Monday’s Great Bend City Council meeting will include a call for a public hearing on the adoption of a STAR Bond project and more. The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 18, at City Hall. The meeting will be live-streamed on the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/gbcitycouncil/.
Other items on the agenda include a report from Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Amanda Gaddis; options for a new "discharge of fireworks" ordinance; designated bank depositories; the Safe Streets for All action plan agreement; and formation of a sale tax initiative committee.
STAR Bond plan
As part of the STAR Bond process, a public hearing is required. The City is considering a project plan within the boundaries of the Great Bend Municipal Airport and the 10th Street Redevelopment District at 3017 10th St.
On May 11, the Great Bend Planning Commission reviewed the proposed project plan and adopted a resolution finding that the plan is consistent with the comprehensive plan for the development of the City.
The hearing will be held on July 6 to receive public comment on the proposed project plan. After the hearing, the council will consider passage of an ordinance adopting the project plan. Passing the ordinance will require a 2/3 majority vote by the council.
According to the agenda: The STAR Bond project plan is described in a general way as a major multi-sport athletic complex, and a major commercial entertainment and tourism area that will include
- enhancements to the SRCA dragstrip
- a dragstrip racing museum
- event center
- hotel and related entertainment, restaurant and retail sales.
STAR bonds, short for Sales Tax and Revenue bonds, are used to fund major development projects without raising taxes statewide or relying on existing tax revenue. A special development district is created, the state issues bonds up-front to cover construction or development costs, and sales tax revenue generated within the district is used to repay the bond.
