Comprehensive Plan Public Meeting

The public is invited to the second round of public engagement meetings related to Columbia Imagined, the city's new comprehensive plan, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. in conference room 1A/1B of City Hall. During this meeting, the public will hear presentations describing "Who Are We?". Following the presentations attendees will be asked to provide feedback on the topics covered. This feedback will be used to assist the Comprehensive Plan Task Force, Planning and Zoning Commission and staff in further developing the plan.

Presentation topics will include descriptions of "Who Are We?" in the following categories:

*         Sustainable/liveable communities

*         Mobility, connectivity and accessibility

*         Economic Development

*         Environmental management

*         Infrastructure

*         Intergovernmental management

*         Land use and growth management

Those interested in background information about the presentations should attend an informal question-and-answer session that will be held prior to the meeting at 6:30 p.m. that evening. Attendees can meet with members of the Comprehensive Plan Task Force, Planning and Zoning Commission and staff about the sources of information used to describe "Who Are We?". This session will include maps, charts, and graph displays for review.

Additional information is available by contacting the Planning Department at (573) 874-7239 or visiting the city's website at www.GoColumbiaMo.com. Citizens may also follow this process on Facebook@Columbia_Imagined or on Twitter@COMOimagined.

Sewer work on Waugh Street

The city of Columbia Public Works Department will perform sewer repairs on Waugh Street Saturday, Sept. 24, at 7:30 a.m. Sewer utility crews will repair a sanitary sewer main on Waugh Street approximately 50 feet north of Paquin Street, between Paquin Street and Locust Street. The work is expected to be completed by 5 p.m., weather permitting.

Waugh Street will be closed to traffic between Paquin Street and Hamilton Way during the sewer repairs. If the work is postponed due to inclement weather, it will be rescheduled for a later date.

Contact: Public Works Department at (573) 874-7250 for more details.

Parking for Roots 'n Blues

The Roots 'n Blues 'n BBQ Festival is almost upon us and we want to make sure your Friday and Saturday is all about fun, not about parking.  So, here's some advice for those planning on coming to The District.  As always, we thank you for your patience.



Closed Streets
The following streets will be closed starting at 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, through 4 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11:

• Fourth, Fifth and Sixth streets between Broadway and Locust Street

• Seventh Street between Cherry and Elm streets

• Eighth Street between Locust and Elm streets

• Cherry Street between Fourth and Seventh streets

• Locust Street between Sixth and Ninth streets

• Elm Street between Sixth and Ninth streets

Barricades
Streets with barricades will be manned by volunteers to assist visitors.

Parking
During festival hours, free parking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis in all city garages, lots and at parking meters on open streets. City parking garages are located at:

• Tenth and Cherry

• Eighth and Cherry

• Sixth and Cherry -Locust Street entrance only, with additional designated accessible parking on the first level.

• Fifth and Walnut

• Eighth and Walnut

Festival hours run from 5-11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, and from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10. Those who hold city parking permits are not guaranteed a space during the festival.

Parking is also available at the university's north campus garages.

Shakespeare's Pizza will provide complimentary bike valet parking at the corner of Ninth and Elm streets.

Vehicles will be subject to towing and city parking enforcement under the following conditions: when it's a matter of public safety, fire safety or hazardous conditions, such as blocking an entrance or exit; when a street is closed; or when a "no parking" notice is posted on meters or other areas.

Sewer work on College Avenue

The city of Columbia Public Works Department will begin repairing a sewer manhole on College Avenue Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 7:30 a.m. Sewer utility crews will repair a sanitary sewer main on College Avenue between Ash Street and Walnut Street. The inside northbound lane of College Avenue will be closed to traffic between Ash Street and Walnut Street during these repairs. The work is expected to be completed by 5 p.m. the same day, weather permitting. If the work is postponed due to inclement weather, it will be rescheduled for Thursday, Sept. 8.

