Forget about the masks- Chamber President Toby Teeter top topic for public comment at Monday Joplin City Council meeting

JOPLIN CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2020
5th FLOOR COUNCIL CHAMBERS
602 S. MAIN ST. JOPLIN MO
6:00 PM

1.

Call To Order

Invocation
Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America

2.

Roll Call

3.

Presentations

4.

Finalization Of Consent Agenda

5.

Reports And Communications

1.

Joplin Youth Council Update.

2.

Semi-Annual Insurance Update By Segal

Documents:

1. 13347 - 2021 BUDGET PROJECTIONS - COJ.PDF

6.

Citizen Requests And Petitions

1.

Jennifer Thompson Requested To Speak On The Missouri Constitution.

2.

Brian Evans, Joplin, Requested To Speak About The Police And Fire Prop B Support By The City Council.

3.

Nanda Nunnelly-Sparks Requested To Speak In Reference To The JACC Statement By Toby Teeter.

4.

Alyssa Adams Requested To Speak On Comments Made By Some Of The City Council Members Regarding The Joplin Chamber Of Commerce President Toby Teeter Promoting A Diverse And Inclusive Chamber.

5.

Steve Urie Requested To Speak In Support Of Toby Teeter And The Chamber Of Commerce As Well The Behavior Of Council To Mr. Teeter.

6.

Donald Clarke Requested To Speak On Comments On Recent Joplin Area Chamber Of Commerce Efforts To Raise The Profile Of Joplin, Nationally And Internationally, As An Attractive Place For Corporations To Locate New Campuses And Remote Workers.

7.

Nike Jackson Requested To Adress Council.

7.

Public Hearings

1.

Public Hearing Procedures

Documents:

1. PUBLIC HEARING PROC.PDF

2.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2020-272

AN ORDINANCE providing to vacate an alley right-of-way and all accompanying utility easements lying North of W. 8th St. and South of W 7th St. located on property at the Southwest corner of S. Joplin Ave. and W. 7th St.

Documents:

1. CB 2020-272 MINUTES.PDF
2. CB 2020-272 STAFF REPORT.PDF
3. CB 2020-272 SUMMARY.PDF
4. CB 2020-272.PDF

8.

Consent Agenda

1.

Minutes Of The September 21, 2020 City Council Meeting

Documents:

1. CC MINS. SEPT. 21, 2020.PDF

2.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2020-007

AN ORDINANCE repealing Chapter 114, Traffic, Article II, Administration and Enforcement, Division 2, Traffic Violations Bureau.

Documents:

1. CB2020-007.PDF

3.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2020-162

AN ORDINANCE authorizing the City of Joplin, Missouri, to enter into an Agreement with Wildwood Ranch, L.L.C., a Missouri Limited Liability Company, for the purpose of providing sanitary sewer service; and authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute said Agreement by and on behalf of the City of Joplin.

Documents:

1. CB2020-162.PDF

4.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2020-164

AN ORDINANCE approving a Work Authorization OLS-OC20-09 with Olsson in the not to exceed amount of One Hundred Eight Thousand Six Hundred and 00/100 dollars ($108,600.00) for professional engineering consulting services for intersection improvements at 4th and Murphy Blvd; and authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute the same by and on behalf of the City of Joplin.

Documents:

1. CB2020-164.PDF

5.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2020-165

AN ORDINANCE approving a construction agreement with Jeff Asbell Excavating and Trucking in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty-six Thousand, Five Hundred and No/100 Dollars ($256,500.00) for the 20th & Malang Lift Station Improvement project; and authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute the same by and on behalf of the City of Joplin.

Documents:

1. CB2020-165.PDF

6.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2020-166

AN ORDINANCE approving a construction agreement with G&G Construction in the not to exceed amount of Two Hundred Thirteen Thousand, Nine Hundred and No/100 Dollars ($213,900.00) for the 44th and Virginia Lift Station Improvement project; and authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute the same by and on behalf of the City of Joplin.

Documents:

1. CB2020-166.PDF

9.

Resolutions

10.

Ordinances - Emergency

11.

Ordinances - First Reading

1.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2020-008

AN ORDINANCE amending Chapter 30, Businesses, Article III, Licenses, Division 6, Hotels, Motels and Tourist Courts, Subdivision II, Convention and Visitors Advisory Board by repealing Section 30-271, Established; membership; term of members; officers and enacting a new Section 30-271, Established; membership; terms of members; officers.

