City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the City Council meeting of July 15, 2026. Please rise, and we will say the Pledge of Allegiance.

This will be short.

Councilmember Shearer?

Here.

Councilmember Luther? Here. Councilmember Norris? Here. Councilmember Patel? Here. Councilmember Sotel?

Here.

Councilmembers Bezada, Wesche, and Thornburger absent.

All right, we have five out of eight council members present. Next item on the agenda, we have the agenda approval. Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Motions made by Council Member Luther. Seconded by Council Member Sattel. And I have a light. Council Member Norris.

Yes, sir. On the discussion item, I feel that since we have three council members missing, can we do a continuance on the closed business signage to August the 5th?

Motion is made by Council Member Norris. I'll second that. Seconded by Council Member Shear to continue discussion item N to August the 5th. All in favor of the amendment? Say aye. Aye. Any opposed? None. Any other changes?

No, sir.

I hear none. All in favor of the agenda as amended, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I hear none. Tonight's agenda is set. Thank you. Next item, we have public comments. I have one card here. Mr. Carl DeGrosso, please come forward.

And if you would, state your name and your address for the city clerk. My name is Carl DeGrasso, and I'm at 11539 Old St. Charles Road, Bridgeton, Missouri. I'm here for an incident about a month ago about the EV bikes. My wife was pulling into our driveway. These two young girls, there's two bikes riding on the sidewalks. She was pulling and she was almost in the driveway into the into the driveway. They one of them hit the car at the rear driver side door. The girl got she hit the car. There was a writer on the back he flew over the car. She broke 2 teeth. Okay, $4,000 damage to my car and now they are trying to sue my insurance company like for liability reasons. on this incident. The EV bike that they were riding was rated as a Class 3, which is a very fast electric bike. And they were underage, so I was just wondering if there was anything going on about these EV bikes riding all over the area, especially these young kids, even on sidewalks. So my concern is now that my insurance company also, we're paying for all this because they say it was my wife's fault. But that's my complaint about these Evie buys I see him every day as I sit on my deck going up and down all Saint Charles Rd there on the they're still doing it and they're on the sidewalks and they're flying down the streets and these are young kids. That's what I want to bring to your attention on that. If there's any ordinance that is going to be maybe coming up for that. It'd be a good thing to get some going like that because My wife was all shook up too because, you know, she said the girl flew into the car. The car is a mess, but it's in the shop now. But it wasn't good. So that was my reason why I'm here tonight. Okay. Okay.

Thank you, Mr. DeGrosso. I'm sorry that happened in the police department, and council and myself will take that under advisement. So look for anything in the future that would come across. Okay, thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

All right, next item on the agenda is the approval of the July 1st, 2026 council minutes. Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER LUTHER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER NORRIS, FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE COUNCIL MINUTES FROM JULY 1, 2026. ANY CHANGES? OKAY. I HAVE A COUPLE HERE. LINE 54, REAPPOINTMENTS. IT SHOULD BE APPOINTMENTS. AND ALSO ON LINE 56, THE SAME WORD, REAPPOINTMENTS, SHOULD BE APPOINTMENTS. Second. That is. I need a first. Somebody said so move. Who did? Who said so move?

No, he said second.

I'll make a motion that we accept these amendments.

And I second it. Motion's made by Councilmember Luther, seconded by Councilmember Sattel. Let the changes be made as I stated. All in favor of this amendment say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any other changes, deletions, additions? I hear none. All in favor of the minutes as amended for July 1st, 2026, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I hear none. The minutes are approved for July 1st, 2026. Next item on the agenda. Chief Lovell, would you like to come forward?

Thank you, Mayor. I appreciate you and the council giving me a few minutes to introduce our newest officer to everyone. This is Tanner Litchfield. Tanner lives in Chesterfield. He's a graduate of the University of Central Missouri, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice and an undergraduate degree in emergency management. Litchfield was hired by our department as a cadet in November of 2025 when he began the police academy in January of 2026. He recently on June 24th graduated from that program and was sworn in. I just want to take a few minutes to welcome Tanner to our team and I appreciate your time.

Congratulations. Thank you for being here. Next item on the agenda, I have placed before you on the dais some Board and Commission appointments. And I'll go over those briefly here. First, on the Pension Commission, we're adding Mark Mazzotti. along with Steve Wooten, and with the change to our pension ordinance, we do allow non-residents now. And also, I'm changing Cindy Lay, who is a full-fledged member, to become the alternate member on the pension commission. And then I'm adding, I'm taking off Will Cuban, who was also on the Pension Commission, and he has agreed to serve on the Personnel Commission. Do I have an approval? So moved. Second. Okay, motion's made by Councilmember Luther, seconded by Councilmember Sotil for the approval of the appointments that I recommended. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I hear none. Next item on the agenda, we're going to recess for a public hearing for application 26PZ-05. Mr. Greitens, would you like to come forward?

