City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. Welcome to the August 5, 2026 meeting of the city council. Please rise, and we will say the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. The clerk will call the roll.

Council Member Bozzata.

Here.

Councilmember Shear?

Here.

Councilmember Luther?

Here.

Councilmember Norris? Here. Councilmember Patel? Here. Councilmember Thornburg? Here. Councilmember Sattel? Here. Councilmember Weshe?

Here. All eight councilmembers are present. Next item on the agenda is the agenda approval. Do I have a motion?

So moved. Second.

MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCILMEMBER LUTHER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER PATEL. FOR THE APPROVAL OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA, ARE THERE ANY CHANGES? DELETIONS? SUBTRACTIONS? NOTHING? ALL IN FAVOR OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? I HEAR NONE. Next item is public comment.

We do not have any cards.

We'll move on to.

Oh, we do have cards, okay. I saw them.

We have three. Okay, let's start with Julia Early. Is that correct? In low. In low, okay. Please come forward. State your name and address for the city clerk.

My name is Julia and low and my address is 10421 Breckenridge. However, I'm here on behalf of Strawberry schools. And I'm just here basically to answer any questions that you guys may have when we get to that point, or if you guys need any further information to try to get our sign approved.

Thank you, thank you. Shelly Mason.

I have a 4188 Thailand. Once again, I'm here for Strawberry School. So if we get a chance to speak before that, I was told that we needed to speak now before you had the variance. So I didn't know if we'd have a chance to speak or not at that point. Concerning the sign variance.

Council can ask you to come forward and answer questions at that time. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Young. How are you, sir?

Mayor, council members, good to see you all in attendance tonight.

State your name and address.

Robert Young, 12041 Chaparral Drive, Ward 3. Okay, I'm here tonight. I don't know if you guys over by us on Old St. Charles felt it about 4 o'clock, this eruption from the quarry down at Webber. or if the city's aware of it, but this today really shook our house bad. I don't know if anybody else experienced it, but is there anything in place, Mayor, that detects these things or does any geological things for the benefit of our homes, let's say, if not our own well-being with these explosions, or am I off course here or what?

so uh this is just a public comment uh yes it is yes it is so we will take that under advisement uh tomorrow i'll get together with public works and the city administrator and see what we can find out we definitely felt it here in the building here also so that's what i'm saying it just seems to have gotten worse over the years i've been a resident for over 30 years and i've i've got cracks in my walls i don't know that they got any bigger today but

you know it seems to be a problem that just seems to get worse at my house i don't know if it's everywhere the same but i just wanted to make that comment and i appreciate everybody and if you'd look into it that'd be great thank you very much good evening thanks bob i have no further cards next item is the approval of the minutes from july the 15th do i have a motion so moved

Second. Motion's made by Council Member Luther, seconded by Council Member Patel for the approval of the amendments from July the 15th. Do we have any changes, additions, deletions, friendly amendments? I see none. All in favor of the approval of the amendments for July 15, 2026, say aye.

Aye.

Council Member Weschke.

I just wanted to say I'm going to abstain. I wasn't here.

Okay, I'll comment on that during my mayor's report. All right, so we have seven ayes, one abstention. We're good, thank you. Next item. Under appointments, presentations, proclamations, and introductions, we have a presentation of MRCC certification to City Clerk Bridget Waters. Please come forward.

Good evening, Mayor and City Council. My name is June Frazier. I am the City Clerk for the City of Clayton, and I'm honored to be here tonight. And I'd like to introduce... My name is Tracy Williams. I'm the City Clerk in Flint Hill.

Hello, I'm Emily Galantowicz, the Assistant City Clerk for the City of St. Charles.

I am Dorothy Matthews, City Clerk for the Village of Hanley Hills.

I am Jean Burks. I am at the City of Clayton Police Administrative Supervisor.

All right. Thank you.

And we are here on behalf of the Missouri City Clerks and Finance Officers Association to recognize and celebrate a significant professional achievement by your city clerk, Bridget Waters. MOCCFOA is a professional organization providing opportunities and resources for professional development and continuing education designed to assist members in the performance of their daily job responsibilities and equip them to face the future with confidence. With changing state statutes and rules governing cities, it is vital that someone is current on those changes and regulations. The organization continues to strive to ensure that education is relevant to the needs and position of a city clerk. Bridget has recently earned her MRCC, Missouri Registered City Clerk. This designation reflects a meaningful combination of education, training, and real-world experience. It represents a strong commitment to the profession and to the continued growth and Bridget should be applauded for her dedication and perseverance in reaching this milestone. Bridget's achievements not only benefits her personally and professionally, but also brings tremendous value to the city of Bridgeton, its leadership, and its residents. By supporting her pursuit of certification, you, as elected officials, demonstrate your commitment to excellence in local government and your recognition of the important role professional development plays in effective city management. On behalf of the Missouri City Clerks and Finance Officers Association, and especially from your colleagues in the Eastern Division, we offer our heartfelt congratulations to Bridget Waters. We are proud to present her with this certificate of appreciation and recognition of her accomplishment. Congratulations, Bridget. I'm not sure if most of you know, but I'm her mother.

