THE MANEATER The Maneater University of Missouri- Columbia April Bi-weekly Student Newspaper (online and print) 2011 -Nichole Ballard
Council considers expanding, increasing parking rates City Council members approved a pilot program restricting taxi pickups downtown. By Nichole Ballard Published April 19, 2011
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An ordinance increasing parking rates to 60 cents per hour and extending rate enforcement by three hours, until 9 p.m. was debated and tabled for 45 days by the Columbia City Council on Monday.
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The city estimates the measure, which the council will vote on at its first meeting in June, would result in $597,000 in new revenue.
Mayor Bob McDavid said he was concerned about passing the parking meter increase with critical components missing. McDavid alluded to a hypothetical alternative in which campus meter rates would be increased from 50 to 75 cents per hour instead of raising rates in the downtown garages.
Drag kings, queens sing The revenue collected from increased parking for rates andPride extended hoursMonth on fines would go toward the construction of a new parking garage on Short Street and Broadway. McDavid said no matter what council members do there will still be a risk the parking garage will not be built, and there is uncertainty regarding stakeholder support. "They came to us saying they wanted a TIF," McDavid said. "They didn't say they wanted a hotel." A TIF, or tax increment financing, is a financing method, which subsidizes community development. Developers of Broadway Lodging were approved to receive $3.2 million of TIF funding in February for the demolition of the Regency Hotel on Short Street and Broadway. A new hotel is planned to replace the building afterward. The acquisition for the land to build the new garage on is already complete, but there is no legal requirement for the hotel to actually be constructed. Second Ward Councilman Jason Thornhill agreed with the concern over financing for the new parking garage on Short Street. "We can't buy a million dollar piece of dirt if we're not going to put a garage on it," Thornhill said. 6
Public comments regarding parking meter fine changes will not be allowed before the ordinance is voted on in June, though there is schedule time allotted for public comment at the beginning of each meeting. The council also moved to unanimously approve a pilot program for "no pick-up zones" for taxis downtown at certain latenight hours. Based on an informal agreement with five taxi companies, the pilot program will exclude certain streets in the busy downtown areas from allowing taxis to pickup fares from 9 p.m. until 2:30 a.m.
CITY COUNCIL
Parking rate increase, expansion debated City Council members approved a pilot program restricting taxi pickups downtown. NICHOLE BALLARD Staff Writer An ordinance increasing parking rates to 60 cents per hour and extending rate enforcement by three hours, until 9 p.m. was debated and tabled for 45 days by the Columbia City Council on Monday. The city estimates the measure, which the council will vote on at its first meeting in June, would result in $597,000 in new revenue. Mayor Bob McDavid said he was concerned about passing the parking meter increase with critical components missing. McDavid alluded to a hypothetical alternative in which campus meter rates would be increased from 50 to 75 cents per hour instead of raising rates in the downtown garages. The revenue collected from increased parking rates and extended hours on fines would go toward the con- WHAT YOU struction of a new CAN EXPECT parking garage on if the proposal passes: Short Street and -A parking rate Broadway. McDavid increase to 60 cents said no matter what per hour council members do -Extended meter there will still be a risk the parking garage enforcement times will not be built, and until 9 p.m. there is uncertainty regarding stakeholder support. “They came to us saying they wanted a TIF,” McDavid said. “They didn’t say they wanted a hotel.” A TIF, or tax increment financing, is a financing method which subsidizes community development.
See COUNCIL, page 6
NEWS
TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2011 — THE MANEATER
COUNCIL: Program keeps taxis off Broadway Continued from page 1 Developers of Broadway Lodging were approved to receive $3.2 million of TIF funding in February for the demolition of the Regency Hotel on Short Street and Broadway. A new hotel is planned to replace the building afterward. The acquisition for the land to build the new garage on is complete, but there is no legal requirement for the hotel to actually be constructed. Second Ward Councilman Jason Thornhill agreed with the concern over financing for the new parking garage on Short Street. “We can’t buy a million dollar piece of dirt if we’re not going to put a garage on it,” Thornhill said. Public comments regarding parking meter fine changes will not be allowed before the ordinance is voted on in June, though there is schedule time allotted for public comment at the beginning of each meeting. The council also moved to unanimously approve a pilot program for “no pick-up zones” for taxis downtown at certain late-night hours. Based on an informal agreement
with five taxi companies, the pilot program will exclude certain streets in the busy downtown areas from allowing taxis to pick-up fares from 9 p.m. until 2:30 a.m. The program is voluntary on the taxi companies’ part and is scheduled from May through July, a time when many students are out of the city. “It might be good to do it when there are less students, as a pilot,” Sixth Ward Councilwoman Barbara Hoppe said. Council members said reducing traffic problems caused by doubleparking downtown is the reasoning behind implementing the program. A new ordinance has been approved allowing the city more opportunities to inspect rental properties for occupancy violations. The ordinance is specifically geared to the transfer of rental property ownership, but the effect will be increased inspections. As a provision of the ordinance, any property, which has not had a complaint or code violations within 18 months of the transfer will not be subject to a new inspection.
NICHOLE BALLARD/SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Mayor Bob McDavid and Second Ward Councilman Jason Thornhill listen to a report regarding parking meter rate increases during the City Council meeting Monday night. McDavid moved to have the parking meter increases tabled for 45 days to gather more information regarding the decision to finance the Short Street garage.