Documents:

1. CB2020-008_SUMMARY_CVB_AMENDING SEC. 30-271 AMENDMENT RE CHAMBER MEMBER.PDF

12.

Ordinances - Second Reading And Third Reading

13.

Unfinished Business

14.

New Business

1.

News From Public Information Officer, Lynn Onstot.

2.

Vote To Go Into Closed Session, Which Shall Pertain To Legal Action, Causes Of Action, Or Litigation Including A Public Governmental Body And Any Confidential Or Privileged Communications Between A Governmental Body Or Its Representatives And Its Attorneys; And The Hiring, Firing, Disciplining, Or Promotion Of An Employee Or Particular Employees Of A Governmental Body Involving Personal Information More Specifically For The Purpose Of Evaluating Certain Council Employees; As Set Forth In Section 610.021(1) (3) RSMo, As Amended, 2019. This Meeting, Record, And Vote To Be Closed To The Extent Provided By Law. The City Council Shall Adjourn At The End Of The Session. 

Springfield City Council to vote Monday on extending face mask ordinance, seeks public input

(From the City of Springfield)

The City of Springfield and Springfield-Greene County Health Department have provided avenues for citizens to voice their opinions and get their questions answered on the proposed Road to Recovery Phase 3B ordinance that would extend the face covering/masking requirement for areas of public accommodation, distancing, and occupancy limits.

The issue will be brought before City Council in a one-reading emergency bill at the 6:30 p.m. Oct. 5 meeting.

Directions for Citizens:

To voice your opinion on the draft Phase 3B of the Road to Recovery Order that may extend the mandatory masking requirement through Jan. 9, 2021, call the City Clerk’s Office at 417-874-2460; submit written comments electronically at springfieldmo.gov/councilmaskcomments to be reflected in the City Council meeting minutes; or sign up online at springfieldmo.gov/councilsignup to speak at the City Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 5. The deadline to sign up to speak or leave a comment is 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4. 

 

City Council Hotline (417-874-2460)

• To leave a voicemail for City Council to express support of extending the mandatory masking component for the Road to Recovery Phase 3B, press 1.
• To leave a voicemail to express opposition to extending the mandatory masking component for the Road to Recovery Phase 3B, press 2.
• To sign up to speak at the Oct. 5 City Council meeting, press 3.
• To reach the general Coronavirus Information Hotline, press 4.

General Coronavirus Information Hotline (417-874-1211)

• For general coronavirus questions to be connected to the State of Missouri Coronavirus Hotline, press 1.
• To speak to someone from the Springfield-Greene County Health Department about COVID testing, symptoms, exposures or prevention, press 2.
• If you are a business owner or manager with questions about the current or proposed Road to Recovery Order Phase 3B that includes a mandatory masking component, press 3.
• If you are a citizen with questions or concerns about the current or proposed Road to Recovery Order Phase 3B that includes a mandatory masking component, press 4 to speak with someone in the citizen resource center.
• To leave a voicemail to be provided to City Council, press 5.


While COVID-19 cases continue to grow in Springfield, evidence of the success of masking can be seen. Data from the Springfield-Greene County Health Department shows that in the two months following the implementation of Springfield’s masking ordinance, the greatest areas of local case growth were among college-age students who tend to engage in more high-risk activities which may not require masking, such as eating out and attending house parties. This was followed by outbreaks in the jail and long-term care facilities – locations where our masking ordinance was not expected to have an impact, due to the nature of those living situations.

Conversely, Goddard says, we have seen a relatively low percentage of cases in school-aged children—only 8% of positive COVID-19 cases in Greene County have been in kids 5- 17 in the past two weeks (September 14-28). Springfield Public Schools currently requires masking for all students, staff and teachers, except while eating or during P.E. and recess.

Evidence of the impact of masking as part of a comprehensive prevention strategy can also been seen in Springfield’s churches, which have widely implemented Springfield’s masking mandate. Churches continue to make up a very small percentage (less than 2%) of known exposure locations.

Public Service Commission approves Empire District Electric plan for community solar pilot program

(From the Missouri Public Service Commission)

The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved a tariff filed by The Empire District Electric Company, a Liberty Utilities Company (Liberty-Empire), implementing a Community Solar Pilot Program.

The Community Solar Pilot Program is designed to provide Liberty-Empire customers the opportunity to subscribe voluntarily to the generation output of solar facilities owned and operated by Liberty-Empire within its service territory and connected to its distribution system.

Liberty-Empire plans to initially build an approximate 2.25 MW solar facility (4,500 solar blocks of 500 kW each) for the solar program. Participating customers will enroll in the pilot program via a participant agreement in which they subscribe to solar blocks of 500 kW each.

