Board of Aldermen - Regular Meeting

All right, good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Fenton Board of Aldermen Committee meeting for Thursday, July 9th. We'll begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call.

Alderman Lang.

Here.

Alderman Breitschaff.

Here.

Alderman Wissbrock.

Here.

Alderman Harrell. Here. Alderman Heals. Here. Alderman Jokers. Alderman Mazerang.

Here.

Alderman, sorry, Alderman Rogers, excused absence, seven for the quorum.

All right, thank you. Under the mayor's report, very quickly, I'm sure everyone has notice of the fact that the Fabic asphalt work will begin on Monday, July 13th, and is anticipated to be completed on the 15th. Due to the construction, the lake will be closed during this time and signs will be placed in the city and the city will also post that on social media. Food truck is this coming next Friday night. All right. Who's playing? Do we know? Vinyl tap. Okay. Public comments.

I have no public comment.

I don't see anybody online. I will point out that our city attorney has some family issues there, and she will join us online.

I am not here. So sorry.

All right. Let's begin with our committees. First up is police municipal courts. Alderman Lang.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. First thing I have tonight is consideration of a request for a city cell phone for the business resource officer. Do you have anything? I mean, I've read it over. It looks like it's something that's probably good for what he needs and what he's requesting with not having his personal cell phone subpoenaed.

Yeah, it's just that I believe in the past, and I'm just relaying what the information the captain provided me, is that in the past, the cell phone was provided by St. Louis County, and now they're no longer, if it's a contracted officer, they're now stating it's the responsibility of the city to provide for them. So we have some that still have phones that are issued from St. Louis County, the detective and the other bro has the other business resource officer. We do pay for one for the neighborhood policing officer and we have for quite some time. But when they asked for a phone for this other business resource officer, it was denied through St. Louis County and they stated that was something to be provided by the city.

Go ahead. And then.

I'm kind of flabbergasted. So we're supposed to be providing them with their equipment to do their job? Should we provide them guns, too? I mean, seriously, that's... Little guns. Or maybe just the guns and not the ammo. Like, seriously, that's...

I prefer the antlers probably cheaper than the gun.

My work provides me with a phone so that they can contact me while I'm working. We pay them a lot of money. They can supply the phones for their job.

So my comments to go back, I guess, Erin or Nikki, can we go back to the contract that we signed before we waste a bunch of time?

Yep.

And ours just basically states that we provide the facility.

We provide the facility.

So my comment is along the same lines. I mean, next time hide it in the contract or something, you know, if we got to pay for it, just do it, you know, I'm sure we do somehow. So let me, but I do agree that we need that separation just as we all do. So,

Well, I just want to begin by saying with all due respects to our officers here, and especially Officer Abelov, this is no reflection, our decision, our discussion is no reflection on any of these guys. It comes from higher up. And I believe that, yeah, paying over $3 million a year, we ought to send this request back. And again, as no reflection on this officer, anybody in this precinct, but I think the higher ups ought to, probably take another good look at this.

So should I continue this or should we continue this the next month?

Yeah, we can.

Well, would you like to make a motion that you would like to have that forwarded return back to their procurement or whoever that person is?

Actually, so Aaron, sorry to put you on the spot, but what's your take on this? Like surely...

I mean, yeah, I mean, I think the contract, as Nikki said, kind of just covers facilities. I think the argument would be, I think, I'm not sure we have anything in the contract to trigger that they have to provide it, so it might be that the officer then just goes without it.

I don't want to see that either, but let's try sending it back.

Yeah, I'm for sending it back, and let's ask, because if it's a cell phone today, it's a car tomorrow, and it's Like where?

Uniforms.

Well, I just, let's send it back. Let's push back a little bit, right? And let's understand.

Yeah. Scott. Well, what about the stealth radar unit? Didn't we buy that for them? I don't think we own that.

We don't, because we ask about putting a battery in it when the battery was dead, and they said that's not your property at St. Louis County. No, that was the trailer, the radar trailer. That is ours.

I didn't think the stealth was.

The radar belongs to them. The stealth belongs to us. But we bought that. I mean, that's ours. It's not.

The trailer belongs to them, but we bought the stealth.

The stealth stat one. They don't know about. Citizens don't know when it's up. They do now.

We wanted it, so we purchased it. That's different.

I would suggest maybe continuing this to the August meeting and allow staff to go back and to have a conversation with our contract, the liaison with our contract, to ask why it is that we're now being asked to purchase these. We haven't been in the past. I know that.

Okay, I'd like to make a motion at this time that we continue this to the August meeting, give staff time to re-look at the contract and discuss.

Alderman Harrell? I'll second. Motion by Lange, second by Harrell. Further discussion? All in favor?

Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Next, we have a discussion regarding amendments to the traffic code related to bicycles, e-bikes, motorized bicycles, and motorized play vehicles. We have a memo from Nikki. Nikki, if you want to go ahead and give us a rundown.

And I will say, Amy was a big help on working with this, but we had a conversation with the captain and Officer Yannuzzi I think we've all heard the complaints regarding the motorized bikes, the e-bikes. And so it was myself, the city attorney, Amy, Officer Yannuzzi, and Captain Pleviak that met to discuss this. A lot of the concerns are regarding not just the bikes on the streets, but also in the parks. We're not the only city that is dealing with this. State statute does provide for definitions, but there's also a gap in there that certain things are not caught, like scooters, other motorized, these pocket bikes. So what we're proposing is that we would actually create a definition that would close that gap. the other item that the police are asking for is the ability to with enforcement when you taking a juvenile in and taking them to juvenile court they're not going to be held with juvenile on some on this type of action so what they're asking for is the ability then to cite to provide citations to the parents if they're unable to get any you know action on this if they're rep you know kids that are repeat offenders with this um and again i i we are not the only city that is dealing with this um we have seen as we've stated with the e-bikes our attorney still reviewed it still believes that we have to treat those the same as a bicycle um the other item is regarding bicycles and bikes on our sidewalks many cities some allow for it many do not Is that looking for liability reasons to state that, you know, bicycles should be not allowed on the sidewalks, even if it's in a residential area.

Susan.

Um, so, uh, gosh, I'm so sorry. Cause I know you guys went to a lot of work, but you know, motorized play vehicles already. I can see somebody chipping away at that. Well, I wasn't playing. I was going to work or whatever. It's going to be defined, but it will be defined. I came up. Don't laugh. I said, human carrying devices propelled by other means than human effort. So then anything that's developed because, um, People are developing stuff in their garages right now that won't fit any of these, you know, so it's really the act of something is carrying a human and it's being propelled something other than the human's efforts.

We know you read your material.

I did read the material. The other thing that I had was that I've worked in pediatrics. I've worked with adults. And as much as I understand that pedestrians don't want these on sidewalks, the difference between a pedestrian getting hit by a bike and a bike getting hit by a car is very different. So the safest option is that a bike hits a pedestrian and not a car hitting a bike. And so for me, health and safety, we need to allow, especially kids, if they're gonna be riding those bikes on the streets, that is, I'm sorry, more dangerous than them being on the sidewalks and a pedestrian getting hit. That's my thought.

Alderman Harrell, go ahead.

I was just going to say, I saw some of the municipalities were deciphering the difference between the, for instance, some of them were saying 750-watt e-bikes, which is the entry level, are allowed on walking paths, for instance, but no others are. Okay.

And we did discuss that when it was, and that becomes nearly impossible for the police to enforce.

I get it, but if it's on the books and somebody with a bigger bike does something and hurts somebody,

But again, I think what we come back to is with the bikes, we're going to have a hard time limiting if it's an e-bike and a bicycle because of the way the state has allowed for it to move forward.

And I think the person on the path got hit by an e-motorcycle.

So currently we have it. And again, when we talk about paths, we're talking about the parks code, which is different than what we're talking about tonight, which is the traffic code. With the parks, basically you can ride an e-bike on our paths all day long. You just can't go over a certain mile per hour. It doesn't matter. If it's a class three, a class two, a class one, doesn't matter. You still have to abide by the same rules that you would if it were a bicycle. We'll be actually looking at that later tonight of items that we're looking at under the parks code. But with that to where the officer doesn't have to say it's a class one, a class two, a class three, it doesn't matter. You can't be going at those speeds. But we will say that if it's a motorized bicycle, they're banned. They're not allowed. Those are treated like a vehicle. You have to be 16 years old. You have to have a driver's license. It must be in the same areas that a car would be in our parks. Is it motorized? No, again, it all comes down to the definition. And he's proposing with that, the motorized plate, we can come up with maybe a different term, but it is going to be specifically defined of what that captures. It's going to talk about the fact that it's motorized scooters. It's these motorized... Any motorized apparatus. Yes. And again, what we were just asking for tonight was to move forward with putting something together for further discussion is what we were looking for tonight is that you want us to look at maybe still making some tweaks to our traffic code. Again, the three items being trying to divide the gap between the motorized bikes, the motorized bicycles and the e-bikes under the traffic code, looking at allowing the officers to provide citations to the parents did it become an issue, you know, again, at their discretion when there's an issue. And then the final item being looking at possibly, as other cities do, due to liability, is banning them on the sidewalks. So, and then just bringing that forward for further discussion. We just don't, staff didn't want to put a lot of time and effort into this if it's not something that the board's interested in.

