Springfield city council Monday night voted to decriminalize marijuana possession. Members had two options for the citizens' initiative: pass it or send it to voters in November. Council voted 6-3 to adopt the ordinance, but clearly stated their plans to amend, or even "gut" the ordinance. The ordinance changes the penalty for possessing about 1.25 oz. of pot to a maximum $150 fine.
It also says a violator can have his or her arrest record expunged after two years, and requires council to create a citizens oversight committee to monitor the ordinance. The city's attorney says Springfield has no authority under state law to expunge records. And he says an initiative ordinance cannot require a directive to form an oversight committee.
REZONING FOR HOTEL
Council members turned down a request for a zoning change for a proposed hotel near U.S. 65 and Evans Road. The developer wants to build a Hampton Inn near the new Mercy hospital under construction near that intersection. The zoning change would have allowed for more rooms to be built in the hotel. Some nearby homeowners worried their property values could go down if the hotel is built. But even without the rezoning, the hotel can still be built.
CU BUDGET & WATER RATE PACKAGE City council held a public hearing Monday night to approve the 2013 operating budget for City Utilities, and a proposed water rate increase. The $530 million budget is five percent lower than the 2012 budget and includes a reduction in the number of employees. The 3 year water rate package would become effective in October of 2013. It includes rate increases for 2013, 2014 and 2015. CU says the increases will let the water system meet all operating income requirements in 2016. The bill for the average residential customer would go up about $3 over each of the next three years, or $9 total. Council will vote on both bills at its next meeting in two weeks.
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