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Council moves Show Me PACE membership ordinance to second reading after questions
Summary
Council took the proposed ordinance allowing Liberty to join Show Me PACE to a second reading after staff flagged residential concerns and council members requested a Show Me PACE representative be present for further questions.
The Liberty City Council on May 19 voted to send an ordinance that would allow the city to join Show Me PACE to a second reading to allow additional questions and a possible presentation from the program and the project developer.
The measure would enable participation in a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) district under Sections 67.2800 to 67.2835 of the Revised Statutes, the Property Assessed Clean Energy Act, and set local terms under which the city would operate as a participating jurisdiction. City staff said the financing tool is intended for energy-efficiency and renewable-energy improvements — lighting, windows, roofing, HVAC and solar — repaid via a property assessment over a 20-year period.
Why it matters: PACE financing can expand long-term options for commercial energy upgrades but has raised questions elsewhere when applied to residential properties; council members asked for additional details and a Show Me PACE representative before final approval.
A staff presenter explained that an applicant project must demonstrate that the project’s benefits exceed the investment over the 20-year repayment window and that the lender on the project must sign off on the assessment. The staff presenter also noted past concerns about residential PACE programs in other states and emphasized this proposal’s statutory and programmatic controls.
Council member discussion included a request to invite a Show Me PACE representative and the property owner or developer to the next meeting. One council member said, “I was probably a leading voice in that because I'm not a big fan of this program as it applies to the residential side. I think I'm more open to the concept as it applies to the commercial side,” and asked that the item be taken to a second reading so questions can be addressed.
The council agreed to move the ordinance to a second reading and to consider inviting Show Me PACE and the developer to the next meeting for further explanation.