Thank you, Mayor.

Please raise your right hand. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

Yes.

Please state your name and address to the city clerk.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

SO THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS RELATED TO APPLICATION NO. 26-PZ-05. THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARING IN ADDITION TO THE PUBLIC HEARING HELD BEFORE CITY COUNCIL ON JUNE 3, 2026. I WOULD LIKE TO READ FOR THE RECORD THE FILE OF THE CITY'S EXHIBITS. THIS IS THE SAME LIST OF EXHIBITS BUT I WOULD LIKE TO READ IT AGAIN FOR THE RECORD. FOR THIS APPLICATION. IT INCLUDES A COPY OF THE REPORT TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION DATED MAY 28, 2026, A COPY OF THE STAFF REPORT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION DATED MAY 7, 2026, A COPY OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES FROM THEIR MAY 11, 2026 MEETING, THE SITE PLAN FOR THE PROPOSED USE AND BY REFERENCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 70-25, THE ZONING ORDINANCE WITH AMENDMENTS THROUGH NOVEMBER 19, 2025.

Please enter those into the record. Thank you.

Thank you. I just want to recap. I'm not going to go through the entire set of slides I did on June 3rd, but just to recap, this is a special use permit amendment, a request to amend the special use permit that was approved under Ordinance 16-20 to expand the previously approved outdoor seating and dining area. And the location is 12207 Unit A, Natural Bridge Road. The property is on B2 Community Business District. THIS WENT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON MAY 11 OF 2026. PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS BY A VOTE OF 11-0 WITH ONE ABSTENTION. THE MAP SHOWS THE LOCATION OF THE BUSINESS AND THEN IN RED THE EXISTING OUTDOOR SEATING AREA. I DO HAVE A SUMMARY. THIS IS THE CONDITIONS THAT WERE APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION. I'LL JUST SUMMARIZE THESE BRIEFLY. THE FIRST ONE SPECIFIES THE LIMITS OF THE SEATING AREA DELINEATED ON THE SITE PLAN WITH PERIMETER FENCING TO MATCH THE EXISTING FENCE FINISHED WITH A CONCRETE SURFACE AND A BUILDING PERMIT SHALL BE REQUIRED FOR REPAIRS AND FOR THE FENCE. The second one, outdoor seating shall be maintained in an orderly manner, free from trash and litter. Provides sufficient spacing for the tables and chairs. They shall remain in the fenced area at all times and may be left inside even during non-business hours. The third is that ADA compliant access to the building shall be maintained at all times with suitable markings and stripings in place. The fourth condition, the sidewalk area in front of the establishment and area around the fence shall be kept free of trash and litter. The parking area kept free of trash and litter at all times, paved surfaces properly maintained, including landscaped areas and any areas set aside for dumpsters properly screened. Liquor license approvals shall remain in compliance as necessary. and no amplified noise except for special events adherence to the st louis county noise code this was added by the planning commission at their may 11th meeting that's the the conditions that were approved by the planning commission if this special use permit is to be approved the and then i do have the revised site plan that was submitted by the applicant at the June 3 meeting with the revised site layout. And I have those on the screen if we need to refer to them at all. That summarizes the, I'll leave it on this one, that summarizes the special use permit, but if there's any other questions from council, I will try to answer them. Council. Council Member Luther.

Thank you, Mayor. I have a question. Are there any outstanding code violations related to the property?

There are some outstanding code violations related to the property. Public works staff, we did get a document from the prosecuting attorney's office that listed active court cases as of July 14. And I do have that document. uh... with me uh... i can i can summarize those and have it entered into the record if if that's appropriate please i'll summarize the first uh... includes so the code violations include sign that needs to be repaired dumpsters in need of being properly screened two related to a trailer illegally parked on the lot two related to a storage container that was placed on the rear portion of the property two related to exterior furniture that were placed on the uh this is in the rear portion of the building a trailer that was parked on the grass uh as opposed to on a paved surface and then there are two that were just recently ISSUED ONES RELATED TO METAL POSTS ON THE, I GUESS THAT ISSUED ONES RELATED TO METAL POSTS ON THE, I GUESS THAT ISSUED ON THE, I GUESS THAT WOULD BE THE LOWER LEVEL OF WOULD BE THE LOWER LEVEL OF WOULD BE THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. THE BUILDING. THE BUILDING. METAL POSTS IN A DETERIORATING METAL POSTS IN A DETERIORATING METAL POSTS IN A DETERIORATING STATE AND THEN ALSO FOR THE TRAILER STATE AND THEN ALSO FOR THE TRAILER STATE AND THEN ALSO FOR THE TRAILER PARKED ON THE GRASS.

