City Council - Regular Meetings

Page 1 of 2 Exhibit B Katie Nakazono - Remarks of Visitors From: Daniel Bruzzini <dbruzzini@grnail.com> To: <citycouncil@webstergroves.org> Date: 4/20/2020 2:54 PM Subject: Remarks of Visitors F - or Z.I '2f)Zo m e,e.-t," ll 20 April Dear Mayor and Council members of Webster Groves Below are my questions for the 21 April 2020 council meeting. Please don't hesitate to contact me directly if you have any questions? Sincerely Dan Daniel B. Bruzzini Cell 314 495-5841 1. Will the City of Webster Groves be cancelling 4th of July Community Days? Doing so would decrease the risk of COVID-19 transmission not only from Webster Groves neighbors but also from those outside of Webster Groves whose cities have already cancelled their 4 th of July community gatherings. Will Webster Groves cancel its 4th of July fireworks just as Fair St. Louis has done? 2. Regarding the City of Webster Groves considering hiring a second PR firm to promote and solicit input of the SG collaborative. Why do we need to pay for a second PR firm when the SG collaborative explicitly states that they will do the PR work? The SG collaborative already has a website explaining their goals. The SG collaborative already provides an email link to ask questions and are hosting a virtual Town hall on 23 April. It would seem the SG collaborative is already doing the PR work for which they are being paid. Additional PR, as a council member noted during the 7 April session, should be the council members job to get the word out and engage the community. Two PR firms for one project may not only be overkill but also run the risk of having too many chefs and thus will spoil the PR campaign. 3. Regarding the city of Webster Groves assessing a new internet sales tax, how much, how would it be collected, from whom it would be collected, to what city fund would it be directed, will it be increased in the future using what criteria, and for what purposes? What is the expected amount to be gained if implemented? Would it only apply to Webster Groves businesses and if so wouldn't this discourage Webster Groves businesses or have them pass the tax directly onto we their customers? Have you discussed this internet sales tax with the Webster Groves Chamber of Commerce? With local businesses who do a lot of their sales online? 4. Given that COVID-19 quarantine pandemic is economically worse than the financial crisis of 2008, which took us years from which to recover, should the SG collaborative be continued, file:///C:/Users/nakazonok/AppData/Local/Temp/XPgrpwise/5E9DB78AWG_ _DOMWG_P ... 4/20/2020  Page 2 of 2 Exhibit B stopped, or postponed? Businesses are struggling to survive, consumers have lost their jobs, and City of Webster Groves tax collection will be drastically reduced, how likely will a new development prosper in this economic environment? How will the City of Webster Groves offer tax incentives given its drastically reduced tax base? How will people be able to patronize new establishments or buy new housing/apartments? Have you consulted the Webster Groves Chamber of Commerce to get their input? 5. Giving the concerns Mayor Welch expressed over funding the police/fire/EMS before COVID-19, what plans do the Mayor and the council have to lower City of Webster Groves costs? Specifically, will there be any personnel layoffs, projects placed on hold, projects abandoned, salary reductions, moratorium on bond issues, public service reductions, committee furloughs, etc. 6. Given City of Webster Groves fiscal concerns today, does it still make economic sense to support Proposition Y which is for incurring a 500,000,000 five hundred million dollar bond debt for the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District that will have to be paid back? Would this and other debt inducing bond issues be best avoided until we know exactly how severe the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine? Are there any other bond issues facing Webster Groves we should consider postponing or stopping altogether? 7. ls there any additional City of Webster Groves taxation to apply to developments greater than a certain dollar amount, for example SOOk? If yes, to what fund will this money be sent, for what purpose, and who has the authority to use it? Will this apply to the SG Collaborative? to the Marshall Avenue Improvement project? To residential houses? to housing improvements? file:///C:/Users/nakazonok/AppData/Localffemp/XPgrpwise/5E9DB78A WG_ DOMWG_P... 4/20/2020  Page I of I Exhibit C Katie akazono - Dave Buck's "Remarks of Visitors for the Good of the Community", April 21,2020 From: Dave Buck <dave�buckstl.com> To: "citycouncil@webstcrgrove .org" <cit) council'a web tergroves.org> Date: 4/21/2020 11: 11 AM ubject: Dave Buck' "Remarks of Visitors for the Good of th Community", April 21, 2020 Cc: Gerry Welch <welchgtw,web tergroves.org>. "Arnold. Laura" <lawarnold(a.sbcgl... Thanks for this opportunity. First and most importantly, I hope that City Council and City Staff and your families are staying safe, well and healthy at home. Secondly, I wish to share an idea which Gerry is also aware of. It is a judged small idea, but one that is a very positive, timely and needed. As you know, in various cities around our country, citizens are going to their windows, front porches or lawns are expressing their thanks and appreciation of health care workers and first responders with applause or banging pots and pans. This also began in Webster Groves but, to my knowledge, has not been sustained. So here is a simple idea that doesn't cost a single penny or take lot of time and energy. Webster Groves has more churches per square mile than any other of the 91 municipalities in St. Louis County. Many of these churches have church bells. Thus, the simple idea is to pick one day and one time every week and, for one minute, have all churches coordinate in unity the ringing of their bells. Such ringing of the bells will be heard across our community and joyfully raise our spirits, share our collective thanks and appreciation, and as a remembrance of all those who have lost their lives. If City Council likes and supports this idea, I think you can give our church leaders a little nudge to make this idea a reality. I think our churches give the idea a big "YES" and simply say "When?" That's it. Thanks for reading it. PEACE. Dave file:///C:/User /nakazonok/AppData/Local!Temp/XPgrpwise/5E9ED4DA WG_DOMWG_... 4/21/2020