A UNITED VOICE FOR MISSOURI MUNICIPAL LEAGUE COMMUNITIES THE MISSOURI MUNICIPAL REVIEWJanuary/February 2020 Opportunity Zones Program: Challenge and Opportunity For Communities Economic Development Issue Bringing DataMunicipal Home Government | Economic 101 Development • Positive Policing Projects • Annual Around Conference The Statewww.mocities.com Photos | NLC Update 1 Are You Optimizing Your Interest Earnings? MOSIP has been providing investment services for Missouri school districts, municipalities, counties and other political entities since 1991, focusing on safety, liquidity and earning a competitive yield. • Liquid Series • Certificates of Deposits (CDs) • Term Series, for fixed rate investments • Investment of Bond Proceeds Sponsored by MSBA, MASA, MoASBO, MAC and MML Client Services Group (CSG) | 1.877.696.6747, Option 3 77 West Port Plaza Drive, Suite 220 | St. Louis, MO 63146 | 1.800.891.7910 | www.mosip.org This information is for institutional investor use only, not for further distribution to retail investors, and does not represent an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any fund or other security. Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing in any of the Missouri Securities Investment Program’s portfolios. This and other information about the Program’s portfolios is available in the Program’s current Information Statement, which should be read carefully before investing. A copy of the Information Statement may be obtained by calling 1-877-MY-MOSIP or is available on the Program’s website at www.mosip.org. While the MOSIP Liquid Series seeks to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share and the MOSIP Term portfolio seeks to achieve a net asset value of $1.00 per share at the stated maturity, it is possible to lose money investing in the Program. An investment in the Program is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Shares of the Program’s portfolios are distributed by PFM Fund Distributors, Inc., member Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) (www.finra.org) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) (www.sipc.org). PFM Fund Distributors, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of PFM Asset Management LLC. 2 theReview January/February 2020 MISSOURI MUNICIPAL LEAGUE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THE President: Debra Hickey, Mayor, Battlefield: MISSOURI Vice President: Chuck Caverly, Council MUNICIPAL Member, Maryland Heights; Rob Binney, Council Member, Lee's Summit; Damien January/February 2020; Volume 85, No. 1 Boley, Mayor, Smithville; Paul Campo, Attorney, Williams and Campo, PC; Adam Couch, Mayor, Odessa; Bryant DeLong, Council Member, North Kansas City; CONTENTS Michele DeShay, Mayor, Moline Acres; Joe Garritano, Council Member, Wildwood; DJ Features Gehrt, City Administrator, Platte City; Barry Glantz, Mayor, Creve Coeur; *Bill Kolas, Mayor, Higginsville; *Chris Lievsay, Blue 6 Opportunity Zones Program: Springs; *Norman McCourt, Mayor, Black Jack; Marcella McCoy, Finance Director, Challenge And Opportunity For Harrisonville; Len Pagano, Mayor, St. Peters; Communities Cindy Pool, Council Member, Ellisville; *Kathy by Lee Langerock and Melinda Mehaffy Rose, Mayor, Riverside; *Carson Ross, Mayor, Blue Springs; Samuel Snider, Alderman, 6 Willard; *Gerry Welch, Mayor, Webster Groves; 12 Bringing Data Home Jeanie Woerner, City Clerk, Raymore by Dave Overfelt *Past President AFFILIATE GROUPS 15 Engaging With MU Extensionw's Missouri City Management Association; City Business And Communities Clerks and Finance Officers Association; Program Government Finance Officers Association of Missouri; Missouri Municipal Attorneys by Jennifer Presberry and Dr. Robert Schwartz Association; Missouri Park and Recreation Association; Missouri Chapter of the National Association of Telecommunications Officers 19 NLC Update: Fiscal Conditions and and Advisors; Missouri Chapter of the Affordable Housing American Public Works Association; Missouri Association of Fire Chiefs by National League of Cities EDITORIAL 15 Laura Holloway / Editor 22 MML Legislative Update [email protected] by Richard Sheets Dan Ross, Richard Sheets, Lori Noe Contributing Editors Departments GRAPHIC DESIGN Rhonda Miller 5 Director's Review The Review January/February 2020; Volume 85, No. 1 The Missouri Municipal Review (ISSN 0026- 23 FAQ: Annexation For 6647) is the official publication of the Missouri Municipalities Municipal League state association of cities, by Ramona Huckstep towns and villages, and other municipal corporations of Missouri. Publication office is maintained at 1727 28 Economic Development Projects Southridge Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109. 