City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. I'd like to call the meeting to order. Would everyone please rise for the pledge of allegiance? Pledge 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. Roll call, please. Mayor Gibbon, here. Council member Jedetic, here. Council member Lizo, here. Council member Mlan, present. Council member Reiner, here. Council member Schaefer, here. Council member Zimmer, here. Thank you. We have no presentations tonight, so we'll move straight to public comments. Do we have anyone filling out a card for a public comment this evening

for Michael? Yeah, it's not, is it? might have to press it. Jessica, I did. Oh, yes. Mayor and council, there is there are a few and the first one is Tom Moser.

I'm tired of seeing me. Never. Good evening, Mayor and Council. [laughter]

I would like to talk about the water department. Uh I know you have the authority that you can sell it without voter approval, but if you take into consideration that every citizen of Kirkwood is basically a stockholder in the water department, they should have a say in it. And I hope you will consider that when it comes time to sign on the dotted line. Now, in favor of the water department, uh Missouri Americans not very good on service. Uh last year on Barry Road within a fourb block section there were five water mane breaks and they weren't just seeping they were rushing down the street and it was like that for about two weeks until it made the news and then Missouri American decided to do something. Uh they have since voted or said they will replace that water man. Uh but I'm doubting when they will do it. But Sappington Roads another one. They had main breaks constantly on those two roads over time. And they should have replaced those water manes a long time ago, but they didn't. We are replacing water manes. We've we had a rate increase last year to do such a a project. Missouri American will I don't believe will replace water manes like we are replacing them. Service our department will be out there within hours not days.

Um, there was another example up in North County last week in front of the auto body shop that was on fire. Fire department pulled up. No water out of the fire hydrant. The next closest one, no water. Water Missouri American said, "Nobody called it in. Nobody told us about it." Well, I used to dispatch for the fire department and I know the police department and the fire department call those things into the water company. So, uh I hope you will keep all of these in consideration and the electric department is the same way. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Tom. Mark Gorus.

So, the intang Madame Mayor and city council members, my name is Mark Goris. I live at 305 North Harrison Road. Uh I'm here to um to say one, I was at the working session just a minute ago and I wish all of Kirkwood could have sat in that meeting. I thought it was very very interesting. Uh I want to reiterate something I've said in the past. I can think of no reason for those working sessions not to be available to everyone online. um just like this is here. It's it's a way for people to learn and get engaged and I would highly suggest that you look at that. I've heard of some reasons why it wasn't done in the past. I don't think they're strong enough. Um while I was in that meeting, I felt the building move. I don't know if anyone else felt it. It was a seismic shift. I felt a move from control of the people to control of our finances for the people. Um people are getting more and more concerned about our economic viability as we go forward. Uh a case in point would be uh the electric rates. Now the the Kirkwood Times, Webster Kirkwood Times has said multiple times we haven't had a rate increase since 2017. I asked that the city council doublech checkck the data. In uh October, November of 2022, there was a 26% increase in our electric rates. You called it a search charge or somebody called it a search charge. A rose by any other name is still a rose. In this case, I'd call it a thorn bush is still a thorn bush. The rates were increased and we should just say it. We had to increase them to keep up with energy cost, infrastructure, and everything else. But not to say it leaves the public thinking one thing when I don't think it's true. I welcome any challenges to that. In this meeting,

uh Josh, I don't even know his last name, but he was the chairman or is the chairman of the citizen finance committee. Again, I thought it was a seismic shift and I I heard all of you engaged listening and he had some really good recommendations from his committee. One was holding off on millions and millions and millions of more dollars for the public work site that we paid 12.5 million for until we know what we're going to do with water, what we're going to do with electric electric and and other issues. It's simply it simply is too much money when we don't have the money to go too fast on something like that. We can't undo the past. I I understand that. But how we got to that point, I don't know. I also heard in the meeting that, you know, things haven't been so bad in the past and we should just, you know, it'll be okay. Everything will be okay. Uh particularly with um well, I'll I'll skip that. I'll try to make it short. I just want to applaud this group uh for somewhat having to correct a lot of problems that this group did not create. They come from a prior administration that's been stated in the paper. Thank you for what you're doing to make Kirkwood even bigger and better than it is already. I've lived in other uh Manchester, Loo, Front Neck. I've lived all over.

I never even thought about my utilities. They worked fine. Thank you. Thank you, Mark. Sean Murphy.

I'm Sean Murphy. Uh, in Kirkwood City Code, almost everything you place on your property is considered an accessory structure, including a doghouse or a hose reel box, which are explicitly mentioned in the code as accessory structures. A shipping container 20t by 8t by 8 1/2 ft tall is an accessory structure, even if it was just used as the doghouse. Section 4543 of the city code says portable containers, shipping containers, semi-tractor trailers with or without wheels shall not be used as permanent accessory structures in any zoning district. So on September 8th of 2024, I sent an email to the code enforcement questioning a neighbor's installation of shipping containers without a permit. 4 days later, code enforcement replied saying they were temporary. So September 8th, 2025, I informed the city that a year exceeds the definition of temporary. So on December 17th, I received a response from the planning and development s uh services. Just one year later and those shipping containers are now magically permitted as a historical use. They never identified them as shipping containers despite you and I taking one look at them and calling them what they are. They have metal corrugated sides. They have the corners with the holes for stacking and anchoring them. They have full double doors on one end with double latches top and bottom. You see them all the time rolling through cargoid on the freight trains. And you know they are shipping

containers. What you might not know is there are marks all around the shipping container. Those are called the reporting mark. The containers my neighbor put on their property have those reporting marks. They are in fact shipping containers. The response never directly addressed the semi-tractor trailer being used for storage, which hasn't moved in a year either. So, I'm asking you to find out why city staff is letting Vani get away with not applying for proper permit permits. And when the city staff are yet again failing to enforce the city code, make them tell you what their plan of action is. When the inevit inevitable occurs and Vonyi stacks the shipping containers, they have historically failed to enforce the code. What will they do then?