I do feel like we need some, because I see, I see, I don't, They can't even be 10, and they're zipping around with their little helmets and their little motorbikes. I don't know if it's electric or not from the distance, but they're all over the street. And I am for the adults, by the way.

And what we're trying to do is listen to the concerns of the officers of why they're finding that the way it's currently written, it's not necessarily enforceable. We're trying to make it to where it can be enforceable.

What was the difference with the state was saying, so before we had power assist, e-bike, whatever you want to call them, I'll call it an assist bike, a bike with assist, right? We didn't have problems in our parks. I mean, once in a while, I guess you heard something, but not as much as there is today. But what's the state say or the regulations say with the power assist on a bike?

So I believe that's how they're defining the classes. So a class one, it's a pedal assist up to 20 miles per hour. And at 20 miles per hour, it stops assisting. The class two is a throttle or a pedal that propels the bike. And then a class three is pedal assist. And I think it... Up to a certain safety. Yeah. So... Yeah. So I know that the class one and class three are pedal assist. Class two is a pedal assist or a throttle with a certain engine size that doesn't exceed a certain speed. Then the motorized bicycles go up to 20 miles per hour, but there is a gap between that class two bike and e-bike and the motorized bicycle. And that's what we're trying to capture with the motorized play vehicle as well as motorized scooters, because we do see those and we don't have anything addressed in our code about that. It would cover go-karts, electric skateboards, anything that's, or motorized skateboards, anything that kind of, it would be sort of a catch-all for the things that our current code isn't capturing that the police have said have been.

You're going to cover scooters? Because I know on my way here, there was two scooters that are off the road this tall. If they pulled out in front of a car, a car would never see them.

And that's what this additional category would bridge that of the items that have not been captured. And based on the complaints we're receiving, the biggest one is that you have kids that are going to come out between cars.

Hopefully, if things involve that motorized play vehicle, it would still be an umbrella to capture them.

I was just going to say that I think that these officers will use discretion. I think if there's a three- or four-year-old learning how to ride a bike on the sidewalk, they're certainly not going to cite them.

However, if you have an accident on our sidewalk, you weren't supposed to be there to begin with.

Exactly.

Well, you know, I think discretion is the key here, but, you know, I'd be very cautious because I do see a lot of little kids that don't have training wheels and they're small. I don't want them out on the edge of the curb riding. I don't have a problem riding their bicycles on the sidewalk. Alderman Bracha.

Yeah, so it seems like every time we discuss motorized vehicles, bicycles of any kind, it gets even more confusing to me. And even Amy just confused herself right there for a second.

I don't have it in front of me to read.

And you're on top of it. So anything we can do to make it where the police officers is cut and dry, black and white, what's going on. But I would be in favor of You know, not the first time. A lot of warnings. And then if we get repeat offenders, that's when the parent notification kicks in. What Joe just said about a parent with a four-year-old learning how to ride a bike on the front of the house on a sidewalk, our police officers aren't going to, their discretion is going to say, hey, that's great. You know, we're not going to bother with that. So I just think we need to make it as simple for them as we can.

Okay, thank you. At this time, I'd like to make a motion for staff to draft definitions and amend the traffic code. Need a second. Bring back for further review.

Alderman Harrell. I'll second. We have a motion by Lang, second by Harrell. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Motion carried. That's all I have tonight. Thank you, sir. Alderman Heals, personnel.

Thank you, sir. First item is consideration of amendments to the job description for athletic field maintenance worker positions. We've got a memo from Jane, and I can make this really simple if you want. Basically, what this is, is that currently, since we have the new position with our athletics field person, Steve, who's our ground supervisor, Instead of Candace, who's the Parks and Rec supervisor, instead of the seasonal workers being under Candace, they'd go under Steve, which would make more sense anyway. And that's really what the change is.

Make a motion.

I would like to make a motion to forward this to the board meeting.

Okay, we need a second. Who had their hand up first? I didn't see. Alderman Wisbrock? Second. We have a motion by Huell, second by Wisbrock. Further discussion? All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries.

Next, we have a request to attend the Missouri State Floodplain Conference. This would be Dan going. The cost of the conference is $475 with the cost of the hotel reservation for the three-day conference. This expense... will be charged the public works budget under training and education. And this is something that Dan needs to fulfill his continuing education credits for his lead plane management certification. And I would like to make that motion to allow him to attend.

Alderman Jokers. I'll second. Motion by Hill, second by Jokers. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. That concludes personnel. Community Development and Affairs. Alderman Rogers in his absence. Alderman Breitschaft, would you like to take that?

Sure. Thanks. Okay, so looking at this, we have one item this evening for discussion, and that is the current one-year subscription with Everbridge doing business as Nixle for our public notification system is going to expire September 7th of this year, and staff is looking to renew this contract for one more year. Okay. I think that's a good thing, and I appreciate when I get an update on a lot of things that go on in the city, including when you're out of town and your electric goes off and puts you in a tizzy. But anyway, anybody else have any comments?

I just wanted to comment. I talked to Nikki a little bit about this, and this is based not on the number of calls, but it's just a yearly service for this amount. Just so everybody understands that.

It doesn't matter how many people are getting the Right. Yeah.

But we do show that I think additional hundred people have signed up in the last year.

Okay. So does this require a motion? Yes. Okay. So if there's no other comments or no other comments, I would make a motion that we put this forward to the meeting at the end of the month for approval.

Alderman Mazerang. I'll second. We have a motion by Breitschaff, second by Mazerang. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carried. That's all. Alderman Mazerang. All right, thank you, Mr. Mayor.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

First item is a consideration of additional concrete work in the parks. Memo from Dan Howard. Dan, you want to come up? I guess we've got a few things to go over. Mostly, I guess, what concrete pads around the city park benches, farmer's market, and let's see, the parking lot under the Highway 30 bridge?

Yes, for the players' benches and two driver approaches to be repaired. But I had Arby Wagner give us some numbers. In my opinion, they're higher than what I think they should be at. But they indicated the reason for this is because the spread out nature of them and the smaller quantities at each location, they have to hit a production goal to make it worth their while. So I do request we have to bid on this and maybe get a smaller contractor in here to do this work.

Oh. Well, I had a quick question. I see like some of the park benches and stuff. If we pour concrete, would that prohibit our ability to like remove them and replace them in the future? I mean, I don't know how the footings are for the bench park.

We would be replacing most of those benches anyway, which with benches that would last outlive, you know, outlast all of us probably.

And they might be too short then.

Correct.

After we pour.

Okay. So we would replace the benches and then the concrete. Okay. Right, Jeff.

So you're answering my question. I think maybe on this type of thing, we could get a smaller contractor maybe. And did I hear you right, Joe, that the new benches will be surface mounted after the pour or do they get poured?

We can do it either way. There's both options, but I do like to surface mount option just in case there is an issue with them. We don't have, we want to break.

That was my suggestion. You get, get these old ones ripped out, pour the slab, but new, new ones down, bolt them in place.

Yeah.

Brian?

Sorry, I have a dumb question. We're going to pour the concrete so we don't have to trim around the four sides.

Far enough away.

Yeah, so that when we come by with the lawnmower, we don't have to come back with a weed eater and surround it.

We'll try to make them as surface flush as we can.

But if you get them too flush, mud and debris builds up on them, too. Flush, but not flush enough. Yeah.

and the size accordingly where you're sitting on the bench, your feet are actually on the concrete. Correct. Thank you. We're asking for a lot tonight, aren't we? There are no dumb questions, Brian.

Just as a reminder that this is just a request to go out to bid. If that's approved this evening, this won't come to the board meeting because we allow for that to be approved at committee.

Okay. So at this time, I'd make a motion to say we go out to bid.

Alderman Breitschaff.

I would second.

We have a motion by Mazerang, second by Breitschaff. Further discussion? All in favor?

Aye. Opposed?

Motion carries.

All right. The next one is a budgeted $30,000 capital approval for a new cover and shades for the bandstand. And basically this is about moving the current one to somewhere else and get a new cover, right? Robin?

