Board of Aldermen

MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING OF TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 AT 200 HIGHLANDS BOULEVARD DRIVE BY VIDEO CONFERENCING ON ZOOM AND ALSO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE PROPOSED 2020 PROPERTY TAXY LEVY FOR THE CITY’S GENERAL OPERATING FUND AND DEBT SERVICE FUND Mayor Mike Clement called the Public Hearing of the Board of Aldermen to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll call showed those present were Alderman Huether, Alderman Nolte, Alderman Hamill, Alderman Ottenad, Alderman Baumann, Alderman Toben, and Mayor Clement. A quorum was present. The following notice of the public hearing was then read: “The proposed 2020 Property Tax Levy for the City’s General Operating Fund and Debt Service Fund. The public hearing will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 at Manchester Justice Center, 200 Highlands Boulevard Drive, Manchester, MO 63011.” Mayor Clement advised that first the proponents would speak, then the opponents, and comments from the public, followed by questions from the members of the Board of Aldermen or the City Staff. Director of Finance Don Yucuis stated the assessments changed very little from the previous year. The property tax rates will remain the same for all taxing levels for commercial, residential, and personal property. The rates are .317 for residential, .317 for commercial and .330 for personal property. There were no opponents, no comments from the public or questions from the Board of Aldermen. Mayor Clement closed the public hearing at 7:03 p.m. Public Hearing 09-08-2020 –Proposed 2020 Property Tax Levy Page 1  Respectfully Submitted, Michelle Melugin Deputy Clerk Note: This is a journal of the Public Hearing from September 8, 2020, (summary); not a verbatim transcript regarding the Proposed 2020 Property Tax Levy for the City’s General Operating Fund and Debt Service Fund. If a recording of the public hearing is desired, please contact City Hall. Public Hearing 09-08-2020 –Proposed 2020 Property Tax Levy Page 2  MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD OF ALDERMEN MEETING OF TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 AT 200 HIGHLANDS BOULEVARD DRIVE BY VIDEO CONFERENCING ON ZOOM AND ALSO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Mike Clement called the Regular Board of Aldermen meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL AND STATEMENT OF QUORUM Roll call showed those present were Alderman Huether, Alderman Nolte, Alderman Hamill, Alderman Ottenad, Alderman Baumann, Alderman Toben, and Mayor Clement. A quorum was present. 3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES a. Minutes of the Monday, August 17, 2020 Public Hearing Alderman Toben made the motion to approve the Minutes of the Monday, August 17, 2020 Public Hearing. The motion was seconded by Alderman Huether and carried unanimously with no objections from members of the Board of Aldermen. b. Minutes of the Monday, August 17, 2020 Regular Board of Aldermen Meeting Alderman Toben made the motion to approve the amended Minutes of the Monday, August 17, 2020 Regular Board of Aldermen Meeting. The motion was seconded by Alderman Huether and carried unanimously with no objections from members of the Board of Aldermen. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF ORDER OF ITEMS ON THE AGENDA Regular Board of Aldermen Meeting 09-08-2020 Page 1  Alderman Hamill made the motion to approve the Order of Items on the Agenda, as submitted. The motion was seconded by Alderman Huether and carried unanimously with no objections from any members of the Board of Aldermen. 5. CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC a. Comments from the Public There were none. 6. REPORTS FROM THE MAYOR a. Mayor Proclamation – Employee Recognition Mayor Clement issued a Proclamation to Parks Maintenance worker Devin Cooper for his 20 years of service to the City of Manchester. b. Mayor Proclamation – POW/MIA Recognition Day Mayor Clement issued a Proclamation to recognize the POW/MIA status of Manchester. c. Mayor Reports Mayor Clement informed everyone that tomorrow night (09-09-20) is another one of his Conversation’s with the Mayor. It will be held at the Justice Center at 6:30 p.m. Mayor Clement stated this Friday afternoon (09-11-20), there will be a gathering to recognize this year’s Homecoming awards. It will be virtual and be on Facebook live. This year’s parade will be in the evening