Yeah. For the audience, a chip off the old block, I guess they would say.

Oh.

And if you don't know, that's her auntie. Oh.

Cheers. Okay. I read, though. Oh, is it right there, girl? Oh. Oh.

Thank you.

Thank you for your time Yes, thank you appreciate it nice seeing you again Great job Bridget you do wonderful here for us. We appreciate all your hard work. Thank you. I Next item under appointments, presentations, proclamations, and introductions. Council members, I put before you one appointment for a new member to the historical commission and along with four reappointments to three various commissions there. Does somebody want to make a motion? So moved. Second motions made by a council member was she seconded by council member Sattel for the approval of the Appointment and the reappointments that I have presented before you all in favor say aye aye Any opposed? I hear none all are appointed or reappointed. Thank you Next item on the agenda we have a sign variance councilmember Thornburg I

I'm sorry Mary, I don't.

For the agenda.

OK, I need to approve. Yes, right.

OK, do you have the sign variance here in front of you? I do OK. Motions made to approve the sign variance for Strawberry School.

Second.

Is there a second? Second. Motion's made by Council Member Thornburg, seconded by Council Member Bezzata. Discussion? Any comments? Council Member Thornburg?

No comments, Your Honor.

Council? Any questions? I see one. Council Member Norris?

Yes, sir. The notes on here said that the ground sign are too large and the signs also are being put in a residential zone neighborhood. So, and they both, the designer review all voted nay. So, I just was, I mean, we have to... I wish they would have come to our office. They've been building for some time. I wish they would have, because we want it done, but we need to follow our rules.

Let me address the, so the zoning is not residential. It is commercial. I'll let Mr. Gunn address that. Okay. So it's not in a residential neighborhood. Mr. Gunn?

Mr. Hunt, so that's in a planned district, a planned commercial district. Okay. Okay.

So you're just considering the size variance. It's up to you whether you want to approve it or not. Any further questions?

Well, just one more. Was the design review told that was not in a residential zone neighborhood?

Talking with staff and looking at the packets of the first variance is just because the wall sign is a little too big because we do the calculations it has to do with what planes are looking at so even though you're looking at the whole entire front of the building because it's it's on the bump out where the walk through is or your opening is they're limited so it might seem like well there's plenty of spaces there for a sign like this it's just because of how we do our calculations are going to be a little bit over but as you can see from the picture the sign they have here fits very well within this within the whole entire front of that building the second part of the variance is going to be this they have a combination sign where the part where the American flag is, that's where the LED is. And then the rest of it is just kind of with the kids. And that stays, that never changes. So just the flag is the LED. So that meets the standard. So we don't have a problem with that. One thing we have a problem with is the sign as a whole is just a little too big. That's all. But it's a combination sign. It's pretty interesting, and it barely goes over the threshold. And it's a very big building and a pretty good-sized lot there on Phoebe.

Council Member Norris?

It says the well sign is 19 square feet over what is allowed. Yeah, I think that's a little more than a little bit. Just my opinion.

And once again, that's just because of the way it's calculated. They don't get to do the whole entire front. It's just the plane that that sign is actually on.

Any further questions? I see none. All in favor of the same variance, say aye. ROLL CALL. ROLL CALL. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.

COUNCIL MEMBER SHEAR.

NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER LUTHER.

AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER NORRIS. NAY. COUNCIL MEMBER PATEL. NAY. COUNCIL MEMBER THORNBURG.

AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER SATEL.

AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER WESHE.

AYE.

COUNCIL MEMBER BAZADA.

AYE.

3-5.

By a vote of 5 to 3, the sign variance passes. Sorry, Mayor. The sign variance requires six affirmative votes per Christian code. OK, it fails. Thank you. Council members to tell the Jews.

Yes, so it can only be changed if one of the no votes would change their mind is that correct mayor and so.

So only one of those 3 could actually change the outcome are just bring it up to attention. Thank you.

I see no lights. We will move on. Next item on the agenda, perfection of bills, bill number 6550, Councilmember Bezzata.

Motion for second reading of bill number 6550.

Second.

Motion's made by Councilmember Bezzata, seconded by Councilmember Luther for second reading of bill number 6550. All in favor say aye.

Aye. Any opposed?

I hear none. Please continue. An ordinance of the City Council, the City of British Missouri, application 26PZ-05, amending special use permit ordinance number 16-20 to expand the existing outdoor seating and dining area associated with the restaurant and bar located at 12207 Natural Bridge Road, Unit A. Move that bill number 6550 becomes ordinance number...

