official.

Action that you take that are within the scope of your duties, might give rise to liability of the municipality as you are a duly elected/appointed representative of the municipality.

Carl Ramey | (314) 342-2242 | rameyc@stifel.com Martin Ghafoori | (314) 342-8467 | ghafoorim@stifel.com Brittany Pullen | (314) 342-2936 | pullenb@stifel.com 501 North Broadway | St. Louis, Missouri 63102 Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated | Member SIPC & NYSE | www.stifel.com/publicfinance

Meetings. Meetings are the vehicle through which elected officials pronounce the policy objectives of the municipality and through which municipal actions are initiated.

Meetings of the governing body are required to be open to the public under the Missouri Open Records and Meetings Act. Meetings can only be closed for a limited number of reasons and only after the proper procedure has been invoked.

Nepotism. I t i s t h e a c t o f a n elected official to name or appoint any person related within the fourth degree to the person giving such employment.

In general, the hiring of relatives of elected officials should be avoided or at least strictly scrutinized.

Open. Meetings of the governing body and the court must be open to the public. The open and transparent

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exercise of government functions is essential to maintaining the trust and legitimacy of government activities.

Personnel. Personnel actions fall primarily to the executive branch for action. The supervision and direction of personnel activities is outside the scope of duties of governing body members, and if the municipality employs a manager or administrator, it may be beyond the authority of the mayor as well. There are some actions that require approval of the governing b ody memb ers, b ut th ese a re t h e extraordinary matters. Daily personnel actions should be left to the executive branch, through a manager or other department directors to implement.

Quorum. A majority of the members a governing body (not including the mayor in a 4th class city) is a quorum. A quorum of the governing

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May 2016 / 17

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body, convened in an open meeting (with a few exceptions) is required to conduct business.

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Respect. Respect is recognizing value from different opinions and following through with commitments.

Respect for the fellow members of the governing body, respect for the citizens whom you serve, and respect for yourself are the ingredients for a highly successful career as an elected official.

Service. Your service and sacrifice for choosing to become an elected official are appreciated more than you might imagine. It takes a special individual to make room in their life for the important job of governance.

It is complex, sometimes personal and controversial. Whether it is said directly to you or not, let it be known that the citizens of your community thank you for your service and sacrifice to the better good.

Term of Office. A term of office is the length of time a person serves in a particular elected office. In most Missouri municipalities the term of office is two (2) years. Some cities have three (3) or four (4) year terms for their officials.

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Unilateral. Unilateral acts are those actions undertaken by a single individual. You are a member of a team, a team required to act collectively.

Elected officials are rarely empowered to act unilaterally. Seek out your team and act collectively.

Vote. As an elected official, you speak to the public by your vote. Be prepared to cast a vote on every agenda item, unless you have some sort of conflict of interest or other reason you cannot legitimately vote or participate.

Choosing not to vote because the matter is controversial is not responsible. You were placed in an important position of trust to tackle the tough situation and to vote for the betterment of the community.

Wisdom. With your wisdom, anything is possible.

“Xcellence.” Strive every day to be your very best. Excellent cities begin

18 /May 2016

The Missouri Municipal Review

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with excellent leaders. The citizens who elected you to office depend on your ability to be your very best.

Yesterday. Yesterday is history, but tomorrow is a mystery. Look always forward, for the future has yet to be written and you can be the author.

Zoning. The ability for a municipality to establish zones throughout and to regulate the construction and use of the land in those particular districts. Zoning is a powerful tool but it is also one that can be abused. Zoning authority must be exercised judiciously and consistently, in doing so, property values will increase and the overall appearance of your municipality will be enhanced.

There you have it. Keep these ABCs handy and refer to them often.

Remember, you occupy a great position of trust and authority. The citizens of your community are looking to you to provide the leadership to lead the community into the future. Remember also that the Missouri Municipal League is just a phone call or email away. Randy Van Vleck is general counsel for the New Mexico Municipal League. He served as President of the New Mexico Municipal Attorneys’ Association and was the first chair of the State Bar Local Government Law Specialization Committee. He is an adjunct professor at the School of Public Administration at the University of New Mexico and a former member of the Board of Directors of the International Municipal Lawyers’ Association (IMLA). He may be reached at rvanvleck@nmml.org.

@mocities www.facebook.com/mocities www.mocities.com (573) 635-9134

This article is reprinted with permission from the March 2016 issue of the New Mexico Municipal Reporter, with edits to keep material specific to Missouri.

Find the original article at http:// nmml.org/wp-content/uploads/ book2016-3_web.pdf.