28 Around The State Subscriptions: $30 per year. Single copies: $5 prepaid. Advertising rates on request. Published bi-monthly. Periodicals postage 32 Local Government Review: MML's paid at Jefferson City, Missouri. New Board Members Postmaster: Send form 3579 to 1727 Southridge Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109. 34 MML Calendar Of Events/ To contact the League Office call Member Notes 573-635-9134, fax 573-635-9009 or email the League at [email protected]. Cover Photo: Excelsior Springs, Missouri Website: www.mocities.com. Photo Credit: Kevin Morgan, Kevin Morgan Photography www.mocities.com 3 Is there something unsafe in your water? With us, you’ll know. You hear about it all the time. Unhealthy impurities have found their way into a community’s water supply. Boil orders. Bottled water recommendations. Citizens lost faith. Economic development is at risk. 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No matter if you won your place at the table in a competitive, hard-fought election or simply volunteered when no one else stepped up, this is your moment. The conditions that placed or maintained you here have prepared you for the challenge. In the beginning, it probably felt like you stepped into the deep end of a pool. I am fond of saying that public service is a very high calling and not for the faint of heart. Leaders are expected to lead and create an environment where your staff know what direction the ship is heading (i.e., what success looks like) and how their duties help move the ship toward that success. Your public service is your moment, whether it is brief or lasts for years. Look around your community and see both the large and small things that have happened on your watch. Not only is public service a high calling, it “gets into your blood.” Even when it seems like there is no end to the challenges you face ahead, If you are called to my advice is not to obsess on what is not yet complete. Look over your shoulder "lead, embrace it. Make it to see and acknowledge what has been accomplished. your proudest moment by In recent years, Missouri municipal officials have had the responsibility to lead making your city better or through adversity in the form of natural disasters, violent acts, tragic accidents, creating an environment contentious citizens, adversarial council meetings, budget shortfalls and legislative where city leaders and threats to local decision making. It probably does not feel like it at the time, but these are opportunities; these are your moments to lead your city and citizens. Through staff can improve the it all, there you are, in plain view, standing in the gap between citizens wanting lives of citizens and help and services while allocating your city’s resources to address the challenge. responsibly manage city An often-repeated phrase I hear is that municipal government is closest to the resources. people. That means you and other municipal leaders carry out your duties to the " best of your ability, in your moment, making sometimes unpopular decisions and in a very transparent manner, often reflected in meeting minutes or video. Technology is a great tool for good or evil. It can really leverage your moment by engaging the public in near real time. Conversely, it may empower someone anonymous to disparage you and your work. Your leadership shines in these moments, when you are gracious under fire. If you are called to lead, embrace it. Make it your proudest moment by making your city better or creating an environment where city leaders and staff can improve the lives of citizens and responsibly manage city resources. You were placed in this role not to be the boss, but to lead. Public service is one of the most demanding and rewarding professions. I often hear former mayors, city managers and council members commenting that their public service experience was the best job or role they ever had. Your moment is here and now. Make it one to be proud of. Thanks for your service and please call on MML to help you be successful. www.mocities.com 5 FEATURE Review by Lee Langerock and Melinda Mehaffy Opportunity Zones Program: Challenge And Opportunity For Communities Excelsior Springs, Missouri. In December 2017, the U.S. Tax Cut and Jobs Act was federally to be designated as part of the Opportunity Zones enacted. The Opportunity Zones Program formed from that Program. The Opportunity Zones Program is designed to legislation as an economic development tool designed to draw benefit an investor by providing deferral and forgiveness of private investment into areas that experience a high level of the federal tax on capital gains invested in a qualified zone.