PARKED ON THE GRASS. PARKED ON THE GRASS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I'D LIKE THE COUR So that summarizes the court, I'm sorry, the code violations that are in court.

Any further, Council Member Luther?

I DO HAVE A QUESTION, YES, ABOUT THE CAPACITY OF THE BUSINESS INSIDE AND THEN OUTSIDE AND THEN, SO TOTAL, AGAIN WITH THE ADDITIONAL 10, SEATING THE REQUEST. AND THEN I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD KNOW THIS, MAYBE IT'S BETTER FOR THE APPLICANT, BUT MY LAST QUESTION IS THE LARGEST GROUP THAT HAS PARTICIPATED IN A SPECIAL EVENT THERE. SO I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN ANSWER THAT. OKAY.

INDOOR CAPACITY OF THE BUILDING, PUBLIC WORK STAFF IN DISCUSSION WITH THE ROBERTSON FIRE DISTRICT, THE MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY LOAD FOR THE INTERIOR SPACE IS 99. THE APPLICANT DID INFORM STAFF THAT THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED OUTDOOR DINING AREA HAD SEATING FOR 40. AND THE IN THE PROPOSED EXPANSION, THEY'VE STATED THEIR REQUEST IS TO ALLOW SEATING FOR 10, 10 ADDITIONAL SEATS. REGARDING THE LARGEST, I DON'T KNOW AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE I'M NOT SURE IF THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER BUT I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE HELD SPECIAL EVENTS A FEW TIMES AND GONE THROUGH THE SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT PROCESS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MAXIMUM IS. THE ZONING ORDINANCE REQUIRES THAT FOR OUTDOOR EVENTS. um so we've and those go through public works staff review police department review we've asked for documentation of approval from adjacent property owners for parking if necessary and things of that nature i don't know what the capacity of those have been thank you council member norris yes sir um i do have a question um for chief lovell i was told he had to

come in front of the, or should we wait until?

We're going to ask for the applicant to come forward. OK, applicant. I'm sorry. Beg your pardon. Yeah.

Zach, can I have one more question? Is there any way, was there any accidents involved in any of these code violations or anything like that?

With these code violations, the ones that I listed, no accidents that I'm aware of. OK. All right.

OK. That's all I, thank you.

OK. You're welcome.

council member sato yes thank you mayor um the previous meeting we talked about having bollards out there instead of just a fence that's not going to really stop a car from coming through or uh has there been any more research as far as putting any kind of metal or concrete bollards to keep you know other than the discussion hitting people maybe sitting you know sitting there on a table or something like that uh no no further discussion um and i think i had stated at the last meeting that if if council did want to require that they would have to add it as a condition

EITHER AS ITS OWN CONDITION OR YOU COULD TIE IT INTO ONE OF THE OTHER CONDITIONS THAT I HAD LISTED BEFORE.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL OR MR. GREATENS? I SEE NONE. THANK YOU. IS THE APPLICANT HERE AND WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD? I NEED TO SWEAR YOU IN. Please raise your right hand. OK. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Yes. OK. Thank you. Please state your name and address to the city clerk.

LaKeisha Sanders, 12207 Nature Bridge.

Thank you. Council, do you have questions of the applicant? Council Member Luther.

Yes, so I asked about the capacity for the inside and outside.

Well, the capacity, when I first opened the business, it was 149.

For the inside and outside?

For the inside. There was no, from what I was told by my architect that I hired, and from the fire marshal, because it's not an enclosed space on the outside, there's no capacity outside.

When you say there's no capacity?

I mean, there's no limit amount of people outside. So I don't know where we got 40 from. 99 came mid-year, like last year. They made me drop my occupancy load.

Okay, so.

Because they said it was a mistake in the code book.

OK so it appears that there's some confusion as to what your interior capacity.

There's no confusion. It's 99 right now.

OK it's 99 on the inside and then it's unlimited on the outside.

Unlimited on the outside. Yes.

OK and then so you're asking for additional seating for 10 on the patio correct.

Yes, this is wasted space. So yes, I'm asking for additional see.

And then what's the largest group group that you've ever had in your space because I know you've had some special events there just rough numbers.

I was that maybe a 150.

And then I do have another question. And it has to do with the report of a car that came through one of the storefronts in that parking area. It was a storefront. It wasn't. It happened twice. It happened twice.

Yeah, it happened when Mr. Clark was there. And it also happened, I guess, maybe three months ago. And it wasn't Terminal 3. It was down the walkway at the salon.

Right. So what steps are being taken to prevent something like that happening again?

I'm not sure. You'll have to ask the owner. I'm not the owner of that building.

