City Council - Regular Meetings

Please note, residents can share comments in-person, virtually via Zoom using the “Raise Hand” option, during the Regular Meeting, via email or U.S. mail. Written comments will not be read aloud at the meetings. All speakers will be allowed three minutes. Instructions on listening through phone or computer to the meetings are available at www.webstergrovesmo.gov/568/Virtual-Meeting-Instructions. CITY OF WEBSTER GROVES COUNCIL WORK SESSION AGENDA DATE: TUESDAY – DECEMBER 3, 2024 7:00 P.M. LOCATION – CITY HALL #4 E. LOCKWOOD AVENUE IN-PERSON AND VIRTUALLY 1. BOARD AND COMMISSION INTERVIEWS 2. REVIEW REGULAR AGENDA 3. MAYOR/COUNCIL/CITY MANAGER ISSUES/MEETING UPDATES 4. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS/COMMISSIONS 5. EXECUTIVE (CLOSED SESSION) RE: 1. ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS [MO. STATUTE 610.021 (1)] 2. REAL ESTATE [MO. STATUTE 610.021 (2)] 3. PERSONNEL [MO. STATUTE 610.021 (3)] 4. NEGOTIATED CONTRACT [MO. STATUTE 610.021 (12)] 6. ADJOURNMENT  CITY OF WEBSTER GROVES CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: TUESDAY – DECEMBER 3, 2024 7:30 P.M. LOCATION–CITY HALL-#4 E. LOCKWOOD IN-PERSON AND VIRTUALLY Please note, residents can share comments in-person, virtually via Zoom, using the “Raise Hand” option, via email or U.S. mail. Written comments will not be read aloud at the meetings. All speakers will be allowed three minutes. Instructions on listening through phone/computer to meetings available at: www.webstergrovesmo.gov/568/Virtual-Meeting-Instructions Welcome to the regular meeting of the City Council. We welcome questions, ideas and comments from persons in attendance. Members of the audience may, however, comment only when recognized by the Mayor or Mayor ProTem if the Mayor is absent. We ask that comments be limited to three minutes in order to complete the agenda within a reasonable time. Comments concerning items not on the agenda should be made during the Remarks of Visitors section of the agenda, near the beginning of the meeting. To view the full text of ordinances, resolutions, and minutes, please click their titles. I. ROLL CALL II. REMARKS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND VISITORS III. NEW BUSINESS - MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER IV. NEW BUSINESS 1. Bill #9273 – First & Second Reading – An Ordinance Providing for a Boundary Adjustment Between the Cities of Webster Groves and Maplewood V. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approval of Minutes – November 19, 2024 VI. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS VII. EXECUTIVE (CLOSED SESSION) RE: 1. ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS [MO. STATUTE 610.021 (1)] 2. REAL ESTATE [MO. STATUTE 610.021 (2)]  3. PERSONNEL [MO. STATUTE 610.021 (3)] 4. NEGOTIATED CONTRACT [MO. STATUTE 610.021 (12)] VIII. ADJOURNMENT Individuals who require an accommodation (sign language, interpreter, listening devices, etc.) to participate in the meeting should contact the City Clerk at 314-963- 5318 (fax number 314-963-7561) or Relay Missouri at 1-800-735-2966 (TDD) at least two working days prior to the meeting. NEXT REGULAR MEETING DATE: TUESDAY – DECEMBER 17, 2024  Bill #9273 Ordinance #9273 AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR A BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT BETWEEN THE CITIES OF WEBSTER GROVES AND MAPLEWOOD WHEREAS, Sections 72.400-72.430, RSMo., establish rules and procedures for the annexation of land within St. Louis County including a provision for the adjustment of common boundaries between two municipalities; and WHEREAS, Section 72.401(8) provides that boundary adjustments between municipalities where the municipalities own the area, where the area is contiguous with the municipality and the area is being used for parks and recreation purposes are not subject to review by the Boundary Commission of St. Louis County; and WHEREAS, Section 71.011 RSMo., provides that property of a municipality abutting another municipality may be concurrently detached from one municipality and annexed by the other municipality by the enactment of the governing bodies of each municipality of an ordinance describing the metes and bounds of the property, declaring the property so described to be concurrently detached and annexed and stating the reasons for the purposes to be accomplished by the detachment and annexation; and WHEREAS, the owner of the property hereafter described desires that its property, which is currently within the City of Maplewood, be located within the City of Webster Groves, where the remainder of its property is located, in order to facilitate parks, trail systems and flood plain improvements and to allow for more efficient and effective delivery