City Council - Regular Meeting

Uh, welcome to our work session for tonight and I hope everyone is doing well and staying warm. So, we'll start with our roll call. Mayor Geritano. Council member Farmer here. Council member Dodwell here. Council member Nyan here. Council member Atenberg. Council member Tradier. Council member Mabberry here. Council member Robooski here. Council member Preston, Council Member Marshall, present. Council member McCutchen here, Council Member Rambo, Council Member Bockart, present.

Council member Crayons, Council Member Vanic, Council Member Alers, Council Member Galani here.

Thank you for that, Council Member Van. Oh, there he is. Perfect timing. All right. and um and council member Preston and Council Member Vanic are on Zoom. So I do not have any comments or announcements. We'll move right into for information under the work session. And then again, this is an opportunity. You've all received information according uh per the items that are listed here and this would be the opportunity if you have questions regarding any of the four information items. So look to see around the room and if your council members are online that have any questions regarding any of these items and we can certainly come back to them uh before we adjourn the work session. All right, Council Member Marshall,

I noticed that they wrest and we're still looking into it, but overall there was a strong indication the individual was going to be able to subleasase the property out to the new restaurant. U we did get a business license application. We processed it and we were able to issue that permit. Um that said there were some inst we we had heard that there may not be uh the individual may not be able to open. Um we don't know exactly why just yet but we are looking into it but they won't we we're pretty sure they're not going to be opening at that location. Thank you. You're welcome. The old local house the tableau kitchen.

All right. Thank you for that. Anyone else have any questions regarding the four information items? All right. Well, I don't see anyone else uh with any questions, so let's move into for action here. Um so, planning and zoning commission item here. Director Munich, uh please go right ahead.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor and members of city council, as is required by state statute, each year the planning and zoning commission reviews the draft five-year capital improvement plan. That review is again required under state statute and is done with the assistance of Tom Lee, our city administrator, and Rick Brown, our director of public works. So, the department would like to thank them for assisting at the planning and zoning commission meeting where this was presented. All of you are familiar with the components of the five-year capital improvement plan since it has been through each of the standing committees, planning and parks, administration and public works and economic development. So, tonight the planning and zoning commission is presenting a favorable recommendation. That favorable recommendation was unanimous. And so the department respectfully requests a motion and a second and vote to formally receive and file the report from the planning and zoning commission which will meet the requirement of state statute and allow all things to move forward under the code of law. Thank you.

Thank you, Director Vunage. Is anyone uh willing to make a motion on the item or at least if we can get a motion on the floor then we can open up for discussion. Council member Farmer, I'll make the motion move forward. Okay. Is there accept the receipt I guess? A second on that. Council member Marshall, I saw your hand up. So that's a second there. Um so um all right. Uh we have any questions or discussion? Okay, seeing none, all those in favor, please say I. I.

Anyone oppose or abstain? Right. When abstension, okay, motion passes. Moving on to miscellaneous. We receive and file.

Thank you again, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, members of city council, the planning and zoning commission granted a conditional use permit for a petitioner named Fields at Cloud's End. The property is located on State Route BA, Babler Park Drive, across the street from Babler State Park. Property has long been used for horseboarding purposes and they are wanting to expand and improve the circumstances at the site. The property with the assistance of Mr. Newberry is now available behind you and on your monitors and the area that is white reflects the subject site. The planning and zoning commission considered all components and have created a list of conditions that it feels addresses the concerns that were spoken at public hearing by one resident relative to the waste from the horses and how that will be managed. Additionally, there are a number of requirements relating to the site, particularly the proximity of the creek dri drainage tributary as well as the flood plane area. And so from that perspective, protections have been put in place. The ultimate size of the facility is substantial, up to 60 horses as I recall. and the facility that will house or board those horse horses will be one of a kind at least from the perspective of the city of Wildwood. So again, the planning and zoning commission granted the conditional use permit with the receipt and filing tonight of the letter of recommendation with the action. City council has 15 days to exercise its power of review. If the city council exercises its power of review, then a public hearing will be

held before the body at the earliest convenience. If no action is taken on power of review, then in 15 days, the permit will become effective and then the petitioner applicant will move forward to the next step which is the site development plan and architectural review by our board. So if there are any questions regarding this particular matter, Mr. Marshall, Mayor Geritano, Mr. Newberry, and I are available to answer them at this time. Thank you. Anyone have any questions? Council member Cray. Yeah. Have we had any complaints about it?

Uh, none. The existing facility has been there pre-W Wildwood quite frankly and the new or I should say the owners that have been there for now probably better for a better part of a decade if not longer have no complaints. In fact, the gentleman that showed up and spoke at the public hearing, Mr. Sambath, has lived out in that area for a very, very long time. And he told Travis and I at the conclusion of the meeting, they do a good job there. Thank you. All right, Council Member Mabry.

Thank you. I'd asked uh the last meeting that involved this uh petition about the nonpermitted structure and I may have just had my question answered if there's any concerns about code compliance or um fitness abuse for those non permitted buildings. So the original conditional use permit that governs the current operation is from St. Louis County and is probably in excess of 30 years old. As part of this new conditional use permit that's been granted on the overall property. Now we'll address all of that permitting issue at the time we do the site development plan, the architectural review, and then ultimately the permitting process itself. So we'll address those as we go along. The incentive now for compliance is that with compliance you can build the structure that you that you petition for and now granted authorization. Anyone else have uh any questions? All right. Uh receive and file. I guess if there isn't anything else then we'll move on. Again, if you prefer to exercise your power review, given there is only a 15-day window, it would have to be denied. If there is not that desire, then in 15 days, the permit will be granted and we'll proceed on. Thank you. The next item relates to a telecommunications tower that is at the Marinus Retreat facility. As all of the city's telecommunications tower, they generally have a one-year renewal. That one year renewal allows us to ensure

that the property, the tower, and any structures associated with the tower are in good condition. Mr. Newberry has shown you a photograph of the tower. And as you can see, it's nothing fancy, but it certainly is one that's very vital along the Highway 109 corridor. Site inspection was done by the department of planning and all of the items that are required were in place. Couple of plantings were missing, but nothing that can't be addressed. And so the planning and zoning commission granted the year extension. That means that in November of 2026, we'll be seeing this again. As with any action on a conditional use permit, you have 15 days to exercise your power review. If you so choose to tonight, public hearing would be scarual with the city council at earliest convenience. Otherwise, those four that I mentioned before and which includes myself are available for any comments or questions. Any questions or anybody else have any comments from the council? All right, seeing none, then guess we'll proceed with no action on that as well. The last item for receipt and file again is from the planning and zoning commission and it relates to another telecommunications facility. This one at Clayton and Strucker roads, the intersection of those two major arterials. This particular tower has been in place for 20 plus years and again is an intricral component of the overall network that provides coverage in this portion of Wildwood. In this particular instance, the petitioner is requesting that the antenna arrays, which now are allowed on the exterior of the tower surface be authorized to be 24 in instead of 18 in

from that particular surface. As the telecommunications community moves from 4G to 5G now into 6G, what we're finding is the antenna arrays need to be a little larger to accommodate more of the radios that appear to be a larger size as well. The planning and zoning commission did grant the allowance and increase the tennis arrays location on the tower from 18 in to 24 in. As with the other two receipt and files tonight, this is a conditional use permit. So if you as the city council would like to review the decision made by the planning and zoning commission, you would need to exercise your power of review tonight. If that power of review is not exercised tonight, in 15 days, the action would become effective and then the tower the tower site development plan would be submitted to the departments of public works and planning for review and action. So again, the four leasant to planning and zoning commission, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Newberry, and I are available for any questions regarding this. I don't know if Mr. Newberry provided the other photograph that I mentioned, one from the street. Yeah. So you often wonder how were we doing when we asked for landscaping to screen things that are a little less attractive than most of our buildings or structures. And from the center lane of Clayton Road, this is a view of it of the tower shelter and tower itself from there. And as you can see, you all did a very good job of retiring landscaping.

Crown Castle has maintained it fairly well. So, it's really hard to see what's there other than another clump of trees like elsewhere in Wildwood. Good job. Any questions for director Munich?

You okay? Well, I don't see any. So I guess we'll now uh before we move on to the next part which is adjournment uh we certainly got through this quickly so we could uh certainly entertain any questions on the miscellaneous for any of the for information items or if there's any kind offormational type questions regarding even items on the main agenda we can entertain those to help with you know the efficiency of the meeting. Council member Farmer. Yeah, since we've got some time, um I did see that we're going to do some more parking restrictions on Westland Farms coming down the the hill, which is probably a good thing. Um it looks like, but I know when we were looking at uh this new entry into Green Pines that, you know, it was designed to kind of stop people from parking on the road and now we're just parking on a different road. So, while I do think that we need some parking stuff in there, I am just making sure that we're not just making more no parking areas for the same problem.

And I I'll defer to our director of public works. I do know that that is something we we tend to see, especially when we put these and I'll let the traffic engineer speak on it, but we have had that happen in the past where we put these restrictions in place and then it just moves down the block. eventually it has to get to a point where it's no longer applicable for them. It's not a benefit. They're parking too far away. But Mr. Brown, do you have any additional comments?

Well, again, this item was heard at the board of public safety. It relates to the changes in access to the elementary school as there were concerns that were raised um before this was approved. And I think the main concern was safety on West Glenn Farms Drive. And what we found was although the driveway seems to be operating quite well, uh the school keeps it closed and gated until a certain point when it's safe to open when the public is, you know, the the teachers or the parents are allowed to come onto the site. Um so up until that point, the early birds would arrive and they needed some place to park. So essentially, we've told them not to park there, go to the front lot, but to reinforce not parking on West Glenn Farms, we did put the signs up. They are in place right now. And so that was the thought to discourage the parking on West Glenn Farms, but push them to the front lot if they arrive early, otherwise use the driveway when it's open.

I mean, my is got it now around the loop. We'll have it up the hill. We have it up Green Pines Drive. We have it on the other side of the school. So, the inevitable next place is going to be further down Westland Farms towards Thunderhead Canyon, which is going to create the same problem we've got everywhere else, which is when there's cars parked on both sides of the street, which happen often because there's houses on both sides of the street, that arterial roadway becomes a pretty dangerous one-lane road. I think by and large I'm not aware that we're having problems. Um it seems to be operating reasonably well and if they are parking uh I would not recommend them to be on West Glenn Farms in the area of the this restriction. That would be the last place that I would encourage them to park. So I still think from that standpoint this is very warranted. Council member Dodlin,

Rick, are there uh no parking signs up along uh those corridors during drop off and pickup hours.

We have a variety of parking restrictions in place that have been in response to complaints that have received and and parents parking before um or during the arrival or dismissal periods. So, yes, there's restrictions on Green Pines. There's restrictions in place on uh Forestleaf Parkway um on West Glenn Farms currently. So it's a heavily regulated area for on street parking. Okay. Any other questions or Right. Council member Marshall.

Um actually W five is excited with those those signs on the other side. Ward four. They may not be, but um I actually had the homeowners meeting last week and they were getting a lot of com we had a lot of complaints several months ago and they said everybody thought it was perfectly fine that the people are getting used to it and uh as always they either go down onto Green Pines or down Forest Leaf, but they felt that the people were starting to get the hang of it that you just can't park a car there uh and you've got to time it right on the timing. But I know Captain Mundelle's had people there and it has certainly got improvement. You know, they I think it's another 35 more cars are off the street into that back lot. So the people in five who were complaining, they they think it solved it, but that's across the street from the the park.

I'm all for them. I mean, that's I I don't think that we should be having cars going down parking on that side of the street anyways. I I just want to make sure that we're aware that we're kind of just moving these things around. And then also in off school times, you know, people are having parties or whatever. They're, you know, that's a long ways to go for some of those people to find somewhere to park that live right across from the school. But I'm I'm all for it. I just want to make sure we're not just kind of moving this down the road. To be clear, you can park on one side of West Glenn Farms Drive in front of the homes. That's still open. It's not restricted there. It's only on the school side. Council member Cran,

Old State Road Shared Use Path. How long will that construction last? Right, Mayor. Um, I'd be glad to respond to that if we're ready. Um, council member, so we on tonight, as you notice, we will be um presenting the bill for order of the contractor's agreement for that project. Um we don't expect start work effectively until next year coming out of the winter they should be starting construction um expect about 6 to9 months for for that project for construction to be complete.

Another question is when you call for engineering consultant to for oversight of the uh work what's the process? Do you call other uh engineers and get estimates or do you just go to one person?

Well, I guess what I would tell you is we uh are bound to follow a qualifications based selection process with construction engineering as we do with um design or engineering services. It's not a bid opportunity. So, we can't go out and ask for lowest price. So it's based primarily on qualifications. Um we do solicit annually for qualifications submittals from our consultants. Um and they provide that information to us. We do utilize that in our selection process. But I will say that in large part one of the highest factors involved is past performance. Um and Cochran in their instance they are recommended tonight. They they did the work on the Manchester Taylor project more recently for us and did quite well. and I felt the cost for that work was reasonable. Um, we've we've found that they are a good provider and they're reasonably priced.

