CITY OF RICHMOND HEIGHTS, MISSOURI. REGULAR MEETING, December 17, 2012

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1 CITY OF RICHMOND HEIGHTS, MISSOURI REGULAR MEETING, December 17, 2012 A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Richmond Heights, Missouri was held on Monday, December 17, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, at 1330 S. Big Bend Boulevard. Present were Mayor James J. Beck, Council Members Ed Notter, Camille Greenwald, Rick Vilcek, Michael Jones, Rob Jacknewitz, Connie Williams, and Gina Mitten. Matt Casey was necessarily absent. Also present were Amy Hamilton, City Manager, and Ken Heinz, City Attorney. ANNOUCEMENTS Mr. Jones thanked those who attended the District 2 meeting and stated the next scheduled meeting date was January 12 at The Heights at 10 a.m. Mr. Jones stated there would be a Centennial Committee meeting at The Heights on December 20 at 7 p.m. and no January meeting is scheduled. Mr. Jones stated meetings thereafter will probably be every other month, with the next meeting February 28 th. Mr. Jones stated on January 13, 2013 a presentation on the Henry Hampton House with reservations available at The Heights at Mr. Jones stated January 20 will be the Century Home Series by the Missouri Botanical Gardens on researching your home history, with reservations at Mr. Jones stated the Veteran s Committee will be holding a Trivia Night at the VFW Hall on January 19; contact Councilman Ed Notter for reservations at or Ken Heinz at Mr. Jones also mentioned that donation forms were available at both the Library and City Hall for contributions to the Veteran s Memorial. Mr. Jones stated there will be a benefit dinner on March 23 so put that on your calendar. Aging in Place Steering Committee Report Ms. Greenwald reported the City s new Aging in Place Steering Committee had been meeting over the last few months. Ms. Greenwald stated the Committee members, invited by Mayor Beck to explore ways in which the City could help our seniors, are a diverse and talented group. Ms. Greenwald stated they represent all age groups, professional fields and interested citizens and are enthusiastically looking at ways to better the lives of our seniors. Washington University Center for Aging and the Wash U Brown School of Social Work are 1

2 supporting the City s endeavor as we research municipal senior services by providing technical support and guidance. Ms. Greenwald stated that Washington University professor of Social Work, Stephanie Herbers, has joined the committee and will be supplying the Committee with an Intern in the Spring. Ms. Greenwald stated the October meeting met with the Mid-East Area Agency on Aging, Donna Jasper, who updated us on what their organization does. Ms. Greenwald stated the committee met with Susan Stark in November regarding home modification and intervention programs. Ms. Greenwald stated Council received in their packet voter registration maps which show that our seniors virtually live in locations all over the City and hopefully we will be able to use these locater maps to help with personal interviews as to what they would like the City to provide for them. Centennial Kick-Off Event Ms. Mitten stated she thought the City s kick-off event was wonderful and thanked everyone for the celebration event. Proclamation/Gina Mitten Mayor Beck Mayor Beck presented an engraved Proclamation to Gina Mitten, recognizing her service to District Three by fulfilling her duties with a blend of professionalism, dedicated service, leadership and sensitivity to residents' needs and praised her dedication to making Richmond Heights a great place to live. Mayor Beck stated Ms. Mitten will be soon sworn in as District 83 State Representative and wished her luck in her further field of public service. Ms. Mitten stated she would miss the Council and how special it was to work with each of them for the last eight years. Ms. Mitten stated she will be looking forward to working with the Council still, just in another capacity in Jeff City. CITIZEN S COMMENTS NO. 1 Tim Gallagher-7200 Clayton Road-stated he had the privilege of serving with Ms. Mitten from on the Council and thanked her for her efforts, saying it was a pleasure to work with her and appreciated her attention to detail. Mr. Gallagher stated he hoped she takes that same attention to detail to Jefferson City with her. Mr. Jones stated that their Districts share a border and noted that Ms. Mitten knew her area well, her constituents and what is needed in her District. Mr. Jones stated the next Council member elected will have a big pair of shoes to fill because residents will expect the same attention to detail that Gina gave. 2