of public services; and WHEREAS, the governing bodies of Maplewood and Webster Groves have found and hereby declare that the portion of the property hereinafter described to be concurrently detached by the City of Maplewood and annexed by the City of Webster Groves has no residents as of the time of said detachment and annexation; and WHEREAS, the City Council of Maplewood hereby finds, determines and declares that (1) the City of Webster Groves has the capacity to extend public services to the entire parcel of land; (2) that such boundary change will simplify governmental regulation over development of the property in that only a single municipality will have jurisdiction; and (3) the annexed property will be zoned “C” Commercial District as set forth in Section 53.110 et seq. of the Code of Webster Groves. 1  NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. In order to achieve more uniform, regular and recognizable boundaries between the City of Webster Groves and the City of Maplewood, and for the purpose of achieving more efficient and effective regulation over the entire parcel affected and the delivery of public services to such parcel, that tract of land hereinafter described is hereby concurrently detached from the City of Maplewood and annexed by the City of Webster Groves, which will provide public services to the entire parcel from the effective date of this Ordinance forward. Section 2. Upon the effective date of adoption of this ordinance, the annexed parcels of land shall be zoned "C" Commercial District and is more particularly described in Exhibits A- B attached hereto and incorporated by this reference as if fully set forth herein. Section 3. The City Clerk of Webster Groves is hereby authorized and directed to cooperate with appropriate officials in the City of Maplewood to simultaneously file certified copies of this Ordinance and a concurrent Ordinance with the St. Louis County Clerk, the St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds and the Clerk of the St. Louis County Circuit Court in order to finalize and complete the transfer of jurisdiction and concurrent detachment and annexation of the tract of land described herein. Upon such filings by the cities, the courts and all agencies of this state shall be authorized to take notice of the limits of both municipalities as changed hereby. Section 4. Following the effective date of transfer of jurisdiction of the tract of land described herein, the City Clerk is also directed to provide a certified copy of this Ordinance, together with appropriate maps showing the changes accomplished hereby, to the Director of Revenue of the State of Missouri and to the Board of Election Commissioners of St. Louis County. Section 5. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after the date of its passage and approval and according to law. The transfer of jurisdiction shall be complete and final at 12:01 a.m. on the day following completion of the filings described in Section 3 herein by both the City of Webster Groves and the City of Maplewood. Section 6. This ordinance shall not be printed in the Code of Webster Groves. PASSED AND APPROVED this ____ day of ________________ 2024. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: __________________________________ City Clerk 2 EXHIBIT A – Legal Description 3 EXHIBIT B – Drawing 4  CITY OF WEBSTER GROVES November 19, 2024 The City Council met this date in a regular session, in-person in the Council Chambers, and via Zoom, at 7:36 p.m. Present at Roll Call: Mayor Laura Arnold Councilmember Pam Bliss Councilmember David Franklin Councilmember Emerson Smith (Via Zoom) Councilmember Karen D. Alexander Councilmember Emily Hixson Shepherd Councilmember Jamie Hasemeier A quorum was present. Also present: Dr. Marie Peoples, City Manager Neil Bruntrager, City Attorney Katie Nakazono, City Clerk PROCLAMATION & RECOGNITIONS • Erich Weimer was formally promoted to Assistant Police Chief. • Josh Weber was formally promoted to Police Captain. • The Mayor and Council announced Saturday, November 30, 2024, as Small Business Saturday REMARKS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND VISITORS Dave Buck, 6 Colonial Village. [Exhibit 1.] NEW BUSINESS – MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER Dr. Peoples, Deputy City Manager Renee Tyler, and Acting Director of Finance Gregory Donovan, gave post-flood updates. Dr. Peoples indicated that the buyout process is challenging with the SEMA/FEMA rules. As of today, the City is not part of the Emergency Declarations by the State of Missouri, and St. Louis County, because the County has not yet reached the damage threshold of 4.3 million dollars. The threshold factors in population sizes and damage levels. It may be amended in the future as more data