Key Decisions
- Council approved an amended infrastructure reimbursement agreement with the Drew Lewis Foundation for $29,850.30 to develop public stormwater infrastructure along West Poplar Street between North Weaver Avenue and North Broadway Avenue.
- Council approved an amended plan for Commercial Street Tax Increment Financing funds, reducing the allocation for Footbridge Plaza design and programming from $500,000 to $300,000. The amendment will allow for a phased approach with stakeholder engagement at each step.
- Council approved a resolution adopting the Springfield-Greene County All-Hazards Emergency Mitigation Plan, which identifies community risks and outlines mitigation strategies for natural, technological, and other hazards.
- Council approved a budget adjustment of $118,800 to extend the police department's body worn camera contract for one additional year while a new vendor is selected.
- Council approved $98,708 in funding to continue the police department's nationwide recruiting and marketing campaign through the end of 2026. The campaign has more than doubled applicants from 231 in 2021 to 550 in the current year.
- Council approved the annexation of approximately 26.80 acres at 2707 North Farm Road 123 and 1.10 acres of right-of-way into the city as Annexation A3-2026.
- Council approved a sewer extension cost reimbursement agreement with Sunshine Developer LLC for Turner's Ranch subdivision, establishing a connection fee of $5.52 per square foot to reimburse the developer for proportional costs of constructing a force main sewer.
Budget & Finance
- City Manager David Cameron announced the city has reached an agreement to purchase the property at 334 North Main (Hotel of Terror) from Sterling and Melissa Mathis for $2 million, with possession delayed until January 1, 2027. A special council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday to modify the ballot measure, with public hearings on June 8 and June 22.
- Council set the preliminary tax levy at 56.36 cents per $100 assessed valuation for fiscal year 2026-2027. This is expected to generate approximately $28.3 million, about $1.3 million more than the current year, based on an assumed assessed valuation of $4.661 billion.
- The proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 totals $560 million, an increase of $30 million from the prior year. Departments requested $40 million in additions, but only $5.6 million in new revenue is available. Of new revenue, 61% is allocated for pay plan improvements.
- The quarter-cent Spring Forward sales tax dedicated to public safety will increase the police and fire pension fund contribution from $5 million to $6 million, and police and fire salary increases to $10.4 million. The fund will also cover $932,000 in equipment for the fire department.
- The half-cent Spring Forward sales tax is expected to generate $34 million. To date, $10.8 million has been committed for parks, trails, and quarter projects, and $15 million for the Springfield Art Museum, leaving approximately $7 million unallocated.
Community Voices
Five residents spoke in strong support of proposed changes to animal control ordinances in Chapter 18. Anna Grove recounted being attacked by a pit bull as a 13-year-old, resulting in the loss of 75% of the muscle in her right arm and ongoing medical issues. She described watching a loose pit bull maul her cat to death in 2020 and witnessing neighbor dogs coordinate to drag a 14-year-old dog over a fence and maul it in August 2024. Mona Perron described a neighbor losing use of his only functioning digit after a dog attack and said residents carry mace to avoid being mauled. Amanda Black, a dog walker, said she has been charged or chased by aggressive loose dogs multiple times and now carries a Sabre taser, which she has had to warranty out twice in less than two years. Jan Hutcherson reported that a neighbor's dog had its ear ripped off by loose dogs that morning, requiring emergency veterinary care costing $463. Becky Volz said neighbors have told her that mail carriers call her neighborhood the most dangerous in the city due to loose dogs, not crime. Health Department Director Katie Towns presented the proposed ordinance changes, which include increased fines, new classifications for restricted and dangerous dogs, a reckless owner declaration that can bar someone from owning pets for five years, and mandatory euthanization for dogs declared vicious.
Watch This
- City Council postponed a bill mapping the east-west arterial between U.S. Highway 65 and River Bluff Boulevard to Kissick Avenue until the June 8 meeting. A Greene County representative will attend to answer questions about the process.
- Senate Bill 973, land bank legislation sponsored by Senator Curtis Trent, has passed and is headed to the governor's desk for consideration.
- The new animal shelter facility is expected to open later this summer after construction delays. The facility will nearly double capacity and replace the current shelter, which has 34 kennels for dogs and 19 for cats.
- City Council will vote on June 8 on several items, including the All-Hazards Emergency Mitigation Plan, enhanced animal control ordinances, budget items, annexations, and the intergovernmental agreement with Missouri State University for campus policing.
Other Business
The city completed disposal of debris from storms in April, which generated approximately 3.5 million dollars in costs. The city allocated $1 million for debris cleanup. Staff worked with the National Weather Service, fire departments, DNR, MoDOT, and emergency services to manage controlled burns that lasted four to five days. City Manager Cameron thanked staff for their coordination.
Cameron announced it is National Public Works Week, May 17-23, and the city released the 2025 Public Works annual report. He thanked all city employees and specifically recognized public works and environmental services staff.
City Council approved the minutes of the May 5, 2026 Special City Council meeting.
Recaps are based on the official meeting recording and may contain errors or omissions. Always refer to the full recording for authoritative information.