If passed by the Jefferson City Council later this month, adjoining property owners will soon have to repair sidewalks that have small vertical displacements.
The council reviewed a proposed bill that would require adjoining property owners to repair sidewalks when a vertical displacement of a quarter of an inch exists within any sidewalk, Jefferson City Public Works Director Matt Morasch said.
Currently, city code allows an offset of 1 1/2 inches.
The change would allow the city to meet federal requirements, according to the bill. Federal requirements for pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way allows a maximum of half an inch of displacement, the bill adds.
Several sidewalks currently in compliance would no longer be compliant if the council approves the change, the bill notes.
"However, those sidewalks are, and have been, out of compliance with the federal regulations," the bill states.
The Jefferson City Public Works and Planning Committee approved the bill last month.
The city does not know the fiscal impact, the bill notes.
"What is expected is that it will generate the need for additional enforcement and inspection to attain compliance, or administrative time in contracting and tax billing of properties if compliance is not achieved," according to the bill.
The bill also clarifies requirements regarding sidewalk repairs.
The council will vote on this bill Aug. 19.
In other business Monday, the City Council reviewed the proposed 2019 property tax rates in Jefferson City, which would remain the same as the current rate of $0.5561, Jefferson City Finance Director Margie Mueller said.
The proposed tax rate for the general fund would be $0.46 on the $100 valuation, according to the bill. This is the current tax rate.
For creating and maintaining a fireman's retirement system for Jefferson City fire firefighters, the proposed tax rate is $0.0961 on the $100 valuation, according to the proposed bill.
The city anticipates receiving more than $4 million in property taxes for the general fund and nearly $856,000 for the firefighters' retirement fund in fiscal year 2019, which began Nov. 1, 2018, and ends Oct. 31, city staff said.
The city anticipates receiving more than $4.1 million in property taxes for the general fund and more than $865,00 for the firefighters' retirement fund, city staff said.
The rates are computed based on changes in the assessed valuation, according to the proposed bill.
The City Council also heard a bill Monday that would modify the 2008 work agreement between the city and the Jefferson City Professional Firefighters Local 671 to allow the firefighters to implement the 48.5-hour shift one-year trial period.
Local 671 plans to begin the trial Jan. 4, 2020.
Under the new shift, firefighters would work the 48.5-hour shift schedule, with 96 straight hours off. The department currently works 24.25-hour shifts, where firefighters work three days in a five-day span and have four days off.
After that trial, Local 671 and city administration will decide whether to keep the new shift schedule or revert back to 24.25-hour shifts, Local 671 representatives previously said.
To remain budget-neutral, Jefferson City Fire Department Chief Matt Schofield suggested amending the work agreement so the duty cycle is 24 consecutive days instead of 27 days. Sleep exclusion would also be 35.75 hours instead of 38 hours.
On Monday, the City Council also heard a $79,512 construction contract with Meyer Electric Company Inc. to replace lighting and electrical infrastructure that was damaged during the May 22 tornado.
Meyer Electric Company would replace damaged infrastructure at the Lorenzo Greene Drive and Ellis Boulevard intersection, as well as in the 400 blocks of Miller, East McCarty and Jackson streets, the 500 and 600 blocks of East Capitol Avenue, and the 100 block of Lafayette Street.