comes in. Mr. Donovan mentioned that there is approximately $300,000 left in the buyout fund, which will be used for current remediations including dumpster costs. It was noted that the flooding was a mix of new and repeat damages. Ms. Tyler stated that Waste Management (WM) provided dumpsters that have been placed in the most affected areas which include Tuxedo, Selma & Park, and Deer Creek Park. WM is servicing the dumpsters to the best of its ability given they are stretched thin with regular services and flood remediation services throughout the Greater St Louis Metropolitan area. In addition to direct November 19, 2024 services, WM has offered services at a fair price which greatly helped reduce the burden on residents. Dumpster services will be continued thru November 27, 2024. Additionally, Ms. Tyler recognized the Police and Fire collaborations with Public Works and Public Affairs & Engagement. Recovery efforts also include information distribution on the City website and on socials. And she thanked Council for their patience in her responses to them. Ms. Tyler also discussed temporary changes to Planning partially spurred by the November 5, 2024, flood event and current staff needs. Planning will be closed to the public on Tuesdays, possibly thru February so staff can catch their breath and keep abreast of additional and daily processes while being short-staffed. Currently staff are working weekends and evenings to accommodate resident requests. To date, 55 structures have been identified as flood damaged. Of those, 16 have been inspected for FEMA reporting. (In order for property owners to participate in the flood insurance program, the City must substantiate flood damage, as requested by residents. Requests are still being received.) Also, staff will need to prepare for the end of the year, which includes digitizing documents and retiring numerous files to storage. Mr. Donovan addressed costs that includes at least 13 man hours from Police, 139.5 from Fire, 18 from Planning, 35 from Parks & Rec, and an unknown number of man hours from Public Works. The Police hours were overtime hours. The number of hours and associated costs could change as more information becomes available. Other data compiled by Mr. Donovan were on City park damages based on information provided by Parks & Recreation Director, Scott Davis. Currently costs are $272,500. Most of the damages occurred at Deer Creek. They included the pedestrian bridge, ballfield, landscaping, trash cans, debris, and hazardous waste mitigation. Some damage is repeat because of proximity to the creek. He noted that multiple entities share the cost burden of the pedestrian bridge. However, in the interest of public safety, Webster Groves took responsibility for securing it. Damage at Memorial Park was only to the retaining wall, and no other facility such as the Tennis Courts. (The retaining wall just needs to be backfilled.) Mayor Arnold thanked Police, Fire, Public Works, Parks & Recreation, as well as the behind-the- scenes teams such as Finance for their dedication to and forward motion for the City. UNFINISHED BUSINESS BILL #9272 – THIRD READING On motion of Councilmember Hasemeier, seconded by Councilmember Franklin, BILL #9272 - AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A LOT SPLIT SUBDIVISION AT 2801 BRECKENRIDGE INDUSTRIAL COURT, ZONED “E” INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT, having been introduced and read twice on November 5, 2024, was taken up by its title read a third time and placed upon its passage to become Ordinance #9272. Mayor Arnold called for the vote on Bill #9272. AYES: BLISS, FRANKLIN, SMITH, ALEXANDER, HIXSON SHEPHERD, HASEMEIER, ARNOLD NOES: NONE Mayor Arnold stated that Bill #9272 was approved. 2 November 19, 2024 CONSENT AGENDA A motion was made by Councilmember Alexander, seconded by Councilmember Hixson Shepherd, to approve the Consent Agenda. Mayor Arnold called for the vote on the Consent Agenda. AYES: FRANKLIN, SMITH, ALEXANDER, HIXSON SHEPHERD, HASEMEIER, ARNOLD, BLISS NOES: NONE Mayor Arnold stated that the Consent Agenda was approved. The following Consent Agenda was approved: • Approval of Minutes – November 5, 2024 • Liquor License – Application for Twinsville LLC, d/b/a Off Elm, 8709 Big Bend, for a Drinking Establishment License to Sell All Types of Liquor in the Original Package, and by the Drink for Consumption on the Premises Where Sold, and on Sundays APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS Randy Sprague was reappointed to the Board of Adjustment. EXECUTIVE (CLOSED) SESSION A motion was made by Councilmember Bliss, seconded by Councilmember Hixson Shepherd, to go into Executive Closed Session per Attorney-Client Privileged Communications with [MO Statute 610.021 (1)] and Real Estate with [MO Statute 610.021 (2)]. Mayor Arnold called for the vote to go into Executive (Closed) Session. AYES: SMITH, ALEXANDER, HIXSON SHEPHERD, HASEMEIER, ARNOLD, BLISS, FRANKLIN NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE Mayor Arnold stated that the Council would go into Executive (Closed) Session. