Washington City Council approves six ordinances, easements and leases; sales-tax renewal committee scheduled

WASHINGTON, Mo. — The Washington City Council on May 5, 2025 adopted six ordinances enabling development and right-of-way work, approved a lease for a business at the passenger depot, accepted temporary and permanent easements for the Front Street project, and reappointed a police officer. Council members also set the schedule for a sales-tax renewal committee and discussed distribution issues with new residential trash and recycling carts.

The most consequential votes authorized: (1) a first amendment to a lease with Precoat Metals Washington LLC that city staff said will allow transferred assets to qualify for Chapter 100 industrial revenue bonds; (2) a five-year lease with Matthew Holden LLC for about 900 square feet at the passenger depot with an initial annual rent of $11,400, adjusted annually by the St. Louis Metro area CPI; (3) a mitigation-credit purchase agreement with Swallowtail LLC to support the Foxcrest double-box culvert project (purchase price not specified in the meeting); (4) a quitclaim deed conveying a permanent easement for sidewalk work on Front Street with Front and Jefferson Street LLC; (5) temporary construction easements with multiple private owners needed for the Front Street sidewalk project (city staff said roughly half of the easements are signed and five remain unsigned); and (6) a boundary adjustment to combine two lots at The Bluffs at Passora Place Plat 2 so a buyer may purchase an entire building.

Why it matters: the lease amendment and the Chapter 100 designation were presented as measures to support local economic development and job creation; the Front Street easements and quitclaim deed are tied to a sidewalk and streetscape project in the downtown corridor; the mitigation-credit purchase is linked to stormwater work on the Foxcrest culvert.

Key details from the meeting

- Precoat Metals lease amendment: City staff said the amendment transfers assets to the city so the project can qualify for Chapter 100 industrial revenue bonds. The ordinance passed on second reading (ordinance 7a).

- Passenger depot lease (Matthew Holden LLC): Staff described the space as about 900 square feet, with an annual starting rent of $11,400 and CPI-based annual adjustments for the St. Louis Metro area. The ordinance approving the lease passed on second reading (ordinance 7b).

- Foxcrest mitigation credits (Swallowtail LLC): The council approved a mitigation credit purchase agreement to support the Foxcrest double-box culvert project; the meeting did not specify the dollar amount of the purchase (ordinance 7c).

- Front Street property transactions: The council approved a quitclaim deed providing a permanent easement to accommodate the sidewalk work up to a building at the Front Street project (ordinance 7d). It also approved a separate ordinance authorizing temporary construction easements with multiple property owners; staff said about half of the required temporary easements are signed and five remain to be obtained (ordinance 7e).

- Boundary adjustment (The Bluffs at Passora Place Plat 2): The council approved a boundary-line revision to remove an internal lot line so a buyer can acquire an entire building (ordinance 7f).

Other actions and business

- Reappointment: The council reappointed Officer Daniel Day (police) for another term; the council approved the reappointment by voice vote.

- Consent agenda: The meeting included approval of a change order No. 2 and final payment request for the Third Street overlay improvements project (STP6401602) and routine liquor-license renewals as part of the consent agenda.

- Sales-tax renewal committee: City staff said the mayor has convened a sales-tax renewal committee chaired by former Mayor Sandy Lucey. The first meetings were scheduled as follows: June 13 (park projects), July 11 (emergency-response/capital projects), and Sept. 12 (transportation sales-tax discussion). Staff said the term “sales-tax renewal committee” reflects that the city is reviewing two separate sales-tax measures.

- Waste containers (Waste Connections): In council comments members noted distribution of new 96- and 64-gallon toters by Waste Connections. Staff said postcards were mailed to gather resident preferences but some homes received a different-sized cart because the card deadline was tight; residents were told they may call Waste Connections to request an exchange and the company expects a further round of swaps in June.

Meeting process and next steps

Most ordinances were introduced and passed on second reading with only brief staff presentations and little extended debate. For the Front Street temporary easements staff noted remaining signatures are needed; council members did not change the substance of the easement approvals but recorded one abstention on the temporary-easement ordinance. The sales-tax committee will meet publicly on the dates announced; no formal council action to place measures on a ballot was taken at this meeting.

The council adjourned following the votes.