26-34?

Second.

Motion's made by Councilmember Bezzata, seconded by Councilmember Luther, that bill number 6550 becomes ordinance 26-34. Discussion? I see none. Continue. Move. Oh, sorry.

Move bill number 6550 to the table. Second.

Motion's made by Councilmember Bezada, seconded by Councilmember Sattel to move bill number 6550 to table. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed?

I hear none.

Please continue.

I move that the proposed use set forth in bill number 6550 be determined to promote the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the people of the city of Bridgeton in accordance with and in the accomplishment of the comprehensive zoning plan of the city, taking into consideration the effect of such building or use on traffic conditions, fire safety, character of the neighborhood, the general welfare of the community, and public utilities. Second.

Motions made and seconded. Please continue.

I find as a fact that the proposed use will have no adverse effect on the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the people of Bridgeton with respect to safety, excuse me, with respect to traffic conditions, fire safety, the character of the neighborhood, the general welfare of the community, or public utilities, and my vote is nay, citing traffic conditions.

Council Member Shearer.

I do not concur, and I vote nay on general welfare of the community.

I think you're concurring with the nay vote, but you're giving a different condition. Correct?

I think it's not the way you .

OK. OK.

Yes.

Council Member Norris.

Do not concur. My vote is nay. Character of the neighborhood.

Council Member Luther.

Concur and vote nay.

Council Member Patel. Sorry, concur with Council Member Norris.

Thank you, with Council Member, yes.

Council Member Patel.

I concur and vote nay with Council Member Norris.

Council Member Thornburg.

I concur and vote nay, citing traffic.

Council Member Sattel.

I concur and vote nay with the problem with traffic.

Council Member Weshe. I concur with Council Member Bezada and vote nay, citing traffic.

Okay. The vote is eight nays and no ayes. Council Member Bezada.

Motion to move. Excuse me. Let me read this one. Motion to remove bill number 6550 from the table. Second.

Motion is made by Council Member Bazzano, seconded by Council Member Luther to remove bill number 6550 from the table. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Please continue.

I move that bill number 6550 become ordinance number 26-34. Second.

Motion is made and seconded by Councilmember, made by Councilmember Bezada, seconded by Councilmember Luther that bill number 6550 becomes ordinance 26-34. The clerk will call the roll.

Councilmember Luther? Nay. Councilmember Norris? Nay. Councilmember Patel? Nay. Councilmember Thornburg?

Nay.

Councilmember Sattel?

Nay.

Councilmember Weshe?

Nay.

Council Member Bozzato? Nay. Council Member Shearer?

Nay. By a vote of 8 to nothing, Bill 6550 fails. Next item on the agenda, Bill number 6556, second reading. Council Member Luther?

Thank you, Mayor. Move for a second reading of Bill number 6556. Second.

Motions made by Councilmember Luther, seconded by Councilmember Norris for second reading of bill number 6556. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? 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. Move that bill number 6556 become ordinance number 25-

26-34?

Oh, excuse me, 26-34.

Second. Motions made by Councilmember Luther, seconded by Councilmember Sattel that bill number 6556 become ordinance 26-34. Discussion? Councilmember Luther?

Thank you, Mayor. Given that this is a very large sum of money for a large project in a park, I was wondering if I could ask staff, in particular Brendan Cain, to explain the grant structure process for this project.

Mr. Cain? Yeah, so this was a grant that we applied for last fall for Hellebush Park Phase 1. The city was awarded a grant in the amount of $465,000. And then the total project cost is estimated at $548,000. So the city would be responsible for the difference there, which is around $80,000. Some of that, a majority of that would be in-kind work. So staff would remove trees, install sod, things like that. But 465, a big majority of that is from the grant.

Council Member Luther.

yes and so that is true for the all of the grant related projects to hellebush park all of the large projects at hellebush park that are on the table tonight they are related to the grant correct yeah those are for phase one so we broke it down into three parts we did the general improvements um the uh lake dredging and then the dock uh dock and deck and that part will be separate we're still working on a contract on that one but the first two parts are on tonight thank you very much for that clarification and congratulations on the grant thanks

Any further questions? I see none. The clerk will call the roll.

Councilmember Norris? Aye. Councilmember Patel? Aye. Councilmember Thornburg? Aye. Councilmember Sotelo? Aye. Councilmember Weshe? Aye. Councilmember Bezada? Aye. Councilmember Shearer?

Aye.

Councilmember Luther? Aye.

By a vote of 8 to nothing, bill number 6556 becomes ordinance 26-34. Next item on the agenda, second reading of bill number 6557. Council Member Luther.

Thank you, Mayor. Move for a second reading of bill number 6557. Second.