3 Ms. Williams and Ms. Greenwald echoed those same thoughts and stated they were both sorry to see her leave. Mayor Beck stated the Council will definitely miss you Gina, but we realize our area will be well represented by you at the State level. APPROVAL OF MINUTES December 3, 2012 Regular Meeting Ms. Mitten moved, Mr. Vilcek seconded, a motion for the approval of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 3, Carried unanimously with Ms. Mitten abstaining as she did not attend that meeting. CITY MANAGER S REPORT CITY ATTORNEY S REPORT BILLS PREVIOUSLY INTRODUCED Bill No. 5361; second reading Establishes the Brentwood/Boulevard/Clayton Road Community Improvement District and approves the appointment of the Intitial Board of Directors, and approves an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Mullenix Richmond Heights Redevelopment Corporation, The Brentwood Boulevard/Clayton Road Community Improvement District, the Brentwood Boulevard/Clayton Road Transportation Development District and the City of Richmond Heights, MO. Ms. Mitten moved, Ms. Williams seconded, a motion for the second reading of Bill No Carried unanimously. Bill No was presented and read. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEIGHTS, MISSSOURI, ESTABLISHING THE BRENTWOOD BOULEVARD/CLAYTON ROAD COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND APPROVING THE APPOINTMENT OF THE INITIAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS THERETO, AND APPROVING AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE MULLENIX RICHMOND HEIGHTS REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THE BRENTWOOD 3

4 BOULEVARD/ CLAYTON ROAD COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, THE BRENTWOOD BOULEVARD/CLAYTON ROAD TRANSPORATION DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AND THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEIGHTS, MISSOURI. Mayor Beck asked for a vote of approval of Bill No AYES: Ms. Williams, Mr. Jacknewitz, Mr. Vilcek, Ms. Greenwald, Mr. Jones, Ms. Mitten, Mr. Notter, and Mayor Beck. NAYS: Mayor Beck declared Bill No. 5361, approved. INTRODUCTION OF NEW BILLS RESOLUTIONS Resolution No Authorizes submission of ballot proposition to the voters of the City of Richmond Heights to impose an increase to the current annual fee of $28.00 to$50.00 to repair lateral sewer line for certain residential property in the City of Richmond Heights, MO. Ms. Mitten moved, Ms. Greenwald seconded, a motion for the reading of Resolution No Carried unanimously. Resolution No was presented and read. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEIGHTS, MISSOURI, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE SUBMISSION OF A BALLOT PROPOSITION TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEIGHTS, MISSOURI TO IMPOSE AN INCREASE TO THE CURRENT ANNUAL FEE OF $28.00 TO $50.00 TO REPAIR LATERAL SEWER LINE FOR CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEIGHTS, MISSOURI. Mr. Notter stated he understood the need for the resolution and the need for additional funds for the program but wondered why increasing the amount of the fee to the maximum amount of $50.00 was necessary; why not set the amount at $35-$40 rather than the maximum amount. Mayor Beck stated he understood that Mr. Notter was more interested in setting an amount in the middle, but noted he wasn t sure that a middle number would cover the needs of the program. Mayor Beck stated that if you had to go to the voters for approval it was better to go just one time rather than find out this figure wasn t enough to help. Mayor Beck stated the initial amount might not have to be 4

5 the full $50.00, but if that amount set below the $50.00 might have to be adjusted if the fund looks to be in need. Mr. Heinz stated that while the ballot issue sent to the voter, if approved, only authorizes voter approval to go to the maximum $50.00 amount, the Council will still have to set the actual amount up to or at that $50.00 amount at a Council meeting. Mr. Heinz stated it is a service fee, not a tax and could be adjusted if it appeared the fund was seeing a shortfall. Mayor Beck stated we will provide information to residents on the Sewer Lateral Fund to help them be informed about the ballot issue and hopefully encourage them to vote for the funding. Council stated the Program is an immense benefit to residents; the repairs are costly and this type of program is a tremendous help when the situation happens on your property. Mayor Beck asked for a vote of approval of Resolution No Carried unanimously. Mayor Beck declared Resolution No , approved. CITIZEN S COMMENTS NO. 2 MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS Mr. Jones noted that Ameren was to be granted a utility increase and Laclede Gas will most likely be granted their increase and wondered if the City could consider a lowering of our utility tax rate for to help offset the raise in these utility rates. Ms. Hamilton stated the City s utility tax rate was 6% for telephone, and 5.65% for utilities. Mayor Beck stated the Council had briefly talked about assistance to seniors in the past and suggested that Council may wish to re-visit the idea again. At approximately 8:00 p.m., with no further business to come before the meeting, Ms. Mitten moved, Ms. Greenwald seconded, that the meeting be adjourned. Carried unanimously. Mayor Beck declared the meeting adjourned and invited everyone to attend the reception for Gina in the City Hall lobby. 5

6 PATRICIA S. VILLMER DEPUTY CITY CLERK APPROVAL: 6