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May 2016 / 19

Public Works Projects Around The State CITY OF NIXA

CITY OF INDEPENDENCE

Sidewalk Completion

Utility Center Building The City of Independence broke ground in February for their new Utility Center Building. The project will re-purpose the existing professional building which has been vacant for several years. The new Utility Center has been designed to meet LEED Platinum certification and will be the first LEED Platinum building in western Missouri.

The building will house the Power and Light, Water, and Water Pollution Control Departments. The new Utility Center Building is located close to the geographic center of the City and is easily accessed from all directions.

Construction is scheduled to be completed this fall. Progress photos are posted weekly on the Independence Power and Light Facebook page.

Where the sidewalk ends is not just a poetry book, it is what many Nixa residents have grown accustomed to.

Like most smaller cities, Nixa has several sidewalks that just end. In 2016, Nixa’s public works crew will work to continue the sidewalks.

“Over the years, development of subdivision phases left Nixa with gaps between the sidewalk runs,” said Nixa Public Works Director Doug Colvin. “In addition, our old development codes required the home builder to install the sidewalks when building the house and not the developer so gaps were created.”

Nixa Streets employees have already starting pouring concrete and filling in missing pieces of sidewalk all the way through the city. Twenty-three missing sidewalk pieces are budgeted to be completed in 2016, all by Nixa Streets workers. A majority of the pieces include wheel chair ramps making it easier for Nixa citizens to get around.

“The project is, for lack of a better term, a cleanup project for connectivity,” said Colvin. “Our main focus with this project is simply connectivity for the residents.”

Look for Nixa’s connectivity project to be completed before winter. The entire project will cost the city $23,065 for 171 yards of concrete and 200 tons of bedrock.

2016 MML Elected Officials Training Conference Budgeting | Ethics | Planning & Zoning | Economic Development June 9-10, 2016 Columbia, Missouri

20 /May 2016

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Register at www.mocities.com

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CITY OF LIBERTY Historic Downtown Renaissance The Franklin Street, Liberty Drive and historic downtown public improvements are clear signs of a public construction renaissance in Liberty.

Liberty’s historic downtown is the heart of the community and has recently begun to experience a renaissance, with new restaurants and boutique and specialty shops filling once-vacant storefronts. Beginning in 2014, the City of Liberty began a series of projects that have helped build on this momentum.

In 2014 and 2015, the city of Liberty invested nearly $4 million in two large-scale roadway projects, that include complete rebuilds of not only the above-ground infrastructure but also the aging utility services below ground.

The first of these projects was on Franklin Street, located within one of Liberty’s five local historic districts.

It has homes that represent a variety of architectural styles, with some dating back to the mid- to late- 1800s. The Dougherty Historic District is the gateway into historic downtown Liberty. This historic neighborhood is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Franklin Street from Prairie to Fairview is a one-way, predominantly residential, street. The roadway, paved in 1910, was one of the first paved streets in Liberty. The street was constructed of brick and had aging water and sewer infrastructure below the layer of pavement. The project included the following major elements; • Existing pavement removal and a total street pavement reconstruction; • Installation of concrete curbing and sidewalks; • Storm water, water infrastructure and sanitary sewer improvements; • Traffic-calming bump outs.

In 2015, the City embarked on a $2 million facelift on Liberty Drive from Ridge to Mill Street. This street, which bisects the Prospect Heights historic district, serves as a primary gateway to the historic downtown from M-291.

www.mocities.com

This street transitions from retail near the M-291 intersection to residential as drivers head east toward the heart of the community. This project included:

• Reconstruction and widening of the existing roadway;

• Construction of curbing and a new enclosed drainage system replacing open ditches;

• Construction of a retaining wall and the addition of a pedestrian/bike path along the south side; • New street lighting and landscaping.

Continuing to build on this renaissance in the heart of Liberty and with voter approval of a 3/8-cent Economic Development Sales Tax, the city of Liberty is now moving forward with a $5 million reconstruction in downtown Liberty.

Highlights of the project include the total reconstruction of the streets, sidewalks, and utility infrastructure around the Liberty "Square" area. Sidewalks will be widened to 14 feet, new landscaping; crosswalks will highlight intersections; and parking areas will be upgraded. The project will not only provide significant aesthetic improvements to an aging downtown business area but will also upgrade aging underground infrastructure, enhance vehicle and pedestrian safety, and allow for less complex future maintenance of the downtown publically owned area. Construction will begin in May 2016 and be completed in phases by the end of the year.

While smaller in scope when compared to the City’s $75 million Utilities Operations Center (currently under construction) or the $23 million extension of an east-west parkway in southern Liberty (beginning in May), the Franklin Street, Liberty Drive and historic downtown public improvements are clear signs of a public construction renaissance in Liberty.