Motions made by Council Member Luther, seconded by Council Member Norris for a second reading of bill number 6557. 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 stormwater erosion specialties and excavation ink for lake dredging at Hellebush Park in an amount of $24,575. Move that bill number 6557 becomes ordinance number 26-35.

Second. Motion's made by Council Member Luther, seconded by Council Member Sattel, that bill number 6557 becomes ordinance 26-35. Discussion? Council Member Sattel.

Yes, thank you, Mayor. I did have one question. I mean, I'm glad this is being done over there. Is there any determination what's going to happen with the fish over there when they start dredging this? Do you have any idea they're going to try to save them? Is there going to be a big fish tournament? Can you get an idea on that for the fish? I know we have the Kiwanis fishing tournament there, and they stock it from time to time. So I'm just curious about it.

Mr. Kane?

We do not have to drain the lake to do it. They take a vessel out onto the lake, and they scoop it out. So there will be no issues with any fish.

How can they scoop and maybe not get fish or the fish just swim out of the way maybe? Are they also doing the shallow end where the fountain was at from the spring? Are they doing that area as well too on the other side of the little walk bridge?

We did a survey, or they did a survey, and they could tell the area. So if you dredge the whole lake, you have to drain it and do the entire thing. But they were able to identify certain areas in the lake that need it that are beyond a certain threshold where it needed to be dredged. So it's only certain areas.

So they won't damage the area where we could reconnect the well back again with spring water back to the shallow area, which is what it used to have right there?

We don't anticipate any damage, no.

OK, SO IT'S JUST IN THE MAIN BIGGER PORTION, NOT IN THAT.

NO, IT'S IN THE IT'S IN THE SMALLER ONE AS WELL. SMALLER ONE. YEAH, THAT'S ONE OF THE AREAS TO BRIDGE.

OK. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? I SEE NONE. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.

Council Member Patel.

Aye.

Council Member Sattel. Aye. Council Member Thornburg.

Aye.

Council Member Weshe.

Aye.

Council Member Bezada.

Aye.

Council Member Shearer.

Aye.

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

By vote of 8 to nothing, bill number 6557 becomes ordinance 26-35. Next item on the agenda, consideration of new bills. Bill number 6558, Council Member Norris.

Thank you, Mayor. Move for first reading of bill number 6558.

Second.

Motions made by Councilmember Norris, seconded by Councilmember Shearer for first reading of bill number 6558. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I hear none. Continue.

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 here to with Motorola solutions for drone as first responder DFR program. Move to table.

Second.

Motion is made by Councilmember Norris, seconded by Councilmember Shearer to move to table bill number 6558. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I hear none. Bill number 6558 is tabled. Next item, discussion items, obsolete business signage. And I'll start the discussion. Mr. Gunn, do you have the photos that we can go through? As discussed at the, that's the last one. Can you start at the beginning? Okay. As discussed at the last council meeting, I went around a day and started over on Lindbergh going south and took pictures of buildings and obsolete signage, signs missing. There's one in disrepair. The company hasn't been in business for a long time. If you could go back one, please. That's West Haven. There's some businesses on there that are no longer in existence.

Next. Next. Whitehall Plaza.

That's where La Tijena is. Besides the sign that does not have a blank in above, I did find some code violations and I reported those also. But La Tijena sign is kind of in disrepair there. It's either rusting or fading. Keep going. And they have too many signs in their window. That's against city ordinance, I believe. Only a certain percentage of the windows can be covered. There's a sign there without anything in it, and that's for the shopping plaza down below the Northwest Inn.

Is that St. Ann back there, that retail center, or is that Bridgeton?

I don't think so. The sign's in Bridgeton.

Okay. And this is the Sherwin-Williams building. That looks nice. They took their signage down. Then we go back to the Rock Road. This is the retail center, strip center next door to Branneke Hardware. Some of those businesses are gone. That's the Rock Road Center. That sign there, I'm not sure if that home health care business is still in business, but the sign is in disrepair. There's another picture of it. I'm not sure if the hair braiding is still there. We probably need to check on that. But if they're not there, that sign is obsolete. This is where the India Bazaar was going to go. Oh, yeah. That's a sign or a post in a frame, but no insert in it. All right. Keep going down to Rock Road Plaza, Missouri Gold Buyers. How many years have they been going? Ten years or more, maybe? Continuing in that plaza, there's some signs that have been taken down. However, repairs haven't been made to the facade. Also there, you can see that a previous sign was taken down and holes haven't been filled in.

Mm-hmm.

And renew ship. Apparently they're going to be if they're not closed already they're going to be closing soon so that's going to be a consideration do we call them do we call the landlord keep going. This is down there in office where Office Depot is and Best Buy They had some signs out in front. I turn those in those are in violation of our code The ones down there at the bottom Keep going. Oh Circuit City, look at that. Somebody tried to cover it up, but it's in disrepair now along with the pole. Okay, keep going. West End Diving, they haven't been in business for a while.

