By F. KIRK POWELL
Editor & Publisher
...The Pleasant Hill City Council last week approved the Downtown Community Improvement District's budget for 2012-13.
...The Community Improvement District submitted a $6,300 budget for the City Council's approval.
...Under state law, a community improvement district is required to draft a budget and submit it to the city for review and comment.
...The final budget will be presented to the Community Improvement District membership for approval at its annual meeting on Thursday, Feb. 16.
...The Community Improvement District generates its funding from a $100 annual assessment on each tract of property located in downtown Pleasant Hill along with voluntary contributions from properties exempt from the assessment. For example, the budget anticipates a $500 contribution from City Hall.
...Under the budget presented to the mayor and councilmen at their January 23 meeting, the Community Improvement District plans to spend 25 percent of its funding on promotional projects, 40 percent on marketing, 30 percent on beautification and 5 percent on operating costs including 1 percent for Cass County's collection fee.
...City Administrator Mark Randall told the mayor and councilmen that the Community Improvement District's annual meeting on February 16 would also include an update on the master plan being drafted for downtown Pleasant Hill.
...Later in the January 23 meeting, the councilmen approved a memorandum of agreement with the Federal Surface Transportation Board on 5.6 miles of railroad right-of-way south of town being used for the Rock Island Connection to the Katy Trail.
...The city administrator explained that the Missouri Division of State Parks obtained legal rights several years ago for the trail to be built alongside the rail bed, but the state would now like to put the trail on top of the railroad line.
...Randall said it appears this can best be done through "rail banking" or the "rails to trails" process and that will require the Missouri Central Railroad to abandon and discontinue service on the line.
...To advance the abandonment process, a memorandum of agreement has been negotiated between the Surface Transportation Board, the Missouri Central Railroad, the Missouri State Historic Preservation Office and the Missouri Division of State Parks.
...The agreement outlines a process for identifying, documenting and preserving historical resources on the rail corridor. While Pleasant Hill City Hall is not an official party to the agreement, Randall said the city has been included as a concurring party along with the Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma and the Osage Nation. Concurring parties are included in the agreement as a way to keep those with a special historical interest informed of the proceedings.
...Randall told the mayor and councilmen that the Surface Transportation Board contacted the city and asked if Pleasant Hill would be interested in being one of the concurring parties.
...Randall indicated at that time he told the Surface Transportation Board that the city would be interested in being a concurring party if it would help move the trail forward.
...The City Council approved the memorandum of agreement by a unanimous 3-0 vote and authorized the city administrator to sign it on behalf of Pleasant Hill as a concurring party.
...Finally, the city administrator told the mayor and councilmen that ICF Industries has plans to expand its manufacturing plant at 7 Highway and 58 Highway in the south end of town and is asking if the city would help by relocating a 10-inch water main at the site.
...Mayor Terry Wilson point-ed out that ICF is a good employer in Pleasant Hill, the city has given the company no tax incentives in the past and he thinks it would be a good idea to help them expand by moving the water main.
...The councilmen indicated they would be receptive to the ICF request, but would like more information about the project.