Actions taken during the Sikeston City Council meeting held May 22, 2023, were:

• A public hearing was held on the FY24 budget. There were no public comments or questions. A final public hearing will be held at the June 5 meeting.
• Council approved an ordinance calling for an election to continue a 1% city sales tax. The tax is a renewal of a current tax that began in 2004 and was renewed by citizens in 2013. Citizens will vote on the measure Aug. 8.
• Council approved a change to municipal code section 405.920. The change just cleaned up a discrepancy in wording.
• Council heard the first reading of a bill to amend the FY23 budget to reflect material appropriations since it was adopted in June 2022. Many of the adjustments are due to the impact of increased fuel costs, overtime due to staff shortages and an unprecedented number of fire calls during the dry summer of 2022. The bill will be voted on at the June 5 meeting.
• Council heard the first reading of FY24 budget ordinance. Council will vote on the budget at the June 5 meeting.
• Council heard the first reading of a bill, that if passed at the June 5 meeting, will establish staffing and compensation levels for FY24. Changes to the staffing ordinance include: a $2,000 across the board wage adjustment for all city employees, the addition of one full-time position in the Public Works Department for a grant writer/administrator, addition of IT apprenticeship program, transitioning DPS patrol to 10-hour shifts, increases to merit adjustments, and an increase in uniform allowances.
• Council heard the first reading of an ordinance that, if approved at the June 5 meeting, would terminate tax increment financing within the 60/61 TIF Redevelopment Area. The city used TIF revenue, which is incremental real property taxes and economic activity taxes, to reimburse project costs for the construction of Colton’s Steakhouse and Holiday Inn.
• Council heard the first reading of a bill to abandon utility easements at 105 N. Stoddard. St. Francis Xavier wishes to abandon the utility easement to build a new parking area and rectory for the priest. The measure will be voted on at the June 5 meeting.
• Council heard the first reading of a bill to change the voting members for Planning and Zoning. If the measure is approved June 5, the Community Development Director will no longer be a voting member of the commission.
• Council heard the first reading of a bill to change the adoption of the 2018 International Zoning Code to clarify the duties of the Community Development Director. If approved, the community development director will attend Board of Adjustment meetings and take part in discussions but not be a voting member. The bill will be voted on June 5.
• Council awarded a request for proposal to DAEOC for the acquisition and use of the downtown parking lot, located on the 100 block of W. Center Street. The parking lot is behind the current DAEOC building and is included in their plans for a music academy to be on the former church property immediately west of the parking lot. Included in the agreement is allowing the city and Scott County Transit to continue parking in the lot.