How can I ensure the public that we're getting the lowest price for that work? Well, you're getting the best essentially the best value from my perspective. Um, again, we can't bid it out for basically state and federal law. Um, so I can't explicitly tell you we have the lowest priced provider, but I think in my mind it's the best value provider. So when you have several consultants that are equally qualified, let's say you have three or four, I don't know, but you just pick the one that you think uh fits the project. So the process is fairly well outlined in state law what we have to follow.

I get that. I get that. So again, you you choose based on qualifications and then you negotiate a price based on the level of effort and the scope of work that's involved. If you can't come to terms and negotiate a price based on the scope of work that's expected, you can move to the second selected ter uh contractor consultant rather and then negotiate a contract with the second essentially the second firm that you you felt was uh experienced. In this case, we went with Cochran because Cochran had just wrapped up the work for us on the Manchester Taylor project and we have a a long track record with them. They've performed very well and again, I found that their pricing is very very competitive. Council member Alers,

um, is there anything to bring forward from the previous deer management meeting that was just held? And is is Mr. Rambo still still uh occupied? Assume he's in discussion. We'll check on it. Is he safe? No, I'm kidding. Um, yeah. Um, do you wanna

Well, we we'll we'll have tonight we have a bill uh being introduced that is introduced in the the contract for White Buffalo. I did want to make a quick note. This will be done in the the general session, too. But, um, we did not have the the site visit included in the initial budget. So, just a quick note that that was updated and it's about $8,000 for that portion of the work. So that original cost at 217 is at now 2 thou 224,000 for 2026. I just with the meeting, you know, I just wanted to see if anything was going to change with tonight's agenda on it. If not, that's fine. Yeah.

No, that that was a resident from W three that has contacted the city and uh we arranged that conversation between the war three council members. Okay. Council member Rambo who has uh been very involved in that process. I I've talked with him. Yes. Okay. Okay. Thank you.

Anyone else have anything at this point? Again, any questions? You know, if you have information regarding the main agenda, this is certainly a good time. Otherwise, we'll take a break. Um Okay. Well, in that case, then uh we can adjourn the work session. Can I get a motion to adjourn the work session? Made by council member Bockard. Is there a second? Maybe by council member Attenburg. All those in favor, please say I. I. Anyone oppose or abstain? The meet uh work session is adjourned. We will reconvene at 6:30 for our main meeting. Thank you.

No, that's right. Good evening everyone. It is now 6:30 and we will begin our city council meeting. So, may I ask the city clerk to start with the roll call? Mayor Geritano, present. Council member Farmer here. Council member Dodwell here. Council member Nyan. Council member Utenberg here. Council member Tradier here. Council member Mabberry here. Council member Robooski here. Council member Preston here. Council member Marshall present. Council member McCutchen here. Council member Rambo here. Council member Bockart

present. Council member Crayons here. Council member Vanic here. Council member Alers here. Council member Galani here. Okay. Thank you. If you're able to stand, please join me in saying the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands nation for all. Oh yeah,

someone uh someone switched our flag locations.

Good thing. Yeah, I was looking and I'm like, "Wait a minute. Where'd the flag go?" The the US flag. They flipped them around. Usually the US flag is in that corner there. So, we will now make note that we have to keep an eye where the flag is moving. Okay. Okay. Thank you. the city uh administrator said we it was probably moved because we had our Veterans Day program. And that segus nicely into the mayor's announcement. Uh just this past uh week, we had a special program here at city hall where we honored our veterans that we called it the salute to our veterans. Second time uh second annual uh second event that we've had here at city hall. And so thank you to all that participated and especially to our city staff for organizing such a memorable event. Uh again, thanks to all that were part of it. All right. Uh we'll move on then. Uh we have appointments and approval of minutes in the consent agenda. So now we're going to move into public participation. So I'll just uh read a couple of reminders for public participation. If you wish to speak, please make sure to fill out a speaker card. Those are located in the back of the room and provide it to our city clerk who is seated to the left of the podium. When your name is called, please approach the podium and state your name and your ward. And if you do not know your ward, your address will suffice. To ensure all that all uh who wish to speak have the opportunity to do so, there is a five minute time limit and we will let you know as you approach the five minute limit. If you have any questions for us, please mention that during your remarks. Identify the official you'd like to uh to respond. The official will make note of it. And at the conclusion of public participation, any official who chooses to respond will have three minutes to do so. Official may choose to respond to your questions after tonight's meeting. We do ask you to be respectful in making

your remarks. Uh interrupting others or using any profane or abusive language are prohibited. And again, we want to thank you in advance for following the guidelines. And we do ask if you do have remarks and if a speaker prior to you have stated the same message uh please feel free to refer to that speaker's comments for the to in order to help keep the meeting moving there. So, uh, first speaker, please,

Tom Mitchell wants to speak on deer eradication. My name is Tom Mitchell. I live at 1403 Shepard Road and I'm a member of the best ward, ward number three. So, I want to thank you for this time. I think you all remember me from the meeting previously regarding the deer management and uh we have formed a group called the Wildwood Conservation Alliance. There's 72 people in our group that support our efforts and we just had a special purpose meeting with a few of the members of the council as well as Mr. Mayor. Appreciate that time as well. Uh the bottom line here is in the deer management as I've stated and as some of my colleagues have stated uh we weren't opposed to the sharpshooters coming in and culling the herd. We knew there was an overpopulation issue. We acknowledge the overpopulation issue and the city's public disclosure said that they would reduce the herd to 40 deer per square mile. Like okay that's reasonable. That's reasonable for an area like Wildwood that can support a herd like that. But then last summer, I'm driving down Shepherd Road, Strucker Road. I'm not seeing deer. Not seeing deer. Not seeing deer. So I called my colleague Terry Conley and I said, "Terry, where's all the deer?" And he said, "They killed them." I said, "Who killed him?" He said, "The city of Wildwood killed the deer." So then that's when I decided to get involved and I dug into the numbers and here's what I found. This well-intentioned program has killed too many deer. And the example is in your own paperwork. There are 72 deer per square mile prior to the culling that took place. 72 deer per square mile.

Two examples. The any one and any two zones took 661 deer off those zones. So I have to get my cheat sheet out if you don't mind. So 72 deer off 10, excuse me, 72 deer per square mile off 10.9 square miles. You can do the math. That means the city's own estimates were that there were 785 deer in those two zones. The city killed with head shot 661 deer over bait piles at night, which is poaching essentially. And the city was granted a permit by the state government to illegally poach deer legalized because you had the special permits. But if you take 785 deer per per those 10.9 square miles and the city took 661 deer, that leaves 124 deer for 10.9 square miles, which is 11.37 deer per square mile, which is a gross miscalculation by the city of Wildwood from the original goal of 40 deer per square mile. This is further evidenced by my colleagues and myself by seeing no deer. Whether they're hunting, whether they're observing, etc., etc. For lack of a better term, there are no deer. So, our proposal is very simple. You all have a copy of it. I emailed every single one of you our proposal, and I encourage you to read it. I've worked very hard on it with our colleagues reviewing it. It's a plan that will work. It involves in including the hunting community, which we're here. were showing up in a professional way insured to hunt these deer and to reduce the population and most importantly keep it maintained instead of spending a million dollars that you've earmarked to kill deer. $1 million the city is using

to kill deer regardless of where the money came from is still money that could be used to do other things in the city which is where it should be used. So in closing I'll say number one you've agreed to do a drone survey that is a thumbs up and I thank you for that. That's really important because drone surveys are much more accurate than the spotlight count surveys and the distance sampling analysis. So, that's a real thumbs up right there. But you cannot continue callulling until you do the drone survey. And now is the perfect time to do that because you've already hit any one and any two. There's no reason to go back in there now. What you do want to go back in there, kill another hundred deer, which will completely wipe out the herd. in SE1, which is on play right now. Originally, no deer were supposed to be taken off SE1 and suddenly a 100 deer are going to be taken. So, now is the time to act.

30 seconds. Pause. I'm doing pretty good then, aren't I? Pause the uh culling until this drone survey is complete. Then use that accurate count to manage this herd. The citizens of this community deserve it and our natural resources deserve it. Thank you very much. Thank you. Next speaker, Lou Salomon of Suburban Bow Hunters wants to speak on Sharpshooters.

Thank you, everyone. Thank you, mayor. Thank you, board. Ladies and gentlemen, um I was here a couple years ago, New Salomon. I live in Bowwin at 319 Quinnmore. I was here a couple years ago. I had a presentation for you to try to get rid of the sharpshooter. And I'm going to go over that again and give you some more information. Um the first page is table your whitetail deer management plan. If you just had an open forum for two hours with a question and answers, anybody could come. You all don't have to come. You could learn so much about bow hunting and what is done in the city. We are professional wildlife managers. We do it all over West County. Fix your broken deer hunting ordinance. Again, I stated this again. This was from uh 2 years ago. Before incorporation, you could bow hunt anywhere with a permission slip. And then you mirrored your gun hunting or for three acres. We lost so many spots around Strucker and Kraton Clayton area because people got letters saying you can't hunt unless you have three acres where before anybody could hunt. And we hunted a lot. Um the letter killed everything. Um, and I disagree with my uh colleague who said Southeast one was not included. Southeast one is a big problem around Clayton and Strucker. And I thought that was the concentration of the program in year one. Instead, you went up to Northeast One and two, which is areas where there's a lot of hunting. Perry Cromley, a lot of my colleagues hunt there. We hunt right next door in Clarkson Valley and it is is a bad impact. So, please review our plan for whitetail deer management. Page two, Manchester, Missouri. We hunt, we own Manchester as far as hunting and uh one of the board members has a statement here how effective we are. We could

mirror that in Wildwood. Page three is my Wildwood deer management proposal from 2000, 2022, 2023, and I added changes to it. We have a proprietary four-step method to prevent fraud. There is fraud in deer hunting. And I will show you this. Prior to 2004, you had to take your deer to a check station. All these prior to 2004, from the late 90s to 2004 are deer checked in at the check station. 2005, they ended that which opened up fraud. Now, I saw plenty of fraud where we hunted in Clarkson Valley. One year in 2009, we shot 23 deer. And a member of this other group stated, "You have to report your deer every two days." He after the season was over, he asked how many deer were killed in Valley. And they told him, "Oh, no. I killed 24 deer." And he proceeded to give them dates of deer that were that he says he killed there. Well, I got his tea check history. It does not match the dates that he gave the city. Fraud. I have a proprietary method to prevent fraud. I've learned it from situations like this. My competition would do anything they could to discredit me, get me out of this proceeding, say you don't like me, say the conservation department doesn't like me. The conservation department would say, "Oh, I'm a poacher. I didn't check two deer." Well, that is me being honest. I killed two deer in I think 2003 and I wanted my tags. I couldn't make it to the check station in a snowstorm, 8 ines of snow, and I had to work the next day because they closed early on a Sunday. Next day I called being honest and saying I couldn't get to the check station. Well, back then they gave me a ticket because of that and they said failure to check. Well, since they don't like me now, they went in and changed it to poaching. So,

I'm just telling you how the conservation department uh how they operate. They're trying to protect their own interests to pull the fraud over on you. And it is a fraud because they're going to state that uh managed deer hunts are is what is what makes bow hunting very inefficient. Well, bow hunting is not inefficient. All these other cities we hunt, we're very efficient. I'm going to go on. So, the next page is Depair. We worked tirelessly with the pair to try to get them to take their two acre ordinance down to one acre. They did that. Excuse me. Uh you have 30 seconds left.

Uh I'm asking for a little more time to get through this packet, please. We have to be fair to everyone. So I would use your time to get All right. Cool. So, Depair U, they use the sharpshooter in Depair and because of that they had also had managed hunts in the same park where they use the uh sharpshooter 0% the last two years and they want to use them again. So, the conservation conservation department is still having managed hunts there when there's no deer. So, nobody could shoot a deer and they're wasting their time. So, and this is proof from a hunter in the pair who says, "We're not seeing any deer. I don't even want to hunt anymore. This is what would happen to your city if you continue down the path. Can you wrap up your comments? Your time's up.

This is what I'm wrapping them up right now in 5 seconds. This is what will happen to your city if you continue down the path with the sharpshooter. Please do not table the sharpshooting. Have an open forum with us and just understand where we're coming from. Understand all the facts we could present to you. Thank you, Mr. Salmon. Your time is up. It's not good for you. Thank you very much. really fast to try to get it all. Lee Lerno wants to speak about the lot split at 8:15 Strucker Road. Thank you.