The Missouri Municipal Review

May 2016 / 21

CITY OF CHESTERFIELD

CITY OF RICHMOND HEIGHTS

Veterans Honor Park

Public Works and Parks Facility

The City of Chesterfield has announced plans to move forward on the construction of the Veterans Honor Park, a monument site to honor past, present and future veterans of the United States Armed Forces. The park will be located on the west side of Veterans Place Drive in Chesterfield’s Central Park, and will occupy a 16,500-square-foot area next to the south entrance of the Chesterfield Amphitheater.

The Veterans Honor Park will be built in two phases; Phase 1 will include the heart of the park design, including a granite monument fountain, military seals and threshold pavers, paved sidewalks, inner ring precast benches and flagpoles. Phase 2 of the construction will enhance the street approach by creating a sanctuary occupied by arcing benches orbiting around the central monument fountain, as well as a grove of trees, granite paths, and additional landscaping to provide a calm yet engaging space for the community to honor and recognize veterans. The park will accommodate visitors day and night during regular park hours, providing opportunities for individuals, families, or groups to gather for both educational discovery and contemplative retrospection.

The design vision of the park was created by architectural firm, Powers Bowersox Associates, as a calm and peaceful gathering monument that is inviting, uplifting, engaging and inspirational. The Veterans Honor Park Committee will continue to raise funds for the park through a variety of donation opportunities including title sponsors, benches, and donor strips, as well as engraved pressed-concrete pavers. For details on the construction timeline and all of the donation opportunities, visit https://vhp.chesterfield. mo.us/donate.html.

The Veterans Honor Park will accommodate visitors day and night during regular park hours, providing opportunities for individuals, families, or groups to gather for both educational discovery and contemplative retrospection.

22 /May 2016

(Top) City of Richmond Heights' old public works and parks facility. The new facility (above) was completed in 2016.

Early 2016 brought many new and exciting things to the City of Richmond Heights including the Weber Grill Restaurant and Cooking School at the Saint Louis Galleria, the 255,000-square-foot Menards store, two 7,000-square-foot homes, a 5,000-square-foot office for the Boys Hope Girls Hope-St. Louis Organization, and more! One of the most exciting changes in Richmond Heights is the completion of the City’s new public works and parks garage and storage yard.

The previous facility was demolished to make way for the new Menards store as well as about 13 more new retailers and restaurants along Hanley Road. The new public works/parks facility is about 8,000 square feet, plus a 71,000-squarefoot equipment yard that includes a 1,000-ton salt dome.

Built by Raineri Construction & BBI Constructors, the facility and yard were completed in about 8 months, as both departments worked out of a temporary trailer with their laptops and cell phones for day-to-day operations. No doubt, the public works and parks departments are happy to have permanent, modern facilities to call home.

The City plans to host a public open house on May 16th, perfectly timed during National Public Works Week!

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CITY OF PERRYVILLE Field Improvement Committee As with most communities, the cost of repairs, upgrades and new construction far outweigh the budgeted dollars in parks and recreation. Faced with this reality, a group of parents with a passion for softball and baseball formed a group known as the Field Improvement Committee. The group was founded in January of 2015 to raise money through field sponsorships in order to expedite the process of improving field conditions.

Last year, the committee approached the Board of Aldermen and asked permission to sell naming rights to the baseball fields in City Park. Any funds raised would be deposited into a specific line item in the Parks budget. This line item is allowed to roll over so that any monies raised are allowed to stay in the budget over the years. The City and the committee work together to determine projects that would be most beneficial to the City and the leagues.

The first project that was worked on was Robinson Construction Field (formerly known simply as Field #8).

The committee thought this would be a good project as it is used as a game field for the local high school and also serves recreational leagues during the summer. The committee hoped that, by working together with the City, this field would become one of the best in the region.

This year, the City budgeted money to replace the backstops, fencing, improve a drainage ditch beyond the field and replace the antiquated and dilapidated playground equipment nearby. The committee, in turn, agreed to install a concrete apron behind the backstop, concrete the dugouts, and install the dugout roofs. The largest investment was for the installation of a Duraedge ÂŽ infield. Duraedge ÂŽ is specialized dirt that allows fields to drain quickly, thereby reducing the amount of rainouts. After countless hours of volunteer work and donations the project is almost complete.

With continued help from volunteers and businesses in the area the committee was able to donate upwards of $25,000$30,000 towards the project. Their donations included; stone, concrete, rebar, lumber and a great deal of skilled labor.

Going forward the committee will again work with the City on a project that will include new backstops on two more fields. The committee's contribution to this new project will include leveling the field, adding concrete aprons and improved drainage. These next two fields will be renovated in fall of 2016.

