[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:01] Good evening. We'll call this meeting to order.
[0:12] May we have the reading of the special call.
[0:48] Mr. Cows.
[0:50] President.
[0:51] Mr. Detar.
[0:52] President.
[0:52] Mr. Jackson.
[0:54] President.
[0:54] Mr. Marianne.
[0:56] President.
[0:57] President.
[0:58] Mayor O'Brien.
[1:00] President.
[1:02] Mr. Detar.
[1:03] Move.
[1:05] The approval of Mr. Cortez's absence.
[1:07] Second.
[1:11] We have a motion by Mr. Detar.
[1:13] Second by Mr. Bard to approve Mr. Cortez's absence.
[1:17] Please vote.
[1:23] Thank you very much.
[1:26] Public hearings.
[1:34] It is requested that persons wishing to
[1:35] sats five before the city council follow these roles.
[1:39] Approach to podium and say your name clearly for the record.
[1:41] Please give your testimony as briefly and completely as possible.
[1:45] By the rules of the city council, you have five minutes within which to give your testimony.
[1:49] Please follow the clock on the dios in front of you.
[1:51] You must complete your testimony within the five minutes time limit.
[1:54] The City Council of the City of Joplin threw this introduction except into evidence the 2012 comprehensive plan, the zoning code of the City of Joplin, the subdivision regulations of the City of Joplin, the telecommunications ordinance and the storm water management regulations of the City of Joplin, being of NSES 29A 29B 29D 29E and 29F of the Joplin Municipal Code, report of a planning and zoning commission recommendations of the City staff and other written documentation presented as that.
[2:24] information applies to each public hearing.
[2:26] Thank you for your consideration and understanding.
[2:29] Public hearing on the fiscal year of 2027 proposed budget.
[2:38] It's hot. Welcome.
[2:41] Good evening, Mayor Council.
[2:44] Here we are. Another budget year has rolled around.
[2:47] So we're going to be talking about the 2027 budget.
[3:11] So this is our estimate of needs, which shows our audited fund balance at the end of 2025.
[3:16] what we're projecting for 2026 and then what we're proposing in 2027 by fund.
[3:25] I'd like to take a minute always to talk about our different funds.
[3:30] So, City of Joplin Accounting is different than business accounting.
[3:35] We're really like about 25 different businesses all put together, but have to be accounted for separately.
[3:42] So we have different fund types.
[3:45] The first one is governmental fund types.
[3:48] The general fund is used to account for all of our ordinary operations of the government.
[3:54] Finance from Texas and other general revenues.
[3:57] It's our main operating fund of the city.
[3:59] And accounts for all the financial resources of the general government,
[4:03] except those required to be accounted for in a different fund.
[4:07] Special revenue funds are used to account for revenues from specific taxes.
[4:11] or other earmark revenue sources that by law are designated to finance particular functions or activities of government.
[4:20] So, they can only be used for specific things.
[4:23] Capital projects, of course, are used accounted for the acquisition of large capital improvements, other than those accounted for in our proprietary funds.
[4:34] And then proprietary funds, our business type funds that are generally self-supporting either
[4:39] by outside fees or internal charges.
[4:42] We have two types of proprietary funds, the Enterprise Funds, which are used to account
[4:47] for our government-owned services, supported primarily by service charges or user fees.
[4:53] For us, that would be the sewer fund, the airport fund, and the golf course fund.
[4:57] And then we have internal service funds.
[5:00] Which are used to account for the goods and services provided by one department to another within the government on a cost reimbursement basis.
[5:10] Then there's fiduciary funds and our component units.
[5:16] This is our budget summary.
[5:18] shows the all the different fun types that I just covered and the total revenues and
[5:25] expenditures and
[5:32] our budget this year the proposed budget at least is almost $170.8 million.
[5:39] You can see about a quarter of it is general fund which again is really our only discretionary
[5:44] operating fund. The majority of it is restricted. Those are the special revenue funds so almost
[5:51] 46% capital project, only about 2% enterprise funds, just over 15.5% and then our internal service funds at 10%.
[6:02] So to break that down, here's the special revenue funds.
[6:06] Again, these can only be used in certain ways. They have specific revenues.
[6:12] It can be only used for certain things.
[6:14] And this really accounts for the majority of our budget.
[6:17] So, you can see transportation sales tax at 28%, capital improvement sales tax at 24% public safety at 13.6 and so on.
[6:30] So, a special revenue funds just over $78.2 million.
[6:36] Capital projects infrastructure accounts for most of this and then the revolving public improvement.
[6:44] just over in total both of these just over $3.5 million.
[6:50] In our enterprise funds, obviously the sewer fund is our biggest enterprise fund,
[6:55] followed by the airport and the golf course.
[6:57] And so these total almost $26.6 million of our budget.
[7:03] And then finally the internal service funds, the health self insurance,
[7:07] makes up 50% followed by the other ones.
[7:11] But in total, this is about $17 million of our budget.
[7:17] So when the budget was being developed,
[7:21] it was built on three goals.
[7:23] The alignment of our resources to the vision and goals that you all set several years ago.
[7:28] Crime and safety, economic development, resilient revenue, community appearance,
[7:33] declining neighborhoods, and addressing homelessness.
[7:36] So that means we've been implementing the action plans as prioritized.
[7:39] plus we build this on the 2027 key initiatives that you all heard in May of this year.