Thank you. What was the address of that of your neighbor? It's Diani. Oh, okay. All right. Okay. Thank you. There are no further uh comments. Okay, thank you. Um we will now move to the consent agenda. Is there a motion and second to approve the consent agenda? Motion second. All in favor say Oh, wait. Are there any questions? All in favor say I. I.

Opposed? Nay. Consent agenda carries. Um we'll now move into unfinished business. Bill 11113. Mayor and Council, this is an ordinance granting the approval of a major site plan for a restaurant and special use permit for a drive-through facility at the property known as uh 103000 Manchester Road, Green Tree Center subject to certain conditions. Thank you. Are there any questions or comments on Bill 11113? Council member Leo.

Yes. Thank you, Mayor. So, um I was just glancing through all of this for the final um time and happened to notice that um as the site plan went through um planning and zoning uh review um and um the typical comments asking for comments from the various departments, fire, whatever. I noticed that the forestry department had some comments requesting that um the trees along the uh street frontages have um more diverse mix of trees. Right now there's um six red maples. There's a couple four honey locust and I don't remember what else. But anyway, so I apologize to Amy and Jonathan that I was coming up with this whole thing at such a last minute, but Amy did um talk to Brandon, our city forester, and um as a result of this, actually Brandon is appreciative that I brought this up and I would like to make a motion to add a condition to the ordinance. Um and I have some verbiage here that I got from staff if you want me to read it. Yes. Um, quote, "Prior to permit issuance, the landscape plan shall be amended to increase species diversity along the street frontages in consult in consultation with the city forester." End quote.

So, is there a second to that motion? Second. Okay. Um, comments, discussion, what was the what what's the plan call for now? It calls for um is it six or eight red maples and I think that was the main thing that Brandon was questioning. We're trying to get away from a monoculture. So I think he was wanting greater species diversity and I leave it up to him to, you know, talk with with the petitioner on, you know, what would be maybe a better mix. Some of the trees along there are coming down because they're in poor shape. Um, but I think it was it was mainly he suggested that

it's not much that they're maples. It's just that you're thinking we should have more different

I'm not going to comment about the maples. I thought there was something about you know life of maples and or you know I mean they're beautiful in the fall but I will leave it up to Brandon. I just I was just wondering did the petitioner respond to Brandon's initial comment requesting greater diversity? And I think the answer was no. So we are officially asking for greater diversity in the selection of trees that would go along Woodlon and also um um along Manchester Road. I I'll tell you that Bill Roupert feels like the red maples are being used way too much in uh commercial landscaping.

Well, yes. I I mean I'm not a forester. I'm not an arborist, but I know that there are issues with red maples. They are beautiful, but I don't know that they're really especially for a street tree, but anyway. So, um I was I'm proposing this to um stand up for our forestry department.

Okay. Um tree hugger would like to make a comment. Thank you. with my work with the urban forestry commission over the last year and a half um and with Brandon um he is looking at a big picture and I think this is so important. I appreciate um the followup you did to support some of his recommendations. So um we have such a strong forester who really is looking at a big picture not just one piece of property at a time but the impact across the community what he's doing. So, I have great confidence in his recommendations and I do think it's important we support him because um we have a lot of canopy coverage to catch up with and we want to balance out so we don't once again lose a bunch of trees at one time. So, I think it's a good it's a good um recommendation.

Council member Zimmer. Yeah, thank you. I you know from my previous work with urban forestry the one thing that was discussed in my time was you know we were dealing with the uh you know Dutch elm disease and it's critical that we have tree diversity in order to avoid that in the future. Um if you have something that's going to affect maples that could wipe out a lot of trees in a lot of different areas. So I think this just makes good sense. Thank you Nancy. Right. And more more recently, we're dealing with um emerald ashbor and the ashtrees and the same kind of thing where it attacks. Yeah. So, thank you, Nancy. Sure. Thanks, Amy.

Additional comments to the motion. Okay. All in favor? All in favor of the motion say I. I. I. Nay. The motion carries. And now we go back to the original bill as amended. As amended. Any comments or questions about the the bill? Okay, seeing none. All in favor say Oh, sorry. Roll call. Mayor Gibbons, yes. Council member Jetic, yes. Council member Litzo, yes. Council member Mlan, yes. Council member Ricker, yes. Council member Schaefer, yes. Council member Zimmer, yes.

Very good. Uh, bill 11114. Mayor and Council, this is an ordinance adopting the 2021 International Plumbing Code with modifications as the city of Kirkwood Plumbing Code, regulating the design, construction, quality of materials, erection, installation, alteration, repair, location, relocation, replacement, additions to, use or maintenance of plumbing systems in the city of Kirkwood, providing for the issuance of permits, and collection of fees, and repealing the current plumbing code. Thank you. Are there any comments or questions on bill 1114 or plumber? No, no comments.

Oh, I already put mine in. Thank you, mayor, for asking. Tree hugger. Just wait till she called you guys out. I'm not asking. Um, roll call, please. Mayor Gibbons. Yes. Council member Dixettic. Yes. Council member Litzo. Yes. Council member Mlan. Yes. Council member Ricker. Council member Schaefer. For Palmer says yes. Council member Zimmer. Yes. The bill has passed final reading. Bill 11115.