Okay, so the proposal in this is to get a pavilion like the one at Valiant, and the reason why we're even speaking about moving this is because if it were to rain, the people would get wet, but in a pavilion, they'd get wet too. I mean, it's an open pavilion. It's not really going to satisfy the keeping people dry. So I don't, just my opinion, I don't know that a pavilion is the right answer for this. Just a regular standing, freestanding pavilion.

If it's raining, are we going to have it?

Well, I'm saying if the band starts playing and all of a sudden it starts pouring down rain and they have to pack up and leave, they're going to, their equipment, whether it's under the current one or if it's under a pavilion, it's going to get wet.

Yeah, and also it just, I don't know, it's out there.

If I may, how this came to light is that the board had made statements that they wanted to see something solid on top of the current where the bandstand is because we have the type of sales there where there's some open areas. So the board had requested that. We've had an engineer look at it. We've had a roofer look at it. And everybody's answer is you're never gonna retrofit that structure to put a new solid roof on. So why staff brought this forward is if the desire is still for a solid roof structure. or a different structure is just to state that we are not going to be retrofitting the existing one. So the statement was we could take that and move it to fields one and two to provide for shelter if you want to do that because the kids aren't going to be playing ball in the rain either. It at least would provide shade for people that are the spectators and then get what you're desiring for the bandstand. But that's how this all came to be. was the desire just to replace the roof. And we've found that that would not be cost effective. It would just be, do you want to take the existing structure, move it somewhere else so that it still can be utilized and get a new structure?

Right.

We're just kind of looking for direction.

Can we do something that's four post with a flat roof with a slight pitch to it? So to give a little protection and I mean, we're not looking for a,

I think in the discussion that some of us have had before the meeting tonight is, yeah, we thought, well, we'll move that one over, as she mentioned, between one and two and then put something. But the rain, people aren't going to be out there sitting in the rain listening to a band play, so that makes a lot of sense. You almost need a curtain on the one side or both sides or three sides to prevent the rain from coming in to protect the band's equipment. So I've kind of changed my thought, and I don't know what the right,

Ron, then Terry, I think.

I was just going to suggest why not leave it as it is, but buy extra whatever that mesh material is on top for side facing the west and the side facing the south so the sun's not on their backs. To me, the hot sun going down that time of day is probably the biggest issue because if it's raining, nobody's going to hang around.

Who's next? Eric.

There's a tag on what Ron said is, um, well, let's go back to when we, we decided on building the structure in the first place, there was discussion on let's put a metal roof on this thing. Let's say have something maintenance free and solid, but somehow we went with those sales, which never worked from the beginning with as far as the gaps. Okay. Um, I preferred the metal roof. I don't see where moving it to between a ball field does you any good at all. If a ball hits it, it's going to tear it up. Two... What Ron just said, unless that sun is directly overhead, you're not getting any shade in that thing. If it's coming from the east, if it's coming from the west, coming from the south, most of the times of the day, the sun's going right in that thing somehow. And it's not really, unless you sit outside of it and use it, you know, where the sun's projecting through it, it's not really doing you any good. So at this point, I'd say just kind of leave it as it is. and not spend the money on another new one after we just bought this one a few years ago.

Sorry, Dan, have we ever received any complaints from the bands that it's too hot or it's too sunny or too?

I mean, we have had a couple bands that say, hey, it'd be great to have something blocking the sun.

So maybe what we just need to look at is some shading and have staff kind of look and maybe continue this so we can look into some other options for shade, if that sounds like it's more about the sun and less about the rain.

Maybe something that would roll down and not a permanent thing.

That's like a Sunbrella-type material, something like that.

We look into it.

One, I do like the little tarp stuff. It kind of looks airy. It looks breezy.

It lets air go through.

So I do like it. And then, yeah, like I said, if you're a band that plays in summer concerts, you're going to be outside, and you're going to be exposed to the sun and the weather. I can see maybe putting a little laundry line across and having a curtain or something go across to kind of block out the sun, but you want that wind to kind of cut through so it needs to have holes in it. I could see something like that, but then you've got to watch out. We have some unhoused people that hang some stuff on those laundry lines that are... Yeah, well, it's something that you can quickly hook up and down, but yeah, I like it. Brian would hang it. Robin?

I know that the farmer's market at the pavilions, they have those shades that, I don't know if you've ever been up there to see them, but they kind of go from the top of the pavilion and then down to the ground at an angle. So if there was something that we could find that maybe we could use that would fit with what we currently have, that would solve the problem too. So maybe we'll just look at it.

And, you know, as we go around and view different places, maybe we'll find something that we see and we like.

I bought a Sunbrella covering, and I'm telling you, you can have that made in any size you want. They're easy to get.

You shade the dog with it or? So, so what, what do you guys want to, should we make just a motion to look into some sort of sun shading options or some curtains or sides or something like two sides or something there they can kind of.

Yeah. So you're not writing it to this. Why don't we just continue it and ask and we'll have staff look into it and we'll bring it back to you next month.

I'll just make, do you need a motion to continue? I'll just make a motion to continue it and look into further options.

All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

All right. The next item is a memo from Dan. Are these microphones on tonight? No. For professional design services for Fen Park, apparently the Fen Park holds some water, which I've noticed through the years. And I guess you want to address that a little more, Dan?

Yeah, this is just looking for an agreement with Cochran or supplemental agreement number 14. We did get awarded the $60,000 through MSD to help offset costs for the design work. So this is just to enter the agreement with Cochran.

Questions, anyone? All right, I'll make a motion that we go into design. Yeah, let me spit this out. Cochran for design services for that. Harold, it's your word. I will second.

All right, motion by Mazerang, second by Harold. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. All right.

The next one is a memo from Nikki. It is, um, improvements to the Fabic nature preserve overlook area. And, um, let's see here. I guess we have quite a few different areas, the pool area, the fire, the wall with the fireplace, the staircase to, uh, greenhouse area, the helicopter pad. And, um,

here you want to go over a little bit what you're thinking on each one yeah um well i mean these were items that were already approved by the board that for the improvements with the overlook area up at fabic um i just went to the city's on call as needed contractor elite to see if they could give us some numbers regarding the repairs if you would prefer staff to go out for a more formalized bid for the entire project we can do that all or try to get additional bids, but these are the numbers that they came back with. Again, you'll notice a lot of this is tuck pointing, a lot of it's repaired. And if anybody's been up there recently, the damage is getting worse. The vandalism is getting worse where the rocks are, they're starting to tear the walls apart, throw them, break them. So, but this does include kind of regrading the old pool area, salvaging the bullnose, putting the bullnose in, putting the new fence up. It addresses all of the items that have been discussed for improvements in that area. Everything except for the native landscaping, which would be done by native Missouri landowners native yeah mo native but we would have to do that this fall we'd want to plant that this fall um but the the number did come in at and all you know all in at thirty one thousand six hundred and thirty dollars to do that um and this would include the install they would be installing the benches that would be provided by the city um just to kind of dress up that entire area as we've discussed But I will note that we did only budget 20,000, so we would have to do a mid-year amendment for this contract.

So you're basically wanting to know if we just want to go with this or go out for bid?

Terry? Maybe this is hindsight then. I understand the need to keep FABIC as much as natural as it's been, right? And I don't know what, we made promises, right? We don't have anything that's binding. But the one item on here that kind of sticks out to me is that helicopter pad. I just hate to throw money at something like that. It's just going to keep deteriorating. I would think on that case it would be better to spend money just to get rid of it, grade it, and seed it, and make it grass instead of having to deal with fixing it every couple years. And I know it's only $1,500 this time, but $1,500 next time and so on and so forth. It just seems like money kind of wasted to me.

Actually, the helicopter pad's in very good shape. This is for more of upgrades, like a couple benches installed, some landscape work. No, the rock work around the helicopter pad is actually in great shape. We haven't had to do any repairs to that.

Well, we're showing $1,100 just for tuck pointing. That's been about it then.

Yeah. So, and then the inside is going to be installed with native landscapings. There was a request for benches. Our, what staff has come up with, we'd actually probably put two benches up there, one on each side that would be looking into the area. And Mo Native has come up with, it'd be kind of a tiered landscape. I know some people like the helicopter pad. They find it to be a design up there. It's been up there. for a while.

So, so I don't, the benches, I didn't understand. Yeah.

So they would be looking into the landscaped area that will now be in the middle.

Okay. So looking, looking forward, then if we put two benches and add some flowers and all that, then it's a nice feature.

And concrete under that benches. Yes, of course.

