M any changes are occurring in your Des

Transcription

1 LETTER FROM MAYOR LAHR... M any changes are occurring in your Des Peres community. As the summer months come to an end, it is time to reflect on some changes that have happened over the past few months and time to look forward to some changes that are occurring in the months to come. First, the Des Peres Lake Restoration Project is now underway. The Parks and Recreation Department is also making some upgrades to the fitness center at The Lodge. National Night Out, which was held on Tuesday, August 5, was a huge success. Finally, Chief Bill Bridges, the Director of Public Safety, has announced his retirement effective October 1, 2008 after thirty years of dedicated service to the Des Peres community. Des Peres Lake has been draining for the past couple of weeks and construction will soon begin around the lake. This project will continue until next March. The new lake will ensure the health of the water as both a fishing amenity and aquatic habitat. A new boardwalk will be built out over the lake to serve as access for fishing and nature programming. This project is being funded using money from the Capital Improvement Sales Tax, by a grant from the St. Louis County Municipal Park Grant Commission and from a generous contribution from Edward Jones. The Parks and Recreation Department is also making improvements to The Lodge. New fitness equipment and new flooring will be installed in the fitness center in November. I encourage everyone to check out the many programs and amenities The Lodge has to offer. Thank you to all the neighborhoods that participated in this year s National Night Out; the turnout was great! If your neighborhood did not participate and would like to next year, please visit the NNO website at or contact our Public Safety Department at (314) Finally, after thirty years of faithful service to the City, Bill Bridges, the Director of Public Safety, is retiring. Chief Bridges recently completed his 30th year with the department. During that time period, he has served in every capacity in the department including the past 13 years as the Director. He also served as Captain of Fire Services and Fire Marshall and was one of the first paramedics in the department. Chief Bridges is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy. The Board of Aldermen, City Staff, myself and the citizens of Des Peres thank Chief Bridges for the many great things he has done for the City. We wish him well in his retirement. Best Wishes, Rick

2 A MESSAGE FROM CHIEF BRIDGES... RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT A fter thirty years with the Public Safety Department, I am retiring October 1st and can only say what a privilege it has been to serve the citizens of this great City. I started with the department in June 1978, and have performed in several positions/ranks including: Public Safety Officer, Sergeant/Watch Command, Lieutenant Detective, Captain/Fire Marshal, and Director of Public Safety for the past thirteen years. I have seen many changes of growth over the years. As the City s residential and commercial areas have developed, comparable changes within the department and the departments operations also occurred. When the mall was renovated in 2002, the mall sub-station division was formed, and throughout the years, we acquired the most modern fire and police equipment that is available. I have worked closely with the Mayor, Board of Aldermen and the Public Safety Commission as Director of Public Safety, and am appreciative of their guidance and support. I also take great pride in the accomplishments that have resulted in our employees providing top-quality police, firefighting and emergency medical services to the City and its citizens during my tenure. Throughout my career, people have asked me what it is like to work in Des Peres and I always gave them the same answer: It is the best. The city s officials and the citizens are community focused, and are supportive of me and the department. While it is time for a change in my life and I focus on new challenges, I leave with a great deal of satisfaction and many fond memories. It has been a privilege and honor to serve the City of Des Peres and its citizens for these past thirty years. Chief Bridges

3 T he City of Des Peres is sponsoring a very special event with the City of Kirkwood on September 27 from 6:30-10:30 P.M. at The Lodge Des Peres, 1050 Des Peres Road. The Friends Family Forever event will benefit the families of the February 7, 2008 Kirkwood City Hall tragedy. Heavy hors deoeuvres, music and a huge auction are planned. Tickets for the event are $75 per person. A large community volunteer committee is seeking donations for sponsorship of the event, program and auction items. Information on how to purchase tickets and make donations is available at Questions can also be directed to Sandra Haynes at Des Peres City Hall at (314) BOA LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS Ordinance 2473-Authorizes a transfer and reassignment of a Conditional Use Permit to Rib City-Des Peres at 1090 Old Des Peres Road and located in the Des Peres Square Planned Business Center Ordinance 2474-Amends the Employee Compensation Plan for 2008 Ordinance 2475 Approves a Coordinated Master Development Plan for a two-lot development of a retail center to be known as Tallbrooke-Des Peres located at 1080 Locket Road Ordinance 2476 Grants a Conditional Use Permit for operation of a Bank in Tallbrooke -Des Peres Retail Center Ordinance 2477 Authorizes Agreements with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission to accept for public use and maintenance segments of Highland Avenue, Movie Drive and West County Center Drive constructed or improved by MODOT ATTENTION: SUBDIVISION TRUSTEES The City of Des Peres is updating our list for Subdivision Trustees and we need your help! Please submit to the Office of the City Administrator, Manchester Road, Des Peres, Missouri the following information regarding your Subdivision: Name of Subdivision Subdivision Officers: names, phone numbers, addresses and addresses We appreciate your help so we can update our files. Please direct any questions concerning this request to Sandra Haynes, Office of the City Administrator at (314) or shaynes@desperesmo.org.

