Springfield City Council

The tax increase is needed to help fund a new convention and event center in downtown Springfield, but voters turned it down in November.

At their lunch meeting Tuesday, the Missouri Department of Transportation explained a number of measures to ease traffic, including controversial raised medians.

The City said the purchase is necessary to go forward with replacement of the Main Avenue bridge downtown.

The draft ordinance, submitted by Councilmember Craig Hosmer, would limit individual contributions to local elections to no more than $2,600.

If approved in November, the program would begin next March.

Around 45 people signed up to speak about two controversial rezoning proposals.

Bruce Adib-Yazdi defeated Zone 4 Incumbent Matthew Simpson.

Another proposal for the eight controversial properties came under consideration but not before some unusual parliamentary procedures.

The ordinance sends a new tax law to committee — without suspending enforcement.

During a lunch session of Springfield's City Council Tuesday, Councilmember Horton reflected on a recent compromise reached by Mayor Jeff Schrag and Councilmember Craig Hosmer. She hopes it can be a teachable moment.