Right, but the parking that you use for your business is along that stretch, correct?

Yes.

Thank you.

Any further questions? Council Member Norris.

Yeah, I'm I guess I'm confused about your answer that. In the notes, it says 40 would you say unlimited.

So don't be confused because when I first opened the business. They say I had no there was no limits on the outside because it's not an enclosed space. So you can run it by the fire marshal. I don't know what a number 40 came from this new to me too.

Because I've never heard of unlimited outside use for any of our facilities. So we will clear that up.

Thank you. There was no limit on the outside.

So when you say that, you could have 100 people on the outside?

If I want to, because there's no limit. I see. All right. Thank you. But I wouldn't do anything that's not safe. Okay. All right. Thank you.

Council members any further questions of the applicant. Okay, I have a question yes, you remove part of the sidewalk in front of your business at the what was the reason for that it was all cracked up it was it was cracked up and it was unsafe. Is that being replaced.

Yes, I want to replace it. That's why we're going through this permit. They said I had to get the seating approved first before I could replace the concrete. They said this, Zach told me this was the first step.

OK. I would love to replace that I was told that the sidewalk was taken up because you had a water issue there you were trying to figure out where the water was coming from is that not correct.

Well now that's that's not correct now.

Council member Norris I have one it was cracked up. I have one more question that was a handicap parking aren't you supposed to get permission to move those part a handicap parking.

It was a handicap or a handicap to have a handicap parking spot is still there okay. All right, thank you.

Councilmember Luther yes, and my apologies if this is in the materials and I just overlooked it the the patio fencing What would that material be made of the we'll just put?

The fencing that's already there.

We'll just continue that same fencing and what type what type of fence is that is that? It's a plastic metal. Oh, I don't know its limit. Yeah, and is it is it anchored in the in?

Yes, it would be anchored in the ground.

Okay.

I think they submitted the drawings and the material.

My apologies if I didn't see it.

Any further questions? Thank you.

You're welcome.

Chief Lovell, would you like to come forward, please? Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

Yes.

Thank you. Please state your name and address to the city.

Bryce Lovell, Chief of Police for the City of Bridgeton, 12355 Natural Bridge Road, Bridgeton, Missouri, 63044.

Thank you. Council, Council Member Norris.

Chief, question, how many service calls from 2024 to present has Terminal 3 had? Total is 73. 73. 73. All right. And I just need a procedure. You know, it was brought up about the fire marshal in previous testimony, but what is the procedure of an occupancy complaint if it goes over

So occupancy restrictions are made by fire code, and those are enforced by the fire department. If our officers see that they believe they may be over capacity, the procedure would be to call the fire department and request the fire marshal respond, because that's all done by the fire department.

And that fire department is Roberts Robertson fire department. Yes. And do they come on all request.

They don't show up on all of them now. I know there were at least a few that they did not come. Did they give a reason for that. I don't know what the reasons were that was that conversation was had any on duty supervisor and whoever that's not all right OK. All right that's all the questions I have.

Any other questions of chief. I see none. Thank you. Yes, sir. Is there anyone in the audience that would like to come forward at this time and speak in favor of the special use permit?

No.

Council would you like to make the decision if she would like to speak again all in favor say aye aye okay go ahead.

I want to know what do the police calls have to do with get you guys approved then this special use permit special seating permit question.

So so the Council doesn't answer questions and in the public hearing the public hearing is for the purpose of the Council gathering information.

Okay. Okay. So do I need to schedule a meeting because I feel like this was well, don't worry about it. I got it. Thank you.

Is there anyone in the audience that would like to come forward and speak in favor of this special use permit? I see none. Anyone in the audience that would like to come forward and speak in opposition of this special use permit? I see none. This public hearing will come to a close. Thank you. Next item on the agenda, we have emergency legislation contracts and bids.

Councilmember Shearer. I move to approve Compass Minerals America Inc. as additional supplier of sodium chloride for the 27-28 in accordance with their bid of June 25th, 2026. Second.

Motions made by Councilmember Shearer, seconded by Councilmember Norris to approve the bid for sodium chloride. Any discussion? I see none.

This is voice. I can be voice.

All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I hear none. This bid is approved. Thank you. Next item on the agenda. We have perfection of bills versus bill number 6, 5, 5, 4. So we got we have another emergency council members here again.

I move to approve the emergency repair for the government center's fuel system according to United Petroleum's quote 260414 revision 1 dated July 8, 2026 in the amount of $11,185.29. Second.

Motions made by Councilmember Shearer, seconded by Councilmember Norris, to approve the emergency repair for the government center. Discussion? Mr. Gunn, would you like to give a further explanation?

