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GIS staff explain aerial imagery, partnership with statewide NG911 program and the role of the sales tax
Summary
The GIS presentation emphasized aerial photography paid in part through the capital improvement sales tax, the value of six-inch resolution imagery for planning and 911 response, and a state-supported NG911 aerial program that allowed the city to delay its last scheduled flight; exact recent contract costs were not specified in the meeting.
Buster, representing the city's GIS team, told attendees that one of the capital improvement sales tax's regular uses is to fund aerial photography and mapping services used by public works, parks, planning and public safety.
"One of the biggest things that the sales tax pays for is aerial photography," he said, describing high-resolution imagery (six-inch resolution) that shows fine details needed for mapping and emergency response. He said updated aerials are important for planning new developments and for 911 operators to identify features at incident locations.
Buster explained the city participates in a regional consortium (Mid-Missouri GIS) that shares the cost of flights, which lowers the per-jurisdiction price. He recalled the last contracted flight cost in imprecise terms during the meeting and said the exact city share was not specified in the presentation. Buster also noted a 2021 lapse in the city's flight schedule because of COVID and that the statewide NG911 Association of Missouri used COVID-era funds to produce a statewide aerial dataset, allowing local governments to delay their own flights.
The GIS data are used internally across departments and made available to the public through the city's web mapping services; Buster said properly timed flights and regular refreshes (typically every five years) are important to keep the maps accurate as road networks and development change.
City staff said questions about precise contract dollars, the consortium discount and the city's share of costs will be answered outside the meeting as staff compiles materials for the public outreach campaign.