[7:48] And then in June, you all met and reaffirm those goals and established some strategic priorities for us
[7:57] over the next 12 to 24 months, which is to maintain a balanced budget, promote economic development,
[8:04] that continue strengthening public safety and strengthen city operations and services.
[8:11] And this summarizes that retreat.
[8:17] So what have we accomplished in this year?
[8:20] So a lot of things, I won't go through them, I'll just mention a few highlights.
[8:25] We renewed the half-cent sales tax for police and fire services, implemented a staff portal,
[8:30] held the city's inaugural annual state of the community event, opened momentum bike park,
[8:38] incorporated a property maintenance code into daily efforts, completed the ARPA grant projects,
[8:44] completed phase one of the job and create cleanup, launched the enterprise asset management
[8:48] system in parks and public works, updated the parks camping ordinance and completed Tink Cup Trail and Bridge.
[8:56] So, what do we have on tap for next year?
[9:00] A lot.
[9:02] And this is on, it's always important to remember.
[9:05] This is on top of the daily workload that all the departments have.
[9:10] This is what the budget was built around these key initiatives.
[9:14] So, continuing our proposition action plans, conducting a regional dispatch study
[9:19] for long-term sustainability and interoperability,
[9:22] initiate a new five-year strategic planning process, implementation of the website improvements,
[9:30] implementing Citywide Digital Signature Software, implementation of an administrative
[9:34] nuisance abatement process, and you can see the rest. I won't read them all to you,
[9:41] but a lot of good work will begin next year. And then here's some of the other funds, just
[9:50] name a few, continue development and possible implementation of a scoring system for routine
[9:55] food inspections, develop and present for consideration.
[10:02] Released program. Implement the RTP grant, which is the trail way-finding benches and bicycle fixat stations. Complete the orlap grant, which is the part of our health park improvements.
[10:15] Construct grant falls trail and overlook. Develop pre-approved residential plan program and the continuation of the implementation of the lead hazard remediation grant.
[10:24] So, again, I won't read them all to you, but a lot of good work at the budget work sessions.
[10:30] You'll hear all of the key initiatives for each department.
[10:38] For revenue, obviously sales taxes are a major revenue source.
[10:42] We are budgeting a 2% increase in 2027.
[10:46] From where we are projecting 2026, we'll wind up.
[10:51] And as a reminder, we have the one-cent general sales tax, the half-cent pension sales tax,
[10:57] A half-cent public safety general sales tax, the half-cent transportation sales tax,
[11:02] the quarter-cent parks and stormwater sales tax, and the three-eightcent
[11:07] couple improvement sales tax, which is expected to be just over $50.1 million.
[11:14] I need to point out that right now, in this proposed budget, we've only included a partial year for the
[11:21] extension sales tax. We have not included the new police and fire sales tax. One of the issues
[11:28] and options items will be presenting that plan to you all. And if it's good, if you all are
[11:34] good with it, then the budget will go up another $8.6 million. Bringing our total sales tax revenue
[11:41] to $58.7.
[11:45] And then use tax. We are budgeting a 3% increase over the current year. And I
[11:52] percent for the additional sales tax on marijuana.
[11:59] So here are the revenues for the entire
[12:02] budget. This does not include transfers. So this is everything but transfers and again I've
[12:09] got the footnote on there about the half cent, please don't fire sales tax. This just shows you
[12:19] So the sales tax are all kind of on the right-hand side, sales and use tax that really is what drives our budget in addition to grants and chargers for services.
[12:33] So on the expenditure side with the completion of the ARPA grants while we still have several grant projects to finish under the BIL.
[12:42] We are projecting, we are showing a decrease in our total budget of about $14.4 million from
[12:51] $185.2 million to $178.7 million.
[12:58] Our total capital expenditure budget is over $51.4 million in 2027,
[13:08] which is down from nearly
[13:09] point four percent. Again, the proposed budget does include the continuation of the bipartisan
[13:16] infrastructure log grant projects and continuation of the voter approved tax projects for
[13:22] a parks and storm order and capital improvements.
[13:26] We also have budgeted additional transportation
[13:28] sales tax funds for street overlay in 2027. I think we have $4 million budgeted in 2027.
[13:38] We have continued improvements to the wastewater treatment facilities in the budget, and we have funds for the continuation of the action plans as set forth in proposition action.
[13:52] On the payroll side, we have included stepping creases on the employee anniversary date for eligible employees, which is estimated about $600,000.
[14:03] We also have a 2% inflation adjustment on November 1st, contained in the budget at an estimated
[14:10] cost of 685,000, and then we have the logger's rate increases for general employees.
[14:17] It's going to go from 14.2% to 15%, police will go from 19.4% to 19.8%, and fire will go
[14:26] from 21.7, the 22.7.
[14:31] We're not budgeting for any increase in insurance benefits,
[14:37] although likely we are going to see an increase.
[14:40] We typically do this because we have vacancies,
[14:43] and so we're able to budget this way
[14:46] because of those vacancies.
[14:50] Here are expenditures in total.
[14:53] Again, this does not include transfers,
[14:55] So this is by type, so that you can see.
[15:00] Highways and streets, the largest amount at 41.6 million, public safety next step, 34.1 million, general government at 26.2 million, and environmental at 19.7 million.
[15:15] And this just shows the same thing graphically again without transfers.