Yeah, there's a new one in there.

Paul was in disrepair. Keep going. Is that the last one? Oh, across the street here, Bridgeton Crossing. There's a lot of those businesses that are no longer in existence. Keep going. Loves TV. They've been gone four or five years, I believe. Keep going.

I left a ladder inside.

That sign there, I believe that's in court They didn't get a permit for that size sign and they also added the electric out there and on the facade to plug the sign in Keep going This business is no longer in existence as far as I know And then we got the Carrollton Business Center across the street a lot of those businesses are gone and And then Dan's Factory, that's gone. That business might be still operating.

That's a nice new place, isn't it?

I believe the daycare center is still operating there. Broadnecks Plaza, a lot of those businesses are gone.

I think all of them are, except Airport Lock and Key and maybe the Hair Salon.

but the other ones are gone. And one more, I think, across the street, the old, I call it the, what was it, a brown cow? Is that what they called those drive-through dairies back in the day? Is that on there, Robert? Or was that at the top? Was that the one at the top?

So what do we do?

There it is. Another example of, they took the sign down, so you got an open box there with, fluorescent tubing showing. Anyway, those are pictures I've taken. I don't know if you've gone around and found any others you want to bring up. But this has been a topic of discussion for years, and I guess I want to see if there's any appetite. I think the place to begin is to contact the business owners if we can get a hold of them. If not, the property owners and if not where do we go from there do we want to get involved with spending money on removing signs and doing repairs uh putting in blanks um so i started this discussion i see i have a light i'll start with council members to tell thank you mayor um two buildings you left off was the two big man shops their signs and stuff like that but they're already in court

Are a lot of these others already in court as well? And just bringing that up, or is that the whole process? I mean, maybe the linen broker can explain. If all of these are already in court for the same reasons and nothing's getting done, just like those particular, what can we do legally?

I'm not sure that Lauren Landau's in court for his signage there.

No, it's just.

They haven't been open for business in 20 years. Right. The signs are still up on it.

Okay, did you wanna?

Sure. Okay. Is there an appetite to go in

Councilmember Luther.

Yes, so I have to say this is a little bit of a downer to look at all of this to kind of see this that way so I guess So I think we could all agree that this isn't good So rather than just leaving it at that is it appropriate as a next step? to ask for the mayor and staff and I don't know a council or a group to get together to look at the code that that you're citing to look at and some of these examples and to put some type of plan together along with costs associated with that so that we have something to actually act on or evaluate because I think without that it's like oh yeah this sucks but I don't know what we can do about that now. I don't mean to use the word sucks but it's not a good thing but perhaps an effort with some plan to move forward.

Yeah, so there's 36 photos that were presented and some of the signs have multiple tenants and they're gone. So that's something to consider too. But maybe it's something Cove can address. Instead of forming a new committee, just something to think about.

Council Member Norris or Kathy, were you done?

Well, we certainly could, but at some point we're going to need something to bring, yeah, some guidance and something to bring to council because council can, you know, pass ordinances. But in terms of policy per se, I think we would be looking to the staff to present policies and procedure that then we could enact as an ordinance. I think that's what I'm getting at in a roundabout way.

Personally the direction I'd like to head is first contact of property owners and business owners and get them Engaged if we can and have them do something about it Second step would be whether council wants the city to spend money to do something about it So we can we can put together some scenarios Okay, councilmember Norris is next

Right. You know, we've got, you know, Applebee's, they came in and cleaned up their business very good. I don't know if that was the owner of the shopping center, but that is all clean and ready for a new tenant. We have two very recent bite the dust. That cigar bar, I mean, that's a private owner that owns that property. Maybe we could get him fast. And you just mentioned Renouche. Maybe those are the first two we could really go because they're the brand new that we could go for and maybe could get that fresh contact. When they've gone so long, now West End Diving, isn't that a new business going in there? So that might solve itself? Is that a daycare supposed to go in there? So West End Diving could be solved on its own if she's wanting a pole sign. But if not, we need to make her, ENCOURAGE HER TO FIX IT. SO THOSE ARE THREE THINGS WE COULD DO THAT WHAT I WOULD SAY WOULD BE UNDER OUR CODE AND WE COULD DO FRESH LETTERS TOMORROW. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER WASHINGTON? THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO SAY I FULLY AGREE WITH YOU THAT I THINK GOING AFTER THE ACTUAL BUSINESS, I'M SORRY, THE PROPERTY OWNER, NOT THE BUSINESS OWNER, IS GOING TO BE THE WAY THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE. IT WOULD BE KIND OF LIKE if you're renting a house out and your tenant ends up doing something that would be against the code, the city's not gonna go after the person renting, they're gonna go after the person owning the house. And I think logically that makes the same sense here. My question I guess for Mr. Gunn over here is are we pretty confident that the city is able to figure out who owns these buildings using tax records or some other means or is it going to be a relatively large ask to ask the city to find the owner of these buildings?