Contact: Public Works Department: (573) 874-7250.

Temporary closure on Orr Street

The city of Columbia announces that on Sunday, Aug. 21, Orr Street will be closed to allow for the removal of a radio tower located near the corner of Walnut and Orr streets. Crews will begin removing the tower at 7 a.m. and should be finished by 11 a.m., weather permitting.

The 100 block of Orr Street will be closed between Walnut Street and the alley near Wilson's Gym located at 111 Orr St. Motorists and pedestrians are advised to take an alternate route during this time period.

The 160-foot radio tower was donated to the city of Columbia by Timberlake Engineering P.C. to be used by Public Safety Joint Communications.

Contact: Public Works Department: (573) 874-7250

Connect2CoMO!

Each year, over 35,000 students converge on Columbia to make this their home away from home. The Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau and The District, are organizing an effort to reach out and make all students feel welcome. It is our hope that if we begin to connect the students to what Columbia has to offer, they will know how much they are appreciated and will consider staying here after graduation.


How can you get involved? Students and parents, check out the Connect2CoMo Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Connect2CoMo/187918021272221?sk=wall for special messages and offers. If you're a business owner, you can post anything that may be of interest to college students--messages, specials, even internship or job openings!

Street Closures

The CID Board is recommending that Council table the proposed changes to the street closure ordinance in order to develop a more comprehensive process for closing streets.



The goal is to preserve the great community events that happen here in The District while also addressing some shortcomings in the current ordinance. Just an example, our application is only a page long, leaving out many key issues that organizers must address in order to safely close a street. A more comprehensive ordinance could clarify how a street can be closed and what an organizer must do in order to close it.

Council will address this issue Monday night at their regular 7:00 pm session. If Council agrees, the CID Board will begin hosting a series of public meetings to seek input on the issue. 

Short Street Parking Garage

The Mayor's Parking Task Force is recommending to Council that the new garage at Short Street do two things: keep Short Street as a throughfare and add retail along Walnut Street. Both suggestions came out of a series of public comment sessions and both will help enhance the burgeoning North Village Arts District. The ultimate decision will be up to Council so voice your opinion at www.gocolumbiamo.com.

Another recommendation was to "condo out" the retail space in the parking garage, meaning a private developer would bear the costs of this space and serve as the leasing agent for it (rather than having the city take on those responsibilities). If you're interested in bidding on this project, go to: https://customer.ionwave.net/prod/VendorRegistration.aspx?vcid=16&iid=8DE44378-38D6-431C-9861-1953A3B409CA.

The bid number is 150/2011 and the title is "Short Street Garage Commercial Development." Bids close on August 25 at 5:00 pm.

Parking Perks

Just a reminder that the city is offering discounted parking permits for the 5th & Cherry garage.  Instead of the usual $60 a month, permits are going for a sweet $30. If you've on the waiting list for one of the other garages, we recommend you jump on this offer right away. 

  

 

Also, keep reminding your customers that parking in the garages is now free on Saturday. That's right, all day with no pay. And if you'd like a Free Saturdays poster, drop us a line at info@discoverthedistrict.com and we'll run one over for you. 

Street Repaving

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Public Works Department
(573) 874-7250


Asphalt Mill and Overlay

COLUMBIA, MO (August 3, 2011) - The city of Columbia Public Works Department announces that on Thursday, Aug. 4, APAC Missouri Inc. will begin pavement milling and overlay on the following streets, weather permitting:

*Rogers Street - Eighth Street to Providence Road

*Fifth Street - Elm Street to Rollins Road

*Wilson Avenue - College Avenue to east end

This work will result in temporary lane restrictions on the streets listed above. The work should be completed and the streets fully reopened each day, weather permitting. Parking on the street will be restricted during this period. Motorists and pedestrians are urged to exercise extreme caution when in the construction area and use an alternate route whenever possible. Mill and overlay work is expected to take approximately 30 days, weather permitting.