[15:23] Here's our staffing for the entire budget. We are really only, we've really only included one additional part-time administrative assistant.
[15:33] for records management and so we will have 646 FTEs next year. This just shows you by
[15:45] department the same information and
[15:52] again this is the position.
[15:55] So now we'll
[15:56] focus on the general fund because this is our main operating fund. We are budgeting
[16:02] Dipping into reserves. This is on the proposition action side and it is for one time
[16:08] expenditures only.
[16:12] So here's our revenue by category. So you can see essentially we're
[16:18] budgeting almost the same as 2026 by the time we get to the bottom line. But you can see
[16:25] the category differences. One of the big ones is in other incomes. So that's due to interest
[16:30] interesting come our cash balances have come down as we have finished some of these grants
[16:37] and we're not expecting the interest rates to be what we have been receiving
[16:44] and then you can see that grants are down over 21.8% in the general fund
[16:52] and this just shows you the same information
[17:00] sales tax again our major revenue source and
[17:04] hand-chice taxes are second highest revenue in the general fund.
[17:10] Our average annual change in sales tax is 3.3% the 10-year average is 32% on
[17:20] hand-chice tax.
[17:21] Our average annual change is about 2.2% and not quite 20% for the 10-year period.
[17:30] Here's what our sales tax looks like over the last 10 years,
[17:37] and the same with our franchise
[17:38] tax.
[17:42] And here's a breakdown of the different types of franchise tax, so we get electric cable
[17:47] telephone gas and water,
[17:52] cable, the legislator, legislators, cut that to 2.5% so that
[17:58] has declined and continues to decline, telephone also as people have transitioned to cell phones.
[18:07] So really, our three major franchise taxes would be electrical gas and water.
[18:14] And then you see the expenditures by department.
[18:18] This is down 8% a lot due to capital.
[18:21] So the biggest one that jumps out at use the fire department, that's because we're hoping
[18:26] to pay for the fire trucks we ordered several years ago, hopefully this year.
[18:33] Otherwise, City Manager's budget is down, public works is down, places down, and transfers
[18:39] out.
[18:40] This is all other than transfers out, it's all due to capital.
[18:46] So here's a breakdown, public safety represents about 46 percent of the total budget, transfers
[18:52] out 16.7 percent, and you can see the rest.
[19:02] Here's a three-year glance at General Fund budget expenditures by category.
[19:10] You can see personnel services going up 7% operational supplies going down 4% other purchases
[19:18] up 11% but those two dollar amounts pretty much wiping each other out.
[19:24] The real story is the decreasing capital in the General Fund almost $4.8 million.
[19:32] So this shows you, and this is without transfers, so generally speaking, the general fund is driven by personnel costs and capital.
[19:47] Here's the positions in the general fund by department,
[19:53] and then our fund balance.
[19:56] You can see our fund balance, so we break it up into energy.
[20:00] Districted fund balance, our contingency reserve of 25% and our prop action reserve to get to the total. We're also showing the unrestricted fund balance as a percentage of expenditures.
[20:12] You can see that in 2023, 2024, 2025. It increased mostly due to interest income. We in turn use that mostly to buy fire trucks, which are just taking time to actually pay for.
[20:25] So you can see by 2027, we're going to have about $15.3 million and be at about 37% of our expenditures.
[20:37] And this just shows you the same information.
[20:43] And then we have the five-year model.
[20:46] This does not include use tax.
[20:49] You can see the projections going forward.
[20:52] So in 2027, it's almost an exactly balanced budget without use tax.
[20:57] And then we're projecting depending on what the capital capital expenses wind up being.
[21:05] You can see that we're projecting negative negative fund balance for 2028 and 2029.
[21:14] And this is the graph that you all see every month.
[21:17] This graph and the graph before on the general fund.
[21:22] You know this tells me that the city we are spending are operating dollars to provide services
[21:27] to the public, which is important.
[21:33] So finally, we'll just go through some expenditure highlights.
[21:37] These are capital expenditures in the general fund, so we've got $1.8 million in the
[21:42] general fund.
[21:42] The highlight would be replacing five police squad vehicles, replacing the police service weapons,
[21:50] and replacing three sirens.
[21:52] In the public safety sales tax fund, we have $2115,615.
[21:58] Invention and tourism, $40,000, health and welfare, almost 74,000, parks and recreation,
[22:06] just over a million dollars.
[22:08] We need to paint the lap pool at Shipper Decker Pool, replace the netting system at Joe Becker,
[22:15] and replace a two and a half time dump truck.
[22:18] In the Solid Waste Management Fund, we have $95,000.
[22:22] Parks and Storm are sales tax.
[22:24] We have over $3.5 million, and you can see some of the projects.
[22:30] And then in transportation sales tax, we have almost $8.8 million,
[22:34] which is a combination of equipment, but also a lot of streets projects.
[22:40] You know that with everything that's been going on in the community,
[22:44] We've been delaying some overlay, but we plan to do a lot of overlay next year.
[22:51] Then in capital improvement sales tax, we have almost $18.2 million.
[22:56] And again, you can see the projects from the voter approved list.
[23:01] And then community planning fund, almost $100,000.
[23:05] The infrastructure fund, just over $2 million.
[23:09] The airport fund, just over $400,000.
[23:12] golf course, 150,000, and then the sewer fund, we have just over $14.7 million in capital
[23:21] items, mostly things at the treatment plant, but also some projects with the sewer maintenance.