The city of Perryville is very blessed to have citizens willing to work with and help the City to become better.

The City would like to thank the committee and all of the volunteers who are helping us achieve our goals of becoming the best parks and recreation system in the region.ď ą

www.mocities.com

The Perryville Field Improvement Committee was founded in January 2015 to raise money through field sponsorships in order to expedite the process of improving field conditions.

The Missouri Municipal Review

May 2016 / 23

CITY OF LEE'S SUMMIT Bailey Road Bridge The newly constructed Bailey Road bridge in Lee’s Summit, Mo., was opened to traffic in late March 2016.

The Bailey Road project included the extension of Bailey Road from Missouri Route 291 (M-291) Highway east to the intersection of SE Hamblen and SE Bailey roads. The most significant portion of the project was the design and construction of a 300 foot-long bridge rising nearly forty feet in the air for clearance over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. The removal and replacement of the SE Hamblen and SE Bailey roads intersection was the final step before the new Bailey Road bridge could be opened to traffic.

The project is anticipated to improve access to the east side of M-291, relieve congestion near US 50 and M-291 Highways, and open the area for further development.

Funding came from the extension of the 1/2 cent sales tax for capital improvement projects passed by Lee’s Summit voters in the spring of 2007.

For more information about projects in the City of Lee’s Summit, visit LSpw.net.

24 /May 2016

The newly constructed Bailey Road bridge in Lee’s Summit, Mo., was opened to traffic in late March 2016.

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2016 MML Elected Officials Training Conference Holiday Inn Executive Center Columbia, MO June 9-10, 2016 Registration Fee: $130 per person; includes lunch, reception, breakfast, conference materials, and both MGI Workshops. If you plan to attend only the MGI Workshop, the registration fee for the workshop is $45. There are guest tickets available for meals only ($20 for breakfast; $18 for lunch and $38 for both). All registrations must be made online, regardless of payment option.

Tentative Agenda Thursday, June 9, 2016 9:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:10 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

12:00 noon 1:00 p.m.

2:15 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:40 p.m.

4:45 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

REGISTRATION Welcome OVERVIEW MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT - Allen Garner, Attorney, Allen Garner Law LLC CONDUCTING CITY BUSINESS - John Young, Attorney, Hazelwood and Weber LLC LUNCH BUDGETS - DJ Gehrt, City Administrator, City of Platte City Break ETHICS - James Klahr, Director, and Betsy Byers, Director of Business Services, Missouri Ethics Commission Break BUILDING BETTER CITIES - Joe Lauber, Attorney, Lauber Municipal Law ADJORN RECEPTION - Dinner on your own.

Friday, June 10, 2016 7:30 a.m.

8:00 a.m.

9:15 a.m.

9:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

10:35 a.m.

11:35 a.m.

12:00 noon 1:30 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

BREAKFAST SUNSHINE LAW - Thomas Durkin, Public Education Director, Missouri Attorney General’s Office Break STRATEGIC MASS INFLUENCE - Clarton Flowers, Speaker/Trainer Break LOCAL REVENUE SOURCES - Eric Creach, Attorney, Gilmore and Bell MML SERVICES Lunch on your own. (*MGI) PLANNING AND ZONING - Paul Martin, City Attorney, Olivette (*MGI) PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTING - Kevin O'Keefe and Stephanie Karr, Attorneys, Curtis, Heinz, Garret & O'Keefe, PC ADJOURN

*Missouri Governance Institute (MGI) These sessions will count toward the Missouri Municipal Official certifications. (MGI Workshops are free to EOT attendees/$45 to those attending MGI sessions only.) www.mocities.com

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May 2016 / 25

BEYOND NORTH CAROLINA’S LGBT BATTLE: STATES’ WAR ON CITIES

by Alan Greenblatt

N

orth Carolina’s fight over lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) protections is part of a larger recent shift in political dynamics; states are thwarting local laws any chance they get, while simultaneously complaining about federal intrusion on their own.

St. Louis cannot get a break from its own state. Last year, Missouri enacted a law preventing St. Louis and other cities from setting their own minimum-wage rates and from banning plastic grocery bags. This year, state lawmakers have spent a considerable amount of time debating whether to prohibit the City from taxing the income of its residents and workers. The state, that took control of the St. Louis police force during the Civil War, didn’t give it back until 2013 when it was forced to by a voterapproved ballot measure.

If St. Louis feels ill-treated by state officials, it has lots of company around the country. North Carolina’s legislature drew national headlines when it met in special session on March 23, 2016, to block cities from passing anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. The legislature acted in response to Charlotte’s adoption of LGBT protections earlier in the year.