Good evening. My name is Lee Latererno. I'm in Ward 3 and my wife and I own the property at 815 Shreker Road which borders the Highland Summit subdivision. First, I just want to thank everyone, the city of Wildwood staff, the planning and zoning commission, and the council for taking the time to review this request and for all the work that's gone into it. Earlier this year, we went through the process of reszoning the property from non-urban to R1 so that this proposed lot split would meet all of the city's requirements. The city approved that zoning reszoning in September. And what's in front of you tonight is simply the next step, the formal lot split that follows that approval. Mr. Summerhoff, who's the builder on this project, and his attorney have been working closely with the city staff since early 2025 to make sure every part of this proposal checks all the boxes with Wildwoods codes. The first reading of the lot split motion happened in October, and tonight is the second and final reading required by the city. We started reaching out to the Highland Summit trustees back in the spring to let them know what we were planning and answer any questions they might have. At first, we didn't hear much of a response from them, but once the early planning and zoning meeting started, there was a little more communication. There have been ongoing conversations with the trustees since then, and both sides attorneys have also been in communication. We assumed those conversations were being shared with the homeowners in Highland Summit. In fact, one of the trustees stood right here at this podium and spoke at the September meeting, saying that the builder and his attorney had answered all the trustes questions and concerns and that she appreciated that communication. So, when several homeowners spoke at the last city council meeting with objections and concerns, it honestly caught us off guard. We were surprised to hear those objections after months of outreach, communication, and transparency with the trustees.

Some residents have said they believe this might go against their subdivision indentures. Before ever starting this process, we had an attorney review the indentures to make sure we were doing everything the right way. We were advised that nothing we're doing violates the indentures and we've move and we've moved forward in good faith based on that guidance. We also know that Wildwood doesn't get involved in private indenture matters and that's not what this meeting is about. Our only goal has been to make sure we're following city rules and procedures, which we've done from the very beginning. I understand the Highland Summit residents had a meeting last week where the trustees went over the facts about this project. I'm not exactly sure what came out of that discussion, but I hope it brought some clarity. We really do want to be respectful of everyone's concerns, especially about street cleanliness, safety, and construction traffic. Mr. Summerh Mr. Summerhoff has already committed to keeping the streets clean, making sure conditions stay safe, and working closely with the city throughout the construction process. From day one, our intent has been to do this the right way, to follow every city rule, communicate openly, and handle everything responsibly. We truly believe this lot split fits within the city standards, matches the zoning that's already been approved, and reflects the kind of thoughtful, lowdensity residential growth that Wildwood stands for. Thank you again to the city staff, planning and zoning, and this council for your time and consideration. I appreciate the chance to speak and respectfully ask for your support tonight. Thank you.

Thank you. Next speaker, please. Don Furman wants to speak about bill number 3012.

Thank you, Don Ferman, Ward 3, Highland Summit. Thank you for your comments, sir. I appreciate those. Um, I'm going to begin by reading a couple of quick notes. The first one is a note from Mr. Lerno to the Highland Summit uh trustees. My wife and I recently purchased the property at 8:15, which runs along Highland Summit Drive. We are finalizing plans for our custom home that will sit on the most western part of the property. This will require fairly long driveway down off Streker Road leading back to where the house will sit. And while we planned and budgeted for this when we purchased the property, we're looking at other options that may be available. I'm contacting you about the possibility of having a driveway off Highland Summit Drive that would require a much shorter driveway to the house. We'd be willing to pay some amount of compensation for this in addition to joining your subdivision and paying the annual dues. That's a very nice note. We think it's a very nice note. I want to read some excerpts from our response to that note. We appreciate your interest in joining Highland Summit. The legal requirements alone, deeds, plats, strictures, indentures, covenants would and the consent of 84 homeowners would seem to make that a virtual impossibility. Joining the subdivision aside, we have serious concerns about the inconvenience and risk this poses to our residents given the heavy equipment, traffic, mud, rock, etc. runoff that would result. Highland Summit is our only way in and out of the subdivision. So all homeowners, school buses, emergency response vehicles would be impacted and the required clearing of trees, brush, etc. the wooded common area that our residents enjoy would be unnecessarily disturbed. So why am I reading this to all of you? This note is dated January of 2022, almost 4 years ago. So what's changed?

Well, first, the Lernos have built a beautiful home on the eastern part of the lot, not on the western part down near Striker Road where they have access. Now, they've split the western back 3 acre parcel for sale uh with a very special feature, and here's that feature. They found the homeowner in Highland Summit whose property borders their lot and then negotiated wink wink uh an easement through that lot to get back onto Highland Summit Drive. In other words, they circumvented our trustees disapproval of their request from four years ago. I don't know about you, but that's kind of sleazy. So, what now? Well, we can we can uh issue an injunction against the homeowner at 16531 and the unauthorized easement. And I'll explain what that is. They sold a 40 foot wide easement which violates our indentures which which our indentures prohibit any fractional sale of any part of the property without trustee approval. That approval was never sought. They did it without our approval. They never even ask. And second, I would suggest that we have some redress against all of you. You turned a blind eye to this. You approved the easement application. You allowed punching through to a restricted neighborhood without our consent or even our knowledge. That's a dangerous precedent. I would remind you that there are lots, vacant lots throughout the city of Wildwood that are adjacent to established neighborhoods. This could happen to any of them and we intend to contact as many of those subdivisions as we can to make them aware and gain their support.

Now, finally, I want to address the watershed comment that was made in the last council meeting. One of the gentlemen said that taking a driveway from the back of lot one down to Streker posed a watershed issue. That's preposterous. We will have cleared 10 times as many trees just to clear these two building sites as you would have to clear for a driveway in any direction. And frankly, if that drive were taken down the northern edge of Mr. Lateros property which was the original plan where the trees have already been cleared 30 seconds

you'd only be you'd be clearing actually fewer trees to go that way then back through Highland Summit so thanks for your attention are there any comments thank you very much thank you next speaker please next speaker Bill Gentz wants to speak on 3019. Good evening everyone. I'll make you happy. I'm going to be less than five minutes. Can just your name and your ward for the record?

William Gbz, ward 6. I've been a Wildwood resident since 1997. uh lived in Ward One, Portland Crest, Portland Cove subdivision for 15 years and currently reside on Allenton Road uh in Ward 6. My comments are in reference to Bill 3109, which is the deer management agreement with uh white buffalo. I'm not a hunter, but I do support Missouri Department of Conservation's principles and rules on hunting. One of the rules is using bait is illegal. Um, I want to make the city council aware of some numbers that are pertinent to their program going forward and may help them in their decision-making process. In 2024, the Department of Conservation along with St. Louis uh county had various managed hunts. Uh they were held at uh St. Louis County parks, conservation areas, and state parks. The total number of deer that were harvested in these managed hunts, one actually is going on right now for about 20 days in Greensfelder. Across all the areas that were hunted were 283 deer in the areas tributary to Wildwood, Babler State Park, Rockwood Range,

Rockwood Reservation, and Greensfelder. There's a total of 103 deer taken. During 2024, the main hunting season for Missouri is about a 10-day window. This year, it's November 15th through through 25th. There are some other supplemental hunting windows, but um for chronic wasting disease, young hunters, and a couple other um maybe archery or whatever, but in all of St. Louisis County last year during the open hunting season 1914 deer in total were taken. It goes from North County all the way into Wildwood. So the total across last year's managed hunts and total hunts is uh 2,197 deer. I can't make the judgment whether uh the 661 deer taken over the last two years um is the right number or the wrong number. But it feels high and I'd like the council to decide if this is conservation over management or overkill. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, U

Karen Jalen wants to wishes to speak about Celebrate Wildwood and the concert budget. Good evening. My name is Karen Jaling. I live at 18141 Edgewood Circle in Ward 3. I have been on the celebration committee for the last four years. This past September 20th, we had a very successful Wildwood celebration. The it celebrated the 30th anniversary of our great city. From the from the feedback we received in the attendance, I must admit it was a huge success, probably the biggest and best so far. It takes a lot of planning to put on the celebration. Many decisions are made. Contractors are contacted. There's setup and tear down, reaching out to vendors, organizing the parade. The list goes on and on. The city staff does a wonderful job. They work so hard. The committee would come up with an idea and the staff would find a way to make it work. As I said, planning for the event takes a year. So within two weeks of this year's event, the committee got together and proposed a budget for the next year's 2026 celebration. We did not ask for more money. We asked for the $95,000 we worked with in 2025. This was presented to the council. We met again within a month and we were surprised. By the way, the council showed us how much they appreciated all our hard work. They decided to cut our budget by $25,000. What surprised me was we had a goal of raising $35,000 in sponsorships for the 2025 event.

We blew that out of the park and raise $43,000. Was that even considered? Some of the suggestions we were given to cut the budget was to cancel the parade. They were they thought that we could also save money moving to the Village Green. We will save money moving to Village Green because we'll be able to use our own electricity. We will probably have fewer vendors next year because the setup will be different. So, our reserves may be down. Do you seriously think $25,000 is going to make a dent in the reserve of $19 million that this city has? I don't know how the city invests your reserves, but if you take you make 3% in a year, that's $570,000. Next year is another big year for our city. We will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66 and the 200th birthday of the United States. We have many reasons to celebrate next year. We are planning on showcasing this great American city we call home. The Wildwood Celebration is the biggest event the city puts on. It is the only time everyone comes together to celebrate living in Wildwood. We try to make that day special for everyone. It saddens me that now we have to find ways to cut back, especially when I know you're sitting on a $19 million reserve. After we received the memo from the new budget, within a week, three of us on the committee were asked to sign up for another term. I cannot talk for the others on this committee, but I'm not sure I was involved. I had worked hard I I would have a hard time working with this budget if we have to cut things that make our celebration special. My other concern is that we decide it was decided to cut one of the summer concert series from four to three. You may think

this is just a costcutting thing that doesn't affect anybody. Let me tell you what I see when I go to the concerts. I see many mature citizens going to hear a live concert that they don't have to drive very far to. I see middle schoolers meeting groups that the parents know they are safe and they don't have to worry where they are or who they're with. I watch them tentatively get on the dance area and start to dance. I see a group of parents with special needs children, young adults, who meet at these concerts so their children can bond with their peers. I see single groups who use this concert as a place to meet up. I see young parents and small children relaxing after hard week of work and child rearing. I see friends who have moved away from Wildwood meet at concerts to catch up. I see our councilmen catching up with their constituents. I don't think I've been to a concert where I haven't seen Tracy and Scott there. I see people patiently waiting for a free hot dog. I see a friendly environment where everyone can think how lucky we are that we don't have the problems of a big city. These concerts might be an expense to the budget, but they are part of our summer experiences. Recently, I saw on social media that the city of Wildwood received the best city for fun events award from West County Social. It's stated that our summer concert series and Celebrate Wildwood to our farmers market and many recreational events, we don't just hold events but rather create memories. These moments bring us together and also welcome visitors from all around experience what makes Wildwood unique. In ending, my question is why cut the budget for events that everyone loves and looks forward to when you are sitting on a $9 million reserve.

Thank you. Next speaker, please. Bill Mullen wants to speak on deer culling. Good evening. My name is Bill Mueller. I live in Ward 7 at 509 Mission Bay. Retired St. Louis County police officer after 28 and a half years. I used to ride out in Wildwood about I guess eight years of my 28 and a half years. And yes, in the years past, there were a lot of deer out here. I'm also an avid hunter. In the last year, year and a half, drive down Streeran Valley, I don't see if I hardly see any deer now. Um, I want to go off of what Tom mentioned earlier about the uh drone survey. I wish you guys would consider that before uh letting any more culling uh happen this year. That's all I have.

Thank you. Next speaker, please. Dan Lei wants to speak on deer calling.