[23:33] And then finally, communications fund, almost 233,000.
[23:38] The big project there is a portable radio GPS locator services for the police personnel
[23:44] when they move away from their car so that police officers can be located which is a safety
[23:51] officer safety issue. So next steps will be holding after this public hearing. We'll be holding
[23:59] the budget work sessions to cover the budget overview and the issues and options on September 22nd
[24:05] in 23rd and then bringing the budget for your adoption on October 19th.
[24:12] With that, I would be happy to answer any questions.
[24:14] Okay.
[24:15] Thank you, Ms. Haas.
[24:16] Are there any questions?
[24:18] Mr. Jackson.
[24:20] Thank you, Mayor.
[24:21] Leslie one question I've had posed to me recently is regarding the franchise taxes and is there
[24:27] a reason we're not getting franchise tax from the fiber optic internet providers now?
[24:38] Peter, can you help me with that?
[24:39] Yeah, that's one of the reasons we've seen it decline is historically franchise taxes came from
[24:47] South Western Bell, AT&T, landline services and is those services changed and now it's fiber,
[24:56] its cell phones, honestly it's the legislature.
[25:00] I can't change the rules for those companies, and that's why we've seen the decline.
[25:07] Because it's my understanding, we get a franchise tax fee for AT&T internet, sparklight internet, but we're getting nothing from the fire optic internet.
[25:18] We don't get anything for sparklight internet.
[25:22] That's exempted.
[25:23] Okay, that went to my attention by some companies and I was just wanting to find out, make sure we're all on the same rules.
[25:33] I appreciate that.
[25:33] One other question I had was, when we looked at the year 25, 26, 27, just pulling one out here, the police department, why do we see a reduction in their funding year after year on that?
[25:46] Mostly they've had some capital, everything in the general fund if you see declines it's related
[25:52] to capital purchases. So some years capital purchases are larger than others. If you will recall,
[25:59] we, during COVID, we were unable to replace police cars. They weren't making them.
[26:06] So then when we came out of COVID, we had to buy a whole lot of police cars.
[26:12] So, and then we did, we added the take-home police car program.
[26:15] So there, their budget went way up for a little while,
[26:18] and now it's coming back down to normal levels.
[26:21] And that's actually because the take-home car,
[26:23] it was where I was thinking that we wouldn't have seen it come down for 26
[26:26] that it should have been a little higher.
[26:29] So that's, that's just kind of where I was like,
[26:30] where are we going from 13.1, almost 12.8.
[26:36] Yeah, so on down.
[26:38] So, we just amended the budget for more take-home cars this year, that's reflected in 2026.
[26:46] So, that was one point.
[26:49] Here, remember, was it 1.2 million?
[26:51] That budget amendment that I just brought.
[26:54] And then we also did it last year, which would be 2025.
[26:58] Okay.
[26:58] So, that's why those two years are higher.
[27:00] Okay.
[27:02] All right.
[27:02] Thank you.
[27:06] And the other questions from this house.
[27:09] This is price.
[27:11] I was just curious into the general fund revenues for fiscal year the proposed budget.
[27:16] Why are we including grants as a revenue?
[27:23] In the general fund?
[27:24] Yeah, under general fund revenues the proposed budget, we have grants in here of $1.7
[27:30] million as a revenue.
[27:33] Because grants are a revenue in the general fund?
[27:36] But there are 50-50 match, right? Most of them are.
[27:41] No, so some of them are 100 percent.
[27:44] Some of them are not 50-50, some of them.
[27:47] I mean, they all vary, but the way grants work is you accounting.
[27:53] Works you have to budget the entire expenditure,
[27:57] and then as an expenditure, and then you have to budget the revenue.
[28:01] You cannot net them.
[28:02] Okay, okay, and then one of their question was if we're dipping into the revenues on a one-time basis this year
[28:11] Do we know that we're not gonna have to do it next year or the next year or is that something that we have to look at the future to really look at how we're budgeting?
[28:20] Sure.
[28:21] So we're only dipping into reserves in the general fund for
[28:25] use tax items, and they are one-time items so that will not happen in the future unless it is another different one-time item.
[28:35] Okay, thank you.
[28:39] Hey, any other questions?
[28:41] Mr. cows.
[28:43] Hi, Mr. Lizard.
[28:44] Looking at the budget as a whole, what is the biggest financial risk to our city in the next three to five years?
[28:51] And what are we doing in this budget to mitigate that?
[28:54] Sure.
[28:55] So, I think during the work session, I can't remember if Nick said it or if I said it,
[29:01] but our biggest concern always is our revenue growth keeping pace with the growth of expenditures.
[29:12] That's pretty well been the story of my entire career here.
[29:17] I believe here, though, at the city, we do a really good job at finding grants.
[29:24] we do a good job of holding our expenditures.
[29:26] In fact, when we get to the budget work sessions,
[29:30] you will see some 10-year graphs of our operational supplies
[29:33] in the general fund and typically, I have not looked at it yet
[29:39] this year because they're still working on it.
[29:41] But typically, what we see is our operational supplies
[29:47] are about the same cost as they were 10 years ago.
[29:50] There aren't many organizations that can do that.
[29:53] But we do a really good job across the city of becoming more efficient and...
[30:02] And spending our dollars wisely.
[30:05] Thank you.
[30:05] Thanks for putting this together.