starting at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Clement stated on September 18th, they will be having a POW/MIA ceremony at 10:00 a.m. It will be on Facebook live. Mayor Clement wanted to remind everyone of the upcoming Electronics Recycling event at Paul Schroeder Park. It will be on September 19 from 8:00-11:00 a.m. If you are a St. Louis County resident, you can bring two televisions free of charge to the recycling event. Mayor Clement stated that we are going to have a flash mob dance number for a Manchester Halloween event for Friday, October 16. It will be hosted by the Arthur Murray Dance Studio. Mayor Clement stated that there is an event on Sunday morning at Indian Hill in the Country Lane Woods Subdivision. There will be kids to clean up on top of Indian Hill. Regular Board of Aldermen Meeting 09-08-2020 Page 2  Mayor Clement stated St. Louis County may be close to releasing $47 million dollars of CARES Funding. The CARES funds need to be used by the end of the year and documented by mid-November. This has been proposed and advocated by the Municipal League for months. If St. Louis County does this it could represent some additional funding that was unaccounted for and unexpected for the City of Manchester. 7. REPORTS FROM THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR City Administrator Larry Perney stated there were different scenarios on how they were going to split that money based on needs and other ways on per capita based on population. They are now proposing it is by per capita. St. Louis County stated they will have applications by next Monday. Manchester should get a good chunk and help offset any losses that we will incur. a. List of Paid Bills (Warrant dates of 08-04-2020 to 08-16-2020) There were no questions. 8. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES a. Planning and Zoning Commission Alderman Hamill stated they did meet, and they had one site plan approval for a new house on Connie Lane. He said it was unanimously approved. b. Veterans Commission Alderman Huether stated they met on August 20 and This year they will be seeking a modest budget to present activities such as the Veterans Resource Event and Memorial Day. Alderman Huether stated they are looking to the POW/MIA Remembrance Day on Friday, September 18, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. on Facebook Live. She hopes everyone can join them. c. Homecoming Committee Alderman Ottenad stated the Homecoming parade starts at 7:00 p.m. at Schroeder Park. They are suggesting that you do not arrive any later than 6:45 p.m. She said that the Run is on Saturday morning, the activities start at 8:00 a.m. 9. ACTION ON NEW LEGISLATION a. BILL NO 20-2415 – AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 210, ARTICLE XIII, SECTIONS Regular Board of Aldermen Meeting 09-08-2020 Page 3  210.2100 – 210.2200 Alderman Ottenad read the second reading of Bill #20-2415, entitled: “AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 210, ARTICLE XIII, SECTIONS 210.2100-210.2200, OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF MANCHESTER, TO PROHIBIT THE SALE OF TOBACCO, ALTERNATIVE NICOTINE PRODUCTS, OR ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES TO PERSONS LESS THAN THE AGE OF (21) TWENTY-ONE”, by title only. Alderman Ottenad made the motion that Bill #20-2415 become Ordinance #20- 2300. The motion was seconded by Alderman Huether. A poll of the Board showed: Alderman Toben – aye Alderman Baumann – aye Alderman Ottenad – aye Alderman Huether – aye Alderman Nolte – aye Alderman Hamill – aye Mayor Clement announced that the motion passed 6 - 0, with no objections from any members of the Board of Aldermen. b. BILL NO. 20-2416 – AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 405 ZONING REGULATIONS – TOBACCO AND ELECTRONIC SMOKING Alderman Huether read the second reading of Bill #20-2416, entitled: “AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF MANCHESTER PERTAINING TO TOBACCO AND ELECTRONIC SMOKING REGULATIONS”, by title only. Alderman Huether made the motion that Bill #20-2416 become Ordinance #20- 2301. The motion was seconded by Alderman Ottenad. Alderman Baumann – aye Alderman Ottenad – aye Alderman Huether – aye Alderman Nolte – aye Alderman Hamill – aye Alderman Toben - aye Mayor Clement announced that the motion passed 6 – 0, with no objections from any members of the Board of Aldermen. Regular Board of Aldermen Meeting 09-08-2020 Page 4 10. INTRODUCTION OF NEW LEGISLATION a. BILL NO 