City Council - Regular Meetings

CITY OF WEBSTER GROVES December 15, 2020 The City Council met this date in a regular session, via Zoom, which was available to the public via teleconference, at 7:30 pm. Present at Roll Call: Mayor Gerry Welch Councilmember Laura Arnold Councilmember Pam Bliss Councilmember David Franklin Councilmember Emerson Smith Councilmember Karen D. Alexander Councilmember Sarah Richardson A quorum was present. Also present: Ms. Joan Jadali, Interim City Manager Mr. Neil Bruntrager, City Attorney Ms. Katie Nakazono, City Clerk REMARKS OF VISITORS Ms. Conrad read submitted Remarks of Visitor comments into the record. Submissions were received from: • Daniel Bruzzini (Exhibit A) • Dave Buck (Exhibit B) NEW BUSINESS - MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER No New Business. CONSENT AGENDA A motion was made by Councilmember Franklin, seconded by Councilmember Bliss, to approve the Consent Agenda. Mayor Welch called for the vote on the Consent Agenda. MEMBERS VOTING: A YES: BLISS, FRANKLIN, SMITH, ALEXANDER, RICHARDSON, WELCH, ARNOLD, NOES:NONE Mayor Welch stated that the Consent Agenda was approved. The following consent agenda was approved: • Approval of Minutes - December 1, 2020 • Resolution #2020-45 - Amending the Budget for FY 2021 APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS No appointments to Boards and Commissions. December 15, 2020 EXECUTIVE (CLOSED} SESSION Councilmember Arnold made a motion, which was seconded by Councilmember Bliss, to go into Executive Closed Session per Attorney-Client Privileged Communications [MO Statute 610.021(1)], and Personnel [MO Statute 610.021 (3)]. Mayor Welch called for the vote to go into Executive [Closed] Session. MEMBERS VOTING: A YES: BLISS, FRANKLIN, SMITH, ALEXANDER, RICHARDSON, WELCH, ARNOLD NOES:NONE Mayor Welch stated that they would go into Executive [Closed] Session. ADJOURNMENT There being no fur ther business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:46 p.m. on motion of the Mayor, duly seconded. PASSED AND APPROVED this 0r-1"'-day of�.l.a.'Ll!l.ln...�---2021. 2  Page I of I Exhibit A Katie Nakazono - Remarks of Visitors From: Daniel Bruzzini <dbruzzini@gmail.com> To: <citycouncil@webstergroves.org>. Daniel Bruzzini <dbruzzini@gmail.com> Date: 12/8/2020 2:09 PM Subject: Remarks of Visitors Nine reasons NOT to have an Internet sales tax: 1. The City of Webster continues to spend as before with twice a year pay increases for public employees and employing a second PR firm to promote the SG collaborative which also includes plans for more low rent apartments near Historic Webster. There is a global pandemic, so change your spending ways accordingly. 2. Missouri already has the 14th highest sales tax in the nation. Missouri state sales tax starts at 4.225%, and Webster Groves nearly doubles it to 9.24%. This creates a compelling financial incentive for residents to buy from giant online retailers, from the 27 states without an internet sales tax, and from retail stores in Clayton 8.24%, University City 7.8%, Wildwood 5.225%, and other low tax options. 3. Webster Groves' high sales tax rate promotes retail businesses to locate elsewhere in low sales tax areas. Webster Groves' commercial real estate is only attractive to banks, offices, partially­ filled retirement homes, and low-rent apartments because high sales taxes discourage retail. 4. Taxes discourage commerce. Any new tax will increase the price of goods and services resulting in fewer sales and less sales taxes collected. 5. With apparently only one tool in the City of Webster Groves' toolbox, more taxation is again the proposed salvation for the city's budget. I simply ask for whose benefit? It certainly isn't for the benefit of struggling businesses and the city residents who must pay them or choose to buy from out of state. 6. The internet tax would be administered by a non-governmental agency called the Streamlined Sales Tax (SST). The SST is not answerable to government representatives or to the people. This begs the question: Why would you vote for taxation without representation? 