Mayor and council, this is an ordinance adopting the 2021 inter international residential code for one and two family dwellings, including appendix AA, sizing a capacity of gas piping, appendix AB, sizing of venting systems, uh, serving appliances equipped with draft hoods, category 1 appliances, and appliances listed for use with type B vents. Appendix AC exit terminals of mechanical dra draft and direct vent vent systems. Appendix AE manufactured housing used as dwellings. Appendix AF radon control methods. Appendix AG piping standards for various applications. Appendix AH patio covers. Appendix AJ existing buildings and structures. Appendix AK sound transmission. Appendix AM home daycare R3 occupancy. Appendix AP, sizing of water pipe sizing. Appendix AQ, Tiny Houses, is published by the International Code Council with modifications as the residential code of the city of Kirkwood establishing minimum regulations governing the design, construction, alteration, uh, enlargement, repairs, demolition, removal, quality of materials, erection, location, relocation, replacement, maintenance, and use of all buildings and structures, providing for the issuance of permits, and the collection of fees, and the repealing of the existing residential code. Thank you. Uh, are there any questions or comments on bill 1115?

Roll call, please. Mayor Gibbons, yes. Council member Jedetic, yes. Council member Litzo, yes. Council member Mlan, yes. Council member Reiner, yes. Council member Schaefer, yes. Council member Zimmer, yes. Very good. The bill has passed final reading. Bill 11116. Mayor and council, this is an ordinance amending chapter 7. There we do need this when we need a motion to secondute bill to the floor. Okay, hold on, David. I'd like to make the motion to bring substitute bill 11116 to the floor for consideration. Second.

Thank you. Are there any comments or questions on the motion? Okay. All in favor say I. I. I nay. All right. Um, now we'll go to the substitute to the bill 11116 as amended. Substitute. Substitute. Okay. Sorry. Mayor and council. This is an ordinance amending chapter 17 of the Kirkwood Code of Ordinances by adding a new article 17 for the purpose of banning entertainment devices offering monetary prizes. Are there any questions or comments on substitute bill 11116

force this [clears throat] police question the police department we're going to get rid of the ones that are currently in the city they'll have 90 days that's that was the substitute okay I've got two of them here I'm not sure which is which the substitute substitute one substitute the substitute is the last the last section the last page was the additional info. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Uh, roll call, please. Mayor Gibbons, yes. Council member Jedic, yes. Council member Litzo, yes. Council member Mlan, yes. Council member Riner, yes. Council member Schaefer, yes. Council member Zimmer, yes.

The bill has passed. We will move to new business. Bill 11117. Mayor and council, this is an ordinance amending the provisions of the uh municipal code chapter 25 zoning and subdivision by creating a new zoning district to be known as the R seven planned multif family residential district and amending various sections of the of code to reference said district. Do I have a motion and second to accept bill117 for first reading approval? Motion.

Second. Okay. Um, you know, I this bill and the next one I'm good with um changing what we're doing is changing the um the code the what the what can go in to the old public's work section, but I'm a little concerned with who we've chosen to do the work there because I can't seem to get a hold of them. Um, asked staff for a number but I didn't get it. went on the website. There is no phone number. I filled out the thing on the website that says I'd like somebody to contact me. That was on Monday. I've never heard anything. So, I'm good with passing this, but when it comes to what's going to go on the site, I think we need more communication.

The developer, you can't reach all the double ego, right? Wow. the the phone number that comes in on the side, you know how that happens, goes to another entity. So contact person that So you are but we can't be okay. Your number, mayor. We will get you in contact with the development.

Get your number. Right. And I know uh Jonathan has told me that they've done a big project in Ellisville that's worked out really well. So um that was that was good to hear. So um okay. So any other comments or questions or this is this is the first reading, right? Uhhuh. Yeah. So if if you can't reach them between now and the next one, we can maybe raise the same concern. Yeah. This is just changing the the code the you know what can go in there, the zoning code. Yeah. Right. This is the code change. So any question or any comments about the whole question of parking would come on the next one.

Next one. The next one. Okay. Okay. Any any other comments or questions? All in fe favor of first reading approval of bill 11117 say I. Oppose. Nay.

Okay. Okay. The bill passes first reading approval. Bill 11118. Mayor and council, this is an ordinance changing the zoning from B2 central business district to R seven planned multifamily residential district on the properties known as 345 South Filillmore Avenue, 336 South Taylor Avenue and 340 South Taylor Avenue being approximately 5.9 acre site between Taylor Avenue and Filmore Avenue and south of Monroe Avenue and directing such change in the zoning district map. Do I have a motion and a second to accept bill 11118 for first reading approval? So moved. Second.

Are there any questions or comments on the bill? Yes. Well, I think Council Lo,

we might want to look at the whole issue of those nine parking spaces on the southwest corner and because right now I think planning and zoning proposed that that it's green space and Gina brought up that maybe we actually want those parking spaces. I mean it kind of changes um the parking requirement if we if we make it green space say for a dog little dog park or whatever. Who knows that what they might I don't know a community garden. Who knows what they would put down in that space. Um it would um they would just be underperforming the current standard for the number of parking spaces for the number of units. It would be 1.4.

What was it, Gina? 666 something like that. And Jonathan sent some um follow-up information on that. 1.455. Right. Right. Yeah. Going to the nearest 100th. Um, so we need to decide, do we want to, you know, do we want to go along with what PNZ recommended to have like a small green space of I don't remember how many square feet it is, um, or nine additional parking spaces. Do you want to make a motion?