What was sometimes lost in the media coverage was the fact North Carolina’s new law also blocks cities from setting their own minimum-wage rates.

Similarly, Birmingham, Alabama, passed a minimum-wage increase last year, only to see the state block it and other cities from setting their own rates this year.

There’s a fundamental mismatch right now between the desires of many cities and the policy preferences of states. Out of power in Congress and in two-thirds of the nation’s legislative chambers, progressives from President Barack Obama on down are increasingly turning to cities to carry out their agenda. Democrats 26 /May 2016

are in charge of the lion’s share of big cities. Right now, just three of the nation’s 25 largest cities (Fort Worth, Texas; Jacksonville, Fla.; and San Diego) have Republican mayors. Many of the current Democratic mayors are to the political left of those who governed in their cities a generation ago.

But, as in physics, every movement in politics prompts an opposite if not always equal reaction.

As cities attempt to fulfill liberal wishes, they are increasingly stymied by the Republicans who dominate state offices. The GOP currently controls all branches of government in more than three times as many states as Democrats. There’s rarely much doubt about who will win an argument between a Democratic city and a Republican state; the state nearly always has the upper hand.

“I’m not afraid of the ‘don’t tread on me’ complaints from the municipalities,” says Missouri state Rep. Dan Shaul, who sponsored last year’s preemption of local minimumwage and garbage bag laws. “We’ve worked with the cities of St. Louis and Kansas City and continue to try to help them anyway we can, but our response is to do what’s best for the state,” said Shaul.

Legislators such as Shaul remain quick to praise urban areas as the states’ primary economic engines. Still, they insist that businesses shouldn’t have to put up with a patchwork of regulations that vary from city to city, and that citizens shouldn’t have any level of government butting unduly into their lives. “What they’re doing is trying to keep cities out of social policies,” says Larry Shaheen, a GOP consultant based in Charlotte. “They’re trying to get city governments out of the lives of their citizens.”

This is not exactly new. Cities may have been even more outmatched by states during the first half of the

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20th century before the Supreme Court abolished the practice of apportioning legislative districts by county, rather than by population. The political dynamic between cities and the rest of their states has shifted more recently in ways that have put urban centers at a new disadvantage. Land mass no longer determines legislative power, but there is a lot of room left outside the main cities for Republicans to dominate. In Missouri, there is barely a Democratic legislator who hails from outside St. Louis or Kansas City.

The other 113 counties are almost all overwhelmingly Republican, giving the GOP supermajority control of both legislative chambers.

Many states follow a similar pattern. Far fewer Democrats are elected to state legislative seats outside major metropolitan areas than was the case 15 or 20 years ago. Conversely, there are not a lot of Republicans elected from districts representing big cities or even many inner-suburban areas. The result is that traditional regional rivalries almost perfectly align with partisan divisions.

Cities have long chafed at restrictions placed by states on their ability to raise revenue. And outstate residents and legislators have perennially cried that the leading city, whether it is Indianapolis or Louisville or Milwaukee, uses more than its fair share of resources. In Wisconsin, “The common saying goes, ‘Madison sucks up all our tax dollars and spends it on Milwaukee or itself’,” says Katherine Cramer, author of the new book The Politics of Resentment that looks at rural anger in her state toward big cities. “There’s a perception that decisions are made in Madison and there’s no respect for small towns or our way of life,” says Cramer.

Now, in states where Democrats are in the minority, cities have few allies within majority caucuses at the state level, and Republicans are left with little incentive to help them. “If www.mocities.com

you looked at the Texas Democratic delegation, everybody in it is from an urban area, except the [heavily Hispanic] Rio Grande Valley,” says Mark P. Jones, a political scientist at Rice University in Houston. “Any legislation that benefits the urban core is going to be perceived much less favorably by the Republican majority,” says Jones.

State lawmakers have not been satisfied with just squelching cities on contentious social issues such as LGBT rights, gun control, labor policies like minimum-wage increases, and paid sick leave requirements. States are stepping on urban toes at practically every turn, from limiting hotel taxes to banning requirements that builders install sprinkler systems. “From our legislators, I’ve heard some comments that ‘we have those cities moving in retreat,’” says Ned Hill, a public policy professor at Ohio State University.

“What they really mean are the policies of big-city mayors,” says Hill.

States like to complain that they www.mocities.com

are shortchanged by federal programs, receiving back less money than they send to Washington, but they feel little compunction about dealing a similar blow to their local governments. When it comes to funds for roads, schools and universities, states are becoming less likely to invest in their own major cities. A recent survey of 89 mayors in 31 states by the U.S. Conference of Mayors showed that they believe relations with their states are now actually worse than relations with the federal government. One Midwestern mayor, whose party controls the legislature, said simply, “Our state is nuts.”

