CITY COUNCIL RECAP: Lebanon Council Sets Tax Levy, Approves More Than $650,000 in Projects and Public-Safety Funding

Council approves housing incentives, development agreements and infrastructure projects

The August 24 meeting also included action on public-safety technology, park improvements, street funding, utility policies and local development.

The Lebanon City Council approved a series of housing, infrastructure, public-safety and park measures during its regular meeting on Monday, August 24, 2026.

The Council also recognized Hunger Action Month, conducted four public hearings and received updates from City staff and elected officials.

Hunger Action Month proclaimed

Mayor Jared Carr proclaimed September 2026 as Hunger Action Month and September 29, 2026, as Hunger Action Day in Lebanon.

The proclamation recognized the continuing effects of food insecurity and rising food costs. It also highlighted the work of local organizations providing food assistance to individuals and families.

Representatives of Lifepoint Church, the Lifepoint Market, Crosslines Ministry, Life Food Pantry and Restore Ministries joined the mayor for the presentation.

Residents, businesses and community organizations were encouraged to support local food banks and pantries through donations, volunteer service and advocacy.

Consent agenda approved

The Council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included:

Minutes from the August 10 work session and regular meeting.City warrants.A downtown street closure for Dinner Under the Downtown Lights on September 26.Disposition of Police Department records.

Public hearings conducted

The Council held public hearings covering the General and Park Fund property-tax levies, two final plats and a school-district rezoning request.

No one addressed the Council during the four hearings.

General and Park Fund tax levies

The General Fund property-tax levy will remain at $0.2479 per $100 of assessed valuation.

The Parks property-tax levy was set at zero following voter approval of the half-cent parks and stormwater sales tax. City staff said the General Fund rate was calculated using the formula prescribed by the Missouri State Auditor’s Office.

Magnetic Addition replat

The Council considered the consolidation of seven lots near 517 Murphy Road into one parcel.

The property is planned for redevelopment by Solomon’s Porch as a shelter for women and children in crisis or experiencing homelessness. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval.

Tallgrass Estates

The Council reviewed the final plat for the first phase of Tallgrass Estates near 20800 Ostrich Drive.

The first phase is expected to include 30 homes. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval.

Lebanon R-3 School District rezoning

The Council considered rezoning property controlled by the Lebanon R-3 School District at 777 Brice Street from RS-2 to RS-1 residential zoning.

City staff explained that the change would place the school property north and south of Brice Street under one consistent zoning classification. Schools are allowed in both zoning districts.

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval.

Fire Department software approved

The Council unanimously approved Resolution No. 26-R-051, authorizing the Fire Department to purchase First Due emergency-response software.

Fire Chief Sam Schneider said the department currently uses ESO but needs a more robust reporting system following changes to the national fire-reporting requirements.

First Due will also allow the department to consolidate functions currently handled through other applications, including Active911 and incident-management tools.

The first-year cost is $24,500, including setup and migration of existing data. The annual cost is expected to be approximately $20,000 after the first year.

Two-year infill housing incentive established

The Council unanimously approved Resolution No. 26-R-053, creating a two-year incentive for residential construction on qualifying infill lots.

The program waives certain utility-connection, development and building-permit fees for homes constructed on existing City lots created before 2010. Eligible homes must have an initial sale price below $300,000.

City Administrator Troy Schulte said the program is intended to encourage private developers to purchase vacant properties or functionally obsolete homes, clear the sites and construct new housing.

Staff estimated that the waived fees could save approximately $5,000 to $6,000 per qualifying project. Schulte said that amount could make some infill projects financially practical.

The program begins September 1, 2026, and is scheduled to continue for two years. Staff may return to the Council if participation creates an unexpected financial effect.

Tallgrass Estates development agreement approved

The Council unanimously approved Resolution No. 26-R-054, authorizing a development agreement with L.C.R. Real Estate Inc. for Tallgrass Estates.

The agreement covers infrastructure for the 30-home first phase of the development.

Under the City’s standard development agreement, the developer purchases City-constructed infrastructure at $225 per linear foot. City officials said the actual construction cost is generally between $350 and $375 per linear foot.

Bryant Estates development agreement approved

The Council unanimously approved Resolution No. 26-R-055, authorizing a development agreement with Bryant Estates LLC.

The proposed 30-home development is located near Daytona Drive on the western edge of the city.

Unlike the Tallgrass Estates agreement, the Bryant Estates developer will construct the infrastructure. The City will provide or reimburse a portion of eligible material costs, up to approximately 40%, after confirming that the work meets City standards.

Staff said this arrangement could reduce demands on City construction crews while maintaining required infrastructure standards.

Property-tax ordinance adopted

The Council approved both readings of Council Bill No. 7056.

The bill established the 2026 General Fund and Parks property-tax levies discussed during the public hearing. It was adopted as Ordinance No. 26-087.

Magnetic Addition final plat approved

The Council approved both readings of Council Bill No. 7057, authorizing the Magnetic Addition replat near 517 Murphy Road.

The bill was adopted as Ordinance No. 26-088.

Tallgrass Estates final plat approved

The Council approved both readings of Council Bill No. 7058, authorizing the final plat for Tallgrass Estates.

The bill was adopted as Ordinance No. 26-089.

Additional consulting firms authorized

The Council approved both readings of Council Bill No. 7059, authorizing agreements with additional firms providing on-call engineering, surveying, architectural and geographic information system services.

Finance Director Jessica Meiners said expanding the City’s vendor pool should help distribute project workloads and prevent smaller projects from being delayed because of limited consultant capacity.

The agreements have initial one-year terms with options for additional one-year renewals.