Um, I, yeah, cause I, uh, Sorry, Terry, but I disagree with you because I do find like the first time I went up there, I was like, oh, my God, look at here. Look at there. Look at this. Look at that. There's a fireplace. Like it was this archaeological archaeological dig of this old place. So I kind of love that part about it. So I love that we're fixing it up. I would say put the benches in this in the helicopter pad and put a tree in there. But I don't think that that helicopter pad's been touched. I've been here for over 16 years, so it's not like we've put a lot of work into it ever.

I think the concern is the trip hazard of the actual metal that's in the middle. There's been some discussion that we could possibly put a statue on it or something.

That was an add-on. That was never really, that wasn't there.

Okay. Is that something you would. Dig that out, put a tree in the center. And if it's something the board's not interested in, then we could look at getting rid of it. I thought that was a feature that people wanted to stay.

We take the back. Mr. Hunk of steel. I don't know why they put it in there, but. Okay. It was never there before. Well, then we could. I think it's just sunk into the ground. I'm telling you, that helicopter just used to land up there.

Could it have been an anchor for tying the helicopter down?

No, they kept it at the shop indoors.

Yeah, what we were looking at is the benches would be looking towards it because there's a grade that goes down, and it would be looking back and then over into the other area.

I say make it safe. Take the back up there and pull it out.

If it's not too crazy, I'd take out the metal thing, put the tree in the center, put some benches around the tree.

Can I also say, while we're on this, I would like to, from my position in the board, I think we need to make the captain aware that just most recently, I'm appalled at what the damage they just recently have done. And you can see they've taken the top calves off the wall and threw them down on the steps and destroyed that. So we need a little bit more enforcement up there.

i would like you know in some of these projects with the tuck tuck pointing if you do want to move forward with elite maybe open this to the board to look at a final because we do have a contract with them we could move on this sooner than later but a lot of it is because the stones are loose they're being pulled out and they're being thrown all right can we booboo trap them if you touch them you get over there i'm i'm i'm fine with

To me, this is a bunch of smaller projects, and I'm fine with moving forward with it to stop the damage that's going on. They've already started this summer. It's going to keep going.

If you tuck point, things should be more secure, too.

Go ahead and do the helicopter pad and maybe bring that back for further discussion.

Dan, while we're discussing this, I've noticed when I've been up there, kind of the overlook area that looks over at the other lake, are we going to put some benches in that area? Okay, because I said we've got some of the mold benches or anything we throw at those park benches.

That's all part of it. Of course, the bench install, that is going to be under how they just charge us for time when they do those. That's an unknown at this time, but we order the benches there.

Well, so you want me to open up the full board? That's going to get moving on us. So I'll make a motion to open up to the full board. Okay, I need a second. Alderman Breitschaff? I would second.

Motion by Mazerang, second by Breitschaff. Further discussion?

All in favor? Aye. Opposed? All right, then. So then I will make a motion that we go with Elite to get these projects going.

Alderman Hewles is the final. I'll second. Mazerang, Hewles, further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

All right. And my final item is consideration request to extend agreeing with America's parking and remarking for street striping service or another term. And it looks like they came in as the cheapest or lowest bid for the street striping.

Yes. And basically this increase would be 3% over what their costs were last year. And this was based on her bid back in, 2024, and even with this 3%, there's still less than the other bids that came in.

Are they going to get Gilson ever? Yes, they are.

That and a couple other items have been added.

Yeah, that street's never been striped, and people just go all over on it. They think it's a free-for-all. All right, so any questions? At this time, I'd make a motion that we go with America's Parking and Remarking for street striping. Need a second. Alderman Breitshaft?

I would second. We have a motion by Mazerang, second by Breitschaff. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. That's all I have tonight, Mr. Mayor. Okay. Alderman Breitschaff, Public Works Forestry.

Yes, sir. We have three items this evening for Public Works and Forestry. The first one was a consideration we talked about before. for a new blower at city hall because evidently the one that's up there is failing and we had uh some reservations on that about um going back to the initial installer of train and evidently they haven't got back to us so we're going to continue this they were on site okay so but we don't have it i do so we did have a representative from train come out and take a look at it and yes there is a slight there is slight movement in the bearing

He did not see any immediate concern for it, and DECA didn't either. Just please understand that, too. DECA was just giving us this quote if we want to do a preventative, you know, maintenance on this to replace the blower. The guy from the train said he did not see. He didn't have any grave concerns about it at this point. It could last a year. It could last 10 more years.

That's how... How's the bearing moving? Did I decide? What is it?

I understand if you can just move it a little bit. It just...

They can't hang it into place? You know, there's technique to do that. I guess they know more than I do. Yeah, I don't know.

So right now, I think we just want to keep this or put this in a budget for $15,000 in case a time does come, we need an emergency and we can get it replaced.

We need to keep a close eye on it, though.

So did Trane put it in?

Trane did put it in originally.

Out of it?

Yes. How unique is this blower? It's not unique. Okay, so if it does go out, it's not...

It's long. I'm not saying it's not going to be a long. So this system does have two blowers. So if this one does go out, yes, the other one will work harder, but at least we still have another blower to still operate.

We couldn't say tomorrow if it blew, if it would be three months to replace it or two.

It's no different than if we wait a year.

So I can't help but think, you know, the people that put it in say it's good enough and the guys that want to, working on something or saying you need to fix it.

No, Deca didn't say we needed to fix it. He goes, let me give you a number in case you decide to go ahead and do it now. He didn't see a grave concern for you or Deca didn't.

Okay, cool.

Because he went ahead and gave us a number.

Well, then in my mind, we need to just push this. I hope that blowers are shelf item that they can get their hands on. And we just need to push this away. And if it happens, it happens. And we need a motion on that. So that would be my motion.

Okay, Wisbrock, Rogers, Mazering, Alderman Wisbrock. I would second. Motion by Breitschaff, second by Wisbrock. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Motion carries.

Second item is a... a contract with Aramark Uniform and Career Apparel, which is now called Vestas. And they're currently providing our uniforms on lease rental and shop towel rental and such. And it looks like there's going to be a 5% increase. Is it one year, Nikki? Yes. Okay, one year, 5% increase for next year. And they haven't had an increase since 2018. So They're asking for permission to continue using this contractor at a 5% increase.

So, Dan, do these guys use all these... The pants and stuff, are we getting charged for it if they don't use it?

No, if we don't use it, we don't get charged for it. Some guys do get the shorts and the pants. This is also our shop towels.

Okay, so the next thing with shop towels, do you think 200, what was that I read, 200 a week or whatever seems excessive?

No.

You don't think so? No.

No, we fluctuate. The one that was paid today, I believe, was $160 for a month. That's for the month. But that's your shop towels. That's all of the apparel. That is everything all in. And I will say I did go back through them, and it seems like the majority of it actually is apparel and is not the shop towels, as I originally thought it was going to be the shop towels. Okay.

I know shop towels where I used to work disappeared, went away. You know, you'd find unused ones or half used ones and it gets expensive when you have to replace them. They take them back and wash them or do we just, Oh no, they take it back and wash them. Okay.

So does that include gloves?

No.

Okay. I thought it was. So, um, any other comments? So I would make a motion that we continue using them at a 5% increase for the next year.

I'll second. Motion by Breitschaff, second by Mazerang. Further discussion? All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? Motion carries.

And the last item I have is a request by staff to apply for a grant for a second Pan Am vehicle for the city of Fenton. Nicky, would you like to comment on that?

Yeah.

Who's? Oh, Jane's. Jane's.

Or Dan's. Is it Dan?

Is Jane here?

Jane has done the research.

What the hell is Jane going to do?

I changed my request. Jane, would you like to speak to them?

We would like to... consideration to purchase a second Can-Am just to give, you know, that additional ability when the one that's recently been purchased is being utilized every single day to give the staff the ability to get out there and that. But right now we are asking to go to apply at MIM for a safety grant for $10,000 toward the purchase of this vehicle. We have to get the grant approved first before we could consider the physical purchase first.

But if you don't have an AM, we also want to get one.

So this is just to apply for the grant?

Yes. We're asking to apply for the grant, but if you don't have a desire to purchase the second one, there's no reason for us to apply.

Well, let's hear about the usage. Because, I mean, Nicky wants me to bring mine in because the other one's being used.

It's like... Oh, it gets used almost on a daily basis for the intended purpose of it. Just getting around Fabic today, looking at different things around Preston Lake. It's faster.

Less staff time.

Less staff time. Getting around to playgrounds from playground inspections yesterday with Candace and Nicky and... Brian with Elite. I mean, it's just been very beneficial to get it out in the fields to be able to pull bleachers back on the new pads, that we don't have another gator that can do that, and we don't want to take our bigger trucks out in those fields. I mean, it's just been, so far, the short time we've had has been very beneficial.

We've used it just alone. Myself and Candace have used it twice in the last two weeks. Going site to site.

