City of Columbia, Missouri

Meeting Minutes

City Council

Conference Room

1A/1B

Monday, August 15, 2022

5:00 PM

Pre-Council

Columbia City Hall

701 E. Broadway

I. CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at approximately 5:00 p.m.

6 - Peters, PItzer, Fowler, Buffaloe, Foster, and Lovelady

Present:

1 - Waner

Absent:

This item is open to the public: Motion for the City Council to go into

closed session in Conference Room 1A/1B to discuss:

- Sealed bids and related documents, until the bids are opened; and

sealed proposals and related documents or any documents related to a

negotiated contract until a contract is executed, or all proposals are

rejected pursuant to Section 610.021(12) RSMo.

At approximately 5:02 p.m., Mayor Buffaloe made a motion for the City Council of

the City of Columbia, Missouri, to immediately go into a closed meeting in

Conference Room 1A/1B of City Hall to discuss sealed bids and related

documents, until the bids are opened; and sealed proposals and related

documents or any documents related to a negotiated contract until a contract is

executed, or all proposals are rejected pursuant to Section 610.021(12) of the

Revised Statutes of Missouri. The motion was seconded by Council Member

Peters.

6 - Peters, PItzer, Fowler, Buffaloe, Foster, and Lovelady

1 - Waner

Yes:

Absent:

This item is closed to the public: Closed Meeting in Conference Room

1A/1B

At approximately 5:03 p.m., the City Council went into closed session pursuant to RSMo

Section 610.021 (12).

The City Council adjourned the closed portion of the meeting and returned to the open

portion of the meeting at approximately 5:32 p.m.

This item is open to the public: Broadband Discussion

City Manager De’Carlon Seewood welcomed the Director of Regional Economic

Development Inc (REDI), Stacey Button to introduce the team and present the topic on

EquipmentShare - Building the Future of Construction. Matt Williams of the REDI

Incentives Subcommittee made the introductory presentation and Amy Susan of

EquipmentShare made the company presentation.

Mr. Williams said that the proposal to expand the EquipmentShare program in the

Columbia area has been going on for over a year. The location of the project is South of

Highway70 and is in Ward 3.

Williams covered the financial impact section of the project presentation where he

suggested that EquipmentShare covers 75% of payment, which is intended for

companies that have an estimated income of above 100 million. An average wage of total

new jobs averaged above county wage and will add at least 100 new jobs. A letter from

Boone County Commissioner Janet Thompson states the support of the 75% of payment

is intended for any company new or existing that meet those levels of investment and job

creation.

Estimates of the property tax over the next 10 years were presented by Regional

Economic Development Inc. The presented tax estimates are newly generated and do not

have any impact on the already existing taxes. The estimated additional new property

taxes is estimated to be 2,380,000 in the next 10 years. Of this amount, the City of

Columbia will receive $123,328. For now the greater impact for the city is the additional

sales tax revenue generated from the substantial increase in employment created by the

new investment. Workers will be shopping in local businesses in and around the city,

restaurants, and housing.

EquipmentShare is a nationwide technology company that can potentially support the

City of Columbia in becoming a place of innovation. It is a construction equipment

company dedicated to increasing productivity through smart jobs in technology and

equipment rentals, retails and services that integrate the internet for construction.

The current problem the company faces is the limited space. This company is growing

and the current space does not accommodate the amount of work it does in Columbia.

Columbia, Missouri has been the main location the Board of EquipmentShare has

proposed to expand. With Council support, the company’s Vision is to build a destination

for a successful business in this community. This facility will help in adding over 100 high

paying engineering and analytics jobs. More jobs will be created and will employ staff

with various backgrounds including human resources, IT, transportation, business

developers, accountants, and mechanics, just to name a few.

Mayor Buffaloe asked for clarifications on what the conversation has been about between

the company and main beneficiaries such as the school district and how the partnership

works.

Williams responded that the conversation has been focused on collaborations.

Mayor Buffaloe asked if Boone County has been involved with designing performance

agreements that include partnerships with local job advertisement groups such as

jobpoint.

Williams said by adding two components stated in the agreement,the investment

level,the commitment to investment and the commitment to job creation, the company

will report annually the number of employment opportunities.

Council member Nick Foster asked for clarification about the issues of Diversity and how

the company has prepared itself to address diversity for the underrepresented

communities and what impact this project will have on these communities.

Ms. Susan responded that in this particular presentation the focus is only given to

diversifying the workforce mainly focused on gender representation. This topic will be

included in future presentations. The company currently has an employee who can

coordinate community outreach programs which focus on outreaching different

community organizations representing different communities in the area.

City Manager DeCarlon Seewood welcomed Utilities Director, David Sorrel to lead a

discussion on Broadband and Grant Manager, Andy Wyatt to possible grant

opportunities.

Sorrel stated in April 2019 City Council created a Broadband Business Planning

Taskforce and the resolution governing this Taskforce contained five purposes.

Wyatt indicated that he evaluated potential programs that provide the Broadband services

to underserved and unserved populations and found we are eligible.

Wyatt indicated he found two programs that could offer these services; Middle Mile

Broadband Infrastructure grant and the Missouri Broadband Infrastructure grant.

Council member Foster asked to clarify the difference between underserved and unserved

populations.

Wyatt indicated that underserved means not in the same level/quality, while unserved is

not provided.

This item is open to the public: Follow-Up to Budget Work Session

Due to timing, this topic was not discussed. This topic will be discussed at a regular

council meeting.

II. ANY OTHER ITEM COUNCIL MAY WISH TO DISCUSS

None.

III. ADJOURNMENT

Mayor Buffaloe adjourned the meeting at approximately 6:49pm.