4 RECYCLING INFORMATION Dept. of Public Works: (314) IESI Trash Service: (636) A ll recycling must be contained in the 18 gallon bin. Place bottles and cans loose in the bin and place newspapers on top. Replacement or additional recycling containers may be picked up at Des Peres City Hall. Recyclables are collected one time per week on the same day as regular trash and bulky item pick-up. Collection of recyclables is limited to 2 bins per week. Recyclable Items: Aluminum cans, trays and foil Aseptic packaging and gable top containers (milk and juice cartons) Steel cans and tins (including aerosol cans) Glass jars and bottles. NO window glass, dinnerware or ceramics Cardboard and craft bags (brown paper) LABOR DAY HOLIDAY TRASH SCHEDULE Monday-September 1 Holiday-NO Trash, Yard Waste or Recycling Pick-Up Tuesday, September 2-City-Wide Yard Waste Pick Up, Monday s Trash and Recycling Picked Up Wednesday, September 3-Tuesday s Trash and Recycling Picked Up Thursday, September 4-Wedneday s Trash and Recycling Picked Up Friday, September 5 Thursday s Trash and Recycling Picked Up Saturday, September 6-Friday s Trash and Recycling Picked Up Please call Public Works at (314) if you have any questions. Newspaper (including inserts, remove plastic sleeve) Magazines, catalogs and telephone books Office and computer paper, notebooks, school paper (no metal clips, spirals or ring binders) Chipboard (cereal, cake, food and gift boxes) Carrier stock (soda, beer, etc.) Mail and junk mail with envelopes (no plastic cards, stick-on labels or unused stamps) Paperback books (no hard covers) Gift wrapping paper #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 plastic containers ( the number is located on the bottom, #6 is NOT recyclable) P ublic Works is pleased to announce Bryan Kopp as the new Building Official for the City of Des Peres. Bryan is a Certified Building Official through the International Code Council and serves on the Board of Directors for the Missouri Association of Building Officials and Inspectors. Bryan has previously served the community of O Fallon and most recently oversaw the plan reviews and inspections for commercial projects in Lake St. Louis.

5 September 1st-City Hall Closed-Labor Day Holiday 2nd-Public Safety Commission Public Safety Building, 7:00 P.M. 2nd-Municipal Court 4th-Parks and Recreation Commission The Lodge, 7:00 P.M. 8th-Board of Aldermen 10th-Planning & Zoning Commission 18th-Chief Bridges Retirement Open House The Lodge, 4:00-7:00 P.M. 19th-Audit and Finance Commission 20th-Edward Jones Des Peres Dash Des Peres Park, 8:00 A.M. 22nd-Board of Alderman 24th-Board of Adjustment City Hall, 6:30 P.M. DES PERES CALENDAR OF EVENTS October 2nd-Parks & Recreation Commission The Lodge, 7:00 P.M. 4th-St. Louis Adventure Challenge Queeny Park, 8:00-4:00P.M. 6th-Public Safety Commission Public Safety Building, 7:00 P.M. 8th-Planning & Zoning Commission 13th-City Hall Closed-Columbus Day 17th-Audit and Finance Commission 17th-Monster Bash The Lodge, 6:00-9:00 P.M. 27th-Board of Aldermen City Hall 7:00 P.M. 29th-Board of Adjustment City Hall 6:30 P.M. D es Peres has always had a rich history of beautiful neighborhoods, parks and recreation facilities. Trees are an integral component of this urban environment. This past spring the City of Des Peres received a Trim Grant from the Department of Conservation which allowed the City to commission a Street Tree Inventory. This inventory supplemented a Park Tree Inventory completed in 2007 with a similar grant. The purpose of this study was to inventory and evaluate the current condition of our street trees and to establish an effective planning and management program for this valuable resource. The Davey Resource Group performed the inventory of 4,713 trees. Data concerning the trees was collected and analyzed providing information on the species, composition, condition, maintenance and total value of the urban forest. Major findings included the following: the total value of the street tree population is estimated to be $8,646,662 and the average tree value is $2,020; Des Peres tree population is comprised of 84 species representing 4 genre; there are 2,416 trees in good condition, 2,025 in fair condition, 103 in poor condition, 3 in poor condition and 5 were dead; 84 trees were recommended for removal and 2,390 trees were recommended for pruning. At this time, the City has removed all trees which were dead or in critical condition and will complete the trees identified for removal this year. A routine tree pruning program will begin in The City will also continue its tree planting program to increase specie diversity, seasonal stress and to establish replacements for significant landscape trees that currently influence the aesthetics of Des Peres urban forest but are approaching senescence or must be removed. All of this is incorporated into a new Public Tree Inventory Management Plan that will help guide the City in preserving trees as a significant natural resource in Des Peres. For more information on your street trees contact the Public Works Department at (314) or the Parks Department at (314)