Basically we need to replace the motor and suction pump on the existing fueling point At the City Hall or excuse me is at the City Hall parking lot. It's in the back there by the police department In fact, it's broken right now. I we tried gassing up all day and because of the temperatures It's pretty warm out there even with a full tank. It's got vapor lock and it's just not working so all the police cars And the senior van are having to go to the garage to fuel up. So the sooner we get this fixed and replaced, the better for everybody.

Council, I have some questions. Council Member Luther?

Thank you, Mayor. I have a question for Mr. Gunn. So this is not a budgeted expense, or do you have it correct? This is something that just came up? Correct. And then is there a contingency in the budget for things like this?

We'll take it out of a different account and this have to watch it. Well how we spend things that come it's coming out of maintenance of City Hall, so Thank you, is that the original pump correct? It's original and it is how it is since this building has been it's it's a manufacturer dates 2009 so we got our money's worth out of it.

Okay Thank you very much

Any further questions or discussion? I see none. All in favor of the approval of this emergency repair, quote 260414, in the amount of $11,185.29, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I hear none. It is approved, thank you. Now, perfection of bills. First, 6554, Councilmember Norris.

Thank you, Mayor. Move for second reading of bill number 6554.

Second.

Motion's made by Councilmember Norris, seconded by Councilmember Luther. For second reading of bill number 6554, all in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I hear none, please continue.

An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Bridgeton, Missouri, readopting sections of 105.500 through 105.540 of the City of Bridgeton Code of Ordinances relating to conflicts of interest and financial disclosures. Move that bill number 6554 become ordinance. 26-32.

Second. Motions made by Council Member Norris, seconded by Council Member Sattel, that bill number 6554 become ordinance 26-32. Discussion?

Council Member Luther.

Yeah, just for the benefit of everyone here, is there, what prompted this? Is there something substantive? Is this a refresh? Could we just have a, it's that ground for that?

I'm gonna recognize the city attorney.

Thank you. So the Missouri Ethics Law, Chapter 105, Missouri statutes requires public officials to submit financial disclosure statements, conflict of interest disclosure statements, But the statute says that if a governmental entity, in this case it's the city, adopts its own policy once every two years, then it allows the public officials to fill out a shorter form and submit it to the Ethics Commission. So most public entities will do this every two years.

Thank you very much.

Thank you. Any further discussion? I see none. The clerk will call the roll.

Council Member Norris. Aye. Council Member Patel. Aye. Council Member Sattel.

Aye.

Council Member Shearer.

Aye.

Council Member Luther.

Aye.

By a vote of five to zero, bill number 6554 becomes ordinance 26-32. Next item, second reading of 6555. Council Member Luther?

Thank you, Mayor. Move for a second reading of bill number 6555. Second.

Motion's made by Council Member Luther, seconded by Council Member Norris for a second reading of bill number 6555. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I hear none. Please continue.

Thank you, Mayor. An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Bridgeton, Missouri, application 26-PZ-09, request for rezoning approximately 17.38 acres of land located at 13130, 13134, and 13156 Missouri Bottom Road from R1 single-family dwelling districts to M1 Manufacturing District. Move that bill number 6555 become ordinance number 26-33. Second.

Motion's made by Councilmember Luther, seconded by Councilmember Norris. That bill number 6555 become ordinance 26-33. Discussion? I see none. The clerk will call the roll.

Council Member Patel. Aye. Council Member Sattel.

Aye.

Council Member Shearer.

Aye.

Council Member Luther. Aye. Council Member Norris. Aye.

I vote a five to nothing. Bill number 6555 becomes ordinance 26-33. Next item, consideration of new bills. First, bill 6556, Councilmember Luther.

Thank you, Mayor. Move for first reading of bill number 6556. Second.

Motion's made by Councilmember Luther, seconded by Councilmember Norris for first reading of bill number 6556. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I hear none. Please continue.

Thank you, Mayor. An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Bridgeton, Missouri authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute an agreement substantially in the form attached hereto with ideal landscape for general improvements at Hellebush Park IN AN AMOUNT OF $360,766. I'LL READ THAT AGAIN. $360,766.21. MOVE TO TABLE BILL NUMBER 6556. Second.

Motion's made by Council Member Luther, seconded by Council Member Norris to table Bill Number 6556. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I hear none. Bill Number 6556 is tabled. Next item, first reading of Bill Number 6557. Again, Council Member Luther.

Thank you, Mayor. Move for first reading of Bill Number 6557. Second.

MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER LUTHER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER NORRIS FOR FIRST READING OF BILL NUMBER 6557. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? I HEAR NONE. PLEASE CONTINUE.

An ordinance of the City Council of the city of bridged in Missouri authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute an agreement substantially in the form attached here to with stormwater erosion specialties and excavation Inc for Lake dredging at hella Bush Park in an amount of 24,000 $575 move to table bill number 6, 5, 5, 7. Second.