We work with the prosecutor's office and get the pedigree. We also can look at St. Louis County records as a way to do that. Worst case scenario, we have to do a title search on each property, so that will get expensive. We have to go down that route.

So is that something that your offices have the bandwidth to take on?

We'll get assistance from the city attorney when it comes to doing those kind of property title searches.

OK. I just know that you guys are already very busy with what you're doing. So this is going to be a large ask. So I just wanted to see if there was something at the council level we needed to worry about as far as giving extra, finding out a way to free up some of your team's bandwidth to handle stuff like this. So please make sure that you let us know ASAP if that's something at the council that we need to do. Thank you.

Council Member Sattel again?

Yes. Thank you, Mayor. I think our standalone ones are going to be our biggest problem, but I think we could easily sell the ones where you got the strips pulling out, you know, like you mentioned down at West Haven or Rock Road where the business is no longer there, but we have good owners and they rent most of their places out. So, I mean, you can threaten them with not even another occupancy permit on their whole complex. if we don't get their signs straightened out, okay? So those should be the ones we should go after right away because they're not meeting the law that we have already on the books. It shows some of these with the boards up there that have things that are up there that's been there for years and they haven't fixed their signs. So I think those are the ones we should jump to first and that's just enforcing our codes through our code ordinances that we already have.

Council Member Scher.

Let's make this official. This is the first time I've ever pushed a button. So as a person, this is a very to my heart thing. I applaud you for taking this on. As a former member of Design and Review who deals with these signs, I took it upon myself personally. My big thing was when you want to put a new sign up, you had to paint, you had to patch holes. And if you want to permit to put the sign up, that's a requirement. Mr. Lupia, who was on the board, was very big about, and who's still currently on the board, about the landscaping around the signs. The problem you have is the sign guys come in and go, I'm a sign guy. I'm not a landscaper. Well, too bad. Go buy four bags of mulch and put it down and make it look nice. Paint the sign. I'm not a painter. I'm a sign guy. And... If you want to permit from us, and I hope that me and Mr. Bazzata and I are gone from that board, we were pushing them issues. We really were. Hey, you've got to paint the sign. You've got to patch and repair. And Joni was with us the last year of us being on that. So I hope that that gets instilled in the boards that were gone. Terry, you're on it. To make these guys fix these as they come to replace the new signs, that's going to be one part of helping not look so bad with the holes and stuff behind. So that's all I got.

Very good input. Thank you. Any further discussion? So at this point we'll take a look at Council Member Luther's suggestion. Administration and myself will get together and see what we can put together and get something started. Okay. Very good. Moving on on the agenda. Attorney's report? Thank you. Council Communications. I'll start with Council Member Patel.

Thank you, Mayor. Congratulations to Bridget on your award tonight. I'm well deserved. The only thing I have is and I don't know if the chief can speak on this when it comes to his turn. But I would like to know about the recent homicide that happened. I know that's probably an active investigation. But if you can comment if you can't, then I completely understand. But that's all I have. Thank you.

Thank you councilmember Thornburg. Thank you mayor, I'd also like to thank our graduate Bridget on tonight's ceremony well deserved and I would also mention that this Friday night is the dive in movie at the pool that's been rescheduled for this Friday. So hopefully the weather will be good and they'll have a nice turn out for that and that's all I have a thank you.

Council member Sato. Yes, thank you, Mayor. I did it. I did. Oh, Bridget's recommendations, too. So I'm glad to see that her proud mom was actually one of the old speak when she said it was from Clayton. It was kind of nice. And I knew exactly who she was before she said something like that. But I also want to do. Thank I guess will be the city and whoever put that together our visit to Leonardo DRS last week. I thought that was a very good move for all of us to be there and show us as a team. I stuck around a little bit later and just before we walked out the door and talked to the gentleman, Mike, that was there. Because we had a conversation about the hotel across the street, just like we're talking about signs and stuff like that right now tonight. And so he wanted some extra information. So I faxed him over some information from the county because that other motel is going on the courthouse steps later this month in August. As I left, he also mentioned that he had a connection over at Hunter Engineering. So that afternoon I went over and talked to some of the people at Hunter Engineering. gave them the same information that we talked about with Leonardo DLS and maybe both those companies like he mentioned can do something together. So now it's kind of in their hands or they'll be talking I guess to our administration here as far as what inspections is done on the different buildings and or the fire district because some of that was the fire sprinkler stuff that was damaged on the tall tower. So it's the power section over there. That's in Ward 1. I'd love to see something done over there. They might be able to fix it, might move forward on it. You know, I gave them a couple great ideas, you know, but if those two companies can work something out and get something moving on that, I think it'd be a very positive benefit for the whole city and taking care of that eyesore that we all talked about last week. So I just wanted to bring that up, though. Thank you very much.