Liberty-Empire serves approximately 155,165 electric customers in the Missouri counties of Barry, Barton, Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Polk, St. Clair, Stone and Taney.

Arkansas reports 15 COVID-19 deaths, 1,124 cases

(From Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson)

Governor Asa Hutchinson provided today's update on Arkansas's COVID-19 response.

In its Thursday update, the Arkansas Department of Health reported 1,124 new cases; 7,244 active cases; 485 hospitalized, which is down 5 from Wednesday; 92 on ventilators, which is down 1 from Wednesday; deaths added today, 15, for a total of 1,384; a total of 84,821 cases; 73,734 recoveries; PCR tests, 11,244; antigen tests, 1,154.

The Health Department reported that the top counties for new cases are Pulaski, 79; Washington, 77; Benton, 55; Craighead, 40; and Sebastian, 37.

Governor Hutchinson released the following statement on today’s COVID-19 numbers:

“I never like the increase in cases, but I am encouraged by fewer hospitalized, the increased testing and the decline of active cases in K-12 and colleges. There were over 12,000 PCR and antigen tests yesterday, which is a record for our daily reporting. This high testing volume is vital to our efforts to slow the spread of this virus. Remember, we all have to be disciplined and serious about COVID-19.”

MSSU's Lion Cubs Academy receives $470K CARES Act grant

(From Gov. Mike Parson)

Today, Governor Mike Parson announced that five Missouri colleges are grant recipients of over $5 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Child Care Plan funding to improve the quality and availability of child care and early education programs.

"Access to quality child care is critical for working families, and attending college is often a full-time job,” Governor Parson said. “With this funding, we have an opportunity to not only expand access to child care for student parents but also strengthen our early childhood offerings, both of which are crucial to developing a strong workforce and moving our state forward.”

The grant recipients include the following:

Missouri Southern State University

Lion Cub Academy Center of Excellence 

$470,519.47

Harris-Stowe State University

William L. Clay Child Development and Parent Education Center

$107,038.00

Northwest MO State University

Leet Center for Children and Families

$1,644,372.00

Ozarks Technical Community College

OTC Early Childhood Education Center

$180,494.00

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Little Miners Child Care Center

$2,710,252.00

Grant total

$5,112,675.47

The grants will support and strengthen access to safe, quality, and affordable child care for families eligible for the Child Care Subsidy program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Family Families (TANF) benefits.

“Education is a great way to help families increase their earning potential so they can move out of poverty,” said Missouri Department of Social Services Acting Director Jennifer Tidball. 

“Taking college courses is hard, and when you are a low-income parent with child care needs, that education becomes even more challenging. Making it easier to access quality and affordable child care increases a parent’s chance to achieve their educational goals to help them get a higher paying job. This wise investment not only benefits the parents but also their children to ensure they get the best start in life.”

The grant recipients will expand child care to serve 20 or more children between the ages of 6 weeks to 5 years with at least 30 percent of the slots for children who are child care subsidy eligible. Some of the allowed expenditures for the grant recipients include minor remodeling or upgrades to meet child care facility requirements, purchasing equipment or items to support educational or child care activities, or recruiting and training personnel.

The Department of Social Services Children’s Division will award up to $10 million to multiple grantees during the grant period October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021, and will announce a second round for proposals for the remaining funds.

The CARES Act Child Care Plan also provides the following benefits to low-income Missourians:
Through December, low-income Missouri families unemployed due to COVID-19 can get a temporary Child Care Subsidy benefit (up to 90 days) while they look for work.

Effective May 1 through December 31, parents who work, attend school, or train for work with an income from 138 to 215 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), may now qualify for Transitional Child Care Subsidy even if they did not previously qualify for Child Care Subsidy.

Missouri families qualifying or receiving a Transitional Child Care Subsidy benefit can receive an 80 percent subsidy benefit if their income is between 138 to 176 percent of the FPL or a 60 percent subsidy benefit if their income is from 177 to 215 percent of the FPL

Parents can receive fulltime child care subsidy benefits through December 31, 2020, for eligible school-aged students who are not attending in person.

Missourians who have questions not specific to an individual’s case can use the DSS Virtual Assistant for immediate answers to basic questions 24 hours a day. Phone assistance is also available by calling 855-FSD-INFO or 855-373-4636 Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m

Greene County reports four COVID-19 deaths, record-tying 203 cases in past 24 hours

(From the Springfield-Greene County Health Department)

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department is saddened to announce the deaths of four Greene County residents from COVID-19.