[30:07] That's a lot of work.
[30:11] Anyone else?
[30:14] Thank you.
[30:15] This
[30:20] public hearing is now open.
[30:23] Anyone wishing to speak in favor of this item, please approach the podium.
[30:32] Anyone wishing to speak in opposition to this item, please approach the podium.
[30:40] I see not this public hearing is now closed.
[30:43] Next item, please.
[30:44] Public hearing on the 2026-2027 property tax rate.
[30:54] Welcome back.
[30:55] Getting your steps in.
[30:56] Yes.
[30:57] Good evening.
[30:58] So this public hearing is to discuss the property tax
[31:01] levy or real property in the city of Joplin.
[31:04] We don't have any personal property.
[31:07] The property tax levy for the coming year will be 40.92 cents per
[31:11] hundred dollars of assessed valuation.
[31:14] The city portion of this levy is 17.1.
[31:17] Since this rate represents no change from the current rate, the remaining portion belongs to the
[31:22] Joplin Public Library. The library text rate is remaining the same at 23.82 cents.
[31:29] The levy is calculated by a formula of which combines property assessments, new construction,
[31:35] the CPI or consumer price index, the prior text rate ceiling, and the prior year maximum authorized levy.
[31:41] The maximum authorized levy is 54 cents and this year's CPI is 2.7 percent, which is established by the state auditor's office.
[31:51] Assessed valuations for the city increased from nearly 818.1 million to over 831.2 million, which is more than a 1.6 percent increase.
[32:03] The assessed value of the new construction was over 10.6 million.
[32:08] As assessed valuations increased, unrelated to the CPI, new construction and newly added
[32:13] territory, the rates must decrease.
[32:16] While revenue will increase, under state statute, revenue can only increase as a result
[32:20] of the CPI, new construction and newly added territory.
[32:25] The property tax of the City of Joplin represents a small portion of the overall property
[32:29] tax liability for the citizens of Joplin.
[32:32] Private tax provides approximately 1.8% of general government revenue and is used to fund
[32:37] a portion of health, parks, and solid waste activities.
[32:42] For a $100,000 home in the city and in the library district, the tax will be $77.75.
[32:49] Since this represents no change from last year, the city portion is $32.49, while the library
[32:56] portion is forty five dollars and twenty six cents of the total seventy seven dollars
[33:01] and seventy five cents. But that I'd be happy to answer any questions. Any questions?
[33:11] I see no questions. Thank you very much.
[33:17] Next item please. All I'm sorry.
[33:24] At this point
[33:25] we'll open the public hearing. Anyone in favor, wishing to speak in favor of this property
[33:31] tax rate. Please approach the podium.
[33:35] I see none. Anyone wishing to speak in opposition.
[33:40] Please approach the podium.
[33:44] I see none. This public hearing is closed. Now, next item, please.
[33:50] amended council bill number 2026-271 an ordinance amending ordinance number 22-119 passed by the
[33:58] of the city of Dublin, Missouri, August 1, 2022 to adopt specific use standards for data centers.
[34:10] Okay, based on 2.12 of our charter and the amendment that changed the residential setback
[34:22] on data centers from 300 to 600 feet, the Council scheduled this additional public hearing tonight.
[34:30] Once this public hearing is opened, if you want to speak on that issue and this is just open but you're four are against, please come to the podium and you will have five minutes.
[34:45] Public hearing?
[34:46] This public hearing is now open. There's anyone wish to approach the podium.
[35:00] Good evening.
[35:03] My name is Rebecca Collins. Please, for state your name for the record and you'll have five minutes.
[35:08] Thank you. Good evening, Mayor. Members of the council and city staff. My name is Rebecca Collins, director of the
[35:15] Joplin Sustainable Technology Alliance. As we review these amended standards tonight, it's vital
[35:21] to recognize what distance buffers can and cannot accomplish. While physical setback and native tree landscaping
[35:28] gaping requirements work together to provide a basic visual buffer, distance alone is not
[35:34] a complete shield against industrial impacts.
[35:37] Low frequency noise, like the continuous harm from cooling fans, has long wavelengths that
[35:42] easily travel over half a mile without fading, meaning spatial distance alone cannot stop
[35:48] the sound on a strict, legally binding decibel limits, forced developers to engineer source
[35:53] level acoustic controls.
[35:56] That's why the true heavy lifting of this ordinance comes down to strict verifiable performance metrics.
[36:03] Noise attenuation relies on quantifiable physics,
[36:07] capping operational noise to strict visible thresholds, forces developers to engineer real solutions,
[36:15] such as soundproof equipment and closures, specialized acoustic battles, and structural noise barriers.
[36:21] Distance provides a basic spatial boundary, but legally binding decibel limits give our city an objective enforceable standard for noise control.
[36:31] The laying action tonight or leading a regulatory vacuum risks allowing rapid industrial development under outdated legacy rules.
[36:40] Without these specific performance standards, prospective developers operate without clear boundaries on water use, air emissions, or soundcaps.
[36:49] Passing baseline standards tonight eliminates uncertainty and protects
[36:54] droppling before projects break ground. By embedding these performance rules directly into
[37:00] our municipal code, droppling studying a filter for future development. You are
[37:05] ensuring that any protected, prospective business understands that our community's
[37:10] natural resources, peace of mind, and quality of life are non-negotiable.