Good evening. My name is Dan Lei. My address is 3829 Lexington Drive. And uh as previously stated by Tom Mitchell and a few others uh of the Wildwood Conservation Alliance, um would like to just reiterate and and ask you to please seriously consider um really reviewing that in in full detail and taking seriously all the information that's being presented there and taking another look at the data. Um and and please pause the calling until after the updated survey is completed and that the accurate numbers uh can be confirmed. I think we need to focus on the management of other issues in addition to the deer such as you know if the biggest concern is vehicle collisions and things like that. Look at other things um like invasive bush honeysuckle for example that can be eliminated along major roadways that'll help substantially with driver visibility. Um there's many volunteer organizations that I've, you know, personally had experience with who will have um completely volunteer-led events to uh spearhead initiatives like that, like backcountry hunters and anglers. US Fish and Wildlife Service even has coordinated these before. I've helped with honeysuckle hack events where they will go into an area and and help clear that out. And I'm sure that all would it take would be a phone call or an email to someone in one of those organizations to uh to help Wildwood to, you know, come up with solutions such as that. It's not just the deer. It's it's the visibility problem. So that's another thing that I would hope you can consider. Um and realize that uh other other nearby communities or idealize, you know, myself included and others have have looked up to Wildwood and thought highly of Wildwood for good example. you know, it is called wildwood for a reason. Um, but if it if it doesn't stay wild with the wildlife being completely eradicated, I think that that's going to change. Um, and kind of that good reputation is is going to be lost with that. So again, I would

just reiterate and ask you to please review the plan in detail and seriously consider um the negative impacts for all the communities which other communities take Wildwood as an example for um because uh many other oppunities are also facing these same situations and and are going to follow suit and and see what Wildwood does with this if they you know choose the right opportunity and make sure that the numbers are correct before taking further action and not completely eliminating the herd. Uh that's that's going to go a long way and the other communities are watching. So, thank you for your time. Thank you. Next speaker, please. Eric Varnador wants to speak on deer management and program.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor, council members. My name is Eric Barnodor. Um I'm here with my wife Dana and my mother-in-law Sandra. We live 49 Old Etherton Road, which is on the west side of 109. We lived there for some time. Um, we love our deer. We love to see the deer. We enjoy it. It's a valuable natural resource that really gives us a lot of pleasure and we're really proud to live in Wildwood for that one of those reasons. Um, I'm here tonight though and specifically because I'm I support the the uh the Conservation Alliance uh and Tom Mitchell. I I just met Tom tonight, but what Tom has uh has been doing for the last few weeks in trying to bring forward um facts that frankly um when he shared the numbers of the deer kill with White Buffalo, Inc. um I was I was shocked. I remember when the plan was put in place two years ago and I as a conservation person, as somebody who's managed hunts before in Texas, northern Missouri, I said, "Okay, maybe it's time we did something." But when I saw the numbers, how in less than well actually two seasons, two years, the number is already 50% more killed than what was allocated. How does that happen? Who's responsible? Who's keeping up with it? And now here we are. You want us to allow them to continue in another section and now they're going to creep forward closer now to where I live. Well, I can tell you there are no deer.

And I'm not just saying that off the cuff. There are no deer. We don't see any bugs. They're gone. I don't know what's happened to them other than the impact of white buffalo wink. I think everybody in here agrees. So, another point I want to make is that two years you're 50% more killed. I don't know the number of the dollar amount off off the top of my head, but it's significant. So in two years it's already out of control in my opinion. So the trust in a way has already been damaged in this whole program. So now what leads me to believe that if we allow you to continue that it's going to be managed any differently. I don't have any confidence in it. So, I'm urging the council to strongly consider White Buff uh not White Buffalo, but the Wild Wildwood Conservation Alliance mission and their plan. I think it's reasonable. I think it's a very, very good plan. I wish we had that plan before we ever started this thing with White Buffalo, Inc. There's too many deer being killed. That I can tell you. This gentleman said he wasn't sure what the number is. Well, I know what was allocated. We trusted you then when you made that allocation. Most of us said, "Okay, where these folks live along Strucker and some of those neighborhoods is a very condensed population. Maybe they feel maybe it is time there's some culling that needs to take place." I believe in that. But what I don't believe in is just allowing killing to take place with no accountability at taxpayer

expense. Come on. Come on. I think the reasonable effort and reasonable plan that Tom has put forward is something y'all really need to take into consideration. At a very minimum, there needs to be a pause before we go forward with White Buffalo Inc. next year. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Next speaker, please. Tom McCracken wants to speak on white buffalo and deer management.

Who doesn't want to speak on white buffalo and deer management? I am here at the invitation of the mayor who I wrote to earlier this week um about talking in front of the breakfast with the mayor. Um and I am also here because

oh beg you pardon Tom McCracken 1033 Babler Park Drive. Okay. Sorry. Um, so I read the article in the West County, uh, West News magazine that Tom Mitchell wrote and I listened to some of the things and I'm, this is the first time I've ever been involved in anything like this and come before the council. So, I have a question. People know a hell of a lot more, excuse me, more than I do about this situation. Is there still an ongoing contract with White Buffalo? Yes. No. You all would be the ones to

Well, right now we're going to give you the opportunity to speak during public comment, but after we take all public comment, if there's any questions, we can certainly ask them uh respond to those questions. Oh, okay. Go ahead. Please take your time to speak.

Okay. Sorry. Um I wasn't sure how the rules worked. Um, okay. So, my question, I guess, is White Buffalo is a is it a Missouri corporation? Is it incorporated here? How do they select their hunters? Um, do they use local hunters? Uh, we're paying for them with tax dollars. So, if Mr. Mitchell is correct in his statement in the magazine. Apparently, they are shooting indiscriminately bucks, doese's, antler, deer, um, button bucks, and that is not the way you're going to callull or reduce the herd. Okay. In Babler State Park, when they have a managed hunt, I think the rules currently are you have to kill two doese's before you're able to take a buck. Okay. And that you're gonna you want to get rid of the breeding population. All right. Um I'm old enough to remember when Wildwood was incorporated. I lived in the area here and we incorporated to save our land from rampant development. I remember the comments that were made. Um and we wanted to keep it in a natural state. And these deer were in this natural state. And I think that this was part of the draw. It's part of what drew me to live where I do. Um I am very fortunate to live right next to Babler State Park. We have lots of deer. We have lots of turkey. They love our hostas. I think it's like a salad bar. Okay. But does it bother me? No. I came here because of what we saw as living in nature and I would hate to see this

removed indiscriminately and I know that you all have got some plans for the future and I hope that you can share them with us. Thank you. Thank you. Go ahead.

Next speaker please. Sonia Coleman, bill 3012. Hello, my name is Sonia Coleman and I'm in Ward 3. I'm part of the Highland Summit subdivision. And first, I want to thank the council for hearing our homeowners last month and for giving us another month to organize. It was very helpful. Um, I'm here tonight on behalf of more than 50 homeowners um that oppose the easement at 8:15 Strucker Road connecting into our only subdivision entrance and exit on Highland Summit Drive. Um, many of our residents um have did not know about this until it was recorded just 5 weeks ago. Uh, as you heard, the homeowner, he did reach out to our trustees, but as you also heard, that was done four years ago, and our our homeowners were blindsided by this. Um, we're all 84 of us taxpayers to Wildwood and law-abiding citizens, and we expect that other developers in our area would respect our subdivision and go through appropriate routes like, you know, getting subdivision approval for something like this. Um, I think it's a very dangerous precedent that if anyone can sell off their sideyard for a driveway. If any of us came to the subdivision and said, "Hey, I want to pave my front yard or I want to take out 20 trees or whatever," that would not be within our rights as a homeowner even though we own the property. So, I think that's something that is very concerning. I know Wildwood says they don't get involved in subdivision rules or indentures, but they are legal documents. And it is concerning to me that we as a subdivision have to retain lawyers and spend our subdivision income and our time and energy. I've spent a very lot of time hurting cats for the last month.

Um why our trustees haven't taken the lead on that is up to them, but se several of us about 10 of us homeowners have been very involved to try to deal with this situation appropriately and um we're just keep being told that they are um they want to be good neighbors, but I don't see that behavior in the approach that's been taken. So, um, again, we all feel a little bit put in a corner and if we don't defend our subdivision, then it's it's open game to any one that wants to come in on any other property surrounding our subdivision. And I think every subdivision in Wildwood faces this situation. There's a lot of open properties that have uh potential profit gaining uh profit properties around them. and do we want Wildwood to be known as the place for developers to cash in? And I think right now that is maybe a precedent that we're setting, not only just our neighborhood, but anything in Wildwood. Um, and I think that's a concerning situation. I mean, we all chose this neighborhood. It's 30 years old. That lot has been there the entire 30 years. it wasn't bought because it didn't have a great layout in the sense of not only the property itself but also a narrow entrance to Strucker Road. And so when that was bought and even when the the postcards were sent to us, we were assuming that subdivision would have the driveway going through the originating proper property to Striker Road, which seems like the logical choice. Uh but lo and behold, we find out that um Wildwood hasn't advocated for our subdivision or for our rights and and we feel upset about that. But also that we have to then somehow get our 84 homeowners to organize and get into a legal battle. And I don't think Wildwood wants that to be the what the way that people see our

city. Oh, great. I mean, it's no one wants a legal battle. Nobody wants a consternation. We want to have good neighbors. We want to work well together. And if a very How about a solution that looks at Strucker Road which is already been developed for the one house, why can't another driveway be taken there? That's where the property originated from. That's where the road access is automatically there. There's nobody that has to be no easements or deals have to be struck. Um so I think that's what where our homeowners stand. Uh I we have over 88% that have that would have been of the those that surveyed we had 57 out of 84 homeowners that responded to our survey. 88% they said they do want to pursue legal action. So this isn't something that's going to necessarily go away. But I don't think any of us want to waste our time and energy. We don't want to waste the time and energy of the homebuilder. I think there is a logical stand stance here that could be done and um I I hope that that logical situation could be arranged. So big picture the plot is supposed to be approved tonight with that plot is the easement

30 seconds and is that if that easement is not valid what was what is that plot have road access and what would wild would do about that ultimately if that occurs. Thank you. Next speaker please. Wickstep bill 3012 Woodsdale Court. Whoops. Woodsdale Court. Uh, ward three, I believe. Yes.

Um, I was going to kind of reiterate a lot of things you've heard, probably things I've said uh in previous meetings. uh why I'm against uh the easement neighborhood integrity. I don't want to worry about whether my culdeac, which is nice and quiet, is going to be a three-way. There's nothing to stop um someone from uh a homeowner from granting an easement um since since our uh indentures say that you can't sell or subdivide. But anyway, um so I'm not going to bore you with the fact that basically the um uh agreement, the easement agreement that I've read, um is basically a de facto sale. It's not a simple use. It's it's permanent. It runs with the land. Um, and I've heard their lawyer say they don't believe it's against our indentures, that it violates our indentures that says you can't can't sell any part or subdivide. Of course, you had a map, a nice map last meeting that showed this homeowner's land, the easement, and then on the other side of the easement, more of the homeowner's land. That's I I don't want to live in a jigsaw puzzle subdivision. So anyway, uh I'm going going to an idea came to me and I thought if if the lawyer and uh Lee Lerno believes that this is not um does not violate the easement does not violate

our covenants, our indentures that all our all homeowners are bound by by law. I' I'd like to ask if they would submit to mediation so they don't we could we could handle this uh amicably uh uh uh responsibly and and uh without getting lawyers involved too many lawyers not there's anything wrong with lawyers but uh um I think mediation would be uh us there's there's hang there's angry homeowners in our neighborhood because we feel violated. If that if we could go through mediation and we find that we are our our our uh indentures have not been broken. Welcome neighbor. Welcome neighbor. will be fine. But I don't think that's an unreasonable request to to have a mediation. I don't um we could have our lawyer and their lawyer get together and find a third party and we can get this put to bed like like adults. So, thank you.

Thank you. Next speaker, please. Elizabeth Lum, Bill 3012.

Good evening and thank you for having me here again. Elizabeth Lum, I am at 7711 Coranderlet Sweet 800. That's 63105 uh Almondson Davis. We are council for uh the builder. So I think the first thing I'd like to do is kind of start off with what this actually is tonight. This is a plat approval. It's an administrative proceeding. And basically what Missouri law says is if the plat complies with your ordinance, it must be approved. Um, you know, we've gone through the process. Our client has complied with your ordinance and then some, which I'll explain again in a in a little bit the efforts that we've gone through. Uh, but I want to address a couple of things. One is I heard some concerns from the homeowners about the trees. Uh before any development, our client has to submit a grading plan. With that grading plan comes his plans for tree removal. The city has the authority to regulate that and once those grading plans are approved, our client will stay within the clearing limits. He has to uh I've heard some concerns about runoff or some other things like that. Again, the city has the authority to regulate our best management practices and our storm water management control. those plans will be submitted. What the city approves is what our client will comply with. Um and and that's really where uh the remedies for some of these situations lie. I've heard some concerns about traffic and a and a kind of a quote unquote blind curve. We're not talking about apartments. We're not talking about a multi-lot subdivision. We're talking about one one residential house. it'll be probably a million plus once it's complete and valued. So, this is something that would actually potentially add to the value of these uh of the properties in Highland Summit. Uh

but the last thing I really would like to address is the efforts that we have gone through to communicate with Highland Summit. Uh when I first appeared in front of the planning and zoning commission in June, I was approached by one of the trustees who gave me his name and phone number and asked that our client contact him. I understand that our client did so and they had a conversation about what the nature of this um you know prospective building would be. Um at the July meeting of planning and zoning, a different trustee was present. We spoke with that trustee after the meeting, expressed our willingness to work with them and even offered a few potential, you know, quote unquote solutions. Um, since that July meeting, we have reached out numerous times to the trustee and to the trustes attorney. In September, we submitted an agreement that we prepared to the trustees attorney in which our client offered to pay 100% of the assessments for Highland Summit. He's not required to do that. There is nothing in the city's plat ordinance that says that we have to pay assessments for a neighboring subdivision. We're just offering to do that. Um, I think since then I the other thing I'd like to address is the violation of the indentures. Uh, to be clear, an easement is a conveyance of an interest in a property. It's a right to drive on the property, but it's not a sale of the property. We did not subdivide the property. The uh owners of the property, the subs still own that strip of land. Now, the city has asked us with this easement or with this uh development, things that are not in the plat ordinance. The city has asked us to include a a restrictive covenant saying that the property would only be used for

one single family residence. We did that. The city asked us to include a restrictive covenant saying that the easement couldn't be modified, terminated, whatever, without the city's approval. We did that. At the last meeting, we heard the homeowners express concerns about the curve. So, we voluntarily added another restrictive covenant in our amended easement agreement that um and that our client comply with and keep the sight distance triangles clear. So, there's a lot of things that have gone in voluntarily to address the concerns of the homeowners. Um and I think finally,

30 seconds. Sure. Um, the notion that there is a a violation of the indentures, we disagree with that. Um, whether or not there is, that is a legal dispute to be handled between the parties and it is not the city's concern. Tonight, the city's authority is to decide whether the plat complies with the ordinance and then approve it. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other other speakers? All right. Anyone online that wishes to speak, use the raise hand feature. Okay. Thank you then to all those that participated uh during the public participation process here. We're going to move on to the next part which is uh for public hearings. So we have three public hearings for tonight. The first is the proposed 2026 municipal budget. Do we have any comments? Do we have any speakers related to the budget?