The program is voluntary on the taxi LBC:are Candidates to present platforms DRAG: Event part ofstudents companies’ part and is scheduled from May through July, a time when many out of the city.
April's Month Ashley Edwards said. have to get 25 or 50 signatures "It might be good to do it when there are less students, as a Pride pilot," Sixth Ward Councilwoman Barbara Hoppe said. secretary, communications chair The debate would normally from your peers, but you cannot “There are still spots open for Continued from page 1
ing the presidential slate,” LBC Communications Chairwoman
“Depending on the position you’re running for, you either
would approve it, but she has no intention to stop doing drag.
and finance chair,” LBC Vice President Cidney King said in an
require all candidates to debate the competition for their posi-
get the same signatures as some-
tears. “You find an alter ego inside
it’s the only time I’ve felt happy.” The drag show was also the
(parliamentarian position).”
ideas during the debate, Edwards
“To run for president or vice
formed before Friday. “A lot of people are a little
Reeves said that he hoped the
candidates that applied. “I am very confident in the
the debate),” she said. There are various require-
students this week and the elected
in performing a chance to try out
by drag kings and drag queens
of LBC.”
a certain period of time or active
ning for executive board for the
Continued from page 1
one you are running against,” she kings and three queens, were all “Drag is the only time I get to email. “The people that applied tion. But since each candidate said. Council members said reducing traffic problems caused double-parking downtown is the reasoning behind dressed as theby opposite of their feel free,” Insley said. “I feel free are Whitney Williams (presi- is running unopposed, including identified genders. Freshman There are further requirements from being disabled…I’ve been in dent), Kristen Andrews (vice the presidential slate of Williams Aaron Mack was Coco Carmella, implementing the program. president), Jake Mitchell (activi- and Andrews, the candidate or to run for the presidential posiwith a short blonde wig and mock depression for three weeks, and ties chair) (and) Cameron Grant slate will still need to present their tion, White said. president you, have had to be on Four executive positions, said. “night of noise” that followed yourself,” Mackhow said. “I’m not As a follow-up to previous council discussion regarding tojustcurb over-occupancy, newactionordinance hasunopbeen approved executive board and participatincluding theapolitical “Even if you are running Pride Month’s Day of Silence. Aaron all the time. I’m Coco.” committee chair, are still open, posed, you still have to speak ed in LBC for three consecutive “We’re gonna be loud, we’re Mack has been to more than but current LBC President Lisa about your ideas and what you semesters, ” she said. gonna be proud, we’re gonna have allowing the city more opportunities to inspect rental 10 clubproperties shows but had not per-for occupancy violations. Voting will be open to all MU a big, fantastic show,” Reeves said. White said she is confident in the plan on doing next year (during
candidates will fill their positions apprehensive to try it out in event would help those who were people that applied for the posi- ments to apply and run for execuThe time between property inspections is six years more without reported code violations and up to three years if complaints during the 2011-2012 academic a club setting for their first time, scared of either the LGBTQ com- tions,” White said. “Some were tive board, White said. year, White said. because it’s kind of more daunt- munity overall or simply the drag old and new faces. It is always “You must have a GPA of 2.5 Edwards also said that she is ing,” Reeves said. “We’re trying culture. have been filed. encouraging to see new faces or higher and you have to have “A lot of people are intimated wanting to join the leading roles been a member of LBC Senate for confident in the candidates runto give people who are interested because of the nature of someart.” Elections will commence this in an LBC standing committee,” 2011-2012 academic year. The ordinance is specifically geared to the transfer theof rental property but effect is subverting gender week Senior drag performer Morgan one whoownership, after the the candidates partici- will she said. be increased“I think everyone who is purInsley has Ehlers-Danlos syn- norms and is dressed up like that,” pate in a debate Tuesday, White A candidate must also get a suing a position is very dedicated and will continue on strong next said. “But we’re just like said. drome, a degenerative joint dis- Reeves petitionviolations signed by 25 to 50 peerswithin inspections. As a provision of the ordinance, any property, which has not had a complaint or code 18 any other person, just in really ease. “Candidates will debate under during the application process, year if they win their position,” each exec board position, includ- Edwards said. she said. She is not certain her doctors sparkly clothes.” months of the transfer will not be subject to a new inspection.
READS: Book was chosen from list of several dozen entries Continued from page 1
days after Hurricane Katrina. It also explores themes such as crisis management and race relations in American through the eyes of Zeitoun’s Muslim family. Mizzou Reads Committee Chairwoman June Deweese said the book was selected because it met the criteria for the program, which includes being intellectually stimulating and discussing
event. “I think that it addresses really important and interesting social and cultural issues,” Parshall said. “Even though Hurricane Katrina was a number of years ago, these are things that continually come up, so it’s still definitely applicable. The book was chosen from a list that originally included several dozen books nominated online or by committee members. Parshall said the committee felt the book
has previously been used for 15 reading programs at colleges and cities across the country, including freshman-reading programs at Duke University and the University of Illinois. This year’s book is of a different genre than last year’s choice, Jean Twenge’s “Generation Me,” which is a statistics-based exploration of changes in generational attitudes. Parshall said the shift was a result of the new committee’s