Well, I'm I'm sort of I'm on the fence about this. I mean, I've made a issue about green space and they need green space and people, you know, we there's really not enough green space and this would be maybe an opportunity for it, but I don't know if at the expense of possibly nine spots. So, and with the Cape next door.

Yes. So that was the other thing is that we are now we've gotten permission to actually remind people that in this we required that the at least a majority of the parking spaces on the current public works must be replaced. So they're the the developer is required to add an additional 22 spaces and I believe the current uh KPAC parking lot is going to be reconfigured to make room for those. Am I understanding that correctly? Yeah. That those spaces will be added on the current

um KPAC parking lot. It'll be reconfigured over there. So, because I was wondering where are they coming from? I thought maybe we forgot to talk about it. But um so that answers that question that um most of the spaces that are being lost from the redevelopment of the current public works will be added over at the current CPAC parking lot by the developer to compensate for for most of the spaces being lost there. But back to the question of, you know, do we want to have green space or do we want the nine parking spaces? That's that's kind of the question. [laughter]

You probably need to ask maybe Jonathan to walk us because the parking is the big issue and he did send us some attempt to clarify some information, but about the 303 and we got 28 in great in garages and 28 tandem and don't count the spaces and bl. So if you could walk through some of what you tried to give us some additional information on that would be helpful. I'll do my best. So Okay.

So um as was mentioned the recommendation from PNZ and what is drafted in the bill now is to remove those nine spaces in the southwest. So without any motion that would get to to change it that would be removed and [clears throat] not required going forward. If that is the case, as council member Litzo mentioned with council member Jacket's [snorts] concern about the rounding, mathematical rounding, then I made the suggestion that the amendment be made to make that decimal, right? So that would um if the consensus is to go with the direction of removing that, that should round that out and make that um the way that you want it. So the what this goes down to is there are um 202 um units. There are 303 total parking spaces provided and that is a combination. I know it's listed the surface parking spaces are specifically listed in one of the notes on the plan sheet. So if you see that number, it says 247, but that's just the surface parking and that doesn't include there are 28 garage spaces and areas behind the garage spaces like a private driveway. You know, that allows what I can call tandem parking. So you can park right behind the garage like you could at your house, right? So there are 28 garage spaces, 28 right behind those, right? So 56 spaces that are provided um that when added to the 247 other spaces get you to the 303.

Does that make sense?

And um and our parking rate for multifamily is a 1.5 spaces per unit. So we we realize some units are going to be one bedroom with one car, some will be two cars, and it's a blended rate based on national averages and all that. So, um, the one the the one the 303 spaces with the nine space parking lot would meet our 1.5. So, what we're talking about is if we remove that um it it goes slightly under that to 1.455 455 um but in with the PNZ's discussion was the benefit of having not only just that additional green space overall um was also that that's the part part mostly adjacent to single family residents of the site. So it provides a little better buffer to those single family adjacent residents. Um and lastly, there are topography. Um the the developer is willing to do it, but it's a at a significant cost and just there's a lot of grade to work with and everything. So, um it the question just was is it just more beneficial to have this open space rather than forcing these nine spaces into this little portion for So, that's my best summary, I guess.

And PNZ suggested the open space. That's correct. And that was that a unanimous vote? Uh I think it was one voted against it. There w So there was um on the resoning. I'm going to go back. I believe the reasoning was unanimous. The text amendment was uh one in opposition and that opposition was based upon the fact that um that member um wished that the district would be more flexible to consider um commercial non-residential use as well. So, um, wasn't opposed to what was happening, just thought it could have been could have done more. Um, but yeah.

Okay. Any more comments or questions? Well, I would just say, you know, when we when we started discussing this and we looked at changing this to R seven, we as a council, if you all remember, we wanted the flexibility to be able [clears throat] to go outside of the norm to be creative and make something better and more special. We wanted something that had the architectural features that we thought other developments in Kirkwood recently have not had. So, this was a chance for us to kind of be creative for a change. And the nine spots is is part of that creativity. If you look where these nine spots are on this site plan, they're in the very southwest corner. They have no outlet. If you've got a larger vehicle, I'm looking at it right here in front of me. If you have a larger vehicle, it's going to be very difficult to get out of here. There's no spot to turn around. Because if you turn this way, you're going to hit this this section here. It's going to be very difficult to get in and out of there. It's away from the majority of this whole complex. It's the furthest away from the performing arts center. So, in reality, let's say we put these nine spots here. They're probably going to be the most underused spots of the whole project based on where they are. There's one outlet there. There is topography as as Jonathan mentioned to consider and I just can't see people realistically making this the prime spot to park. So, there is a benefit to having added green space because if you look at this whole project, there's not a ton of it. There's some, but um but just the fact that if we make it parking, I would guess just looking at how this is laid out,

it's not going to be a very popular spot, especially if you've got a larger vehicle, it's going to be tough to maneuver to get in out of there. So, so that's something to consider that it's an easy it's an easy yes to say make it a green space. If we make it parking, then okay. But I would surmise it's not going to be used very much for parking because of where it is and how it's designed. Maybe it could have some trees. It have a diversity of trees. Yes. Council member Mlan

concern is where people are going to park on a busy night at Kpack. Where are people going to park? If development is huge and does well, people in the in the development are want to park somewhere. they start taking up spots on the streets or spots for K-pack. Um, we have an issue of downtown parking. I don't want to see an issue of of lack of parking over by Cape. Nine spots maybe not going to be utilized very often, but if they're utilized on busy nights, maybe they will be.

