NIXA, Mo. — Members of the Nixa Downtown Revitalization Committee urged the City Council on Monday to follow through on multiple downtown projects that they said were funded in previous budgets but never implemented, citing wayfinding signage, a downtown design plan and a long‑planned parking and ADA access scheme.

Brian Steele, the committee treasurer, listed items the committee says were budgeted from 2021–2025 but not completed, including a downtown design plan, $10,000 budgeted in 2025 for professional fees for a downtown zoning district and wayfinding signs. Steele also said a downtown crosswalk used by seniors and people with disabilities had been paved over during a recent repaving project and that a city‑owned gravel parking lot violates the city’s code requiring finished surfaces.

Scott Gabbi, the city’s planning and development director, told council the effort to create a downtown zoning overlay is underway in partnership with the Southwest Missouri Council of Governments (SEMOCOG); he said SEMCOG has a staff person assigned and the contract is being finalized so the overlay work can be completed before year‑end. Gabbi said the city prioritized completing the comprehensive plan before the zoning overlay and that a downtown master plan is likely to be budgeted in next year’s budget cycle.

Steele and others also raised safety issues at the site of the recently demolished JAG building. After the demolition, the facade of the neighboring north building appeared to bow outward; property owners have made some stabilizing repairs but Gabbi said a structural engineer has not yet inspected the façade and the city is keeping the sidewalk blocked off until the engineer’s assessment is complete.

The council acknowledged neighbors’ concerns and said the city will pursue the SEMCOG contract, inspect the adjacent building’s facade and evaluate options for completing sidewalks, crosswalks and a legal surface for the city parking lot. Gabbi noted that some projects were delayed because the staff repurposed funding to complete the comprehensive plan and because the consultant staff member initially tasked with the zoning overlay took another job.

Ending: City staff said the zoning overlay work is in the current year’s budget and SEMCOG will be asked to start the contract; structural engineering inspection of the adjacent building is pending and the city will continue to coordinate with the downtown committee on priorities and upcoming budget cycles.