20-2417 – 2020 PROPERTY TAX LEVY Alderman Toben read Proposed Bill #20-2417, entitled: “AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING AND LEVYING THE RATE OF TAXATION UPON ALL REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF MANCHESTER FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2020. No further action at this time. 11. MISCELLANEOUS a. Comments from the Public City Clerk Justin Klocke read the comments he received via email. My name is Tracy Zahn and I wanted to reach out regarding the ordinance banning chickens from standard smaller yards, my husband and I strongly believe that it should be changed for Manchester. Having chickens in your backyard is a way of living that has been going on for centuries. The ban on restricting residents on having the ability to raise their own chickens is old and outdated. I am thankful that I don't have a restriction in our area, as we do not even meet the requirements that Manchester holds to their residents. I would hate not to have had the opportunity to raise the chickens we have had over the last several years. They are our pets, just like our dog is and part of the family. Added perk, our eggs are plentiful! Raising chickens allows a homeowner the ability to have an animal that helps fulfill so many needs like fresh eggs, and the knowing of where they came from and even companionship. It is also a perfect opportunity for children to learn how to raise animals. My husband has been building and selling chicken coops since 2014 for clients in cities and towns from all over in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Arkansas. There are a lot of small towns and cities that make having chickens possible for their residents who have a "standard" smaller size yard. We have found regulations such as limiting to 3-4 chickens, having no roosters and placing a coop so many feet from the property line, all have worked well for them. I understand some cities also have concerns regarding how well kept residents yards are. I can assure you that chicken coops can blend into a backyard that is not an eyesore for the city. Requiring a chicken coop that is well built, does not deteriorate easily and is properly maintained can help in avoiding that type of issue. Even having residents get approval on their coops from HOA's could help with this and is something we would be happy to work with the city on with suggestions to help give more residents the opportunity to own Regular Board of Aldermen Meeting 09-08-2020 Page 5 chickens. We hope that you reconsider your ban on chickens for the residents of Manchester. Please feel free to reach out to David or I if you have any questions regarding chickens and how they could work well in your town. Thank you for taking the time to read our message. Tracy and David Zahn 314.749.7066 6403 Old Antonia Rd Imperial MO 63052 13. EXECUTIVE SESSION a. CLOSED SESSION: PURSUANT TO SECTION 610.021 (1) OF THE REVISED STATUTES OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI PERTAINING TO LEGAL ACTIONS, CAUSES OF ACTION OR LITIGATION INVOLVING A PUBLIC GOVERNMENTAL BODY AND ANY CONFIDENTIAL OR PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN A PUBLIC GOVERNMENTAL BODY OR ITS REPRESENTATIVES AND ITS ATTORNEYS. Alderman Hamill made the motion to go into Closed Session: pursuant to section 610.021 (1) of the revised statutes of the state of Missouri pertaining to legal actions, causes of action or litigation involving a public governmental body and any confidential or privileged communications between a public governmental body or its representatives and its attorneys. The motion was seconded by Alderman Huether. A poll of the Board: Alderman Ottenad - aye Alderman Huether – aye Alderman Nolte - aye Alderman Hamill - aye Alderman Toben- aye Alderman Baumann - aye Mayor Clement stated the vote passed 6 – 0 to go into a Closed Session, with no objections from the Board. 13. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Alderman Hamill made a motion to adjourn. The Regular Board of Aldermen Meeting 09-08-2020 Page 6 motion was seconded by Alderman Toben and carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:33 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Michelle Melugin Deputy City Clerk Note: This is a journal of the Board of Aldermen meeting held Tuesday, September 8, 2020, (Summary); not a verbatim transcript. If a recording of the meeting is desired, please contact City Hall. Regular Board of Aldermen Meeting 09-08-2020 Page 7