6 J oin us for the fourth annual Edward Jones Des Peres Dash on Saturday, September 20th! The race will be held at 8:00 A.M. for adults and 9:15 A.M. for children in Des Peres Park. This is a 5k run/walk to benefit the Wellness Community. The Wellness Community is a non-for-profit organization dedicated to providing free emotional support, education and hope for people with cancer and their loved ones. For more information or to register, please call The Lodge Des Peres at (314) B egin celebrating Halloween early at The Lodge s Monster Bash! Bring the whole family of goblins and ghouls for a night of dancing, trick-ortreating, storytelling and games. Mad Science will be back with spooky science experiments for kids of all ages. Snacks and drinks will be available throughout the evening. Be sure to dress up to participate in the Costume Contest. The event will be held on Friday, October 17 from 6:00-9:00 P.M. Tickets will be available at The Lodge beginning October 1. For more information, please call (314) Join the race you will never forget! October 4th T he St. Louis Adventure Challenge is a mini-version of The Amazing Race! Co-ed teams of three will travel the St. Louis area searching for hidden check points by walking, running or biking. The team will be tested by both mental and physical challenges. Teams may choose to compete in the short course (approximately 2-4 hour race) or the long course (approximately 4-8 hour race). Adult teams of three may be made with any combination of female/male ratio but must be co-ed. Youth (under 18) may only compete in the family division with a parent/guardian on the same team. Each team is required to bring their own food and water, one compass and one cell phone. Each teammate requires one bike and one helmet. Call (314) to register or for more information. Registration deadline is September 21. T he City of Des Peres takes great pride in the quality of our park system. Our Parks Department works very hard to keep our parks in top condition. In the past 25 years our rental fees for pavilions or ball fields has not increased. As expenses everywhere continue to rise, we find the need to alter our rental fees for our park pavilions and ball fields. Starting August 18th, 2008, our new fees will be: Pavilion Rental Fees: Des Peres Park-resident $30, non-resident $60, resident business $75, non-resident business $150. Pioneer Park-resident $25, non-resident $50, resident business $55, non-resident business $110 Field Rental Fees: resident $30 for 2 hour rental, non resident $50 for 2 hour rental

7 T he Des Peres Corners project is now underway. The new development in Des Peres will be located at the southeast corner of Manchester and Ballas Road. Two lots which comprise a total of acres will contain 118,710 square feet of retail development. A 4,500 square foot bank and 18,200 square feet of retail will be adjoined next to the existing 21,410 square foot building. Schnucks will also occupy 74,600 square feet. Grading operations are now underway. Actual building for the project is slated to begin November 1, 2008 with roof completion expected on the development by January 1, The building will be complete and turned over to Schnucks on May 1, Any questions about the project can be directed to City Hall at (314) T his years National Night Out was held on Tuesday, August 5. The event was a great success, with many neighborhoods participating in the crime and drug prevention event. The goal of National Night Out is to increase crime and drug prevention awareness, to generate support in local anti-crime programs, to strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships and to send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and are fighting back. The National Night Out in 2009 will be on September 15. Please visit for more information or call the Public Safety Department at (314) Captain Keith Krumm Participants in National Night Out

8 FREQUENTLY CALLED PHONE NUMBERS Emergency 911 City Hall (Telephone) (314) City Hall (Fax) (314) Municipal Court (314) Public Works (Telephone) (314) Public Works (Fax) (314) Public Safety (314) Police, Fire, EMT non-emergency The Lodge (Main Line) (314) The Lodge (Rental Info.) (314) Des Peres Post Office (314) Des Peres License Office (314) Des Peres Hospital (314) Des Peres Urgent Care (314) IESI (Trash Service) (636)