The bill was adopted as Ordinance No. 26-090.

Additional street funding approved

The Council approved both readings of Council Bill No. 7060, reallocating $200,000 from the undesignated Street Fund balance.

The money will support the City’s gravel-street overlay project and cover an overage in the FY2027 asphalt overlay program caused by increased oil and asphalt prices.

The bill was adopted as Ordinance No. 26-091.

Atchley Park parking lot approved

The Council approved both readings of Council Bill No. 7061, authorizing the redesign and reconstruction of the front parking lot at Atchley Park.

The $275,200 project is intended to increase available parking and improve traffic flow near the playground, shelter and dog park.

Park Director John Shelton said staff will attempt to preserve a large oak tree near the project area. The final layout may lose one or two parking spaces if necessary to protect the tree.

The parking project will also help guide the placement of future park amenities, including a second dog-park area for smaller dogs, a splash pad and an additional shelter.

The project was originally budgeted at $240,000. Staff will reallocate $40,000 from the Atchley Park Indian Creek Playground project to cover the increased cost.

The bill was adopted as Ordinance No. 26-092.

LANEG grant accepted

The Council approved both readings of Council Bill No. 7062, accepting a $191,024.05 state grant for Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group operations.

Police Chief Jerry Harrison said the grant requires no City contribution and is the same amount received during the previous year.

Combined state and federal funding for LANEG totals $323,769.58. The related federal agreement is expected to come before the Council in September.

The bill was adopted as Ordinance No. 26-093.

Retirement-plan agreement updated

The Council approved both readings of Council Bill No. 7063, authorizing an updated retirement-plan adoption agreement with Nationwide Financial Services.

Human Resource Director Kathy Milliken said the agreement formally implements the increased employee match approved during the FY2027 budget process.

The bill was adopted as Ordinance No. 26-094.

School rezoning passes first reading

Council Bill No. 7064 received its first reading.

The bill would rezone Lebanon R-3 School District property at 777 Brice Street from RS-2 to RS-1 residential zoning. It will return to the Council for further consideration at a future meeting.

Utility-code revisions receive first reading

Council Bill No. 7065 also received its first reading.

The proposal would remove provisions from Chapter 46 of the City Code that are already addressed in the Utility Terms of Service Manual. Staff said the goal is to create one primary reference for utility policies.

The proposed ordinance would also:

Increase the maximum payment in lieu of taxes from utility funds from 5% to no more than 7%.Direct no more than 1% of monthly utility-service bills to the Economic Development Fund.Remove the current 50% maximum utility fund-balance limit, allowing the City to accumulate reserves for major capital projects.Increase the Board of Public Works’ purchasing authority from $100,000 to $250,000 for purchases already approved in the City budget.Keep the emergency-purchase limit at $100,000.

Council members discussed how they would be notified of purchases approved by the Board of Public Works. Staff agreed to continue sending the Board’s agenda packet and to provide Council members with a summary of approved expenditures.

The bill will return for a second reading.

Staff reports and departmental updates

Police Department

Chief Harrison clarified comments made earlier regarding Police Department outcomes, noting that all but the final three incidents he referenced occurred in Lebanon. He said he or his organization had direct involvement in all but two of the examples.

Harrison also updated the Council on use of the City’s air-curtain incinerator for controlled burning.

One recent project used the equipment to remove a large brush pile at the Sound House project. The equipment was delivered, used and returned within approximately one day. A second applicant prepared to use the equipment at a property near Cobb Street but later decided not to proceed with the burn.

Harrison said the application, inspection, delivery and setup procedures worked smoothly and that the City received no complaints related to either project.

Parks Department

Shelton reported that basketball courts at Indian Creek Park are open and available for play. The court lighting is also operational.

Tennis-court improvements are expected to begin soon.

The Park Board has authorized staff to begin planning a restroom near the Indian Creek courts. Shelton said water and sewer access is available and that the facility may be similar to the restroom at Downtown Plaza.

City Clerk

City Clerk Lacey Brackett asked the Council to consider changing its only December meeting from the second Monday to the first Monday of the month.

Council members indicated that December 7 would be acceptable instead of December 14. The schedule change will be handled through the appropriate City process.

City administration

Schulte said staff will begin presenting brief updates on completed capital projects during future work sessions.

He said the City does significant work on capital projects but does not always return to the Council with a final presentation showing the completed result.

Potential updates include the airport taxiway project, Mount Rose Drive and the golf course irrigation system. Staff plans to use photographs and drone footage when appropriate.

Council comments

Council members discussed the public-comment process and emphasized that they listen to residents even when they do not immediately respond.

Members said avoiding a back-and-forth exchange during public comments allows residents to present their views without turning the meeting into a debate. They also said profanity during public comments was inappropriate.

Councilman Joe Berkich thanked staff for preparing the City’s proposal regarding the YMCA facility. He said he appreciated residents’ comments but would reserve further judgment until YMCA representatives have an opportunity to present their position.

Berkich also addressed concerns about the Police Department’s Flock license-plate reader cameras. He suggested that the Council consider placing the issue before voters, saying a public vote could provide clear direction about whether residents want the program.

Other Council members reiterated that they had taken notes and were considering the comments received.

Mayor Carr said no decisions were made during the meeting regarding either the YMCA proposal or the camera program. He said the Council would continue reviewing the issues and considering public input before taking action.

The supplied transcript begins after the meeting’s initial public-comment period. Because the speakers’ complete remarks are not included, this recap does not attempt to summarize or attribute those missing comments.

Next meeting

The next Lebanon City Council meeting is scheduled for September 28, 2026.