Motion's made by Council Member Luther, seconded by Council Member Norris. To table, Bill Number 6557. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I hear none. Bill Number 6557 is tabled. Next item. Of course, we continue the discussion item to August 5th. So, the Attorney's Report. I have nothing to report, Mayor.

Thank you.

Thank you. Council Communications. I'll start with Council Member Sotelo.

Yes, thank you, Mayor. I'm glad the gentleman this evening spoke up about the e-bikes. I ride an e-bike also, but I do also have a motorcycle license for him. When I do ride it, it's still legal. But I sent pictures, my wife and I sent pictures over to our police department showing three kids on the back of one where they're hanging off the back. totally looks totally unsafe uh even today i saw some making circles over in bridgeway subdivision you know just going three or four times around and they're only like 12 years old the you know some of these children i mean i'm calling kids okay there's no way they have a driver's license uh we've seen recently other municipalities i got in st charles and certain areas like that they're passing them and they can we see them online And I believe we do need to push something forward. Illinois is pushing some things forward as well, so I think we need to do some research and see what else is going on in the state of Missouri. And I think the chief can follow through and bring us something that we should be passing hopefully this summer before the summer is over and somebody gets killed at this. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Patel.

Thank you, Mary. I have nothing.

Council members here. Thank you, Mayor. The parade was great. It was fun. Councilman Shearer was very thankful. The Pattonville Fire Department was there with their ladder and sprinkler truck because I headed right forward at the end of the parade. I may have been the first one in it, but other than that, that's all I got. Thank you.

Thank you. Councilmember Norris.

Thank you, Mayor. I want to thank to all the staff and the volunteers for the hard work and the planning and the participating, making the 26 parade so successful. Speaking of the Pattonville Fire Department, their float was outstanding again. They represented, if you didn't see it, the General George Washington crossing the Delaware River. They built that boat. They love getting involved with our community, and so I thought it was a great float. I believe they won second prize, but their first in my book. And also, congratulations to all of the participants. And sorry Mother Nature gave us quite a surprise with our fireworks party. You know, we can't predict what the rainstorm is going to do. A plan, a flash flood, you know, you can make every kind of plan, but, you know, she's the boss, and we have to work with Mother Nature. So we will be working with staff to evaluate future plans. I do have a question for the chief. Sorry, chief. Someone asked me, and I know it's legal, but regarding, and you don't have to answer tonight if you could give maybe just the code for the state of Missouri, where you can smoke marijuana or i guess they call it cannabis now what is the state ordinance i just was wondering if you can smoke it outside inside i i i guess not in your car but i just if you could give me some direction because i didn't really know the answer to that so if you could give us something to that we can keep in our file that i can ask that you know answer that question And then I also, on July the 17th, the Kiwanis Club is having our golf tournament at our wonderful Berry Hill. This is our first time doing our charity event, thanks to Doug Castellari and our own Vicki Ventrilo-Meyer. She's a member of our Kiwanis Club. She is the chairman of the golf tournament. I appreciate the city of Bridgeton hosting and working to provide a great location. Good luck to all the golfers. And remember, all the proceeds go to the children of the Bridgeton area in scholarships. Our fishing derby is all sponsored by the Kiwanis. And that's all I have, Mayor. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Council Member Luther?

Thank you, Mayor. Again, July 4th is always, you know, you've got to be in a small town to enjoy July 4th, don't you? When you've got a parade and you're handing out, not throwing candy. And it's really great. That's where it is. I'll take the Bridgeton parade over any parade here in the area. So it was great. The weather doesn't always cooperate with us, it seems like. is that ever frustrating uh we were ready to go in the rain but but that that doesn't work for other people such as the pyrotechnics crew so thanks everyone for managing that i do want to mention that ward 3 will have its next quarterly meeting a week from tonight at 6 30 here in city hall I did want to address another meeting that's coming up It's a subcommittee that we have of counsel the code ordinance violation enforcement that meeting We've rescheduled that for August 19th, and we probably need to put that on the calendar at 630 p.m. And one of the items that we'll be discussing and it was actually brought up by our former chief Masati is is managing e-bikes, managing the regulations surrounding them. So we're going to bring that up at that meeting. I know you've been doing a lot of homework. I'm looking at the chief. Others have as well. And I did want to ask that when it comes your turn, if you could tell us about existing laws that we have on the books that apply to e-bikes. I guess we can generally refer to them as e-bikes. And then my last item is, and I may have asked for this before, but I will do it again. If I could ask our city administrator to give us an update on the status of filling the finance director position, the status of the audit, and the status of managing the day-to-day financial matters of the city, how that's going. Thank you.