Does anyone wish to speak relating to the 2026 municipal budget?

Okay. Anyone online that wishes to speak? All right. Uh I do not see any. So we'll have the city administrator uh walk through the budget. Uh one second, mayor. Just making sure the pointer is working. Okay. Thank Okay. Thank you. All right. Uh thank you everyone. Um wanted to go over and this was provided on Friday night but also wanted to go through this uh just kind of go through the process and then a general overview of each fund. We not need to open the public hearing.

The mayor can open it without a motion, but if you'd like to have a motion to have a vote to do so, we can certainly do. Make sure we're doing it right. Yes, please go ahead.

Okay. Um, so this was provided on Friday and uh this is the what was submitted tonight is the result of last uh about two Mondays ago uh we had a work session where we went through a couple different options for the budget just based off some fiscal constraints that we've been facing. So I wanted to give a quick overview and then just give a quick overview of that process and then also go into each individual fund. Um, so just a quick overview of the timeline. In October, both our board of public safety, our planning and parks committee, our administration and public works committee, and our economic development committee all reviewed their respective portions of the budget. Um, these recommendations were all consolidated and then provided in a summary sheet to the city council for the work session uh that was held back on October 27th, 2025. Um, during that meeting, feedback was received from the the full council and that was incorporated in what was submitted tonight. Uh then today uh is the budget public hearing which we'll also have later in the meeting the first reading of the budget bill and then on December 8th the next city council meeting. We anticipate that the second reading of the budget bill will take place. U just a quick note uh with the budget bill if there are changes that the council wishes to make to it. Uh the the recommendation would be for the budget bill to be read and then um before it's read for the first time having those recommendations voiced possibly here in the public hearing we can jot that down and have some type of amended version put forth if that were the council's choosing. All right. So just general summary of all funds. Um our total plan expenditures for the year is 21,825,146. Um, our projected revenues are 21,109,400. And I want to point out the discrepancy. There are two things. There's two funds that will go in a little bit deep a little bit deeper here. But our town center sewer fund, we anticipate providing a pretty large refund to the people that have paid into that fund over the years, and there is no revenue source to offset that refund. The other side of that is our deer management fund

which does not have a revenue source um that contributes and offsets that balance. So that said that is also being paid out with no revenue to offset. And then also we did have uh the discussion where we made some changes to our budget to make sure that we could keep up with salary adjustments and we'll go into a little bit deeper. Um just a few considerations while we were preparing the budget. Some items to point out. Uh the city's heavy reliance on sales tax revenue. Uh for those in attendance, the city of Wildwood does not have a property tax. Um the majority of our sales tax revenue for operating um comes from our uh general sales tax that we have across St. Louis County, 1% sales tax. And then also uh the tax that we get from utilities. So just a note that when spending goes up like in 2022, we typically see an increase in revenue from that source. But if there's any major changes in the economy, uh, that can be reflected into the city's revenues as well. So, it is highly dependent on spending behaviors within the county. Just wanted to note too, this was brought up at the work session, the video franchise fees. Um, originally at 5%, we're currently at 3.5%. Um, and that's resulted in approximately a decrease over the years about$100 to $200,000 from its peak back in uh 2022. And that said as well, it's supposed to decrease all the way down to 2.5% in 2027 and that'll be continuous going onwards. Uh the online use tax, just wanted to note that that was postponed only back in 2021. Um then telephone utility tax that has had significant decreases over time. This was also discussed quite quite a bit, but overall we're seeing less individuals using this u wired telephones at the home. And then also cell phone providers, they're not providing uh data plans that are based off the number of minutes that you use. So note that that declining revenue, the height was back in 2019 and we saw almost $400,000 in revenue. Now we're sitting around 225 each year. So once

again, we've had another major revenue source that has taken a pretty large dent over the last 5 years. Um just want to note too our gas utility tax. We actually did make an adjustment as the city council uh back in 2023. Um the spire raised the price of gas across uh our our city and the city council did pass um an ordinance that lowered that rate down to 4.826% which effectively allowed the price and the tax on that utility to remain the same. Um just wanted to also note increased operating costs across the board. Um luckily we have seen some contractors come in and they're at similar rates from the year over from last year but in general um we are we do see those those nominal increases each year. And then uh our police services um we're at 3%. We have a bill proposed tonight and I did just want to give a quick note that we could anticipate that this budget item could increase by 5% in future years. That is what the contract allows. So the reason why we bring that up is that does make up a very large percentage of our overall operating budget. So if our revenues stay stagnant but our and our uh and that does increase at 5% and it could be in 2031 we could be seeing over 50% of our operating budget going to the police. All right. So those are just some considerations as we are preparing for the budget review. Um so wanted to go over the process that we had here in October. Uh originally we had a proposed balance budget for the operating. This is just speaking to the general fund. Um and that was producing a surplus about $13,595. That said, um this version of the budget actually included significant reductions in both service and the different events we provide. But really service I want to point out. Um in this case we were you know lowering even things like snow removal in this case. So that said, we

also provided an option B which showed if we didn't make made no cuts and we wanted to go off more of a 5-year average on most of these items and also allow for some some increases that are reflected year-over-year. Um that said, we've had multiple meetings and we were able to kind of come to a you know the lesser of two different options which has resulted in what's being presented today and that's the result of the October 27th, 2025 meeting. All right. And just to go over what changes were made and agreed to in that meeting, uh salary adjustments, the maximum in the original version was 2% and we adjusted that to 4.3% which aligns with the majority of municipalities around the city and also with the industry standard and the colas that are being presented um by our professional consultants firm CBIZ.

Yeah.

On top of that as well um the related weather related expenditures. This was something of great discussion in that the administration public works committee um was really taking a look at things like our salt purchases, snow and ice removal, uh pre- removal, cleaning up the road after a tornado which we experienced there is here actually two of them. Um those type of expenses since they are fully weather dependent in some cases like snow and ice and salt and a lot of the miscellaneous right of way. um tying those to a five-year average and then being able to, you know, obviously account for the increase year-over-year. That said, that was changed and now we do believe we have a a solid budget that will more so reflect those 5-year averages. This uh the budget presented tonight also does reinstate the hometown heroes program, the placement of banners along Manchester Road, and the also this includes another $10,000 for um special events in 2026, which is anticipated to be used towards the Route 66 100th anniversary and potentially tie into the United States anniversary as well. um for celebrate Wildwood. Wanted to quickly cover this, but funding increased by 10,000 generally from the maximum reduction from the first the first version of the bill the first version of the budget. That said, it's still 25,000 as mentioned earlier today below option B which was considered um what we typically spend. We do anticipate that there are going to be savings from moving the uh the event towards the village green. We still will have to provide some type of electricity, but it will not be nearly to the extent that we have currently where we're having to run generators all day. Um, also the event footprint itself should be much it is just much smaller realistically and that should save some costs due to just less inflatables and overall vendors. So that said, this does include a decrease to that event.

Um but overall it should remain relatively the same just using the event space that we have. Oh actually went the wrong way. Um going through here also music on main we did not eliminate necessarily an one of them. We afforded the opportunity we reduced that number from 85,000 to 65,000. um which actually if you reduce the free hot dogs, sodas, ice cream, and kettle corn, there is a high likelihood that we could move for events in there. We're still working, the department administration is working with the department of parks to better understand if that is possible, but right now and from that direction of the council, there was the free hot dogs, sodas, ice cream, and kettle corn were eliminated and the department plans on contacting food trucks and other vendors to provide those refreshments and food options during those events. Also, residents are fully able to bring food to those events on their own as well. Um, parks, event supplies, this was reduced by 15. Um, this can lead to the elimination of potential t-shirts and meal purchases for our events that require registration. Um, or we can review some of the events that may be underperforming, discontinue them, and still hold the events that are popular at the same cost. So that said, the department is also working with the department of parks on this to see if there are which is the better option and that'll be proposed during the review of our event calendar for 2026 in December. Uh portable restrooms as well. We had quite a few restrooms at our parks facilities. This isn't necessarily getting rid of all of them. It's just reducing the number and then also reducing the frequency of cleanings of the ones that may not be used nearly as much. Um it eliminated the pond athletic association donation. And then also the bigger the one last big one is the reduces reduce the number of printed issues of the Gazette publication by one. So we will be reducing it and not having the fall edition mailed out. We will do a digital media version which will be uploaded as a PDF and we'll also use a software uh I mean a platform like issue to be able to create interactive

content and give everyone an update. We will still be using um the publication and mailing that out prior to the election um in April. Okay. So, uh, wanted to go over just really kind of go back to basics with some of our, uh, some of the principles here with our budget. But overall, where does the revenue come from, especially for some of our major funds? We have our pool tax. We briefly went over this, but our 1% countywide tax that the city gets a percentage of based on population. So, the more people that live in Wildwood at the time of the census determines how many uh, how much of the tax we get. The public safety sales tax is a half cent tax that was implemented back in uh 2017. It has to be used towards public safety initiatives including police and the city gets that on a per capita basis as well. Uh the utility gross receipts tax, it's 5% for all utilities other than gas um and cable franchise, which is decreasing year-over-year, but that does make up a large majority of our general fund. our capital improvement sales tax which funds the entirety other than grants and interest revenue uh for our capital improvement sales tax fund. It's a half cent tax uh on sales that take place within the city of Wildwood um motor fuel and gas tax and then our road and bridge tax help round out the u our overall road and bridge fund that help maintain the streets and roads we have here in Wildwood 350 lighten miles. All right. So, in just a quick overview of some of our increased operating costs, we can go into detail a little bit on these. Um, overall, the just general maintenance related expense uh and playground repairs, the things that happen day by day, um, those expenditures do seem to be increasing year-over-year. And overall, with the amount of maintenance that's required, it it the department is kind of looking inward and saying, "Hey, let's maintain what we have versus expanding and building upon um what's out there." So almost looking in inward and saying let's maintain the current the current

items that are under the control of the city. Um generalized insurance costs the just general liability cyber liability those are increasing year-over-year. Um the amount of insurance the city has to have to to just perform day-to-day functions. Uh it it is not it is expensive. Um personnel costs. So we do expect full staffing in 2026 and we do have currently two vacancies within the team. So that increase that you see the percentage wise within the budget that's where the accounting is for the staff side. Um and then event cost just bringing that up that we've already had this discussion at the work session but the increase in the vendor prices it's not necessarily increasing year-over-year but just overall uh the amount of events that we're having and just the demand uh for entertainment and different things that are going on. It it is increasing. Um all right moving over to our major projects. Now, this is going to be covered under our capital improvement sales tax fund. Um, this is a little different than what was originally propo, not originally proposed, but was proposed in previous years within the 5-year. Um, but just major initiatives in general. Wanted to kind of go through these, give a quick note. Um, the route 109 BA roundabout project, we anticipate construction to start in February. Uh, the main street extension project, the design and rightway acquisition phase is pretty much ready to go. The hope is that right ofway can be acquired within uh 2026 and that construction can start in 27. um watershed erosion. The hope is we can get started on at least two basin retrofits along Clocks Creek. And the idea would be to hopefully utilize funds from um MSD which is not accounted for in this budget because we have not gotten affirmative answer from MSD that we are going to have you know you're going to right now we're anticipating $300,000 but there has not been clear communication from that that organization of how that's going to be distributed to the city other than there will be some type of grant and we're assuming they're probably going to want the city to create some type of separate fund to be able to clearly identify and carry that those accountings moving forward. also deer management. I know it's a hot topic tonight, but right now