Council Member Weschke.

Thank you, Mayor. Since I was not at the last meeting, I just wanted to take a second to say congratulations to the park staff and all the volunteers for putting on a great Fourth of July parade. It's disappointing that the fireworks didn't happen, but I'm glad to see everything's been rescheduled. And I know that it's going to be a good time at the fall festival, so I'm looking forward to that. Other than that, Bridget, congratulations. You know, I totally think you deserve it and everything else. So for those of you that don't necessarily work on this side of the podium, without her, we would all fall apart. She does so much behind the scenes that she deserves everything and even more. So back to you, Mayor. Thank you. Council Member Shearer.

Uh, I want to personally think Bridget, uh, I'm really happy for you that you got that award. Um, uh, when you run for city council, she's the first person that you deal with. And, um, she, she is unbelievable. Um, I didn't want to bring up, I think that half of our problem on 3607 Falcon has been resolved. We've had a bad tenant in there and, um, I got to watch what I say. Officer Stone was there and he's in the audience tonight. He is a much better man than I am because the way he was spoke to. I would not have been as pleasant as he was in his understanding. My compliments to you, sir. I stopped by the house because I seen all the plates with Texas on it, the licensed vehicles, and Officer Stone's car there, and the resident is an 80-year-old single male, and my thoughts were going somewhere else, not knowing that it was a good situation. um so i'm glad to see that that issue at that end of falcon is 40 resolved 45 resolved we're heading in the right direction but officer stone my compliments to you sir thank you that's all i have thank you mayor thank you council member shear council member norris

Thank you, Mayor. I want to thank all the staff. You know, summertime is a rough time. I know I call every day, so I know I should be on a speed dial by public works and poor public works. Also, Bridget, thank you so much. I appreciate all your hard work, and you need to get two awards, not just one, two. But I'm glad you got that one. I do want to thank also our parks director, Brendan Cain, for that presentation about BMAC's future. That is very important for our city. And I also appreciate that whoever organized and took the staff and counsel to Leonardo DRS. I think we take that company very much for granted. They're there every time supporting us in the city. We appreciate many local nonprofits. Pattonville School District, they provide interesting and hosting many classes with STEM. And we are just very lucky that they are such an outreach company in Bridgeton. And they did talk about also the location was the most important thing that they were centrally located for their staff and all their employees. so they can be from Webster Grove, St. Charles, but where the location of that is by the highways makes it such an advantage. And also I want to remind August the 10th, 2026, 6 p.m., the police promotion presentation will be held here in the government center. So please show up for our officers. This could be their only time that they get some recognition as a promotion. So please come by 6 p.m. Thank you.

Thank you. Council Member Bozzato.

Thank you, Mayor. Congratulations, Bridget, on your certification. We appreciate you. I think everybody can agree on that. Thank you, staff and Mayor, for setting up the Leonardo DRS tour. That was something else. It's good to see a company invest in its community and their willingness to take us in. Last thing, just want to thank Mr. Kane for putting that BMAC presentation together. Lots of numbers, lots of pictures. All I can say is thank you and lots to consider. That's all.

Thank you. Council Member Luther?

Well, I have two congratulations. Of course, congratulations to Bridget. This is your night. I think the mayor should take you out to lunch, by the way. That's my, and that would be bill number 26, 25, 37. 26, 37. And also congratulations to my co-counsel, Mark Posada, who recently became engaged, if I may add personal business on here, which I just did. Thank you all for attending, and congratulations Also the DRS tour, I wish you could have been there to hear that this company sought us out. It was really refreshing to hear why they wanted to come to Bridgeton and they wanted to come to Bridgeton. So it was really interesting to hear the other side of that and another perspective of us because we're talking about traffic and signs and other you know storm water and things like that and then we look at where we sit and and it really does boil down to location in in many ways and and i think sometimes we talk about that a lot but what do we do to promote that and to enhance that so uh as i said in my follow-up email where to next because we've got some other big companies hunter engineering husband we've got a big hospital system nearby there there are many others so thank you it was it's it's very very reassuring to hear someone say we want to come and we want to do more with you. So that's really good to hear. There is a COVE meeting on August 19th and I mistakenly said it's at 6.30 at the last meeting. It's at six and it will be in the multi-purpose room. So on the agenda, for that evening will be e-bikes and I guess non-traditional motorized vehicles or every other. And so we'll get working on that. And I want to thank the chief and others for doing a lot of research, looking around to see what other people are doing so that we make good decisions about what we do here in Bridgeton regarding any ordinances and processes and procedures around those vehicles. I also wanted to ask for an update on the finance office. And then I did want to close with, I know you're going to be talking about this, Chief, but the shooting on Avery. I'll tell you, when you're walking your dog and you come upon frantic neighbors wide-eyed on their lawns with your dog saying, Kathy, there's been a shooting, your world, it affects everyone. So my prayers to everyone involved, including the victim, including the individual who is, I think, still in the hospital, the families and friends, And I mean, when that happens in your neighborhood, it's happening to this community. I don't know what in the world can be done to prevent anything like that, but I'll tell you the weight's on us to try, at the very least try. And that's all I've got.