“In many ways, the mismatch between state political power and city market power has never been more dramatic,” says Bruce Katz, a Brookings Institution scholar who consults with metropolitan regions.

“A lot of the focus is on the skirmishes around progressive policies, but the bigger issue is states impeding the ability of cities to realize their full

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economic potential.”

In response to the pressures of living under a rural-dominated legislature, state Sen. Mike Colona, a Democrat who represents St. Louis, has taken what seems like a logical, if fanciful, step. He filed a pair of bills recently aimed at allowing St. Louis to secede from Missouri and become the 51st state.

Cities are now dominated almost completely by Democrats, not only in mayoral elections, but straight on up the ticket. In 2012, Obama carried the lowest percentage of U.S. counties of any winning presidential candidate in history, only 22 percent. But, his vote in cities was so overwhelming as to guarantee his re-election. Obama took 69 percent of the vote in cities with more than 500,000 people, according to exit polls. A similar story can be told about the disparities in congressional voting, and importantly, state legislative contests. It is no mystery why. The Obama coalition, racial and ethnic minorities, young people, gays May 2016 / 27

and lesbians, unmarried women, and highly educated young professionals, disproportionately chooses to live in cities.

Having gained and retained political power, thanks almost solely to the urban vote, Obama has turned to mayors to promote ideas that cannot get through Congress. Many mayors have worked closely with the Obama administration on early childhood education, development of green energy, community policing and the president’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative, meant to give a boost to young African-American and Hispanic men. “In Congress, programs like that are suffocated to death,” says Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto. “In Pittsburgh, we’re like an urban lab where they can be sent to grow.”

Obama’s budget for the coming year calls for expanding aid sent directly to cities in everything from poverty programs to manufacturing innovation. His most recent proposals may go nowhere, but the administration has already had success in using

cities as venues for its ideas. “We’ve been quite proactive throughout the administration in taking these policies around the country,” says Cecilia Muñoz, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. “It’s a terrific mechanism for implementing progress and creating momentum.”

Given gridlock in Washington, the absence of national policy in many areas has allowed lower levels of government to go their own way.

This has sometimes set cities and states on a collision course. While most Republican governors were calling on the administration to block Syrian refugees from entering the country late last year, more than five dozen mayors signed a letter calling on Congress to keep the door open.

Long before the debate over gay rights, Charlotte officials clashed with GOP lawmakers in North Carolina over broader policy toward immigrants, mirroring arguments in many states.

Last fall, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott moved to cut off state grant funding for sheriffs’ offices in localities that

failed to prosecute undocumented immigrants because they had enacted so-called sanctuary city policies.

Just before taking office last year, Abbott complained that the state was becoming “California-ized” by local bans on fracking and plastic bags, as well as restrictions on property use.

Abbott conceded that some might see a disconnect between his actions as state attorney general when he repeatedly sued what he considered to be an intrusive federal government, and the stance he has taken as governor, intervening to block city initiatives.

Abbott insists he is still working to protect people from encroachments on their personal liberty from whatever level of government. “The governor believes cities are economic drivers that help create jobs,” says spokesman John Wittman, “but they are often overregulated, generating unnecessary burdens on businesses.”

If a state official doesn’t like a city’s policy, there is little penalty involved in trying to block it. A tax on earnings may be an essential source of revenue for St. Louis, but voting to

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kill it allows a legislator from outstate to take an anti-tax stand essentially for free. It would not in any way affect revenues or programs back home.

The same pattern of state legislative indifference to urban desires holds true for spending decisions. Consider infrastructure. The percentage of urban roads that have “poor pavement quality” has increased more than 50 percent over the past decade, according to the Congressional Budget office. When it comes to public transit, and light rail in particular, state officials have been abandoning projects pretty decisively in recent months.

Last year, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan canceled a $2.9 billion light rail project in Baltimore that he described as a boondoggle. He subsequently proposed a $135 million aid package for the public transit system. Last fall, the North Carolina General Assembly canceled all but $500,000 of the state’s $138 million commitment to light rail.

“If the cities want to do it, fine,” said a senior GOP lawmaker, “but the state shouldn’t chip in on it.”

It is a time-honored tradition in politics: Areas with clout get more goodies. The distribution of funds is always a selfish vote -- “What’s going to help my district?” Republicans who represent less populous parts of any state may be especially reluctant to send money to larger cities right now because the rural areas are having a hard time economically. It is a spiky economy, with an outsized share of growth occurring in a relatively limited number of metropolitan areas. It is hard for some legislators to explain why they would want to send more money to parts of the state that are already performing well in terms of income levels and jobs.