Thank you. Staff reports. I'll start with public works director, Robert Gunn.

Nothing to report tonight.

What? Parks and Rec Director Brendan Cain.

I have a lot of people that I wanted to thank for the success of the parade, Independence Day Parade. So bear with me, I have a little bit of a list. St. Louis Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram for letting us use their Jeeps. For the parade marshal, Mark Massati, who was generous enough with his time to be involved in the parade. The gold sponsors, Leonardo DRS and Republic Services, for their contributions to the event. All the participants. There's a lot of volunteers and a lot of staff that put a lot of work and planning into it. It really does take a village to pull that off. So I appreciate everybody that helped. We do a post-parade meeting every year with staff. We review all the survey feedback that we get from the participants. We look over staff notes and we try our best to tweak it and make improvements for the next year. And I did send out a memo this morning to council in case anybody didn't see it. We are rescheduling the fireworks for the Fall Fest. That'll be Friday, October 2nd at BMAC, 6 to 8.30. So we look forward to that. We'll work up some marketing that shows the fireworks will be included in that event. Dive-In Movie is coming up Friday, July 31st at the Outdoor Pool. Gates will open at 7 o'clock, and the movie will start a little after 8 when it's dark enough to see it. Lilo & Stitch is the movie. Tickets are available on Monday at the Rec Center. That's all I've got.

Any questions on Mr. Kane? I see none. Oh, Council Member Norris.

And it's I don't want to use the word, but I'll use it. I've kind of free for all for there's no passes involved. You're not we not so I can tell my people not to hold their passes.

That's correct. They don't need to hold the passes. We're confident that 800 and 800 or so spaces will be enough. And we're still working out some logistics, but we plan to have some shuttle to take from one lot to the other because Fall Fest is over by the soccer field. So we'll have people shuttled over there that park on the far side.

Because, you know, I mean, don't they, some of the stuff is parked on the parking lot? Some of the, are you going to try moving that off the lot so we'll have as many parking spaces as possible?

They use that one part of the parking lot closest to the soccer field. Okay. So they will use that for some of the vendors and food trucks and things, but the rest of it and then the smaller lot will be available.

Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Brenda.

All right. City Administrator Kevin Bookout.

There was a question about the Finance Office. Things are going well in the office. I've been communicating with our interim that we have there. He told me over the last two days he's made really good progress. I know he had a meeting yesterday with Sikich, our auditor. He is continually getting documents to them. So that's going really well. On the interviews, we had some interviews this week for filling the finance officer position. We've got some more scheduled next week. We're very hopeful with those interviews. We had some good ones this week and looking forward to those next week.

Council Member Luther?

May I ask, because I've been asked, is there going to be a mid-year budget review? And if so, when might that be?

Yeah, the mayor and I have talked, and we did have to push that back a little, so we're hoping to try to have that in early August, and we'll get back within the next week or so to the council on a date that may work for everybody.

Okay, and that's a public meeting? Yes, it is. That would be a public meeting? Yes.

Okay.

That's all I have, Mayor. Thank you.

Thank you. Mayor's report. Oh. Did you have any more to say?

Chief Lovell. I didn't until I had council questions. So Council Member Norris, to your question about the cannabis, it is legal to smoke in your own private property. While it's legal to possess, you cannot smoke it in a car, you cannot smoke it in a public place. You also cannot smoke it in an area where it would infringe upon someone else's private space. So if you're smoking in your backyard and your neighbor's complaining because the cloud of smoke is going into their yard, that's technically part of our nuisance ordinance. And as for Councilmember Luther's question about the e-bikes, the only thing we have on the books that pertains to them right now is very broad. All it says is you have to have a valid license to operate one on a public roadway. That's all we have. That's all I have, Mayor.

Any further questions of Chief Lovell? I SEE NONE.

ONE MORE. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY, MAYOR. I'M SORRY. WHEN YOU SAY PUBLIC SPACES, IT CAN'T BE DONE IN A RESTAURANT OR ANYTHING. YOU CAN'T COME IN WALKING IN. YOU CANNOT. OKAY. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER SOTIL. YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR. PUBLIC SPACES, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME SITTING ON THE FRONT PORCH AND EVERYONE IS LIKE, THERE GOES A CLOUD. THEY'RE ILLEGAL BECAUSE THEY'RE SMOKING GOING DOWN THE FIFI ROAD AND YOU SEE THE SMOKE COMING OUT THE WINDOWS AND IT'S LIKE, OH, MY GOODNESS, ANOTHER SKUNK WALKED BY.

TECHNICALLY, YES, THAT IS NOT LEGAL.

Have they come up with anything like they do for alcohol testing, for drug testing for this yet?

Not at this point, no.

Just under, okay. So really you can't ever pull them over and do an intoxication test on them? Not really.

