Star City Council actions: plats, code changes, pathways plan, annexation and event-center design contract approved

The Star City Council on Feb. 18 approved several consent and legislative items covering land-use plats, municipal-code updates, the city’s pathway master plan, an annexation legal-description correction and an architecture contract for a new event center at Freedom Park.

Consent agenda: The council approved the consent agenda — including the approval of claims and two final plats: Ross I Farms No. 8 and Addington Subdivision No. 1 — with items 5(d) and 5(e) removed for later consideration. The motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Councilwoman Salmonson and seconded by Councilman Wheelock; the roll call was recorded as affirmatives.

Public hearings and tabling: The council tabled two development items. Item 6A, the State Main Street Multiple Use Development conditional use permit, was tabled to April 1, 2025 so the applicant and council could hold a workshop March 11. Item 6C, the Queensway Subdivision, was tabled indefinitely to allow the applicant and StarFire to resolve access issues.

Municipal code and planning measures: The council adopted Ordinance No. 413-2025, amending portions of the Star municipal code (updates to definitions including snow removal, fitness-club uses and floodplain variance process). Council members moved to dispense with multiple readings and approved the ordinance after a single reading by title.

Master Pathways Plan: The council unanimously approved Resolution No. 2025-01 to adopt the City of Star Pathway Master Plan. Council members and staff thanked the transportation committee and consultants for work on the plan.

Willowbrook annexation correction: The council adopted Ordinance No. 414-2025 to correct a clerical error in the legal description of the previously approved Willowbrook development annexation, restoring roughly 10 acres left out of the earlier description.

Freedom Park community event center design: The council authorized contracting with Cushing Terrell to provide schematic and design services for a planned Freedom Park community event center. The approved authorization covered the schematic design, design development and construction documents phase for $263,241; additional phases such as bidding support and construction administration were identified as future work and would increase total project costs if authorized later. Councilman Nielsen moved to authorize the design expenditure and Councilman Hershey seconded the motion; the council approved the expenditure.

The council also discussed that several items affecting future city capital projects and impact fees will return for more detailed hearings.

Votes at a glance (selected): - Consent agenda (items 5a, 5b, 5c): approved (motion: Councilwoman Salmonson; second: Councilman Wheelock). - State Main Street Multiple Use Development (6A): tabled to 2025-04-01 (motion moved by council member; second recorded). - Queensway Subdivision (6C): tabled indefinitely (motion moved by Councilwoman Salmonson; second by Councilman Wheelock). - Ordinance 413-2025 (U.D.C. amendments): adopted (single reading dispensed; motion carried by roll call). - Resolution 2025-01 (Pathway Master Plan): adopted unanimously. - Ordinance 414-2025 (Willowbrook annexation legal-description correction): adopted. - Cushing Terrell design authorization for Freedom Park event center: authorized for schematic/design phase, $263,241 (motion: Councilman Nielsen; second: Councilman Hershey).