So, so where do we store the one overnight that we have now? Is it at the maintenance garage? Yes. Okay. So for Nikki to get to that thing in the morning and she had somebody, she had to show around at eight 30 in the morning, she'd have to coordinate you getting it over here and then you arrive back or it depends on what we're doing. Well, I would be concerned about being here other than police cars all around it, but it wasn't secure behind a fence. My one question when I read this was, couldn't we just coordinate the use of the one that we have? We didn't have one before, and we now have one. Could we coordinate that? But you guys have already kind of given me pause on that comment as far as it's hard to coordinate. Do you have something to say, Brian?

No, I'm for it and parking it right here, parking around back between those police cars. I don't think anybody...

And the door's locked just like a regular vehicle does. You have to have a special key in order to start it. Odd looking, never saw one before.

The ones at Maryland Heights are, you drive by the other municipalities when they have them. They may have like a into or a shelter, but they're parked outside.

What about the old police station? There's that covered doors. We could, I guess we gate it, put some sort of gauge up or something.

There's all kinds of things you can do with it to secure it. I mean, it'd be covered. I'd suggest when you get it, we look at something to secure it a little more than setting it back over here, but it can be done.

The bottom line. I'm sorry, Rob. Okay. So bottom line is I make a motion that we apply for the grant.

Okay. We need a second. Who would that be?

That would be my final motion.

Okay. You're going to open it up.

So forget all that. My motion would be that we open it up to the full board for discussion.

Okay. Alderman Mazerang? I'll second that. Motion by Breitschatz, second by Mazerang. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carried.

No further discussion. I would make a motion that we apply for the grant.

Okay. Alderman Wisbrock?

Second.

We have a motion by Breitschaff, second by Wisbrock. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Lost that bet. Lost that bet. Information Services. Alderman Harrell. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have nothing for discussion. Thank you. Alderman Wisbrock, Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Everybody's had a chance to read over the monthly financial report. Anybody have any questions?

No.

That's all I got tonight, Mr. Mayor.

Thank you, sir. We're going to move then to Planning and Zoning. Alderman Harrell.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. All recommendations from Planning and Zoning Commission will be forwarded to next board meeting for a public hearing and consideration unless otherwise noted. Announcements from Planning and Zoning. The August meeting for Planning and Zoning Commission has been moved to Tuesday the 11th, 2026 due to the primary election on the 4th. Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the following. Approval with conditions of case 2026 SUP 06, a petition by Paul Riddell of Hilliker Corporation on behalf of Windwater for a special use permit for outdoor storage at 2130 Bowles Avenue. Property is addressed as 1297 North Highway Drive and is zoned BP2 Business Park District. The proposed outdoor storage will be located on an unstriped portion of the parking lot behind the front elevation of the building. It will be enclosed with a chain link fence and the area will be used to store waterworks and utility materials related to the operation of the proposed tenant. It will not impact required parking spaces or dry vials on the lot. Next, we had denial of case 2026REZ02, a petition by Fenton Land Investors LLC to amend ordinance 4002 as amended to allow for additional permitted uses on lots one through seven of Fenton Logistics Park, plat eight, located within area A of Fenton Logistics Park development. The parcels are addressed as 700 to 890 Elm Tree Way and our zoned PID planned industrial district. Petitioner has requested this case to be continued until the August meeting. OK. We have a question here.

So actually, I just wanted to thank the Planning and Zoning Board for denying this.

Because when you start talking about changing our comprehensive plan and that just

Highway 44 is a face of Fenton, and to have it just storage and warehouses is not a good face. Nobody's going to want to get off the highway to come look at a warehouse. So I love that you guys had said no, and the gentleman had said he was going to put all these cute little boutique-y stores up there.

That was his plan, and now he's turning it into wanting to turn it to storage.

So one, I'm against. We do need a better face than warehouses and storage facilities.

This has been continued for this evening, so we'll save the conversation. I'm fine with that. I'm just thanking the planning and zoning for denying it.

Next, we have approval with conditions of Case 2026, SUP 07, a petition by Gravois Bluffs 9B LLC on behalf of Aspen Dental for a special use permit to operate a medical dental office at 695 Gravois Bluffs Boulevard. Property is Zone C1 Commercial District. Last month, the board approved site plan review for the new building in Gravois Bluffs. Aspen Dental is proposing to locate in suite 102, which is a tenant space adjacent to the proposed Chipotle restaurant in the building. Site will have adequate parking spaces on the lot. And lastly, we have approval with conditions of case 2026 TXC05, consideration of amendments to zoning code to amend definition of public park and to add the same as a permitted use in IP1 industrial park district. Portions of two St. Louis County parks, Unger Park and Booter Park are located within the city limits. along the Merrimack River in the IP1 district because public parks are not permitted uses in the district. They are considered non-conforming. Adding them to IP1 as permitted uses would bring them into compliance. Also, the definition of public parks in the code only includes those areas set aside by the city and does not include St. Louis County because these parks, along with George Winter Park, are all County owned public parks in the city. This request is also to amend the definition to include St. Louis County and other items from community development department. There are none.

Okay. Any questions on anything that, yes, I have a comment.

I know we're not, we're not supposed to discuss at this point, but I like to make a comment also. Um, here's another one where, where, um, Okay, yeah, but as far as a commercial for the dentist, that's another business that we welcome, but it's not, doesn't generate anything for the city, right? It's a medical facility. So the small parcel that you were talking about, Susan, that we left for retail is something that would generate for our city, right? And now... ...because the petitioner is not here, they've requested to continue it regarding that matter that Then a general statement.

But we'll want you to make it again then.

Aaron? Aaron, go ahead.

Yeah, I mean, Nicky's saying we're going to want to make all that stuff in front of him so that we have the case. So we'd rather just hold it so you guys are ready to do it in August, but not here. We need to keep our minds open and hear what he has to say before we make any kind of decision.

Okay. No general statements then.

Okay, everybody good? Okay, are you done, sir? I am done. All right, let's go to Alleman Huells. Okay.

Thank you, sir. First item is announcements from the Park and Recreation Committee Tree Advisory Board. The committee discussed reorganization of the Parks and Recreation Committee Tree Advisory Board. And I have questions. As you know, we had a discussion with the Park Committee last month in June about what direction, how they'd like to see, what they'd like to see. And the general consensus was what they, I wrote down some of the questions. Do we feel like the Park Committee brings value? They discussed meeting, we had discussed meeting once a month. Keep meeting once a month, obviously, because we had discussed meeting less than that, less frequently. And they asked if they could do more, if there were more items that they could take on, if we could throw them more items instead of it just being one small item or coming in for one thing. They did discuss having a master plan that was something that they could pull from. I did tell them that we did have one in 2000 and that was never adopted. I'm sure there are things on that plan that could still be looked at. They talked about the comprehensive plan. They talked about what their roles and responsibilities are. They are not really sure what they are. They'd like those to be more clear. And what do the aldermen want to see from the park committee?

I would say the park committee, I'd love to hear ideas of what our park needs. Like if they're out and about and they're just like, oh, hey, we, this area, you know, are cleaning up the trails out back in the woods or pulling up this or Can they organize volunteer groups to go out into the parks and clean up the parks or clean up a flower bed or we have so much money for volunteering. Can they, I don't know, like that's the park board I would hope is that they're going out and coming up with ideas of things that would be nice for our parks.

So Nikki, do we have a mission statement for the park board?

Not a mission statement per se, just the description within the, what's defined within the park, within the Chapter 130.

So you've heard me say it before that the commission was originally intended when the Fenton City Park came into into play and then that kind of died off a little bit. And then when River Chase came up, they were a little more involved in that. So I think we need to start with what is it? I mean, if you're gonna be on the park board and this is no reflection on anybody, but I think you have to spend a lot of time in those parks and all to see what you have, what's deficient, so forth and so on. I know I'm in the park an awful lot. You are, Robin is, Mike is, but that's what you need if that's the focus that you're going to be on. And again, I'm not opposed to the park board. I just want some meaning behind it. I don't want to waste their time, staff time and my time You know, I certainly, it's not meant to be an argument with them and against them. You know, planning and zoning makes decisions and this board changes those, their ideas. So that's their prerogative, their advisory as well as the planning and zoning commission. So I think we need to have some kind of a mission. What is it they want to do? What is it they want to see?

But I just, I do feel like the park board, I guess I always thought their purpose was to evaluate the parks and, you know, do we need a Fenton Fun Run, you know, and propose that and say, you know, how would we get that going? And maybe it's like, you know, can we present this to Candace or do we need, I don't know.

