Aldermen wearing Santa hats and candy canes marked the last meeting of 2010 for the St. Peters Board of Aldermen. There was reason to celebrate.

Thanks to some good timing and some prosperous developments, several budgets are expected to receive a boost from increased tax revenue in the coming years. 

The Board heard a presentation by Assistant City Administrator Tim Wilkinson about how a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) measure that passed in 1992 has paid off for the city. A TIF is a public financing method used for redevelopment and community improvement projects in many cities around the country.

The St. Peters City Centre TIF was the first for the city. At the time it went into effect, the TIF covered an under-developed area of the city.

"The area of the TIF is basically a rectangular area," Wilkinson said. "The south portion is City Hall and the Rec-Plex. In the east, it's bounded by the hospital development. To the north, it's bounded by the South Service Road. And to the west, it ends at J.C. Penney—it stops and what is now J.C. Penney. At the time, there was no J.C. Penney there."

In 1992, the area was devoid of infrastructure and development. The TIF was made to address both of those things.

Wilkinson presented numbers on just how much the TIF—and the ensuing development—had made in the area. In 1992, the City Centre Area generated $322,000 worth of real estate taxes. Of that, $192,000 of that went to the Fort Zumwalt School District, $35,000 went to the Central County Fire District and $95,000 went to other combined districts. The City Centre Area also generated only $10,500 in sales tax in 1992.

The numbers from 2009 present a stark contrast, a change city leaders attribute to the TIF.  In 2009, the City Centre Area generated $3 million in real estate taxes. Of that, $2 million went to the TIF District, $575,000 went to the Fort Zumwalt School District, $105,000 went to Central County Fire and Rescue. Other school districts serving St. Peters received $322,000.

The City Centre Area also saw its sales tax revenue jump from $10,500 back in 1992 to $5 million in 2009. Based on 2009 numbers, the TIF District got $2.5 million, the city of St. Peters got $1.3 million and St. Charles County received $1.2 million.

"We have completed and funded the infrastructure projects five years early," Wilkinson said. "The TIF plan called for the District to end in 2015. For all the area, other than the Costco area, which is designated as Area B, the entire area has had those projects funded."

That means the taxes that went to the TIF —the $2 million dollars in 2009— will be going elsewhere. According to estimates, the City Centre Area will generate $3 million in real estate taxes annually between 2010 and 2015. The TIF District will get zero dollars. Each year, it is projected that the Fort Zumwalt Schools will make approximately $1.8 million in taxes, Central Fire will make about $330,000 and other Districts will receive approximately $870,000 in taxes.

The TIF District is projected to receive $1.4 million in sales tax dollars between 2010 and 2015 based off a projection of $5 million sales tax revenue. The city is projected to get $1.85 million and the county $1.75 million.

"It's nice to have a surprise on the positive side for a change," Wilkinson said about the increase in tax money."

Mayor Pagano then presented two checks, one to Fort Zumwalt School District Superintendent Dr. Bernard DuBray and the other to the St. Charles County Library District. The checks were symbols for the extra money the groups are expected to receive in the coming years. 

After the budget holiday cheer, the board had to take care of the final new business for the year. The Board had 10 items up for new business and all 10 passed without a nay vote. 

The next Board of Alderman meeting is Jan. 13, 2011 at the Justice Center. 

New Business:

1. Bill No. 10-197:  Bill amending certain sections of the Municipal Code of the City of St. Peters, Missouri; Title IV: Land Use pertaining to Zoning and Subdivision Regulations within said City in response to Rezoning Petition 10-14 filed by A&T Produce and Fish Market, LC, (3000 Imperial Drive) requesting certain changes in the designated districts in certain sections of said City. Passed 7-0. All board members voted yes, Reitmeyer was absent. Bill becomes Ordinance No. 5510.
2. Bill No. 10-198:  Bill approving a Special Use Permit in the C-2 Community Commercial District to permit a restaurant with a drive through, in response to Petition 10-15 (El Mezon, Inc.). Passed 7-0. All board members voted yes, Reitmeyer was absent. Bill becomes Ordinance No. 5511.
3. Bill No. 10-199:  Bill authorizing and directing the City Administrator of the City of St. Peters, Missouri, to execute an Amended PUD Agreement with Payne Family Homes at Belleau Creek, LLC, for development of the Townes at Belleau Creek. Passed 7-0. All board members voted yes, Reitmeyer was absent. Bill becomes Ordinance No. 5512.
4. Bill No. 10-200: Bill accepting for maintenance the dedication of certain streets, street lights, street signs, storm sewer lines, sanitary sewer lines and water distribution lines in and connected with the Townes at Belleau Creek Plat One. Passed 6-0. All board members voted yes, Reitmeyer was absent and Jerry Hollingsworth, Ward 2, had stepped out. Bill becomes Ordinance No. 5513.
5. Bill No. 10-201:  Bill authorizing the City Administrator of the City of St. Peters, Missouri, to enter into an easement agreement for the development of a portion of St. Peters Village. Passed 6-0. All board members voted yes, Reitmeyer was absent and Hollingsworth, Ward 2, had stepped out. Bill becomes Ordinance No. 5514.
6. Bill No. 10-202:  Bill authorizing the City Administrator of the City of St. Peters, Missouri, to purchase structural soil from Buchheit Supply for the Old Town Enhancement Streetscape Project. Passed 7-0. All board members voted yes, Reitmeyer was absent. Bill becomes Ordinance No. 5515.
7. Bill No. 10-203:  Bill of the City of St. Peters, Missouri, updating and amending Section 215, Nuisances, of the City Code of St. Peters, Missouri. Passed 7-0. All board members voted yes, Reitmeyer was absent. Bill becomes Ordinance No. 5516.
8. Bill No. 10-204: Bill authorizing the City Administrator of the City of St. Peters, Missouri, to acquire Fee Simple Title, by Special Warranty Deed, from Payne Family Homes, LLC, for lot 93 of the Townes at Belleau Creek Plat One as recorded in Plat Book 45 pages 283-284 in the office of the St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds, for a sanitary sewer pump station. Passed 7-0. All board members voted yes, Reitmeyer was absent. Bill becomes Ordinance No. 5517.
9. Bill No. 10-205:  Bill authorizing the City Administrator of the City of St. Peters, Missouri to enter into an agreement with Schulte Supply for the purchase of water supply materials. Passed 7-0. All board members voted yes, Reitmeyer was absent. Bill becomes Ordinance No. 5518.
10. Bill No. 10-206:  Bill authorizing the City Administrator to execute an Assignment and Assumption Agreement consenting to the assignment by FWCD, LLC, of a certain Municipal Solid Waste Transfer and Disposal Agreement dated January 24, 2008, approved by Ordinance No. 4950 of the city of St. Peters, Missouri, and its assumption by IESI Mo Corporation. Passed 7-0. All board members voted yes, Reitmeyer was absent. Bill becomes Ordinance No. 5519.