Yeah. You know, it's it's better than the alternative of having else to park. the developer is willing to do either. And I will say Mr. Andrew Jurus is here tonight like he was at the public hearing. Um he's been very responsive um to staff. I have not had a discussion with him to say not to communicate with any the mayor or any council members. However, I will say during all planning and zoning process, the recommendation is always to go through staff and not discuss any matter directly with any council member or or mayor. Um when you when you are the legislative body considering the zoning matter. Um uh now again we have a separate matter of the development agreement which we are in a legal agreement with double eagle. Um, so but we're um the the developer has their representative here tonight and he was here at the public hearing as well. So,

okay, you got your point across. Um, yes, let's move. Um, actually, I was hoping Jonathan would stand there because I want to ask him. Yeah. Um, do you who's been looking at this for a while now, do you have anything to add, pro or con one way or the other on on this? I mean, I'm sort of compelled with Council Member Zimmer's argument, and I I do like the idea of a possibility of some green space

on the property, but I don't know at the expense of possibly causing issues with park like um deficiency of parking or special or visitors or I mean there will be street parking, correct? Yeah. So all the parking on the site will be private parking. Um that there's no there's no um proposal and I'm not aware of any measure to remove existing on street parking from Taylor. Um Filillmore has the bike lanes the buffer bike lanes on it.

Um so you know it it it's your all it's the judgment call for you all on on weighing um weighing that nine spaces uh versus the open space. Okay. Thank you. Is there going to be a fence?

If if the the recommendation and the way it's drafted now is if the nine space parking lot is constructed, it would be required to have a uh type de I believe buffer which does require a 6-ft sight proof fence around the southern and western edge. So for those neighbors in addition to the landscaping that's required. So, how how will K-pack parkers not use parking in this?

Uh, it'll be like any private property if they find people they can tow. Um, it's private parking. So, uh, the parking lot is going to be roughly 8 ft below the adjacent. So, I mean, they'll have to walk around the block and the sidewalk um or hike up a pretty steep well or climb a retaining wall. There will be a retaining wall there. So, I don't know that many people will do that going to the theater. Um but they may very well walk around to that. Uh and you know that that is the way in in suburban urban areas that things function. When parking is a problem, they would call and deal with the problem if it becomes a problem. So the nine's not going to make a difference when we're with KPAC. So the

So that's all private and that'll be manage that. So it's really, you know, I mean I'm not sorry. No, go ahead. I mean people will park informally where they park, right? So I mean that's but the reality is we can't count on I mean Yeah. It's not guarant it's not guaranteed parking for kek. It's it's not our issue to make any difference. Yeah. If if you go over there and look right now, the topography is so much different just where it's at now. So, as he says, it might not be eight foot, but it'll probably be six foot. Who's going to climb up a six foot cinder block wall, you know? So, I'm talking

Well, I'm I'm leaning that we should I would prefer that we just go ahead and remove the nine spaces, but we change that parking ratio to the 1.455 455 because if you leave it at just 1.4 it drops the potential to lose another 20 and I want his I want his his development to be successful and then to not have parking problems. So I would just say I would be in favor of just leaving it I mean taking away the nine and then adjusting the number.

Well I surely could try that. I would make this a motion to amend section two subsection 2H um to revise the parking ratio from 1.4 parking spaces per unit to 1.455 four five5 parking spaces per unit and this you can I make that motion then I and then this will keep them this will remove the nine spaces and they can manage it however any comments on the motion. All those in favor say I.

I motion carries and now we go back to the bill as as amended. Any more comments on the bill? Okay. Um, are we doing um Nope. Just all in favor? All in favor of the bill say I. I. I. N. First reading. Yes. Yes. Okay. First the first reading of the bill passes.

Um, bill Oh, resolution 2 2026. Mayor and Council, this is a resolution accepting the proposal of Midwest Pool Management in the amount of not to exceed $49,81.71, which includes a contingency of $500 for aquatic center pool repairs and authorizing and directing the director procurement to issue a purchase order. Do I have a motion and a second to accept resolution 22026 as second?

Are there any comments or questions? I have a few comments, but all good. What I like about how Kyle presents his information, again, as you delve into this, you know, it's basically asking for 49,000. And if you look at the line items, you know, that he's pulling this out of, we we have different numbers, 5.3 million in the budget, 2.77 actual to date. But he gives us this addendum memo that explains where he's pulling and why and why this much because most of that budget is going to be really at the start of the summer. So every question I had as I went through this, he answered in his memo. And so I just want to say, you know, with all the information, it's there. And um he does such a nice job um even without us having to pull them in and ask the questions. though um a lot of numbers and line items and we're at the tail end of this budget year. So knowing what's going to be paid actually out of this year and what's going to be encumbered for next year is really critical and he does address that.

Very good. Thank you. Mayor, I just want to point out he he also references this is the 27th season of the aquatic center. So everyone at home knows it's 27 been 27 years. Is your Is there a point there? [laughter] It may be reaching the end. Any more comments? Roll call, please. Mayor Gibbons, yes. Council member Jedetic, yes. Council member Litzo, yes. Council member Mlan. Council member Rhiner. Council member Schaefer. Uh, yes. Council member Zimmer. Yes.

Very good. Resolution. Oh, the the resolution passed. Resolution 3206. Mayor and Council, this is a resolution authorizing and directing the director of procurement to issue a purchase order to Schaefer Electric in the amount of $28,872.84 cents to pay for electric services provided for the Park1 pump station in Kirkwood Park. Do I have a motion and a second to accept resolution 32026? Motion. Second. Are there any comments or questions?