Well, you know, one of the things in all fairness, you know, we... as you all know, just in the last couple of years, you know, have said, okay, here's our focuses. We want to bring, you know, the park back up. We've got a lot of dead trees. We've got, you know, backstops. Those are things that we've been, and I can see where they, you know, get a little bit disappointed that we're taking this all on. But these are things that are already in place that need to be repaired, redone, bathrooms, obviously, and so forth and so on. I can see where they'd say, well, isn't that our job? But you know really that's ours or or any kind of maintenance whether it's the park or this building or you know the police building or anything so i just think we need to come up with a focus what is it they would like to do what do we want to see them do that would help us in making decisions as a board i don't have all the answers yet but i think if they want to continue on Okay, then we'll figure something out. But again, I don't want to waste staff time, your time, my time, and their time just to say we have a park board.

Okay. We'll come up with a, I mean, maybe Nikki and I can work together and get a mission statement and we'll bring it back. Anybody else?

So I guess I always think too of the park board, you've got a group of people that are the sounding board for a park that doesn't, hawk right and so you've got a group of citizens that maybe they want to see a park that has you know an upgrade another bench here or hey the pavilion here needs some further attention it didn't make your guys list how come um you know that that's a group of people that again bring some more attention they're a sounding board for projects to get either onto the list of items for the upcoming budget or you know maybe it's items where they announce where hey people are asking about x or y um but but it's a group i think that to me is the sounding board for a city's asset right and i say asset i know there's more than one but it's the park system it's within the city and those group of people are bringing more attention to us about things that they want to see or maybe it's it's another group of residents that are out there that live in our community that have other neighbors that are sounding board to them that bring things to this board and so that we can get things addressed that's i guess that's my view of the park board

I agree that I think they're necessary, but maybe a quarterly meeting or something to that effect instead of monthly. Might be better use of staff's time, their time and everything else. And if something comes up in between, they have the option to call City Hall or let them know what they see or.

Okay, anybody else? Okay, the Park Beautification Day will be held on Saturday, October 10th in Fenton City Park. The Park and Recreation Committee Tree Advisory Board recommended the following, approval to move forward with a new restroom in Fenton City Park and apply for a grant through the Municipal Park Grant Commission. We got a memo from Nikki, don't we?

Yes, I am seeking a, as you, sorry, this was the approval to move forward with the new restroom at Fenton City Park and to apply for a grant through the Municipal Park Commission. yes it was brought forward that and i did include the memo uh for the board to see kind of the estimates where we are currently with the restroom again we are still waiting on a bid from merlot regarding the sewer that's the big one um kind of in conjunction with this and we brought it forward to the parks committee and i'm seeking approval from the board also this evening is that if you would like staff to apply for the municipal grant from the municipal park committee or commission, we would need to note so we can start moving forward that that's due at the end of August. That's an interest to the board to continue to move forward with this restroom, which is the recommendation of the parks committee and then also to apply for the grant.

And that's further down on the agenda.

Yes, that is further down on the agenda because that'll have to be approved by, yeah, because that'll have to be approved by a resolution of the board.

Did we ever figure, sorry, did we ever find out if we have to have a lift station or not?

We are still working on that. And that is one of the numbers. We'll have to have that to apply for the grant. We want to have that. We've actually done, you may have seen some stakes in Benton City Park where they're actually getting some elevations and other items together. So we are doing our best. On the grant, the max the city could apply for was $350,000. But I have a feeling that hopefully we're going to be coming under that and applying for less than that. So that might help us with our points.

Can I make a general comment towards the park board? Maybe as they look for things and vocalize and do things. So this is being brought up by four gentlemen that are all veterans. Can we have a beautification day in April so that when you celebrate Memorial Day down at Heroes Memorial, it looks great?

We do Arbor Day. We do Arbor Day in April. Make that an area that we work on. for Arbor Day.

Just is the timing because of I mean, and things and and now that Candace is here, we can wait.

But I would also say, again, that could be a park board thing, but just arranging a group of volunteers that once a month or every other month, they pick a project and for the month of April, it could be let's get the award their hero's war memorial cleaned up. And I mean, that's what I would like to see, is to get a group of volunteers that just kind of come out every month, every other month, and pick a flower bed, something, pick a project, and it's done.

Anybody else? Next, we have approval of amendments to Chapter 220, Public Parks of the Municipal Code related to prohibited acts and vehicles prohibit exceptions as presented by staff.

Yes, and this is, as indicated in the announcement that was provided to you, it's making a few minor tweaks within the Parks Code, two of which is just adding the words climbing upon our buildings and trees. And that way, if need be, it can be a little more enforceable by the police department. As we know, we've had some vandalism recently. And when writing this, I was reminded and I remembered that I believe there was an incident of somebody climbing our tree during a food truck event. So and not really being excited about having to get down.

Out of the trees, Ron.

The other item that it's going to address is just adding into where it's made clear that when you are on self-propelled bicycles, that also includes self-propelled skateboards and self-propelled scooters on our podcast. on our paved paths in our parks. It doesn't allow for the scooters that are motorized. We just wanted to make sure that it was clear with adding the word or that those didn't go on to mean it only meant a self-propelled bicycle. And then you could read the word scooters. It's just cleaning it up for legal ease. And then also making it clear that if you're on those items, it does need to be on a paved within our parks, not within our, you know, any of the nature trails that are not built for that.

Anybody have any questions? Okay, move on. Discussion regarding plumbing repairs for the main restroom in Fenton City Park. Got a memo from Nikki.

And this is just a quote that we've received. We will ask that this item be continued to next month because I would like to get a quote from our other plumber on this. What was found is when we were doing the bathroom remodels, the carriers, which I believe are cast iron, they're starting to have minor cracking in them. And if anybody has seen the room, the room that is located between those two restrooms and how tight that is, it's unbelievable. This is going to be pretty big work. I believe the bid is around, what, a little under $19,000, $18,000. However, I would like the other plumbing company to take a look at it, give us an idea, see if they're finding the same situation. I just want to make you aware that this is coming because most likely we'll need to move forward with this. We want to do it in the off season, so hopefully maybe later, in 2026 or early 2027 before reopening.

Tell me that their initial thoughts were they don't have to tear into our new bathrooms to, they can do all that work in between? Yes, is that those will be. Did you ask that question?

They're going to go from a three, what is it, a four hole to a three hole, and this is when it starts to get a little, because it's going to be the carriers behind it.

No, I understand, but the guy can perform that work without tearing up the newly can... The CPU lock? On the inside.

Yeah, they would just need to remove the toilets and then put them back on with the new carriers. Okay.

Are they currently leaking?

No. Are you showing... That area has been underwater numerous times. It's a very humid environment. I want to say it's probably the original plumbing to that building.

So they're cracked, not at the drain? It's not all the way through crack. It's like your line.

Typical older cast iron starting to get service cracks. But no, we do not have any current leaks.

Unfortunately, I wish we would have done this during the remodel. Me too. It was noticed, but I understand. I'm...

And those toilets were not replaced within this area. Those were the, what were, because those were all put in right after the 15th flood.

So I will make a motion to continue this.

Okay, Alderman Mazerang. Okay. Motion by Huell, second by Mazerang. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Motion carries.

Next, we have a consideration of an estimate to install lights at the Hitzer Pavilion and Merrimack Greenway Pavilion. We've got a memo from Nikki.

And this is an estimate that we received in looking at the, as you know, we've been spending a lot of time in the parks, looking at items, possible deficiencies, some concerns we've received, especially with the farmer's market is the lack of lights down at the pavilion for the Merrimack Inn. The facility has electric. It just doesn't have the overhead lights. The also is we do not have overhead lights in the Hitzert pavilion. They do have floodlights on the end, but not actual overhead lights. Remember these pavilions can be used up until 11 o'clock at night. in that park because of the time that the park is open. So what we're requesting is to install these lights. If we do them, they would be on a photo cell. That means the lights would come on at dusk. They would go back off at dawn, but it would be provided for some additional security in that area. Also, what is it, Dan, that we found out that those lights per hour when they run, it's about a cent per hour? they run and that is the trade-off the other option would be to do a timer and now those have to be manually adjusted by staff as needed to turn those on however when there's times where you have people that are in the pavilions it gets dark outside storms are coming on things like that the lights will not come on because they'll be on a timer so anybody oh go ahead

Sorry, I am a little confused. You said the photocell means that they will automatically come on?

They will come on, yes, at dusk and then go off at dawn. So they're going all night long? They do.

I'm not for that.

I just think, yeah, I'd rather have the timer one because I think it's a waste of electricity and

Do we have problems still with people using any of those shelters for like shelter living overnight? I think lighting would maybe help deter that because they'd rather be hiding in the dark.