In many states, the type of contempt generally felt for Wall Street is channeled toward the major urban areas. Mayors are left to complain that the easiest way for rural legislators to score points at home seems to be taking a shot at their cities. It is possible that, if it were not for the city of Portland, Maine would be the poorest state in the country. That does not mean rural and small-town residents want to see Portland get more money.

“Local economies in small places are so endangered, and there is very little sense that anything is going to bring them back,” says Cramer, the author who also runs a public service center at the University of Wisconsin. “The www.mocities.com

resentment toward the city is based on what they see as forces that are ending their way of life as they know it and want it to be.”

If states were smart, they would invest heavily in their successful urban areas, suggests Katz, the founding director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings. They could do more to encourage economic development in dense areas that are most likely to be fertile for growth, spending money on things like higher education and medical centers right in the heart of cities. “If states were rational actors, what they would be doing is augmenting, not subtracting,” Katz says. “Instead, it’s almost like states are embarrassed by the success of their cities.”

Maybe it is not embarrassment so much as a fundamental and growing mismatch. Big cities now tend to vote differently from the rest of their states. They hold different values when it comes to diversity. Their economies may be robust, but that has not translated to improving fortunes for other areas. Governors and legislatures are not always at odds with cities, but when they are, they have little reason to give cities a break.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory may be a former Charlotte mayor, but nearly all the top legislative leaders in his state come from much less

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populous, more rural areas. In addition to quashing Charlotte on gay rights, immigration and light rail, last year the legislature shifted a share of sales tax revenues from cities to more sparsely populated counties. “Before, cities were getting everything they asked for, but now the deck is stacked against them from a philosophical perspective,” says Shaheen, the GOP consultant. “As a Republican, that makes me so giddy, I can barely contain it.” Alan Greenblatt, a resident of Webster Groves, Missouri, has been writing about government at all levels for 20 years. He is a staff writer at Governing.

This article is reprinted with permission from Governing Magazine. Find the article online at http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/ gov-states-cities-preemption-laws.html.

May 2016 / 29

PARTNERS IN GOVERNANCE CONFERENCE In Government We Trust?

The 2016 Partners in Governance Conference took place April 21, 2016, in Columbia, Missouri. The second annual conference is the result of a partnership between the Missouri Municipal League, the University of Missouri-St. Louis Center for Ethics in Public Life, and the University of Missouri-Columbia Institute for Public Policy Truman School of Public Affairs. Keynote speakers included Dr. Wally Siewert with UMSL's Center for Ethics in Public Life and Columbia Daily Tribune Managing Editor Jim Robertson.

Panels included prominent Missouri media reporters, public information specialists with solid local government experience, and transportation experts from local government, regional and state perspectives.

Each group opened discussion with attendees to unpack issues of where trust breaks down between citizens, the media and government, where the responsibility lies in varying situations and how to best handle challenges.

Communities are stronger when trust and cooperation are a key focus.

30 /May 2016

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EXPERIENCE OUR REVITALIZED CONFERENCE IN A REVITALIZED PITTSBURGH NLC’s City Summit (formerly Congress of Cities) is coming to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 16-19, 2016. See how this once-industrial town has transformed into a beautiful and vibrant city.

Register before 7/15 for the early bird rate: citysummit.nlc.org

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May 2016 / 31

News From The Bench

by Ken Heinz

MACKS CREEK II

by Ken Heinz

O

n March 28, 2016, Judge Jon Beetem of the Circuit Court o f C o l e Cou nty s tru c k down portions of what is commonly known as Senate Bill 5 (Macks Creek II), legislation that passed in May of 2015 and generally went into effect on Aug. 28, 2015. The ruling was a result of a lawsuit filed by 12 communities in St. Louis County and two individuals.

The Judge ruled in favor of the Plaintiff (cities and individuals) on their contention that portions of SB 5 were a special law designed solely for St. Louis County and therefore illegal. The Court issued a declaratory judgment and an injunction against Section 67.287 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri that states certain minimum standards must be met in St. Louis County within three years, including a balanced budget, an annual audit, accounting, insurance, police certification by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) or the Missouri

Police Chief’s Association, certain written policies for police, construction code review, and website publication.

This portion of the law was stricken in its entirety as being in violation of the Hancock Amendment as creating an unfunded mandate. It was also held to be illegal as a special law since it was only framed as standards for municipalities in St. Louis County.