Any Okay, so this everybody bear with me. I'm going to try and do this as fast and easy as I can. So, uh, this is our maintenance contract that I keep throwing back out and talking about that Schaffefer Electric didn't do the majority of this work. U, this was subbed out to Collins and Herman. Um, this has no reflection on Chris. This has no reflection on anybody but who has retired. um from the electric department, [clears throat] correct me anywhere I'm wrong, that uh the electrical department decided to [clears throat] add this in to their budget over there. I don't know why they would be doing that because this is a water issue and water pump stations. So, I I have grave concerns on this maintenance contract that we always and got us into a lot of deep water here. Um, I'm I'm asking that we go back and look at this maintenance contract with Schaefer Electric and see all the different things that they have run underneath the maintenance contract that they call. Uh and again, here's a perfect example of we didn't put it in the right direct in the right uh department right away. So, we're shuffling work. We're shuffling funds from one department to another. It needs to stay where where the work is being done. They need to do it. Chris is very capable of getting the right people out there to do this. That's enough. I'll stop. I think everybody gets my point. If not, I'll be

glad to take some time and explain it. Thank you. And so this is work that's already been done that was originally to be paid for through the electric and we now are just moving it to the correct department. So again, we have a better understanding of cost associated with the water department, which will again give Chris an idea of the cost associated with the water department. So, um, work's been done. It was just charged to a different line item. Um, and it's being moved over so we have accurate information. And this had not come to the council before. Correct.

This had not and it actually has not been paid as of yet. So, it's not been paid. It's still pending. This was work in August. So, we're still trying to straighten that out. And to to go back to to uh Councilman Schaefer's point, this was also under a different kind of process that we are re gonna hopefully revisit. Any other comments? Okay. Um let's see. Roll call. Sorry. [laughter] Mayor Given. Yes. Council member Jetic. Yes. Council member Litzo. Yes. Council member Council Member Mlan. Yes.

Council member Ricker. Council member Schaefer. No. Council member Zimmer. Yes. Um the resolution has passed. Resolution 4206. Mayor and council. This is a resolution resolution accepting the single source proposal of Webster Kirkwood Times in the amount of $16,536 for the for publication and distribution of the Eye on Kirkwood newsletter for the city of Kirkwood for a 12-month term in authorizing and directing the mayor to enter into a contract. Do I have a motion in a second? Motion. Second. Thank you. Are there any questions or comments? Council member Zimmer.

Yes. Thank you. Um, this seems uh we can refresh my memory on this. Uh, it seems like we have we spent this kind of money on Ion Kirkwood before just to confirm. Uh, 16,000 for one year. That's correct. We have we actually in previous years reduced the number of double issues to reduce the amount. So we have expended more in previous years. Okay. All right. Great. All right. Thank you. And this is for once a month if

I have a question. Yes. So in this um resolution so 4,000 is to carry us through the end of this fiscal year and then the additional 8,000 I no the 12,000

is going to carry us through the end of this year but not the end of the fiscal year. Correct. So the 12 month starts as of which one? Janu Oh, so this is a January 1st to December 31st. So next are you going to budget? No. So we're going to approve this and you're going to encumber it for your line item next year. Will you be adding another anticipated amount to carry those last three months or will you come back and try this again, you know, do this again? And you

so typically this should come to council every year. Um so the incumbrance will be through the end of December. Um we could encumber the entire year just to hold the money just in case. We budget that way anyways. So that could just be an operational thing that we can we can do in whichever way you did. I I was wanting to make sure I knew what the the year was. It appeared to be a January to December. We got but we may see this

the funding metrics of it as well. Just so you are all aware, it is the first few months out of this fiscal year. The rest out of next fiscal year contingent upon budgetary approval. This is a month-to-month edition. We are not guaranteed to have to do this service on a month-to-month basis. This isn't guaranteeing us to do that. So, if any point in time we need to cut off services, we can cut off services. Are their rates guaranteed for the year? Okay, good question. They haven't increased uh since last year as well. They were the same last year. Oh, okay. Great. Thank you, partners. Any additional questions or comments? Okay, roll call, please. Mayor Gibbons, yes. Council member Jedic, yes. Council member Litzo, yes.

Council member Council Member Mlan, Council Member Rander, Council Member Schaefer, yes. Council member Zimmer, yes. Resolution has passed. Resolution 52026. Mayor and Council, this is a resolution authorizing and directing the submitt of a transportation alternatives program, TAP, uh application to East West Gateway Council of Governments for federal funds for improvements along Argon Drive from Taylor Avenue to Guyire Road. Do I have a motion and a second to accept resolution 52026 is read? Motion.

Second. Thank you. Questions or comments? Council member Schaefer. I'd just like to say uh thanks to Chris for I I assume it's Chris that's applying for these funds. Um that will save the city many how many thousands. I I know I'm waiting for Chris to give me the million anyway that that we're saving money in the city of Kirkwood by doing these and applying for these grants and we've been pretty dog on successful doing it. So kudos to him for and whoever is helping him with putting this together. So thank you.

And the the 20% that the city needs to put in with that can come out of the TDD. And then there you are. Look at that. Even better.

Right. I have some concerns. So I'll start with the funding and I'll back into the rest of it. So even though it's an 8020, we still have to put up 100%. we had to pay the full thing which right now looks like it's going to be a 2.2 million um that by fiscal year 30. So we have to come up with the 2.2 million to pay for this and whatever else um and where that money is coming from. My concern is if it's TDD money um then we will not be doing other streets. I mean we're going to have to encumber. We're going to have to get used to not just spending and hoping it shows up when we need it. But if we get this, we're going to have to find a way of encumbering at least 2.2 million out of capital or out of TDD money. And my concern is that what projects are we not going to be able to do over the next couple of years on streets because we got to save tax money. So, I haven't seen that analysis and I've great I don't even know what our anticipated TDD tax. I I've seen no anticipated revenue on that. How much we're going to anticipate even getting since we've just started collecting it annually.