[37:14] As you finalize these rules, JST looks forward to working alongside city leadership on the
[37:21] next logical step, developing a public-facing transparency dashboard, real-time monitoring
[37:27] of air, water, and noise metrics accessible to every resident will guarantee these standards
[37:34] are actively verified for years to come. I urge the council to pass these essential baseline
[37:40] protection tonight and lock in clear
[37:42] safeguards for Joplin.
[37:44] Thank you for your leadership and
[37:45] for listening to our community.
[37:47] Thank you for the leave.
[37:48] Anyone have any questions from
[37:50] his Collins?
[37:52] Thank you very much.
[37:57] Anyone else wishing to speak on this
[37:59] item?
[37:59] Please approach the podium.
[38:17] Mr. Phil, some good evening.
[38:19] Please state your name for the record,
[38:20] and you'll have five minutes.
[38:26] I'm dying from
[38:30] a hard
[38:30] to be rude,
[38:34] but I have lost total confidence in our federal government because of the numbers
[38:41] that are coming out on the federal deficit.
[38:46] I stand the same way on our state. I made phone
[38:51] calls to our state reps this afternoon. Nothing. I have no confidence.
[39:05] I've got to be kind
[39:07] When I say this, and I think you want me to be honest,
[39:16] my confidence here is extremely low.
[39:22] I've had a situation happen that has just absolutely not me off my feet, and it's made me aggravated.
[39:35] So that tells you where my level of confidence is now.
[39:42] You're there, I'm here and I thank you for listening to me.
[39:52] Thank you, Mr. Felsen.
[39:57] Anyone wish anyone else wishing to speak to you?
[40:00] To the data center set back, please approach the podium.
[40:09] I see none. This public hearing is closed. Next item, please.
[40:14] Council Bill number 2026, 516, and ordinance-leaving taxes in the City of Jaffla, Missouri,
[40:21] for the year 2026 in the amount of $17 and 100 cents on $100 evaluation of all real
[40:29] property in said city and leveing taxes in the Jaffla Public Library District for the year
[40:34] 2026 in the amount of $23 and $8,200 cents on $100 evaluation of all real property and
[40:43] district and containing an expedited clause.
[40:47] Mayor.
[40:48] This has, well back.
[40:49] I don't really have anything to add other than staff recommends approval on an expedited
[40:54] basis because this has to be set by August 31st.
[41:03] Mr. Bart.
[41:04] I move that council bill 2026-516 be approved on expedited basis.
[41:11] Hey, we have a motion by Mr. Bart, a second by Mr.
[41:15] The Council Bill number 2026-516 be approved on an expedited basis, please vote.
[41:31] 9 in favour.
[41:33] I'm sorry.
[41:35] 8 in favour.
[41:35] None of the post.
[41:39] Okay.
[41:40] Ornances.
[41:41] First.
[41:44] I'm sorry.
[41:44] Final reading.
[41:47] Michelle?
[41:47] I'm amended.
[41:48] Council Bill number 26-271.
[41:51] and ordinance of our 2022-119 pass by the Council of the City of
[41:56] Jacqueline Missouri August 1, 2022 to a
[41:59] job specific use standards for data centers.
[42:04] Okay, are there any comments or questions from Council?
[42:12] Mayor.
[42:14] I would like to bring more.
[42:15] But thank you, Mayor.
[42:16] I would like to bring up the fact that during last
[42:20] before the 600-foot was proposed and I would like to bring the fact that we do have 21 specific
[42:28] performance basis as far as for what we currently have in our ordinance. So when it comes to
[42:36] buffers I firmly believe that it's merely aesthetics by at some point whether it's 50 foot 100 foot
[42:42] And 200 foot, 300 foot, as long as they fall within the 21 specific performance, standards,
[42:51] there's really no need to worry about the distance I feel.
[42:58] At 600 foot becomes cautionary, and then standards as far as the developers concerned
[43:04] can't decline because they don't have to, as Ms. Collins said, they don't have to give the
[43:17] special attention to those certain areas that cause noise or frequency and so on and so
[43:22] forth.
[43:23] So, I am forth going back to the 300 foot buffer, as it was written prior to the amendment
[43:30] last last week, and that's where I stand.
[43:34] Okay. Thank you, Mr. Bard, anyone else?
[43:40] Mr. Cows.
[43:42] Hi, sir. Thank you.
[43:45] With the, with what Bard said, Mr. Bard, and the overall discussions that we've had in regards to setbacks, I would propose us to look at having a 300 foot setback when bordering residential or sensitive areas,
[44:03] including churches, daycares, parks, things like that, and consider doing a 100 foot set
[44:11] back when it's bordering non-residential uses such as retail or commercial properties.
[44:19] And then being industrial into, if it's bordering an industrial property, have the normal
[44:26] in two setbacks and some of the wording I think maybe needs to be looked at as far as
[44:32] measure the setback from the nearest data center hall or generator to the applicable property
[44:38] line and that would include things like it says with guard checks and checkpoints, fences,
[44:44] things like that. But add the language that setback requirements shall apply to each person
[44:49] of the each portion of the data center property boundary according to the joining user's zoning
[44:55] district so if it borders residential property on one side
[45:00] 1,300 foot setback would apply to that side. If another side borders the industrial property, the normal M2 setback would apply there. I think it gives a strong, the strongest protections where it's needed without unnecessarily restricting the entire property.
[45:18] Mr. Natar.