Our community lost:
A man in his 90s
A woman in her 80s
A woman in her 80s
A woman in her 80s

The Health Department extends our condolences to everyone impacted by these losses.

The Health Department also announced 203 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, September 30, tying the previous record of 203 on September 4.

“We have the ability to influence this virus, but it requires patience, diligence and sacrifice. We are all called to protect one another by facing the reality of this disease head-on—these numbers prove this disease is not done with us,” stated Director of Health Clay Goddard. “We all share a collective responsibility to protect our family, friends and neighbors.”

Four COVID-19 deaths have been reported by the Health Department in October. A total of 81 Greene County residents have died from the virus—57 percent of those deaths occurred in September.

The average age of those who have died from COVID-19 has decreased, from 80.3 in the first two weeks of September to 77.7 in the last two weeks.

Oppositely, the average age of positive cases of COVID-19 has increased, from 34.8 in the first two weeks of September to 47.4 in the last two weeks.

As of this morning, there were 134 COVID-19 positive individuals hospitalized at either CoxHealth or Mercy Hospital Springfield. 56 of those individuals are Greene County residents.

Sam Graves: Extend the Paycheck Protection Program

(From Sixth District Congressman Sam Graves)

In the initial days of the pandemic, countless states and localities across the country declared some businesses “essential,” while shutting down the rest. At the time, we were told these shutdowns were necessary to bend the curve and slow the spread, to buy our healthcare providers time to stock up on personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, tests, and other critical supplies.

We’ve done that, but shutdown orders are still in place for some businesses in various states across the country. 

Even in places that have reopened, small businesses are suffering. In some cases, because government orders prohibit their business from operating at full or even profitable capacity and, in others, because customers are still rightfully wary of the COVID-19 virus.

Congress acted in record time to pass three important relief packages to help the American people weather the storm, including the bipartisan CARES Act, which authorized the Paycheck Protection Program to help small businesses keep the lights on and keep employees on payroll. The program was a massive success, supporting more than 5.2 million small businesses and 51 million American jobs throughout the early months of this pandemic. Originally, the program was set to expire on July 30, but when that deadline loomed, Congress once again took bipartisan action to extend the program through August 8th because we knew America’s small businesses were still struggling and that this pandemic wasn’t over.

Those bipartisan efforts are a long-distant memory now. Since the program expired on August 8th, efforts have been made to pass additional relief measures, including a bill which would get the Paycheck Protection Program back up and running. Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi has consistently blocked that effort at every turn. She’s demanded a laundry list of completely unrelated partisan demands just to give the okay to much-needed assistance for American small businesses. Her latest $2.2 trillion wish list that has no chance of being signed into law offered stimulus checks to illegal immigrants and cut assistance to police to save money.



That’s why I signed a discharge petition to force Speaker Pelosi to stop the partisan political games and pass this needed assistance for American small businesses now. This legislation will reopen the Paycheck Protection Program to new applicants, simplify the loan forgiveness process, and allow some small businesses to apply for additional funding. The simple fact of the matter is that our small businesses need this help now, not next month or next year. There’s still more than $130 billion left in the Paycheck Protection Program that we can use to help small businesses. We cannot continue waiting while American businesses close their doors permanently and American workers are laid off.

Oklahoma reports four COVID-19 deaths

(From the Oklahoma State Department of Health)

As of this advisory, there are 88,369 cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma. 

There are 4 additional deaths identified to report. No deaths were identified in the past 24 hours. 

One in Beckham County, one male in the 50 - 64 age group.
One in Cleveland County, one male in the 65 or older age group. 

One in Muskogee County, one female in the 65 or older age group.
One in Oklahoma County, one female in the 65 or older age group. 

There are 1,035 total deaths in the state.

For more information, visit coronavirus.health.ok.gov.

Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce names Gary Shaw Citizen of the Year

Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce has named Joplin City Councilman and former mayor Gary Shaw its Citizen of the Year.

The video is from the Chamber.

Man in his 50s is Jasper County's 34th COVID-19 death

The Jasper County Health Department announced the county's 34th COVID-19 death earlier this morning.

The victim was a man in his 50s who had been hospitalized prior to his death, according to a department news release.

The death had been included with the statistics the department posted Wednesday evening on its Facebook page, which also included the addition of 22 confirmed coronavirus cases, putting Jasper County's total at 2,618.

The number of people who are isolation fell from 166 to 164, while the number hospitalized remained at 30.