The Court also ruled in favor of the plaintiffs’ argument that the percentage of traffic violation revenue that had been reduced statewide from 30 percent to 20 percent beginning Jan. 1, 2016, was a special law because it reduced the revenue cap from 30 percent to 12.5 percent in St. Louis County. The Court also struck down the part of 479.359 RSMo that required an addendum to the annual financial report with calculations regarding the total minor traffic revenues and percentage of general operating revenues. The Court appeared to leave in effect the 20 percent

cap statewide and the requirement that every city shall annually calculate the costs for minor traffic violations as a percentage of annual general operating revenue and pay over any excess.

The Court rejected several other challenges that the plaintiffs had made to SB. Both the Attorney General may appeal on behalf of the defendants and the plaintiffs may appeal with respect to the dismissal of the additional claims.

Other provisions of SB 5, such as limiting minor traffic violations to $300 for fine and costs, limiting confinement for minor traffic violations, indigency, custody hearings, no failure to appear charges for minor traffic violations, income tax setoff for fines, etc., were unaffected by the ruling. Kenneth J. Heinz is a Principal with Curtis, Heinz, Garrett & O'Keefe, P.C. He serves as general counsel for several communities.

Heinz has been active as special counsel to many municipalities in Missouri and Illinois on municipal issues. He has delivered seminars to many public and private groups at the local and state level on municipal issues, such as municipal contracts, zoning and sunshine law. Contact the firm at 314-725-8788 or www.chgolaw.com.

Learn more about SB 5 from the July 2015 issue of the Missouri Municipal Review magazine, contributed by Carl Lumley, Ken Heinz and Kevin O'Keefe of Curtis, Heinz, Garrett and O'Keefe P.C, in St. Louis. Find the article at http://c.ymcdn. com/sites/www.mocities.com/resource/ resmgr/July_Review/Macks_Creek_SB5_ Analysis.pdf.

32 /May 2016

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May 2016/ 33

Member News MISSOURI PROFESSIONAL CITY CLERK … Congratulations to city of Manchester City Clerk Ruth Baker, recently recognized as a Missouri professional city clerk through Missouri State University and the Missouri City Clerks and Finance Officers Association (MOCCFOA). The designation is the highest attainable with the association.

In 2014, Baker was named Master Municipal Clerk, the highest designation through the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. She is also a Certified Municipal Official by the MML’s Missouri Governance Institute. Baker has served with the city of Manchester since 1999 and previously served on the MML Board of Directors.

MERRIAM WOODS BECOMES 4TH CLASS CITY … Voters in the municipality of Merriam Woods approved changing the municipality’s classification from Village to 4th class city in the April elections. The ballot measure was approved by 68 percent of the voters.

CRAIG OWENS RECIEVES JAY T. BELL AWARD … Craig Owens, city manager in Clayton, was chosen as the 2016 Jay T. Bell Professional Management Award by the Missouri City/County Management Association.

Owens received the award at the Association’s spring conference in May in Lake Ozark. The award recognizes a member’s outstanding commitment to the profession of local government management. Owens has served the city of Clayton for more than eight years.

MML Calendar Of Events 2016

June 4

9-10 23 29

Missouri AfterSchool Network Municipal Summit, Kansas City, Missouri Elected Officials Training Conference, Columbia, Missouri MML Policy Committee Meeting Missouri Digital Government Summit, Jefferson City, Missouri

July 11 15-17 28

MML Innovation Award Applications Deadline MMAA Summer Seminar, Osage Beach, Missouri MML Resolutions Committee Meeting

August 9-10

Missouri Water and Wastewater Conference, Columbia, Missouri

September 11-14 14 15 25-28

82nd MML Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri Missouri General Assembly Veto Session Financial Disclosure Ordinance Deadline Internationl City Managers Association Conference, Kansas City Missouri

October 5-8

14

National Recreation and Park Association Conference, St. Louis, Missouri 2016 Missouri GFOA Annual Conference, Columbia, Missouri

For more events, visit the events calendar at www.mocities.com.

Join Us! Sept. 11-14, 2016 MML Annual Conference Union Station, St. Louis

JENNIFER GRAY RECEIVES RICHARD R. NOLL OUTSTANDING ASSISTANT AWARD … Jennifer Gray, assistant city administrator in Des Peres, was chosen as the 2016 Richard R. Noll Outstanding Assistant Award by the Missouri City/County Management Association. Gray received the award at the Association’s spring conference in May in Lake Ozark. The recipient must hold an administrative position that is responsible for assisting the chief administrative officer in carrying out various administrative duties and other responsibilities. Gray has served the city of Des Peres since 2011.

34 /May 2016

2016 MML Innovation Awards We know your city is doing great things to make your community stronger. Tell us about them! Nominate your city for an MML Innovation Award!

Submit your nominations by July 11, 2016.

Learn more at www.mocities.com!

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May 2016 / 35