I think they're it's over two million. Yeah, it's over close to three million after after our costs. So again, I'm just concerned that we're now going to have if we get this grant, we're going to have to start encumbering money and not being able to use it on street projects that we need so desperately. Now, you know, that's that's my one that's one concern. The other is that we did have a conversation on this and did ask we had a lot of conversation about the um take the the bike lanes and removing parking. And from the minutes of that meeting, I really thought that the council think we were going to look at rescoring like how, you know, how scores, what's an in what's different things we would do that would improve a score and the likelihood we would get one grant or the other. Um, and we were told bike lanes were a big way of potentially increasing your score because we were just off. And from the minutes in my recollection, I really thought we were going to see this before it came to us for final approval. Um, and I'm a little disappointed that we haven't gotten information that again our minutes reflected at least my interpretation. So, um,

you mean see us the plans? Yes. to see because we have the plans and we went through them, but we also talked about the fact we were going to lose a lot of parking because those bike lanes are no parking and but the bike lanes score these and again we were going to get more information and have more conversation I thought and you know now I know we're up against a timeline but when is this due Chris?

Um it's February 6 is when the grant is due. Um, and what I anticipated was giving you a summary tonight on on what our consultant looked at. Um, and then what is in our bike ped plan um on the uh on the street. So, if I may, can I can I go into that? Would love it if the rest would appreciate it, too. Yeah.

Um, so yeah, the consultant looked at that as well as myself to uh remove the bike lane. Um, and I remember uh the council [clears throat] work session to um possibly include some additional trafficcoming features to make up the scoring. Um, and so we looked at that. Um, the project already already includes raised crosswalks and a raised intersection. And so adding um additional traffic coming in that area would not increase our score enough uh to uh just removing the bike lane and going to a shared lane. And so the the recommendation by the consultant was to keep the bike lane in um as it is identified in our pedestrian bicycle plan as a specifically a bike lane um connecting downtown Kirkwood to Kirkwood Park. And so this is a a a direct connection between the two. Um and having a low stress uh lane for a bicycle uh rather than doing a shared lane, it would be uh it would score better ultimately if we left the bike lane in. Um if uh there I want to remind the council that there is still parking to remain on the south side of the street. Uh we have this configuration on other streets um throughout Kirkwood where we do uh take away uh parking along Guyire Road in particular um where there's a a bike lane on one side and we allow parking on the other side. So there is parking available. uh that would still be available on the street. We're not

taking all of the parking away. Um and so that's the that was what uh the uh recommendation was from the consultant. Do you know how many parking spaces it is total? I don't have that information because it would be tailored to Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood Road. Um play and then play to Harrison. So parking in the 100 blocks of Argon would remain. Um we're not talking about So we're only talking about the bike lane between Clay and and Guyire. So all the parking all the parking in downtown we're not we're not touching that.

Oh, okay. I didn't I'm sorry if that wasn't clear. Uh this is only from Clay to Guyire. Okay. On the north side. Oh, okay. And my concern continues to be, you know, that that's the St. Peter side. And so for the church and the school activities, it's going to force everybody across the street. And, you know, you know, again, I um I

and if the council feels like we want to maybe keep from Clay to Harrison and start at Harrison uh over to Dyer, we can certainly explore that option as well. that would lean more towards me approve agreeing to it. I mean, I do like that. Again, I think I think that's still and we do get a lot of people in that first block off of for downtown. Yeah. And as that,

you know, as the one corner um building goes, that might be a restaurant, that might be something else. you know, we're we're we've got to expand our parking for downtown lots and you know, there's there's a lot of space we could lose there. So, I agree with you.

You know, I am concerned about us starting to commit to financial stuff down the road um until we figure out where we are now. I know we have a little bit of a, you know, a pot of money from the TDD that doesn't take from the rest of the capital projects and the funding, but I want to make sure we don't find ourselves up down upside down there and not doing the streets. And I know that's your challenge um every day is to to commit to what we committed to the citizens in terms of streets, but then parking. I just, you know, again that Forehands, Billy G's and the possible other place that could come in is going to put some stressors parking wise

on the funding aspect. This this project was submitted last year and so um it was not awarded funding and so we will have a break in FY29 of no construction dollars being committed um in in FY29. So um I think there will be there will be funds available for it. So this anal so FY28 we have the potential for a $325,000 cost or expense and then potentially how quickly will we get that $260,000 re um refunded

will it be in that same year or does that Yeah. So along the way as we spend our reimbursements uh typically it's around uh four to six weeks I can get a a reimbursement after back from modat after we pay the uh the consultant in this case or the contractor. Okay. So um fiscal year 28 you're looking at 325,000 29 just about 60,000 and the big year will be 30. Fiscal year 30. Yes. Okay. So what do you do you need to do in order to change the block from way to Harrison? Do we need a motion or amendment?

Amendment. An amendment. Okay, I'll make the amendment. Okay. We rem we remove the parking requirement. We don't keep the bike lane between. Help me with the Harrison and Harrison and Guyire. We keep the bike lane, right? Harrison to guy. Yep. There's second. Okay. Is there any more discussion about that? Yeah. To clarify, if we if we get rid of the bike lane, it is just a shared lane up until Harrison. Is that correct? That would be correct. That's how it is today. Just so everybody understands, it's and striped accordingly. Yeah.