that that includes year three, that will be discussed later tonight. Um, city hall, the design and engineering of major repairs, including uh the retrofitting our own rain garden in the back of city hall on the southern side, which has led to some major leaks. That's going to be part of the discussion for the council coming up. And then just other supplemental repairs. There's $300,000 budgeted uh to help address some of the issues here at city hall. And then under our parks and trails, we have Village Green phase two, our all-inclusive playground and the construction of restroom restroom facilities on the site. Right now, there are currently no restroom facilities. We're going to be having a playground built on the northwestern portion. Um the Green Pines Park Connector Trail, we anticipate construction to start construction to start in 2026. The old state road shared use path. We have that on the council agenda tonight um for review and potential consideration. uh anniversary park. Uh we do plan on resurfacing the parking lot and the drive aisle. This project was originally proposed for 2026 but was pushed off to in order to make funds available for the increased costs for the route 100 uh projects that we had. So just adding that back in um to be able to maintain what we currently have. And then annual annual maintenance projects which include what should be our last year of our tree plantings pro program. We have we're kind of nailing down to the last little bit of the um the ash trees that were in identified for replacement. So, we're hoping that 2026 can be the last year for that. Our general bridge maintenance uh program, concrete street slab replacement project, our asphalt resurfacing and trail resurfacing repairs. Just a quick note, the trail resurfacing and repairs uh was also postponed due to the increased costs that were associated with the route 100 work. All right, so now we're going to quickly jump into each fund. um we'll try to take too much time. I know we've already taken a little bit here, but our general fund is the actual fund that runs the day-to-day operations. Um the other two major funds that we have that when I say major fund, it accounts for more than 10% of all expenditures and all revenue

that come in year-over-year. Um really general fund is what is allowing you know personnel staff uh and when you call in to fill in a pothole that's typically I getting covered by road and bridge but just the everyday items that we we cover it's coming out of general and right now based off it we're anticipating revenues that sales tax at 6,110,000 utility tax at 2.9 million and that public safety tax that needs to go towards police it's 2.34 million um it's totaling 12,920,000 500. And then for operating expenditures in the in the general fund, we have $13,185,846. So that in of itself um leads to a $265,000 uh deficit within the general fund itself, which I'd like to point out, in which we will be looking to use our accumulated reserve to be able to cover that fund to be able to move forward and not have um any major reductions in service. Um then overall when it that did we have a question? Okay. Um just wanted to quickly point out too just kind of how that reserve works as well. We do have currently at the end of 2026 about 19 million total that would be in our general fund reserve. That said, I always do like to point out that there is that 25% operating contingency and then there is a public safety amount that is set aside um that has to that really came from not spending it the first couple years of having it back in 2017. So overall unrestricted unreserved general fund reserves is 14,813,594 after accounting for those two. All right. Um our capital improvement sales tax fund. This funds all the fun stuff. the park. Um the the road projects that we have overall this is more so the the new things we are building. It also can cover some maintenance costs like maintaining the city hall here which we do have some

ambitious plans for in 26 but more so in 27. Uh overall here just wanted to quickly point out total revenues majority of those revenues coming from federal and state grants. Uh really from that half percent tax, we only get about 2.9 million and we're able to make a decent amount of interest off our our reserve fund at $350,000 for this account uh for this fund. That said, uh we're anticipating 5,30,600 in 2026 with 5,10,000 uh in expenditures. This mostly is coming from our uh village green project going back to the different projects we have planned. Our village green phase two um and then some of our shared use projects, our shared use paths including Green Pines Park connector trail and our old state road shared use path. Um one quick note too, I know you see road road improvements not too high this year. That's because we already did approve the route 109 BA roundabout project in 2025. So those funds will be encumbered moving forward for 2026 and are not recorded against the balance sheet. All right. So just real quick on the the summary um beginning fund balance uh at 5,757,000. We have revenues of 530 and we're spending 510. So overall this fund also has a reserve of 5,777,000. Happy to report that expenditures are fully funded by revenues in 2026 and throughout the whole 5-year capital improvement plan. All right, moving forward to the road and bridge fund. Um, this fund is mostly funded uh not mostly but all funded from our road and bridge tax and then also our motor fuel gas tax. Um, this has increased substantially over the years but has really helped us maintain our 350 lane miles that we have to maintain year-over-year. Um overall in 2026 we're anticipating about $3,130,000 in revenue and then on the expenditure

side we're going to be looking to expend about 3,35,000. So that adds up in general uh to about that that leads to us having in this fund which want to point out that this is a separate fund than our general fund and our capital improvement sales tax fund. It has rules associated how with how you spend it. Uh that said, we're looking to be adding uh to that that reserve fund balance and about 95,000, but overall uh that ending fund balance at 2026, it's about 4,152,000. And then just happy to report there that expenditures fully funded by revenues in 2026 and then throughout the 5-year capital plan. All right, so the other funds, these are not major funds. And once again, major funds are defined as making up more than 10% of the expenditures or the revenues. Uh but just wanted to quickly note some of these for our town center sewer fund. The hope is and I think a a good goal will be to close this fund out in 2026. Um the city has still been working to really get some of the delinquent assessments that we have currently in that that that district and the hope is to get those paid as soon as possible. Um, and then right now we're currently planning for a $350,000 refund that will be paid out to all the different individuals that participated property owners. Um, and then 6 uh $6,500 is paid to the city to help reimburse administrative costs. So, the hope is that we can give this initial round of refunds and then keep $90,000 in case any additional action is necessary to ensure that the delinquent assessments are paid um timely since it has been over a year since they were due. All right. Um just the other two f two quick things here. The eastga fund um we have just no serious assessments that we're in anticipating that are going to be coming in in 2026. That said, just wanted to note uh that fund did help

fund a majority of the route, not a majority, but a large percentage about 625,000 of the route 109BA roundabout project that was approved in the 2025 fiscal year budget. Um and then the West TGA fund about $100,000. Uh and then we anticipate not too much being added in that regard for 2026. So just wanted to point out though that with these two funds um they can be used for the extension of Main Street and in previous budget additions we had anticipated uh expenditures or transfer to cover expenditures associated with the main street extension. Um I wanted to point out quickly that we had moved away from that approach in 2026 considering we did not do the rightway acquisition. We have been having a development proposal being considered a couple other factors. Um the idea would be if we would like to, you know, use these funds for the Main Street extension and conduct that transfer that we would do it once the rightway has been acquired and that we're actually starting construction. All right. Then last but not least, the deer management fund um beginning fund balance 776,000 uh anticipating expenditures at 237,000 for 2026 and then that ending fund balance being at 558,000. Uh that is it for the presentation from the department, but we're happy to answer any questions at the uh council's request.

Hey, do we have any council members that have any questions related to the budget? Uh council member McCutchen. Yeah, I don't know if you want me to do it now or wait until um we take a vote, but I do have some comments on two of the W five projects that have been um removed from the budget in peruity. So, I don't know if you want me to make them now or later. Um if uh it will be a first reading later. So, again, it would be forformational purposes your comments. So, I would say um if you want to make it for the record, you can certainly wait till we get to the first reading.

Okay. Anyone else have anything related to the budget at this time? Okay. Just to remind you, we'll be coming back to this for a first reading. Um All right. Since there are no questions at this time, move on to the next public hearing. Director Vunich with Mr. Mayor, with your permission, I'll have the clerk read the request into the record.

PZ3-25, City of Wildwood, Planning and Zoning Commission and Care of the Department of Planning, 16860 Main Street, Wildwood, Missouri 63040. An authorized review by the city council of certain components of the city's sign regulations specifically within chapter Can you hold on just a moment? Let's for proper procedure. Let's just make sure we're closing the public hearing related to the 2026 municipal budget. Could I get a motion to close the public hearing? Made by council member Farmer, seconded by Council Member Dodwell. All those in favor, please say I. I. Anyone oppose or abstain?

Okay, great. Thank you. Um, okay. Let's go to the next public hearing. Thank you. If you can go ahead and start reading that, please. PZ3-25 City of Wildwood Planning and Zoning Commission and care of the Department of Planning 16860 Main Street, Wildwood, Missouri 63040, an authorized review by the city council of certain components of the city's sign regulations. Specifically, chapter 415.030 definitions, chapter 415. 400 sign regulations- general chapter 415.410 sign regulations for FP, NU, PS and all R districts and chapter 415.420 420 sign regulations for all C and M districts which will consider possible modifications relating to electronic s message boards, sign escro deposits, calculation of sign sizes, lighting characteristics, installation components, and the related definitions for the same.

Eric,

thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor and members of city council, the department of planning is presenting on behalf of the planning and zoning commission its letter of recommendation relating to its review of certain sign regulations. Principally, there are three types of recommendations associated with this particular letter of recommendation. Those three types are wall signs, temporary signs, and then finally electronic message centers, which are a new type of sign being considered by the city of Wildwood. In the letter of recommendation, the planning and zoning commission has provided recommended changes to the wall signs and temporary signs for the purposes of improving their application in the business community of Wildwood. More importantly, the electronic message centers have been through a rigorous review including a outside consultant, Randy Burrhead of Reed Burquette Lighting Design to understand the implications of this type of sign in the city of Wildwood. Electronic message centers are prevalent throughout the region, although the city of Wildwood up to this point has not allowed them. There are provisions in the letter of recommendation to accommodate them, but they are limited to entities that have taxing authority relative to the public. Meaning they can be governments or those entities like fire districts that have the taxing authority relative to their existence. In the letter of recommendation, there are 23 locations that have been identified. Those locations are both east of State Route

109 and west of State Route 109. And key amongst the recommendations is there are two lighting zones. The lighting zones reflect an area for all intents and purposes east of Route 109 and those west of Route 109. Lighting zone two will allow greater illumination due to the fact that there is more lighting in those areas. Lighting zone one will not because it is a dark environment. It's the rural area of Wildwood and the planning and zoning commission was adamant about protecting that particular area as well as lighting zone 2. So tonight you are being presented a new sign new type of sign and changes to the wall and temporary signs to improve their application in town center and within our business community. If there are any questions after public comment the department of planning will be glad to address them. Thank you.

All right. Thank you Director Vunage. We have the public hearing open now. Do we have any speakers related to this item? All right. None. Do we have anyone that wishes to speak either here or online? If you're online, please use the raise hand feature. All right. There are no speakers. So, at this time, we'll see if there's any questions from the council related to the public hearing. Council member Attenburg.

Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, Director Vunich, in your comments, you stated that the electronic messaging would be limited to taxing entities and you mentioned government and um, fire districts. I I recall. Um, do those also include uh, schools? Very much so, sir, because schools have a taxing authority on the residents of Wley.

All right. Very good. And your department has the ability should this uh proceed and should some electronic messaging uh apparatus be installed by various taxing entities. If the light turns out to be disruptive in a particular area, uh we can uh speak with the people operating the sign and um request that they lower the light level of that sign. Is that correct?

That's correct, sir. And we'll do that through a key component of the recommended regulations for these message centers and that's each one will require a conditional use permit. So we'll set the standards in that permit for their operation and the different um characteristics, but we'll also make sure that there are um enforcement components that will ensure once they're installed they do what they intend to do and not anymore. Perfect. Thank you. And then one last question, please. Um in terms of the frequency which with uh with which a message on a sign changes uh we have some regulations uh regarding that do we not?

Very much so sir. Yes. Okay. Very good. Because I know one of the concerns of some of the residents would be that frequently changing the messages could be distracting to drivers on the highway. And uh I know we've discussed this before, but I just thought I would bring it up again for the benefit of those who may be visiting here with us tonight. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else have any questions related to the public hearing? Otherwise, we will revisit this during the first reading. All right. Seeing none, can I get a motion to close this public hearing made by Council Member Farmer? Is there a second by Council Member Crayons? All those in favor, please say I. I.

I. Anyone opposed or abstaining? All right. This public hearing is closed. We'll now move on to the next public hearing.

PZ8-25, City of Wildwood Planning and Zoning Commission and Care of the Department of Planning, 16860 Main Street, Wildwood, Missouri. a rec request to review and consider potential allowances for drive-through facilities within the workplace district designation of the regulating plan of the city's town center plan. Currently, this land use designation does not allow restaurant or other comparable uses with drive-through facilities. This review may include, but is not necessarily limited to the determination of the impact of drive-through facilities upon the design, function, and character of development sites along with any mitigating factors associated with them to address the same. Additionally, with certain considerations regarding architecture elements associated with these types of facilities will also be reviewed. Okay, thank you for that. We have the public hearing open. Is there anyone that wishes to speak related to this public hearing? We have any speakers?

