Hotel Tax Abatement, a Health Committee and More on St. Peters Board's November Meeting Agenda
The St. Peters Board of Aldermen will have a 5 p.m. work session and 7 p.m. meeting on Thursday, Nov. 15.
A potential new committee, a proposed tax abatement and a discussion of proposed one-way roads are just a few of the items awaiting discussion at Thursday's St. Board of Aldermen meeting.
The meaty agenda is not surprising for November's lone meeting—this month is just one four in which the board eschews its regular twice-monthly meeting schedule in favor of a one-meeting approach. The board figures to be at its busiest during the 5 p.m. work session.
On the work session agenda, the board will be figuring out if a new committee is needed. Changing of the committees has been a topic for much of the year with the St. Peters green committee getting a new name and talks about the dissolution of the youth committee popping up frequently.
This time, Ward 1 Alderman Dave Thomas and Ward 3 Alderwoman Terri Violet have combined to propose a Community Health and Wellness Committee. The goal of the proposed committee is to get people healthier in order to get health care costs down—along with living a healthier life.
Also on the work session agenda, perspective buyers of the Garden Plaza Hotel (the former Holiday Inn located at 4341 Veterans Memorial Parkway) will return to St. Peters to discuss a Chapter 535 tax abatement. A group, Upper End Properties, has plans to buy the hotel and renovate it, if they can get a tax abatement. The plan calls for an abatement for 25 years. According to the Suburban Journals, the plan would be 100 percent the first 10 years and 50 percent for the remaining 15 years.
Upper End Properties was at the last meeting and the board seemed supportive of the proposal. Currently the hotel is very underused and new ownership could increase tax revenue to the city.
Also on the agenda, the proposed one-way roads will once again be discussed. The Mayor and Aldermen are still seeking feedback on the proposed change.
Following the work session at 7 p.m. the board will conduct its regular meeting. Among the items up for vote are:
- Authorizing and directing the issuance, sale and delivery of $4,000,000 principal amount of general obligation bonds.
- The board will be approving easements for the Mexico Road/Salt Lick Road Intersection Improvement Project.
- The board will vote on amended compensation for members of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The work session begins at 5 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the St. Peters Justice Center. Board of Aldermen meetings and work sessions are broadcast on Charter Cable channel 992 and U-Verse channel 99. Replays of the meetings are played periodically throughout the month. Board of Aldermen meetings are also available online to view live or on demand.
steve
7:27 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
How about including wording that says if the building is not a tax generating hotel, the abatement gets dropped. Or better, it it sets vacant then the abatement is dropped and tax rate increases to include lost revenue that would have been generated from the hotel tax.
Jaycen Rigger
8:45 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012
Steve, what's your point? If the building sits empty, do you think the owners magically make money? They don't.
Any extra people in the vicinity, such as those who would stay at a hotel, generate extra taxes in the city. I travel for my job extensively, and I can explain to you that when I stay at a hotel, I spend money fueling my rental vehicle, eating in restraunts, and making purchases at local instustrial electrical suppliers.
I just don't understand the anti-Capitalist views of people like yourself.
Every time Len Pagano suggest increasing taxes on hotels, I'm shocked. Why would you discourage small companies and travelers from staying at your hotels? Each time he does it, he gives the reason that "all the other cities are doing it".
Aside from that childish mentality, it's a bad idea. Lower your rates when everyone else is raising theirs, and you will draw more people to your area. You'll earn more in taxes in other areas, and by the increase in volume on the existing hotel tax rates.
Being anti-business isn't the way you increase tax revenue. Stop biting the hand that feeds all of us.
steve
1:11 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
Yes... A vacant buildings give the owners numerous right offs. Especially if they own a lot of buildings. They get an abatement. Let it set. Right off loan interest. Then at some point of time sell it. Check your tax laws. Why do you think St. Louis has so many vacant buildings?