Jefferson City Council approves creation of downtown conference center CID
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Jefferson City Council on Tuesday night voted 8-2 to create the Downtown Jefferson City Conference Center Transportation Development District.
Meeting documents say qualified voters of the district will be asked to approve a 1% sales and use tax “to assist in the funding of public improvements, blight remediation activities and other services within the District.” Previous reporting says it primarily means transportation improvements for the downtown conference center.
Ward 5 Councilwoman Mackenzie Job and Ward 2 Councilman Aaron Mealey were the “no” votes.
The city brought up a petition last month for a judge to approve the formation of the district.
Previous reporting says the city expects roughly $170,000 to be generated from the sales tax each year, according to the petition. The district and funding would run for a maximum period of 27 years before being reapproved, documents say.
The downtown conference center transportation district will have five board members, with two members having three-year-terms, two having two-year terms and one with a one-year term, according to court documents. The first set of board members will be appointed by the mayor with City Council approval, meeting documents say.
Previous reporting says a design report outlined the 189,420-square-foot facility, which would be built between Madison and Monroe streets, with the main entrance on East Capitol Avenue.
The project includes a 200-room hotel, bar, conference room, grand ballroom, restaurant, coffee shop, and 526 parking spaces. City officials said the design aims to attract more visitors downtown and boost local business activity.
Additionally, the council on Tuesday night approved a special permit for the conference center to exceed 100,000 square feet.
The council also unanimously approved to put a question on the Aug. 4 ballot to extend the half-cent capital improvements sales tax. The current capital improvement sales tax is expected to expire on March 31, 2027, the new approval by voters would extend the tax through March 31, 2037.