Anyone in the room or online on Zoom? If you are online, please use the raise hand feature. Mr. Mayor, if I may, just for the purposes of the record, the Planning and Zoning Commission is presenting a favorable recommendation relative to the item that was just read into tonight's record. And in fact, the planning and zoning commission as part of its action has amended the regulating plan of the town center plan for the purposes of allowing 10 properties as identified on the map that was provided as part of its report that will now allow drive-through facilities in conjunction with certain activities, including fast food restaurants to spur development on properties that for the most part of the last 30 plus years have had limited interest. It also includes a set of properties that are developed and successful in many regards but offers redevelopment opportunities for the future. So tonight you have a favorable recommendation regarding this particular item and an action of the planning and zoning commission relative to the regulating plan of the town center plan. Thank you. Thank you, Director Vunage. Any questions from the council? Council member McCutchen. Oh,

Mr. Vonage, um, it says Ward Five on here. Where is there space on 109 or 100 for Ward Five? Um, I may have misjudged that and I apologize. I was thinking of Village Plaza in particular. Maybe Ward. Is that W four? Yeah. My apologies. No problem. I curious. Thank you. You're welcome, ma'am. Anyone else have any questions from the council? Thank you. Great. Thank you. Uh since there are none, can I get a motion to close this public hearing? May by council member Attenburg and seconded by council member Marshall. All those in favor, please say I. I. I.

Anyone opposed or abstain? Right. This mo uh this public hearing is closed. We're going to move on to legislation here. And uh I know we had several folks that spoke related to uh two topics tonight. So if there's no objection from the council, I'd like to propose that we uh move on to bill 3012 uh which is uh one of the items that we heard and then we can follow up with the um other item related to uh the deer item. So, uh, 3012, if there's no objection again, any anyone objection from the council moving that up. Okay, great. So, um, this is an unfinished business item. And just for everyone's knowledge, unfinished business is a second reading. So, second reading either, uh, the council may approve, could reject, or even amend an item, uh, when it's a second reading. Please go ahead, Director Vunich, for bill 3012. But let me um the 3012 is before the council for the second reading concerning Ward 3. Is there a motion for the second reading of the bill? Made by council member Dodwell. Is there a second? Made by council member Alers. All those in favor please say I.

I. I. Okay. Go ahead. Colleen, please read bill 3012 and we'll have uh open up for discussion after that and then do a roll call for final passage. Bill 3012, an ordinance of the city of Wildwood, Missouri, approving a lot split plat for the division of a 5.86 86 acre tract of land into two lots located on the west side of Strucker Road at its intersection with Highland Summit Drive with such being a part of section 19, Township 45 North, range 4 East and to be hereafter known as a lot split plat for 815 Streker Road.

Uh, Director Voonage. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Newberry has provided you a colorized version of the proposed plat, the two lots that would be authorized under the plat approval if granted and the Eastman area to the west of Highland Summit Drive and the proposed dedication of land area for public purposes relating to Streker Road. The plan has not changed since the introduction of the bill in October and the department is available for any questions or comments. Thank you. Thank you. Do we have any discussion? Uh, Council Member Attenburgg and then I see Council Member CR. Please go ahead, Council Member.

All right. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, Mr. Dr. Bunich, um, I've received a lot of questions, a lot of concerns from the residents of the Highland Summit subdivision, and you were very kind in the time that you spent last week with me putting together a list of notes that I sent over to the trustees of the subdivision for forwarding out to uh, the residents of that subdivision. U, not to repeat all of the information that you and I discussed last week, but I just wanted to clarify a couple of points. One has to do with the um concern that a lot of the residents in the subdivision have regarding the potential for construction vehicles to be parked at the entrance to the easement to the new lot. And um in an email that you sent me uh earlier this afternoon, you mentioned that a onsite parking lot, parking space if you will, on the new property would be required of the builder who would potentially build a dwelling on that property. And the word that was used was required. So that's not something that we're simply asking for or hoping to get. that is something that will be required as a condition of building on that property. Is that correct?

That's correct. Construction vehicles cannot obstruct the public right away. And since the easement is across private property, the intent would be to have the off- streetet parking for construction purposes, lay down yard for materials, all on lot one and appropriately designed to comply with the grading code of the city. Perfect. Thank you. And um at the same time, your department would be um I guess uh for lack of a better term, monitoring any potential problems created by runoff from the easement onto the street. You know, mud, that sort of thing. Is that correct?

Yes. The Department of Planning along with the Department of Public Works have two individuals, our code inspector and code enforcement officer that are for all intents and purposes the eyes and ears of the city. and their job is to ensure that once the construction process starts on the property that it complies with all the codes and certainly doesn't become a nuisance or a safety hazard.

All right, perfect. Thank you. One of the questions that came up on um Friday afternoon from a resident of the Highland Summit subdivision was what prevents the clear cutting of all the trees on the new lot by the builder and or uh owner of the lot. The city codes first and foremost the grading code would be applied. The grading code protects all side, rear, and front yard setbacks except for access and utility installation relative to the front yard. Typically on a non-urban lot or in this case a 3 acre lot, that equates to about 20 to 25% of the tree cover. Then the tree restoration and preservation code applies and that's a minimum of 30%. All told though there is a key phrase in the grading code and that key phrase basically says the amount of disturbance should be limited to that necessary to accommodate the permit that's been issued by the city. So in most instances on large lots like this 3 acres we see anywhere from preservation levels of 80 to 90% of the trees. I would not expect any less. and the builder from reviewing his website seems to carry that through on many of his projects.

All right, very good. And then um one additional question and um this one may seem um a little bit out of left field, but um one of the residents asked, would the owner of this new lot have the ability to keep livestock on this property? Livestock is limited to properties five acres or greater in size. In the non-urban resident district, agricultural or farming, you have to have five acres. Okay. All right. Very good. Um that's all the questions I have. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Uh Council Member Crayons,

a couple um we're talking about that easement. What is the intent or purpose of that easement? In other words, does it allow for a road? In this particular instance, I believe Mr. Brown, our director of public works, and myself would allow a driveway, and the driveway would be for sole access to the one home. Does the easement itself state a road? Uh, the easement itself, I believe, references a driveway, and that's from previous discussions with the attorney who spoke tonight. Okay. And then that driveway has a legal right to connect to a public street.

I guess that's a lawyer question. Well, I would defer to Mr. Young and his associate or Mr. Brown who is our manager of public. I would ask our lawyer. Certainly, Mr. Young. The city has procedures for allowing curb cuts to public streets, all of which will be reviewed by the director of public works. So, you're saying that there is a legal right to connect to the public street from the seizement? Are you? So long as it meets all the city code requirements. I didn't hear you. So long as it meets all the city code requirements. Yes. And does it meet the city code requirements? I have not reviewed or analyzed that. You have not reviewed it. Oh. And I I typically would not. Okay. All right.

And Mr. crayons. We've not yet received the plans for the new home, which would be inclusive of the access to Highland Summit Drive. So, what we're doing now is interpreting the zoning as well as reviewing the plat. So, there may be a question whether or not they could connect the builder could connect to the public street. Is is that my understanding? I don't know if there'll be an issue. The the primary issue that would preclude the connection would be if the site distance analysis indicates that people coming into or out of the subdivision or from this lot okay did not have

so there's no definite no definite conclusion right now again I would defer to our director of public works to basically explain how he reviews these individual lot and access the public street I'll ask Mr. Brown.

I I think Joe spoke to it reasonably well. We would review it in terms of at least in this case our rideway management permit. But the primary criteria I think we'd be looking at would be sight distance. Make sure there's no safety concerns. There's enough adequate sight distance from a driver on the driveway so they could see the oncoming traffic and and access the road safely. That would be the primary concern we'd be looking at. So, when would you look at it?

Usually when we get the site plan in hand, um that's usually something we ask the engineer to provide that information to us. Essentially, it's a line of sight profile to to document the exact site distance available. Um again, when we get the plan in hand to review it for the permit, we would we would do that. Yep. Council member Attenburg has the question.

Yeah. Um, one additional question. Um, Mr. Vunich, should someone submit a proposed design for a dwelling to be installed on that property? what type of review takes place to asssure that the dwelling is somewhat I guess I'll call it complimentary for lack of a better term to other h dwellings that are in the area. Well, I may have some bad news. Single family dwellings in all resident districts, in this case the R11acre resident district, our architectural review board does not review them. So individuals have some flexibility so to speak in the type of character of the dwelling. This one area the city does not review.

Yeah. All right. Thank you. We have any other questions? Uh Council Member Galani.

Yeah. I just want to clarify going back to what we're actually reviewing here and what the purpose of this actual reading and and vote is tonight. And you know, just to go over a few of the points that have been brought up as concerns and and things to that effect. Um this is a public road. It's not a private street. And so this easement is connecting a private property through a private easement that's been already granted and recorded to a public road. I know there's been some concerns brought up about the fact that the subdivision provides lighting and a camera on that road. To my understanding, the builder has already agreed to pay the subdivision assessments which covers that exact um type of expense. So there's that. When it comes to people being notified or having knowledge of this going on over the last five or six months that that's been going on, there's been numerous um communications with the trustees and there's also been at least three rounds of postcards that have been sent out by the city to all the residents in the area. And um and so the other thing is that um this is a let me see here. The easement's already been recorded. The zoning has already been approved and at this point the purview of this council is strictly to vote on whether the property being proposed or whether the um site split be proposed meets the code of the city per the zoning that is on that property. And it does. We're not here to litigate and debate who's in favor of it or who's not and why. We're strictly here to and and you know for those that are in opposition to it, I get it. That's fine. And there's other methods that can be employed to pursue that, but the city's not here to, you know, enforce any

potential or um subdivision indentures that may or may not be in violation. So, at this point, like I said, it's it's more of the fact that we're here to decide, does this meet the code of the zoning on that property? Yes or no. And the answer is yes. It's been through planning and zoning. The zoning has been adjusted. The the code has met. The department has given a favorable recommendation. We've been talking about this. We've delayed it for multiple months um in my opinion unnecessarily because there's not anything that could have or would have or should have happened that would have any impact on what this council should be doing tonight in relation to this. It's it's a lot split. That's it. And once that happens, the folks that have the lot are going to have to go through all the site plan approvals and everything else with the city in order to build the property that they're trying to do. And I, you know, from what I've heard here and what I've been seeing, every accommodation has been made to go above and beyond to meet every request or potential request of the city or the neighborhood. So, um, I would just say let's get this thing done and and move on. Thanks. All right. Uh, do we have any other speakers on the council? Um, I do have a question if there aren't any. Um, and probably for director Boonage and Travis, I'm just trying to look at this map. If you can actually zoom in just a little bit more because this is the parcel that we're talking about. If you can zoom in just a little bit more. Is what's being asked for is that the same of what we see in the road that is below that's of a different type of color? Maybe you might have to zoom in a little bit more. One more.

Okay. To the south. Go down south. I know this is the parcel in question here, but just Yeah, if you can just keep moving down a little bit more. I notice there's like a couple of properties right below that also connect to the existing Highland Summit Drive, but I see that that road is of a different type of pavement and doesn't have um doesn't seem like that might be a city maintained road. Is that a

There are a couple of locations within Highland Summit where the developer Larry Baines was able to obtain lots by creating a common driveway. That's not necessarily unusual for St. Louis County. So what you have there is a common driveway that accommodated the development of those properties with homes because otherwise grades or sight distance at at the traditional frontages would have been difficult. There's a instance further in I think there's two instances inside the subdivision beyond this one. I did notice that actually I think if you go to the north Highland Summit Drive there's something similar to where I noticed it's um different type of road there and appears to connect several homes to that. When this particular project was under review by St. Louis County it was very controversial and it's unique in one instance because it is the first St. Louis County residential project that required a tree preservation plan.

I think if you go a little further north, Travis, up to the top. It's at Yeah, the very top there. I think you're where it is. Yeah, I noticed that when looking at the map and I was just curious to see like whether that was happening already in other parts of the sub. Yeah. the term that's used are opportunity lots. Okay. Thank you. I was I just was curious about that. Thank you.

Do we have anyone else from council? Do we have any other questions? Otherwise, we do have a motion on the floor. So, um All right. Seeing none, then proceed with the roll call. Council member Farmer. Council member Dodwell. Yes. Council member Utenberg, abstain. Council member Tradier, yes. Council member Mary, yes. Council member Roblooski, yes. Council member Preston, yes. Council member Marshall, yes. Council member Min. Council member Rambo. Yes. Council member Bert. Yes.

Council member Crayons. Council member Vanic. Yes. Yes. Council member Vanic. Council member Vanic, we need your video in order for a roll call. Okay. Hold on. We can come back to you if you'd like. Yeah. Uh and I believe council member Preston as well that your vote did not record. If you could um state your vote. Yes. Yes. Okay. Council member Alers. Council member Galani. Yes. Council member Farmer. Yes.

Okay. So, that passes then. All right. We're going to move on to the next item then. Uh which again without any objection uh in order to be mindful of folks that came to speak. Um if there's no objection, we'll move into just new business related to the first reading. Come back to those.

Yeah, we will come back to the unfinished business. But just in order to change the order uh in order to help accommodate those that spoke at tonight's meeting, uh we'll go to uh new business, which is bill 3019 number four on the uh on the agenda. And again, this is the first reading, so no uh amendments can be made. Um and um it would either be a vote to read it or not. So, can I get a motion for the first reading of bill 3019? Made by council member Farmer. Is there a second on what motion? Council member Ber. All right. All those in favor, please say I.