Thank you. Staff reports. I'll start with Mr. Gunn, Public Works Director.

Nothing to report today.

Mr. Kane, Parks and Rec Director.

We have our third concert in the park this Saturday at Gentry Park, August 8th. That's at 7 p.m. That's Sometimes a Fantasy. It's a Billy Joel cover band. So if that's your thing or you just like live music, come on up. The weather looks warm and dry. And then it was already mentioned, the Dive and Movie, that'll be Lilo and Stitch.

This Friday the weather looks not quite as dry, but I think we're going to be okay.

uh so the doors will open at seven the movie will start shortly after eight and we sold a lot of tickets yesterday with folks coming in for the uh election so we may be sold out at this time but if we're not we don't have many tickets left so um that's all i have thank you police chief bryce level

Thank you, Mayor. So I will address Council's question about the recent murder. Honestly, Councilmember Patel, you're right. I can't say much. I can say that all parties involved were juveniles. It is nowhere near to done at this point. There is one subject in custody at juvenile detention at this point. That's about all I can say right now. That's all I have, Mayor.

Thank you. Any other questions of the Chief? I see none. City Administrator, Kevin Bookout.

Yeah, just to touch on the search. It's going well. We conducted some more interviews this week, so we're very hopeful that we're going to find a really good candidate with that. The office is also doing really well. I meet every day with our interim, and he's making some great progress. I do want to mention it was in the weekly last week that we're going to have the mid-year budget meeting on Tuesday the 18th. at 3 p.m that's all i have mayor thank you

Thank you. Next item, Mayor's Report. Thank you all in attendance this evening and those who will be watching this meeting at a later time. Mr. Liv, nice seeing you. I know you moved away over a year ago probably, but you always come back and take an interest in the city of Bridgeton. Or maybe it's me, I don't know. But anyway, thanks for coming, Mr. Stone, Officer Stone, thanks for being with us. Congratulations, Bridget. Okay, we can talk about lunch. Also, while I'm congratulating, I do want to wish a happy birthday to our city administrator, Kevin Bookout, last week. He celebrated a milestone one. And also, coming up Monday, Councilmember Bezada has a birthday. And we share the same birthday, just a few years apart. but happy birthday. Also, thanks to Leonardo DRS, it's their land systems division here in Bridgeton. Vice President Michael Leary, who is the communications and marketing director, and Allie Garrison, who is the economic development person and marketing person for them. They hosted us. We do appreciate learning more about Leonardo DRS and what actually takes place at the Bridgeton location. Leonardo DRS has been a great Bridgeton business and a great community partner. We do appreciate them. Council members, regarding your ex-officio assignments, I placed a list on the dais in front of you this evening. This is the same one that I gave you back in May when I made the assignments to the boards and commissions. Please make notes on your calendars as to when the meetings are. I don't like hearing from a council member that just because a meeting's on the calendar doesn't mean there's going to be a meeting. I don't appreciate that one bit. Reach out to your co-council person to attend if you're unable to. And if you're not able to, if they're not able to attend, reach out to another council member or myself and we'll fill in for you for the ex officio assignment. Our boards and commission members are hardworking volunteers and they deserve to know what's going on in the city. Thank you everyone that voted yesterday. Your vote truly does count. Keep in mind that crime has no boundaries. I know we had the incident last weekend, but that very well could have taken place in Chesterfield or Ladue or Webster or Kirkwood. or any other municipality, unfortunately it was here. And I hope the best for everyone involved. I still have openings on the following boards and commissions. There's three on historical, three on IDA, one on the park board, one on the street commission, and I have an opening on the economic development advisory commission. Beat the heat, visit our outdoor pool at Gentry Park. Make your golf reservations at Berryhill Golf Course by calling directly or through berryhillgolf.com or golfnow.com. That's all I have for this evening. If anybody has any questions, please let me know right now. If not... Thanks for being here. Motion for adjournment. So moved. Second. Motion made by Council Member Luther, seconded by Council Member Sattel for adjournment. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? We're adjourned. Thank you.