Just like all other shared lanes in Kirkwood. That's consistent with the downtown Oregon area. Correct. That's what it is today. Yeah. Thank you. Okay. Any other question comments about this motion? Um as far Yeah. As far as that motion actually, um I think it's probably wise not to take away the on street parking in front of St. Peters there. So I I but I have comments about the whole thing in general too after we'll come back. All in favor of the motion say I I I oppose. Nay. Okay. The motion carries. Now we go to the bill to the resolution as amended.

Uh Council Leo, do you have comments?

Yes. Um so I want to thank Chris and his team for doing this. We've attempted to get um argon between Taylor and Clay at least. um redone and more walkable, bikable for years. We had actually an approval of a grant not quite 10 years ago, but um we chose to redo sidewalks in front of Nifer instead. I'm I'm excited about these changes. I think it'll make it safer for pedestrians. Um, I also love the fact that it's going to go all the way from Clay to the commu to the community center and Kirkwood Park and um be another piece of the puzzle in um our bikewalk plan as Chris mentioned that um that's part of the destination making sure that we have safe infrastructure for alternative transportation for people who want to walk, people who want to bicycle from the farmers market all the way to the park or whatever and have a protected bike lane. So, I think this is great. We're maximizing our TDD dollars by getting hopefully, fingers crossed, um an 8020 um tap grant from East West Gateway. So, um we will essentially be getting a a much more expensive project for what this what the uh city taxpayers are um would be contributing. So, I think this is great. Kudos to to um Chris and all of the rest of the staff who are involved in this. Thank you.

All right. Any more comments? All in roll call, please. Council member Mlan might be rejoining [clears throat] us if I'm correct. No, he is. Wait, take a seat. Thank you. Roll call, please. Mayor Given. Yes. Council member Jstadic. Yes. Council member Litzo. Yes. Council member Mlan. Council member Ricker. Yes. Council member Schaefer. Yes. Council member Zimmer. Yes. The resolution has passed. Resolution 62026.

Mayor and Council, this is a resolution accepting the proposal of Kellen Basinger and Associates in the amount of $32,500 to provide executive search services for the chief administrative officer position and authorizing and directing the mayor to enter into a contract. Do I have a motion and a second to accept resolution 62026? Motion. Second. Thank you. Are there any comments or questions?

Well, I'll just say that I think I'm very proud of the council and how we got to this um this point and uh this is for looking for help with looking for our next CEO which will could be with us for 30 years. Let's hope so. So, it's going to put us on in a new direction and it's really pretty exciting time. So, um, roll call, please. Mayor Gibbons, yes. Council member Jedetic, yes. Council member Litzo, yes. Council member Mlan, yes. Council member Reker. Council member Schaefer, yes. Council member Zimmer, yes.

Very good. Okay, now we move to city council reports. Um, I just want to um let everyone know that we've got an exciting program coming up on February 8th at 2 o'clock in the afternoon um Show Me 66 Main Street through St. Louis. So, we're going to be showing an awardwinning movie on uh Route 66. The producer is going to be there and there'll be conversations with the producer. There's also going to be live music. So, it's going to be a really um fun afternoon. Of course, Super Bowl's that evening, but this will not interrupt Super Bowl. Apparently, David didn't know that Super Bowl was on February 8th, but uh 2 o'clock in the afternoon at the KAC. So, please help spread the word about that. Uh and any additional council reports?

Um I'll just do a quick one on landmarks. um landmarks their last meeting uh had a an present an agenda item on 751 North Taylor who has a who are currently in a period of review before they could build a new house on a on a historic house in that um Taylor district. Um the when you sit through meetings like this the citizen board really you know outshines themselves sometime they really do a great job. It's a very difficult situation difficult conversation. I do say Ryan the chair um really does a nice job. um they decided not to um hear the agenda, not to look at the plans because the stay of dem this the period of review expires February 23rd. Um and so even though they know they're not going to be able to save the house um because the owner has plans and everything in place, they did just continue that until after the period of review. So, um, a tough time for them, but they did a great job. Um, and they are going to stand by the 270day, which really is this day of demolition, but they also know the reality is the house is going to come down. So, good job by the committee. Um, and you know, there's no easy answer. That's for sure.

Council member Shaker.

Hi. Thank you, Mayor. uh library report. Uh endowment started with $500,000. They are now up to $2.3 million in a fund. Uh the centennial year discussion continues over at the library uh in conjunction with things going on here in the city. They're waiting for the new city tree to be picked so that they can do some kind of presentation over across from Al at Jefferson and Taylor. Uh Chris has got it all set up very nicely. Thank you. Uh so that for the planting um the donations to the library are stable from the previous year. And um the last one for the library is uh the flag pole is going in in the spring. Um I was told. So uh that's it for library. The other thing is kind of a little public service comment for everybody that's listening out there. We're going to get freezing cold tonight, tomorrow, next day. Go to your thermostat on your fir on your uh for your house. You have an on switch and you have an automatic switch. If you flip it to the on switch, you're going to get air moving throughout the house. You'll probably save yourself from having to see a plumber if you do that. So, uh if you want to save your frozen pipes, do that. But that also takes care of all the dead space in your house so you don't have those problems. That's it at the public service.

Very good. Thank you. Anybody else? Okay. Chief uh interim chief administrative officer report. Mayor and council. I have nothing to report. Thank you. City attorney report. I have nothing to report this evening. Thank you. See no further business. Our next Sorry, that's okay. [laughter] Don't I I All I'm going to report on is we will have the annual budget public hearings on February 19th, 2026. So David, be prepared for long titles again. That's all.

Okay, great. All right. Now, our next regular uh meeting will be on Thursday, February 5th. This meeting is now adjourned. Get with you on that.