If they're visibly impaired enough, you could request a blood draw, but that's the only way you can test for marijuana. All right. Thank you.

All right. Mayor's report. thank you to all in attendance and to those who will be watching this meeting at a later time i'd like to thank all of our hard-working employees for their time and talent that led to a successful 2026 fourth of july parade i also want to thank the many volunteers from various commissions and boards that contributed to the success of the parade as well I do want to set the record straight about a comment that Council Member Sotil made at the last council meeting. He indicated that I had made arrangements for a certain individual to contract for the cleanup of a specific property in Bridgeton. The Public Works Department handles the arrangement for contractors to be, to have properties come into compliance if the property owner doesn't do it. He mentioned Tim Sanders, and that individual was not the contractor who cleaned up the property that was in question on Lindbergh.

Just wanted to let you know that.

We have a quantity of commemorative 250-year Bridgestone Fourth of July parade t-shirts left. Use sizes are now $8 each, and all adult sizes are $12 each while supplies last. Don't forget to exercise your right to vote on August the 4th. There are still four openings on the Historical Commission, three on IDA, one on the Park Board, and one on the Streets Commission. Resident and Economic Development Advisory Commission member Luke Bland and myself attended the St. Peter's Roundtable discussion yesterday. They have this quarterly, and we were just curious on what kind of topics they talk about and what their format is. It was held at the Water's Edge Banquet Center, which is at the St. Peter's Golf Course. Very nice, nice facility they have there. The featured speaker was Mike Hurlburt, and he is the economic development person for the Council of St. Charles County. Very informative information he gave. He did say that the population of St. Charles County grew by 44,000 between 2015 and 2025, while St. Louis County lost 7,600 in population. They also added about 25,000 jobs in St. Charles County in that same time period. I do want to tell you that St. Charles County medium housing in 2025, the cost of a house, the average price was $325,000, while St. Louis County was $288,000. And I want to tell you that we're right up there. We're right in between the two here in Bridgeton, between 300 and 310,000 last year was our median housing price. Also, I was impressed By him saying that it looks like there's gonna be more people moving from St. Louis County to St. Charles County, what I wanna say by being impressed, it made me think, what are we gonna do here in Bridgeton? I think we need to have an agenda. on how to retain our population here in Bridgeton and also maybe grow it one way or another. They mentioned that starter homes and senior living residents are big in St. Charles County. So if we can kind of take that and put it into our plan, I think that'd be a good start in order to retain our population and grow our population.

that's all i have unless i have any questions of council council member norris what did he indicate the starting home was did you just say senior living and starter homes correct did he give a price on those starter homes 325 000 well that's the medium price yes okay

All right, thank you. Okay. Senior housing, you know, apartments, like I don't know if any of you visited Ferg's apartment out there, very nice one-bedroom studio apartment. I wasn't senior. But something like that. And we do have land in Bridgeton where this could be done either by teardown or land out in the floodplain that can be corrected with a levee out there or be raised out of the floodplain.

Anybody else?

Yes.

Council Member Luther?

I guess I didn't hear it. Yes, and if you mention this, I apologize, I missed it. Do you want to talk a little bit about a conversation, ongoing conversations that we're having about signage for the city?

So, Councilmember Luther and myself and Mr. Gunn met last week regarding signage for Bridgeton. Welcome to Bridgeton. And also, I don't want to say wayfinding signs, but directional signs. pointing people in the right direction to BMAC, the rec center, and also the golf course. So this is gonna be something that's gonna be discussed further next week with our Economic Development Advisory Commission. And just keep in mind that anything that is agreed upon is going to cost money. And there is some money for marketing, so we could get started with that this year. But to continue it, we'll have to put more money in the budget next year. So just keep that in mind as discussions go further. And also, the discussion item on the agenda this evening That's regarding obsolete signs in Bridgeton. I went around this morning and I took about 30 pictures of signs that I saw that need to be removed or taken down or covered up, whatever the case may be. Please, if you have time, go around and pick out some other ones that you see. I started on Lundberg and I came around to... the Cypress Village Shopping Center over there, and then I came west on St. Charles Rock Road all the way to Natural Bridge and then went up towards City Hall here on Natural Bridge. But I'll have pictures of those signs for the discussion at our next council meeting, and I'll probably go out and get some more between now and then just to show you what we're talking about. I know there's been discussion in the past about these obsolete signs. Again, keep in mind that We cannot we can contact the property owners. We can contact the business owners if they do nothing No, and you still want them down. We will have to contract with the sign company to do that for us So again, there's funds involved All right motion for adjournment so moved second motions made by councilmember Luther seconded by councilmember Sutil to adjourn the meeting all in favor say aye aye any opposed The meetings adjourned. Thank you