So the only thing with it, so I hear you, Susan, on the timer not having it on all night, but then we're going to, as the season changes, we're going to constantly be down there adjusting the timer. I think that's constant.

It'll just be like maybe once a month you have to adjust it to that, but I just think that's a waste of electricity and it's unnecessary.

At just a couple cents an hour, I don't think that's an issue there. However, I think safety-wise, having that area lit, it'll be better for our park resource officer to be able to keep an eye on things, too, when he's traveling to there after curfews when people aren't supposed to be there anyway.

I don't think he works at night. Excuse me? I don't think he works at night.

Oh, so who?

I'm just curious, is the pavilion up where the farmer's market used to be? Is that lit?

No, that's on here.

Okay, so that one too.

It's that one in Hitzert.

Oh, I was thinking of a different one.

Anyone else?

I was thinking of the one where the farmer's standing.

Anyone else? I'm going to make a motion to forward. Oh, go ahead.

One question. I'm looking at this quote and this says it's $3,530 per shelter. On the back, when I add this up, it's $2,300. At eight, eight and seven. but I didn't know if there was something that was missing from the quote, because there wasn't a total on this quote, so I added it up.

Because it's $7.95 per fixture.

Okay. Well, okay, so I guess...

Yes, and I think we decided, what, four fixtures per.

I was reading the quote, and it just had one quantity.

It was the $3.50 for the one photo cell.

Okay.

Yep.

Anyone else? I'm going to make a motion to forward this.

Okay. I'm in Mazerang. Second. Motion by Hill. Second by Mazerang. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed?

Me.

Thanks. One no.

Can I make a comment? Sure. One comment. According to online, there's 4,000 hours of darkness per year in St. Louis, and if it's a cent an hour, we're talking about $40 a year to turn the lights on.

Have you guys heard of lights? We don't need our parks lit up all night long. We just don't. There's a purpose for it. There's a reason the sun goes down. So I'm just saying we don't need light all night long. That's the way.

And it's called light pollution. I think it'll help deter people that shouldn't be in the pavilions overnight, though.

It's not going to turn.

Like the guy that lives down there at an old town. I don't know that I totally disagree with it.

I'm not going to disturb people.

Okay, what's next?

Discussion regarding the Coleman Pavilion repairs.

Well, I'm happy to see that we don't have any further settling. It's just the concrete, because I knew my eyes didn't deceive me that it's Jimmy cocked. Can you spot that?

What'd Jimmy do?

But according to Cochran, it hasn't settled.

No.

Correct?

No, but the next item, so we'll just want to be, at this point, if you just want to continue this matter to the next month, we're just going to move forward to start getting bids from foundation repair so that we can get those items addressed as soon as possible.

We wanted the board to see. Not foundation repair. You're going to do something with the concrete.

With the jacking, yes. It'll actually be how Cochran explained in there. What we're going to have to do is actually come in, get it lifted, but we also need to get the grading done correctly The concern about also is the way the gutters come off is to make sure that those are being pushed away for enough from these. So it's just going to be a little bit of grading work and foundation. So we're going to contact basically foundation repair type companies.

Is it going to be prudent to mud jacket or just pour a new pad?

So I'll make a motion to continue it.

Okay, we need a second. Alderman Wisbrock? Second. Motion by Hill, second by Wisbrock. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

Next, we have discussion regarding pets at city health events in the park. We've got a memo from Nikki. I can tell you that, luckily, the June food truck event, we did have people that brought pets, and we did not have any incidents, so... And I don't believe, I think we, the last time we brought this up, the mayor had put a blurb in the newsletter to see if maybe we had gotten some resident feedback and we did not, as far as I'm concerned. I don't, I mean, as far as I know, no one made any comments or.

Somehow I'd like to, you know, when we have these events, have maybe our officer on duty walk around and just visibly take a look and, you know, maybe in a nice way comment, hey, just make sure we've had some incidences. Keep an eye on your animal.

Yeah, maybe... I don't know, you could put it in your mayor's comments or your little beginning of the newsletter that maybe it's just strongly discouraged to bring pets to these events because you never know how they, even though you may have the best well-behaved pet, they may react differently in a large group or with a small child or something that is strongly discouraged to bring pets to these type of events or something.

Another? I do like to keep reminding people of the newsletter, but also can we get a little A-frame board and just at the events have the board out there right before the food comes and just kind of like if you're bringing your pet, please keep them on a leash. Please keep your eye out. Do not leave them alone. Be aware of children.

Keep them on a tight lead.

Kind of create a little board that can go up whenever we have any event, not just food trucks.

Okay, this requires a motion, but I don't know what motion I'd make. I mean... Let it go. I'll just make a motion that we'll just keep at the status quo with the comments that have made here that we could possibly do reminders or have... Haldeman-Jokers, second.

Alderman Hules made a motion, Alderman Jokers seconds. Further discussion, all in favor? Aye. Motion carries.

Start over. Consideration of a request to apply for funding through the Municipal Park Grant Commission for a new restaurant and restroom in Fenton City Park.

We just already covered that.

Okay, we talked about it. I'm going to make that motion that we apply for the grant. So that's my motion.

Alderman Lang had his hand up quicker than Alderman Wisbrock. Second. We have a motion by Huell, second by Lang. Do we have further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries.

Next is discussion regarding lighting for the parking lot located north of Pickleball Courts in Fenton City Park. This is the area where we do not have any lighting, and when the Pickleball Courts, Pickleball lights go out at 11 o'clock, that parking lot is extremely dark, and there is no other opportunity for lights because they can't turn the Pickleball lights back on because they are on the timer.

So just as stated in the memo, we will just need another month to continue this. You had asked last month that staff go ahead and start working with Bates to get together a diagram to get together the formal bid to move forward with this. However, another option that's come forward is working with Ameren to have additional Ameren lights placed in our park, which is what we already have in our park. So we just want to see what the cost difference might look like. I mean, the option, our understanding is up to the city of how we'd want to move forward with that. We just want to get some numbers together. Dan has an appointment to meet with Ameren next week, I believe.

Susan and Brian.

You know me.

Sorry. So you're going to have to just expect this every time. What about solar... What about solar lights? I've seen parking lights, and then it has a little solar panel. Can we at least consider that to be environmentally proactive?

I don't know why you can't look into it.

OK, I'm going to make a motion to continue this, because we're continuing it anyway.

Okay. I need a second. Alderman Lang. Second motion by Hill. Second by Lang. Further discussion. All in favor. Opposed. Motion carries.

Next is discussion regarding turfing the ball fields. This one is a memo from Dan.

So I have a discussion on, uh, potentially looking to go out to bed or talk to turfing companies about turf and the ball fields at the main city park, uh, specifically one, two, and three. Um, I put some pros and some cons, which those obviously are not all the pros and not all the cons, but I can tell you this past year alone, 26 inches of rain. We have rained out. I mean, weeks at a time for our softball games. These are games that we would not have to rain out. If we had turf, the rains in the morning makes it feels unplayable at night, rain in the morning with turf. You're playing them in two hours. If even that long, um, I just want to have the ability to get an option to turf these fields. It's not just for our softball. It's for game time tournaments would utilize them. And that's just like, it's not trying to keep up with the Joneses, but this is more economical in the long run, less maintenance, less labor, less material. And just something I'd like to give a try.

Would we look at options for, just infield as well as full thing, I think it'd be beneficial to get quotes for everything because I think if you're going to just do the infields, I think there's a possibility it wouldn't be that much more to do the whole thing. I think both are great options, but I think it's worthwhile looking at both options. Sure. Brian?

I'm all for going out and getting pricing and bringing it back and see what it's going to be. Susan?

When you say the floodplain is a con, I mean, obviously it's in the floodplain, so it's going to flood. How is that a con?

So I have talked to one of the companies just briefly, just, you know, kind of get some ideas. They do have some that are located in the floodplain. Yes, you would have to wash it down, vacuum up the silt. redo the inlet or infill that is in this turf, but it's a lot less work than what you have to do to get a dirt field back in condition after the floods.

Go ahead. Yeah, that was my concern with the floodplain because I remember in one of the floods, soccer parks, turf all ending up in our parks.

That turf that ended up in our parks, they rolled that up. That was no longer fast turf surface because They are in a very high-velocity zone, and they rolled it up, put it on high ground, thinking they're going to be safe. Once the water got up to that height, it floated it all down.

Okay. I just wanted to make sure that wasn't the river that ripped it up and pushed it down. They had done that.

They had physically taken it up.

So this would be secure, the water. I know when it does come around that bend by soccer park, it is a higher velocity than down where our parks are. So they're pretty sure that the turf should stay in place during a flood.

Yeah, obviously no guarantees, but with the lower velocities in our park system, I would think it would hold up good.

