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Washington council approves chamber and tourism agreements, Compass Health MOU, boundary adjustment and grant applications
Summary
The Washington City Council approved multiple second‑reading ordinances and agreements at its Feb. 3 meeting, formalizing a three‑year economic development agreement with the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce, consenting to tourism subcontracting, adopting a memorandum of understanding with Compass Health Network for transfer services, approving a boundary adjustment for the Phoenix Center development, authorizing application for MoDOT traffic‑safety grants, and appointing an advisory member to the Board of Public Works.
WASHINGTON, Mo. — The Washington City Council approved a package of agreements, code amendments and land‑use actions at its regular meeting on Feb. 3, 2025, including a three‑year economic development director agreement with the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce, consent for the Washington Tourism Commission to subcontract tourism duties to the Chamber, a memorandum of understanding with Compass Health Network to add transfer services, and a boundary adjustment tied to the city’s Phoenix Center development.
The decisions were taken largely on second readings and roll‑call votes, with council members recording unanimous aye votes on the listed ordinances. Council also authorized staff to apply for Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) traffic‑safety grants and approved an appointment to the Board of Public Works.
Why it matters: the agreements formalize how the city will share costs and responsibilities for economic development and tourism promotion over the next three years; the Compass Health Network memorandum creates an outside resource for officers and dispatchers to use when responding to behavioral‑health crises; and the Phoenix Center boundary adjustment clears property and easement issues in front of a planned fire station lot.
On the economic development director agreement, the ordinance repealed a prior ordinance and authorized a new three‑year contract under which the Chamber will pay 30 percent of the base salary for the city’s economic development director and the city will cover the remainder. The ordinance passed on second reading with the full council voting aye.
The council approved a three‑year agreement with the Missouri Tourism Commission and separately consented to subcontracting between the Tourism Commission and the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce. City staff noted the Tourism Commission typically passes 97.5 percent of collected bed tax revenues to tourism activities and retains 2.5 percent for special activities; that retained percentage was lowered years ago from 5 percent.
The council also approved a memorandum of understanding with Compass Health Network. Jennifer (city staff) described the service as “instrumental in helping with alleviate some of the services that our officers and our dispatchers now currently have to go ahead and do,” saying Compass Health will be an additional resource for people in crisis. The MOU passed on second reading with all members voting aye.
On land use, the council approved an ordinance to adjust the boundary for Phoenix Center 2, plat 11, to provide additional area for a future fire station lot and to vacate a 10‑foot utility easement that would otherwise restrict building in that area. City staff said the adjustment also formalizes a right‑of‑way for Phoenix Park Drive.
Council approved a routine motion authorizing staff to proceed with applying for MoDOT traffic‑safety grants the city applies for annually; the packet showed the application would again seek funding for manpower and to send officers to two traffic‑safety conferences. That motion passed unanimously.
The council made one personnel appointment on the consent agenda, approving Austin Horsecamp as an advisory member of the Board of Public Works with a term ending February 2029. The motion to appoint was moved by Patke and seconded by Colter and carried on a voice vote.
Votes at a glance: - Ordinance adopting the three‑year economic development director agreement with the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce — passed (unanimous roll call: Reid, Packie, Wessels, Heydrich, Coulter, Holtmeyer, [Mayor/President] voted aye). - Ordinance adopting a three‑year agreement with the Missouri Tourism Commission — passed (unanimous roll call). - Ordinance consenting to Tourism Commission subcontracting with Washington Area Chamber of Commerce — passed (unanimous roll call). - Memorandum of Understanding with Compass Health Network (transfer services) — passed (unanimous roll call). - Ordinance approving boundary adjustment for Phoenix Center 2, plat 11 (fire station lot and vacation of 10‑ft utility easement) — passed (unanimous roll call). - Authorization to apply for MoDOT traffic‑safety grants — moved by Patke, seconded by Colter; passed (voice vote). - Appointment: Austin Horsecamp to Board of Public Works (advisory member), term to Feb. 2029 — moved by Patke, seconded by Colter; passed (voice vote).
Council chair and city staff said most items were continuations of previously discussed workshop items and contained no substantive changes beyond updated dates and routine clarifications. The meeting adjourned after council comments and administration reports.