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:52 p.m. on motion of the Mayor, duly seconded. PASSED AND APPROVED this _______day of ____________________ 2024. ________________________ Mayor _______________ City Clerk 3 Exhibit 1 From: Dave Buck To: Arnold, Laura; Bliss, Pam; Alexander, Karen; Hixson Shepherd, Emily; Hasemeier, Jamie; Franklin, David; Smith, Emerson; Peoples, Marie; njbatty@aol.com; Nakazono, Katie; Rangel, Karen; Thomas, Tiara; Tyler, Renee; Alpaslan, Sinan; Davis, Scott; Ellis, Brett; Bainter, Gary; Acevez, Vincent; Weimer, Erich; hello@maypopshop.com; John Barr; Ashley Owens; karen-stout@att.net; Mark Hinkle; hello@theparkmoor.com; Stanley Browne; San Jose Webster Groves; Warner Properties; fransudekum@aol.com; Jerry Rosen; Jake Burrola; Valery Welch; siebe.kara@wgmail.org; nikkilemley@gmail.com; jenstarkey@gmail.com; Sebastian Bellomo; chris.f@amadaseniorcare.com; Jaime Mowers; Kevin Murphy; Brandi Schubert; Ree Hamlin; rebeccanow@sbcglobal.net; Hannah Bader; Josh Bloom; Scott Freres Subject: Dave Buck"s "Remarks from the Community & Visitors" Regarding The Boardwalk Cafe at the 11/19/24 Webster Groves City Council Regular Meeting (with a few added embellishments!) Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2024 10:23:46 AM Caution: This is an External Message - Please be cautious when opening links or attachments “ I am here to make good on a promise. While I appreciate your discussion in your work session regarding revenue, I believe that there are ultimately things much more important than money. Which brings me to The Boardwalk Cafe. Everyone knows who I am talking about and where they are located. In a city with an increasing restaurant business and reputation, particularly among our higher-end and more expensive restaurants, The Boardwalk Café stands alone in this eatery landscape and marches to a different drummer. It flies under the radar as Webster’s only true and longer-term small “greasy spoon diner” and hole in the wall. To me, among its beloved and unique defining characteristics are: It by far serves an expanded menu of “the best breakfast in town” with large, hearty portions and low, affordable prices. Exhibit 1 It is Webster’s very own “Cheers” bar where “everybody knows your name” of the long-term and regular loyal customers who are more than customers, but cherished friends. The staff welcomes every one as they enter and knows exactly what most every friend will order. And friends in turn know everyone who works at the Café by name. Cooking all breakfasts are owner, Ali the Highest, Hari the Lion-Hearted, Hussien the Grower, and Bennie & the Jets, with serving staff of Ashley, Carrie, Julie, Valentina, Heather and Kristie. In short, The Boardwalk Café is more than a diner; it is a true community of friends. With the world at war in the Middle East, Ali and all of the cooks are from the Middle East (Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, etc.) and all of the staff and customers American, yet we are all one little peaceful melting pot and world community. At the height of inflation, eggs – or “EGGflation” – was one of the worst food categories hit. Egg prices rose dramatically off the charts and grocery stores and other breakfast outlets correspondingly raised their egg prices. But NOT at The Boardwalk Café!!!! Despite eggs being their #1 ingredient, they kept their prices the Exhibit 1 SAME because they wanted to protect and do right by their customers. I wish more companies and restaurants would have courageously followed suit and put “people before profits.” Finally, as concluded by the 85-year Harvard University market research study, “happiness” in life is best achieved by nurturing and cultivating “good, open, honest and direct human relationships, not driven by or dependent on technology or money.” That is The Boardwalk Café in a nutshell and, why it is for me the “happiest place in Webster Groves.” Please do not get me wrong. How Webster is fast growing and distinguishing itself in the restaurant arena with higher-end, premium restaurants such as Olive & Oak, Frisco, Cyrano’s, Madrina, Robust, San Jose, Parkmoor, etc.,etc., etc. is amazing. But within this dining environment, The Boardwalk Café stands truly unique. There is nothing like it in Webster Groves. Come in and meet them sometime. And if you are lucky, I will be there and you can hear me sing my “Boardwalk Café” songs with our friends! Thank YOU!” PEACE. Exhibit 1 Dave 314-952-0910