CPD, CFD, Public Works describe uses for Capital Improvement Sales Tax

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

In August, Columbia residents will vote on whether the one-fourth-of-one-percent for the city's Capital Improvement Sales Tax should continue.

If approved, the tax would last for 10 years. The current sales tax is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2025. According to the City of Columbia's website, $94,350,000 would go toward public works, $15,450,000 would go to the Columbia Fire Department and $16 million would be given to the Columbia Police Department, coming to a total of more than $125 million.

According to the Columbia Fire Department spokeswoman Katherine Rodriguez, the department would use the money to fund new vehicles for their fleet, including engines, squads and ladder trucks. Rodriguez also said they would use the money to construct the new Fire Station No. 10 at the intersection of East Broadway and El Chaparral Avenue South.

"Most fleets have about a 10-year lifespan, or most apparatus(es) have about a 10-year lifespan. So it's important for us to keep maintaining them and replacing them as needed so that we can continue to provide quality emergency care," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said this will help decrease the department's response time to emergencies.

"When we have great apparatus, that and a new station, we're able to drastically reduce our response times, which is great for the community because that, you know, increases the outcome or the likely positive outcome for emergencies," Rodriguez said. "Seconds matter in times like that. So it's really important that the community knows that we want to be there when we're needed."

For Fire Station No. 10, Rodriguez said the department is going to construct a new state-of-the-art facility with high-end technology to keep up with the growing population. She also said they want to make it environmentally sustainable and won't compromise the safety of their members and the community.

Rodriguez said the sales tax has been instrumental in helping fund the department. If it doesn't pass, the department would need to evaluate it's budget.

"If this were not to pass we would have to take a hard look at our budget and figure out to make sure that we, you know, how are we going to still be there for our community? I think the CIST has been absolutely instrumental for us, um and we, you know, we hope that we can continue to use these funds in a way that will better serve our community," Rodriguez said.

Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude said her department would use the funds to finish the second floor of the Molly Thomas Bowden Neighborhood Policing Center in the north part of the city, Phase 1 of new a Downtown police headquarters and additional evidence storage.

"This building is very, very old um over 100 years old," Schlude said. "So over the years, we've expanded up, taken all the space, um, I can't tell you how many construction projects have been done in this building to try to just get more people into the same amount of space, uh, and so obviously, there's some downsides to that."

She says the bigger scope of the plan is to eventually build a station in the south side of town along with redoing the downtown headquarters and adding newer up-to-date technology.

Schlude said she thinks of the department like a recruiting tool when trying to hire new officers.

"When we have recruits come and look at facilities, obviously they want to work in a modern facility, especially folks that are far more um used to technology, said Schlude. "It makes us seem like we're a little bit behind, so I do think new facilities, especially facilities that are geared towards the work that the officers do, makes a big difference in recruiting."

When asked about the new evidence storage facility plan, Schlude said CPD needs the expansion because it has run out of room to keep it all in.

"There's certain... um... crimes that can be committed, like homicide and and rape, that we are now required to keep all that evidence indefinitely," Schlude said. "Right now, if you went in our evidence unit, every time we need to add more refrigeration space, we literally are going to a big box store and getting a refrigerator like you might have in your house, and we're plugging it in to another already over Capacitated  outlet um so that we can have more space."

Schlude said she would also like to incorperate kiosks with information on resources for the public.

"I would like to look at ways we can in-incorporate that type of efficiency and public outreach into spaces that we would be constructing," she said.

Schlude said she plans to get the publics input on expansion ideas for the department.

"Hopefully people take the time to educate themselves, make the decision that they think is right," Schlude said.

She said anyone who wants to come tour the department can set up a visit.

"If they want to come tour the facility, we can certainly set something up, I'm very open to that, said Schlude. "It's people's police department, they need to see what it looks like."

Columbia Public Works spokesman John Ogan said his department is looking to do multiple infrastructure improvements and maintenance for safety. Seventy-five percent of the Capital Improvement Sales Tax is going toward Public Works.

"We look at everything with a a safety viewpoint. So when we see that... uh... the town is developing in a certain direction, we have to provide improved facilities to, to enable traffic flow to reach that area," Ogan said. "We've got a lot of projects planned, um, most of them are are roads, uh, such as widening roads, adding roundabouts to improve, traffic flow and improve traffic safety, adding bike lanes, um, um, adding sidewalks around town. So there there's a never ending, uh, um, stream of projects that we can, uh accomplish."

Ogan said these projects were brought to the attention of the Public Works Department by community and City Council members. He said it would improve livability, safety and make traveling more efficient.

According to the city's website, there are 25 projects listed to be funded by the sales tax. One project will be adding improvements to Clark Lane that is projected to cost $7.3 million.

"Clark Lane, that's a very popular area, and it's going to be made more popular when MoDOT improves I-70 and highway 63 as well," Ogan said. "It's going to bring more traffic on to Clark Lane, and we want to have the facilities there to match that, improve traffic, furthermore, there's been a number of pedestrian fatality crashes there."

Ogan said the department plans to widen the road, put a turning lane in the middle, improve curbs and gutters and have better walking facilities for pedestrians. Other projects include improvements to New Haven Road, Nifong Boulevard, St. Charles Road and Sinclair Road improvements.

"There's a new development going there and we also have, I think, three schools total in that area," Ogan said. "Concerns for crosswalks in that area, they're going to know that as that area is developed, it's going to have an increased, uh traffic flow. And we have to we have to consider um building up that area if we want every thing to be safe. So it's just something for people to consider if they, they would like to see improved facilities."

Ogan said the department started with 66 projects but were able to lower that number based on prioritizing safety and environment and using a highway manual to guide the development process.

The department is also looking to update the Grissum Building, where it houses vehicles.

Ogan said if the sales tax is not approved, it will still do they're normal operations within their budget. However, some larger capital projects would have to be put aside for now. The department could also go to city council and see which roads they would like prioritized.

For the full interview with Katherine Rodriguez click here.