[45:20] Thank you.
[45:20] Troy, this is for you.
[45:22] Or Peter or somebody.
[45:24] Sometimes I just want to make sure that I understand that's clarified, verified, confirmed,
[45:30] deal the above.
[45:31] And last week when we were talking, I think there was at least some confusion, maybe even on my part.
[45:35] We were talking about these setbacks.
[45:37] We were talking about the residential to church as a daycare versus any other property border,
[45:44] where it's like M2, right, or if it's up against an empire property.
[45:49] However, that may be, either of some confusion,
[45:53] maybe just clarify this.
[45:54] It was 600 foot, but it's not all the way around.
[45:57] You can go to 50 foot if it's up against a industrial property.
[46:02] If it abuds to the property line, right?
[46:04] I'm not talking about, it gets closer adjacent to,
[46:06] but it butts up to the property line.
[46:08] It would be just a 50 foot setback.
[46:11] And then if it's residential,
[46:12] like you would have to butt up to the residential property and whatever portion of that property
[46:16] it's on would then be a 600 foot or would be a different setback.
[46:21] Do I understand that clear?
[46:23] That's correct.
[46:24] The way what was how I understand what was amended last meeting is anything what Mr. Kyle's
[46:32] reference residential public uses such as churches or parks that would be 600 foot.
[46:38] But that's not if the private property line goes up to a road.
[46:43] And then the other properties on the other side of the road.
[46:46] That would apply to that as well.
[46:48] It would apply to that as well.
[46:51] OK.
[46:54] That's real.
[46:54] I just want to make sure, because I wasn't sure that it mattered
[46:56] if there was a road, if it went up to a road.
[46:59] And to clean roads or easements, so that what's
[47:02] majority is from the middle of that road.
[47:05] So for the middle of the road?
[47:07] How he written it was not necessarily what it zoned, it's the use, so if you have something
[47:12] out in my county, that's residential, you would have applied to that as well.
[47:18] I just wanted to make sure that everybody was clear or somewhat on the same page, because
[47:23] I think last week we left, it was maybe it was just me, but I think there was some confusion
[47:28] on all of it.
[47:30] That's my questions.
[47:31] Thank you.
[47:34] I brought up the change in the in the data center setback for residential from 300 to 600 feet after hearing from people on the east side and spending time looking at the density of housing in that area.
[47:50] And I appreciate the council members who did follow along in that direction.
[47:55] But I did not take into account fully the impact of 600 foot setback has on the northern part of the property in particular where there is a large rail easement that goes through there and that angles.
[48:12] So that change to me feel substantive and has the impact across the entire site.
[48:19] I appreciate the work of the city staff and the many who provided input to create significant standards for data centers.
[48:27] And I also appreciate everyone who's provided their viewpoints along the way over several months.
[48:36] I think it is simplest that we, if the Council, so desires, that we basically look at going back to the ordinance as originally approved at just 300 feet without interjecting any other elements into it at this time.
[49:02] That's been already approved by Council, and amended, and we could amend it back to that.
[49:16] Mr. Comple.
[49:18] I'm confused.
[49:18] What does the railroad have to do with anything?
[49:22] It creates a break in the property, Mr. Comple.
[49:25] That has an easement that when you add 600 feet.
[49:29] You don't have to.
[49:30] It's not residential.
[49:31] It's not a school.
[49:32] It's not a church.
[49:33] No, it's not an activity.
[49:34] No, it's 600 feet coming from 20th Street toward the rail.
[49:37] and narrowest the property substantially.
[49:41] Not the railroad and 600 feet from 20th Street going south toward the rail that narrowest
[49:47] the property substantially to put 600 footies meant in there.
[49:52] I don't think you'd be putting a building between the railroad track and the even if it was 300 feet and not 600 feet.
[50:00] Even if it was 50 feet, which it would be on that majority of that stretch, I still don't think you'd be putting a building there, because it's not that big of a chunk of property.
[50:10] I think it'd be on the south side of the railroad track from there all the way over to the county line or to wherever it is you want to go.
[50:22] You know, that doesn't seem big enough to put anything because isn't the, isn't the railroad?
[50:30] Well, what's the distance on either side of the, the railroad that's there properties?
[50:34] That 100, 100 feet on either side?
[50:39] Mr. Goander, you know?
[50:41] I don't know the, uh, he's not for the railroad.
[50:45] I, I think, um, what the mayor is suggesting.
[50:49] We're looking at 20th Street south, so instead of a 300, but set back now, you have a 600,
[50:57] so it does make less area between the railroad, because it goes out in an angle, less room
[51:03] between the railroad and 20th Street that you can build on, because they increase that back.
[51:12] So I'm
[51:16] just trying to think what's residential until you get pretty far east on there,
[51:21] because you've got the Bitcoin mining, you've got the dog food plant, you've got the concrete
[51:27] plant, until you get to the other side of the road, but you still have to be pretty far east
[51:32] of where a lot of this property is.
[51:36] Yeah, it would just be that initial residential, that's to the, I guess it's to the east of
[51:43] central, or west of central city road, so that first industry and then central city road,
[51:50] there are some residential properties in there that would impact that have to be six hundred feet in 20th Street.
[51:59] Typically as I understand in the Chicago we look at within our city limits.
[52:06] But the way this has been written,
[52:11] it specifies any residential properties.