So this all kind of got started. Dan, Nikki, and I were talking. My grandkids play in Chesterfield Valley, and I sat in a car for 30 minutes while it poured down rain. And then when the rain subsided, we went out and they played the game right after the rain. I think it's so beneficial to at least get a price for it and see. Yeah, I think it'd be kind of unique for us. I think we deserve it.

I was going to say the same thing I know on three instances that my granddaughters played that Fenton was called out, but they played Chesterfield and someplace else that has turf. I can't remember, but they were turf fields that they were able to get their games in.

I mean, I went back through this year how many rain outs we had just for softball. If they were turf, we would have had one versus I think it was close to 30 games or 30 nights had been rained out for softball. And we just cut a check to game time today for $17,000 for rainout refunds. And that's on top of, I think, another $8,000 or $9,000 we've already got back to them.

And understand that we've had employees that had to do work to prep those fields just for a rainout.

Got it. So you mentioned game time, and I do know in some tournaments they use both parks, Benton Park and the sports complex. But if we're only doing the Benton City Park and, you know, how are they still going to hold a tournament if only three of their fields that they're going to want to utilize are turf? And it seems like...

So they utilize Fenton City Park as kind of a standalone from the sports complex. Only certain divisions play at City of Fenton Park, and only those divisions play. They don't split them up amongst the two parks. They use multiple facilities, not just Fenton, on any given weekend. So I already had a small discussion with them. They need X amount of teams to make it beneficial for them to utilize Fenton Park. If they were turf... He didn't come out and guarantee it, but he would be running it even more often from us.

Dan, what I'd like to see is not just take the word of the turf people. Can we find somebody that has flooding issues, that they've been underwater and Sure. Kind of get their feel for it. The other person you may want to talk to is Gary Siebert's brother who was there when all that turf washed down. And you're right, they did roll it up, and they didn't secure it correctly. But the reason they took it up is because they knew it wasn't put down floodproof for water to come over it. And I think the turf that's there now is.

Okay, I'm going to make a motion that we get some bids regarding turf for the ball fields 1, 2, and 3.

And this will be, again, because it's going out for bid, it'll just be a final for this evening.

Alderman Mazering?

I'll second.

Motion by Hill, second by Mazering. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. One nay. And one nay.

Discussion regarding the application for funds under the MDC Community Forestry Cough Share Program for tree surveys.

Yes, as you remember last month, the board did approve for staff to apply for a tree survey for the arboretums for Westside and for Fabic Nature Preserve. MDC reached out to us and stated that they can only provide that survey, that it would only fall under if it's within basically a critical fall zone of a path, certain areas, within that. So there were some areas of the Arboretum that wouldn't qualify for that. So what we've done is adjusted the quote to allow for the additional, because again, this is a 25, 75% grant that have those additional items moved over to a survey to continue our surveys that we have going through our parks, which have been critical to our online map that you guys are aware of that we use that show our trees within the city, what's diseased, our invasives, and a lot of these areas that we've since cleared since we had the last survey done. So it would help us encompass a lot of those trees. So we would just like to adjust that to where I wanna be opened with the board is that some of it would be for the Arboretum, but the remainder of it would be for our overall city survey that we have.

Anybody have any questions? I'm going to make a motion that we apply for the funds under the MDC for the Forestry Cough Share Program.

As this is time sensitive, could that be a final?

This will be a final this evening. Okay.

Alderman Wisbrock? Second on the motion. Motion by Hill, second by Wisbrock. Further discussion? No, in favor? Aye. Opposed?

I have one more thing.

Thank you.

Consideration of request by Modern Litho for a special event in Fenton City Park. We've got a memo from Candace, and they're expecting about 100 people.

They were unable to attend this evening. They did send an email today stating that Candace sent an email that they wanted to attend this evening that they're unable. But you will notice with this, they're not asking. They're just having some beanbag tournaments. They're not having any bounce houses, food trucks, anything else. But they stated that they are going to be able to provide the required insurance. And really the only reason for this is that they're over the 75 people.

Okay, sounds like, and this is on August 22nd from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Fenton City Park, the main pavilion, and I will make a motion for that event at this time.

Okay, I saw Alderman Breitschaff with his hand up first. I would second, please. Okay, we have a motion by Huell, second by Breitschaff. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. All right, we're going to go to health and safety. Alderman Jokers.

All right, I just have a memo from Jane about Rob Besor of St. Luke's Healthy Workforce has an instrumental in coordinating the annual flu shot clinic for Monday, September 21st. at River Chase YMCA in the MindBody Studio from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. There will be no cost to the city for this event. City staff can schedule their appointments to participate. It is noted that this event is also open to the public. However, the appointments are set for the employees first and then advertised to the public. St. Luke's Hospital will provide this seasonal trivalent Oh, trivalent preservative-free flu vaccines. High-dose vaccines will be available for those ages 65 and older. If you want to participate, bring a copy of your insurance card, or you can have the shot received at your own cost. Medicare is also accepted with a Medicare card and driver's license. And I make a motion that we do move forward with this event.

A final.

And I'm making the final motion.

Let's open it up.

Oh, I do have to open it up. My bad. Yes. I'm opening up to the whole board.

All right. We need a Solomon-Wisbrock. Second. Motion by Joker, second by Wisbrock. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed?

And then now I'm making the final motion that we move forward with this event.

Solomon-Lang? Aye. Second. We have a motion by Joker, second by Lange, further discussion. Did we ever, do we know what that cost if somebody wanted to come in and just pay out of pocket?

I do have that in my office. He sent it to me, you know, a couple days later on that.

If we put that in a newsletter, which I'm sure we will, can we add that cost? Because there are people who...

Absolutely.

Okay. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. All right, that concludes health and safety consideration of the boardroom audio system. Jane, would you want to take that since you worked on that, you and Alderman Breitscheff?

Yeah, so myself and Terry met with Schillers here for the on-site demo that they offered. The mayor was here for a little bit of it, and I will actually let Terry share his experience in

OK, yeah, so night and day difference. I put a set of earbuds in, and I watched the gentleman speak before he turned the unit on. And all of a sudden, I was getting in, and he turned the unit on, and it was a little bit away. So it was fantastic. The fact that, again, it would meet our requirements for ADA to offer that to anybody to come to our door. That's kind of the biggest issue. I mean, we don't see it often, but when it does occur, he offer that service to anybody that needs it.

And they did offer two different services. They have what is called the single Wi-Fi, which is a little system that they would give us that we could provide to anybody that comes in. They also have a newer REOcast that can be hooked in addition to that FM. I would suggest that it's time to just go with the FM Wi-Fi. You have to have that ARIA CASCAT compatibility on there to be usable. So at this time, I would just suggest that board approve just the Wi-Fi FM to be added to this system. And in addition, staff's going to be bringing some other audio AV considerations to you with the recent lightning strike that we had. It took out our left output in our audio to us, and also our AV bridge, which is our video, needs upgrade to due to surges that have recently gone through.

You'll notice our trim light out front is not functioning correctly.

So if I could just add on, we see two different amounts here. And the second amount, the higher amount is a system that is not all there just yet for people. But the first one is pretty much everybody has that capability on their device.

You can add the second one later.

Yes. And if we could, you know, possibly get a final on this so that we could get that.

Any questions on any of these on this session?

I don't think we need the other one.

Alderman Breitschaft.

So I would. If there is no more discussion, I would make a final motion that we go with the FM and Wi-Fi audio system to our equipment.

Alderman Wisbrock. Second. So we have a motion by Brightshaft, second by Wisbrock. Further discussion. How long will it take to initiate this?

It depends on how soon we get the service agreement signed and they have the equipment ready for and can schedule the install.

We don't really know.

Probably a couple weeks after the install. They said sometimes they were scheduling six weeks out, but they would try to move us up faster.

Good. Okay. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Next would be the annual readoption of the city's procedure to disclose potential conflicts of interest and substantial interest for city officials. Any questions on that? Need a motion. Alderman Hules.

I'll make that motion.

We need a second. Alderman Mazerang. I'll second. Motion by Hules, second by Mazerang. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? That motion carries. And finally, a request from St. Paul Church for a liquor license. Alderman Lange.

I make a motion to approve.

Alderman Breitschaff. I would make a second, please. All right. We have a motion by Lange, second by Breitschaff. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. I'm not aware of any executive session. Correct? All right. Alderman Heals.

Motion to adjourn.

All right. We need a second. Alderman Lange. Second. We have a motion by Heals, second by Lange. Further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Motion carries. Thank you. Aaron, thank you.

Thank you. So sorry. Thank you for allowing me. Not a problem. Bye, Erin. Bye. All right.