7. Missouri businesses need sales to survive not another debt-increasing, inflation-promoting, and taxpayer-funded CARES Act, or PPP - Payment Protection Plan. 8. Instead of a never-ending harmful series of short-lived business bailouts, Missouri should simply eliminate the online sales tax Missouri residents currently pay on in-state internet sales. This must end so that Missouri residents have the same incentive to buy in Missouri as out-of-state residents have. Not taxing out-of-state residents gives Missouri businesses a competitive advantage and is a business saving initiative Missouri should not carelessly tax away. 9. 28% of Webster's budget comes from sales tax collections. No businesses means no sales, and that means no sales tax collected. Sales tax collections have dropped because of shutdowns and restaurants limited to 25% capacity and take-out only. We need to buy local to save our businesses which eliminating online sales taxation is the best option available. Not spending or printing money we don't have is also equally wise or have we forgotten what "A penny saved is a penny earned" means. file:///C:/Users/nakazonok/AppData/Localffemp/XPgrpwise/5FCF890EWG_DOMWG_P... 12/8/2020  Page I of2 Exhibit B Katie Nakazono - Dave Buck's "Remarks of Visitors" in Zoom City Council Meeting, December 15, 2020 = From: Dave Buck <dave@buckstl.com> To: "citycouncil@webstergroves.org" <citycouncil@webstergroves.org>, "people... Date: 12/15/2020 11 :53 AM Subject: Dave Buck's "Remarks of Visitors" in Zoom City Council Meeting, December 15, 2020 Cc: Farrell Carfield <farrellcarfield@gmail.com>, Elyssa Sullivan <elyssa.su... To Our Mayor, City Council, City Staff & The Other Community Leaders Copied, I believe the success of our city in 2021 lies in achieving three words: diversity, compromise and trust. First, I believe that the sin of racism in America is one piece of a much bigger puzzle and problem. Throughout our nation's history, we have consistently fought against diversity, as anyone who is DIFFERENT from the dominant, Protestant and powerful white man model is discriminated against and oppressed, including Native Americans, Blacks, Hispanics, Women, the Elderly, Jews, Muslims, Immigrants, LGBTQ community, the Poor & Homeless, and the list goes on and on. Deceased black social activist, Audre Lorde, said, "It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept and CELEBRATE our differences". To me, the goal of eliminating 244 years of racism will never happen. The achievable & realistic goal is to celebrate ALL of our country's vast diversity and to peacefully co-exist. Second, compromise is not a dirty word but a proven strategy to make peace. A compromise is an agreement of mutual consent that is a settlement of differences where both sides make meaningful and equitable concessions. It requires both parties to work together to find common ground. Here's just one major opportunity: if SG Collaborative & City Council do not reach a positive & constructive compromise on the redevelopment project given community objections, it is dead on arrival. Just ask the uncompromising Bruce Mills how well that worked out for The Mills Project. Third, communities move forward at the speed of trust. No trust, no progress. Trust is the essential foundation of any human relationship. It is not granted or given, but it must be earned, built and continually nurtured. For example, finding new & creative ways to build trust that fosters strong human relationships between our police and community is the #1 way residents say will improve policing in our city. In closing, there is a 4th word: PEACE. To me, your responsibility as Council members also includes being our PEACEMAKERS. It's not easy. In fact, President John Kennedy said that we choose to embrace certain challenges not because they are easy, but because they are hard. Making & keeping the peace in our city is like a 40-foot dive into a tub of water, but I think you can do it! filc:///C:/Users/nakazonuk/AppData/Localffcmp/XPgrpwise/5FD8A3C0WG_DOMWG_... 12/15/2020  Page 2 of 2 I believe in YOU. Please take the leap for all of us in 2021! PEACE. Dave file:///C:/Users/nakazonok/AppData/Local/Temp/XPgrpwise/5 FD8A3C0WG_DOMWG_... 12/15/2020