[52:13] So there are a string of residential properties, the 20th street on the north side, so you have
[52:20] to come, you have to say that is 600 feet.
[52:24] There's approximately 200 acres, I believe, does that sound about right, Mr. Ballander?
[52:32] What is 200 acres?
[52:34] No, not through the rail across the private, so yes.
[52:37] If I could add something real quick.
[52:38] Yes, hang on, just a second.
[52:40] Mr. Barn.
[52:41] Thank you.
[52:42] Guys, the railroad tracks moved as far as I'm concerned.
[52:45] We're talking about an ordinance for the entire city
[52:47] of job and regardless of where a data
[52:49] citizen is going to go, where a data
[52:51] citizen possibly could go, honestly, the railroad tracks
[52:54] moved as far as I'm concerned.
[52:56] We're looking at an ordinance for the entire city
[52:58] for any future developments, not this one piece of property.
[53:02] So that's kind of how I'm regardless of what setback we were.
[53:06] We're going to require the railroad track is not a problem.
[53:11] Mr. Comple, I will disagree with you, Mr. Mayor, anytime we have an M2, it doesn't
[53:20] just, the regulations don't just apply to what's in the city of Joplin, it applies to
[53:25] our neighbors as well, the new industrial park we just annexed in, the previous industrial park
[53:31] we annexed in, the setbacks that we have, the 300 feet, applies to M2, a joining residential
[53:38] properties, whether it's in the city limits or not, so this follows that exact same doctrine
[53:44] that we've always that we've always followed.
[53:48] I appreciate that.
[53:49] Yeah, I was fine with 300 feet before.
[53:54] I'm just tired of us flipping on this.
[53:57] I'd like to get this settled and done.
[54:06] Would anyone like to make a motion?
[54:07] I'll just point or continue the discussion.
[54:09] I would like to make a motion to amend Council Bill 2026-271 back to the August 17 agenda
[54:19] reading back to the 300 foot buffer.
[54:24] I would second.
[54:29] Section 4 residential.
[54:30] Section 4 residential.
[54:31] Section 4 residential.
[54:33] Section 4 residential.
[54:34] That's the thing.
[54:40] So I have a motion by Mr. Bard, a second by Mr. Jackson.
[54:46] Excuse me.
[54:46] Just want to clarify, because that's just me right now.
[54:50] We're talking during the foot, just from residential.
[54:53] Over there, guys.
[54:55] Okay, thank you.
[54:56] And all the things you listed under along with the residential.
[54:58] Right, right.
[54:59] But it's...
[55:00] But the M2, it goes back to, yeah, thank you.
[55:05] Mayor, Mr. Cowell.
[55:07] I can, can we consider changing some of the language on the setback measure the setback from the
[55:13] nearest data center hall or generator to the applicable property line and add the language
[55:19] setback requirements shall apply it to each portion of the data center property boundary according
[55:24] to the joining use or zoning district.
[55:28] We have Mr. Council, we have a motion in a second standing right now.
[55:35] So any other discussion?
[55:37] Mayor, just be clear what Mr. Barton Iyer.
[55:40] Mr. Jackson.
[55:41] Yes, to be clear what we were supporting here is I believe through the motion Mr. Barton is
[55:46] made in what I have seconded.
[55:48] This puts us back to the verb age we were working with on Council Bill 2026-271 as it was
[55:54] on the August 17th agenda.
[55:57] And that's putting all the setbacks to 300 feet.
[56:01] That's the special use permit process is removed.
[56:03] And that's the framework we'll be going forward
[56:05] with this motion, correct?
[56:07] Is that what you were proposing this to bar
[56:09] and that you're showing understanding?
[56:10] That was what we were proposing.
[56:11] Yes, that's what I'm proposing.
[56:13] Is that the motion as I, as I heard it?
[56:16] Yeah, I just want to make sure that everybody
[56:18] is like, OK, OK, OK.
[56:21] OK, we have a, um, uh,
[56:24] A motion by Mr. Bard, a second by Mr. Jackson, to amend excuse me, I'm in section four.
[56:36] Residential setback on Council Bill number 2026271. Please vote to 300.
[56:44] Two 300 feet. Please vote.
[56:51] We have eight in favor, none opposed. Thank you very much.
[56:57] We have this, what's the, now move to final reading?
[57:07] Mr. Mayor?
[57:09] I move for the passage of the re-amended Council Bill 2026-271.
[57:17] I'm sorry.
[57:17] We just approved the amendment.
[57:19] So now we have to approve the bill.
[57:21] Thank you.
[57:21] The amended bill.
[57:23] I have a motion by Mr. Koppel, a second by Mr.
[57:26] as a term to approve amended council bill number 2026271 on final reading please vote.
[57:44] Eight in favor, thank you very much.
[57:48] New business.
[57:52] Vote to go into close session which help pertain to legal action causes of action or litigation
[57:57] including a public governmental body and any confidential or pillage communications between
[58:04] In the governmental body or its representative, and as the attorneys pursuant to state
[58:08] law, I set forth in section 6, 1, 0, 0, 0, 2, 1, subsection 1 of their advice
[58:15] statutes of Missouri, as amended 2020, this meeting record and vote to be closed, Council
[58:20] shall adjourn at the end of the session.
[58:24] Mayor, Mr. Detar, make a motion to go into closed session for all of the things that
[58:34] to go into closed session. Please vote 8 in favor. Give very much. We are into closed session.