I. Okay. Go ahead. Please read bill 3019. Bill 3019, an ordinance of the city of Wildwood, Missouri, authorizing the mayor to negotiate and execute an agreement with White Buffalo Incorporated for reduction of the deer population within the city of Wildwood. Okay. So, Bill 3019 is before the council. Again, first readings are for information and and if there's any questions related to Bill 3019, this would be the time. Do we have anyone?

Okay. Well, then this will come back to council at the next meeting for the second reading and uh at that time the second reading will take place. So, we'll come uh go back to the main we have. Oh, council member Farmer. Go ahead, please. Yeah, I just wanted to make sure I know that we've had a lot of conversation about this and lots of meetings and we've talked about it a lot in admin PW and things like that. um you know the the train on these things have left us getting these things planned and put together is like a pretty labor intensive deal. So I'm wondering if this is one of those things we need to do a second reading just so the planning can actually occur before we lose windows to do that

your mic on yeah it's just the little one that doesn't work very well. Can anybody hear me? Okay. All right. city administrator maybe can come.

Yes. So the main thing I would point out is that you know with the firm direction of the council whether one way or another for doing the third year of the program or not would be helpful in communicating with residents because we currently have about 56 that have contacted the city to participate in year three. Um the only other thing I'd mention here that is of importance is that White Buffalo does plan um to participate and uh well come out to the site. They're planning on site visits in early December. So that said, it would almost be somewhat of a we're going to have to compensate them one way or another if we decide another way uh at the December meeting because we are going to have their project manager fly out for about 5 days to visit with um different residents that said that could be accommodated and be covered under the city administrator's expenditure threshold.

So it would be nice to get that direction one way or the other. So, I'll I'll go ahead and make the motion then for a second reading because we we got to get stuff figured out.

Well, you did make a motion. Okay. Second by council member Dodwell. So, since we are in a second reading, um there is discussion before we uh then go into a roll call. So, this would be appropriate to discuss. Go ahead, Council Member Dodwell. While I know we have had lots of interest from many residents um and we had um a group get together prior to this meeting, I think this is part of the plan that has already been put in place. I would ask that that group continue to move forward uh with the city um so that we can begin identifying what we want to do for the 2026 2027 winter months next year. um since uh we got input from this group only a couple of months ago and um I think it would be more prudent as individuals that direct how the city handles their funds that we um continue forward with what we'd already budgeted and make sure that we involve this particular group next year.

Okay. Um, Council Member McCutchen, and then I do have a comment as well, City Administrator, um, I'm confused. So, how many deer have we actually called? 661. And out of do we have a general number of what the population in total was before we called deer? Yeah, but it the thing is it changes year-over-year with the recruitment levels. That's why we do the deer population counts after every call. So,

do you know what they are now? Yeah, for the well NE1 the most recent data suggested 58.8 deer per square mile and then the NE2 region was I believe it I'd have to check the number. I don't want to get this wrong, but it was in the high30s 37 I believe deer per square mile that was recorded in April uh late March of 2025 right after the cold took place.

Well, I guess I'm confused because I know in Ward five we still see plenty deer. I mean, I will have them in my backyard 12 at a time. And so, you know, on one hand, we're here and we're we're calling too many deer and then on the other hand, we don't see them. And and W five, for a fact, I know that we do see them. I mean, Ward 4 is close to us. I don't know what they're seeing, but so I was just wanting a verification of what the numbers actually are and what are we actually doing.

Yeah. And so and I think that number those I definitely know 58.8 was the recorded number in the NE1 region and that was this year. And then we also had the uh I think it was 37 deer per square mile in the NE2 region which that is based off of spotlight surveys which I think the department is more than happy to incorporate the drone survey. I think that's a great use of technology to be able to back up the data that we already have. Um just getting it done in a timely fashion. And I think that we have reached out to an organization and I think we can possibly get that confirmation this year. But um I do think that right now the data we do have seems reliable and it's came back the same each year. We we're still getting quite a few residents that are reaching out to that want to participate in this program.

Um and and I want to make my comment. Um so I was in the discussion before with some residents before and I think to me it may be a bit premature to do the second reading. um out of that discussion which I thought was a good discussion I don't think anyone disagrees that getting better valid data is needed and um you know we have assessed the number of deer in one way using the spotlight surveys but from what we've heard the drone surveys are a different method and so I believe we can come get an outcome of that that either the drone will validate what the spotlight said Edward's going to tell us something different. You know, could be more, could be less. Um I I did ask the city administrator. I mean, if White Buffalo is coming out to do some pre-work, uh that doesn't stop them. We would get invoiced and we could still pay the bill. I mean, we obviously would pay our bills. um you know for them to do that preliminary work. But I would do everything to encourage trying to see if we can get the drone survey done so that this way we can go into this uh with better data. Um I feel that that way it answers questions that we're getting from our residents and at the same time too we will feel um that we can move forward you know in a comfortable way. So, um, talking with the city administrator, we would just, if we don't move forward with the second reading, we could still pay the bill for their time and, you know, at that time, the second reading, uh, we can move forward, but we may get some additional information out of that drone survey. Again, hopeful for that. Um, because otherwise, I mean, we're hearing two different stories here. you know, we have folks that have expressed that, you

know, the deer count is down in those areas where we conducted operations and then I know there are different areas where there are folks that still see deer. So, you know, I think we need a a second method to validate the first and I don't think anyone objects to that. So, um at least that's my opinion. I would say we can hold on the second reading. Let's see if we can get the drone survey done. We'll certainly not, you know, we're going to pay our bills, you know, to wipe Buffalo, but I think that would be helpful. Um, Council Member Marshall,

so I thought through the last several meetings that the drone uh scouting, if you will, has to be done after the calling. So, you wouldn't do it before you did the calling. And so as we do the same thing with the count, we do it after they take the deer out. So if we hold off and don't do this calling in January or February, then it would be a whole year before we would do the third year program. Is that correct how I understand it?

I'll make a quick note of that. U so two things. We have to conduct operate. If we're going to conduct operations, they have to take place. Uh I can't guess what MDC is going to 100% say this date to this date, but I know it's going to be somewhere mid January to late February, early March at the latest. Um so really we wouldn't be able to postpone if we we've done the first reading. If say the next meeting this was postponed again, um we would start we would be we wouldn't be able to do the program. That would be skipping a year. Um that said, the other side of this is the the counts. um originally yes I would say that that it's most likely the best bang for your buck is going to be doing it immediately after and then also doing transsect surveying at the same time. Um the department did get contacted uh this week MDC provided a couple of individuals a lot of the times these these survey companies um they do uh kill spottings and things like that where they they find the deer for them. So, it's not necessarily the the top shelf, but someone could come in and and do it at least a an analysis. We'd think uh we had a discussion tonight with with an individual group. Um we think it could be done and it wouldn't be as expensive as the the the official professional, you know, 100% survey that would be done after the coal. Uh but can't guarantee it will be done before the end of the year. It would be it would be something we're going to try to put together to make the community at ease. But overall, it is important to note that that whether tonight or in December, we'll need by that December meeting to make a firm direction one way or the other.

I have council member Vanick and then we'll come back to council member Alers and then council member Oleski and Trudier. So, uh, a quick question before a comment and the question goes to the city administrator and, um, anyone and any two right now. That's going to be part of more calling coming up in in January. Is that a correct statement? That's correct. But not to the extent at which it was done before.

I totally get it. But so Mike, you answered my question. Now my comment, every bad aviation decision I've ever made has one common denominator to it. And I look back on all those decisions and it was not for a lack of information, but a lack of good information, complete information. And if we're going back into any one and any two thinking that well this is the population but we don't know that that's the population I'd like to see us hold off on going it back into NE1 and NE2 before there's you know further culling and then you know if you want to go it's SE2 is it or SE1 that's the next

SE1 SE1 is the next big project. So let's get let's get the most accurate information before we totally devastate devastate you know these two areas and let's continue with uh yeah the uh the new area that would be seems like a reasonable way of doing things but that's just me. Thank you. Uh, council member Alers.

Um, I don't know if it was council member Rambo or Mr. Lee said that the uh the college has a drone system that we might be able to tap into and if so, would that be something that we could get going earlier than something we're talking about here?

Um, I know Dr. Rambo had probably mentioned that to you and that was that was that is something we're currently discussing. It's also could be a way of strengthening the partnership between the city and the community college. I think there's a lot of lot of positives coming from that idea. Um the idea though would be to work with the community college and their their group especially the individual that teaches their their drone surveying classes um to be able to conduct the the overall data collection with the drone. Um I don't personally and Dr. Dr. Rambo, you can speak to this if you know more, but I don't think we would be able to get that done with the holidays coming up uh before the end of the year.

Yeah, I don't think I don't think it's workable to ask really anyone to do it um between now and the time we have to actually sign the contract for White Buffalo for this for this year. But um what we're doing here is we are rejecting um the work of worldclass scientists and um a a a um a a methodology that's been proven for decades to be accurate within um a range. And what they do is they choose two standard deviations and there is a 95% probability that the data will fall between those two standard deviations. The number that Tom mentioned 38 uh uh per square mile is a is a minimum number in that range. And so if you wanted to take the mean, the mean is higher. Now, um, uh, so we're saying because a a handful of folks have subjectively found that they're not there's not deer in the particular local area where they're looking, it's kind of like they're looking where the light is good and we got to look for, you know, in the entire area. And so I believe everybody that has said, "Man, there's no deer. We don't see any deer." And so on and so forth. I think a part of that can be written off to the reality that they they're used to seeing deer at 80 deer per square mile and now we we should have 10 to 20 and we may have 40 or fewer. Um, but we we don't know for sure, but I think we have accurate enough data because deer have evolved to rebound and if they get hit by a by the um EHD was one um uh deer disease that was mentioned in the last round of public comments. It's um it kills lots of deer, but it ends in November when

the midgetes that spread it die in the frost and then the deer bounce back in one or two years. And so even if they've the deer have been hammered in that area, which I don't think is necessarily the case in the entire area, but it may be in pockets, even if they've been hammered, they they will um rebound up there quickly. And I did some back of the envelope math. And if we start out with the figure that was suggested, 12 deer of density per square mile, you calculate that out with a very modest recruitment rate, which is quite likely to be more in a in an area depleted of deer. You get 22 deer instead of 12 after one year, and you get back to 39 deer or more after two years. And so we're back at twice the density that MDC recommends. Um uh And you know, it would be nice to have, you know, fewer fewer deer than that. And so this program, uh, I think it needs to go forward and I think we should just go ahead and do the second reading because it's not it's just going to be more more heat and no light. And if we if we move forward this year, we have made a firm commitment to every to the residents that have complained and others that we're going to try to figure it out, get the right counts, do it right, and so on and so forth. And um uh if White Buffalo is wrong on these numbers, they're it's probably the first time. Um but they will fail to meet their contract. And so we'll know in you know, in that way. So, um, uh, I've said a lot here, but the the bottom line is I think that we should just go ahead and and and approve the program this year and, uh, straighten it out, uh, um, uh, for 2026.

Council member Ogleski.

Thanks, Mayor. Um, over the last two years, I think many of the deer that have been taken out have been in the area around um, 109 and 100 on kind of on both sides of where I live. And we have seen a significant reduction in the number of deer that come through our subdivision. In fact, this year, everybody that put in had hostas, they grew. The deer weren't there eating them, which normally happens, and it didn't happen this year. So, I know that there was less in that area. Um, last year when I was out, I visited over 900 voters homes, and during that time, over 40% of the people responded and answered the door. The number one thing that residents mentioned to me was that they were very unhappy with the deer management program and I relayed that um to the mayor at the time. I personally understand the importance of this project. Um, believe me, with all of the data and all the information that's been shared, but with the survey responses I've I've heard, um, even up to today, people calling me and saying, "This is so important that we look at this," that I would have to say that based on, um, voter feedback, I would have to be a person that would say I have to support the voters on this one from the hundreds of people that have responded to me in the last year saying, they are unhappy with this program. Even though I know the importance, I think the one piece that last month I was excited about was seeing that we were going to do the drone survey like the mayor mentioned. I think that's key um to this project um knowing more um so that we can respond to the residents um regarding what we're finding.

Council member Trier, Mr. Lee, this question may be directed to you, but you mentioned that the drone survey or any survey is a post coal survey. So, after the white buffalo or No, it doesn't it doesn't have to be. It would just make sense to do the trans the on the on the ground uh spotlighting survey in addition to at the same time with the drone survey so that you can have two different data collection. Yep. Got it.

Yep. So you because right now say you do a drone survey and it's been well we we did the data collection in March of this year. Um obviously it you know you hope that it's obviously going to fall in that that confidence interval but if it's done at the exact same time that data should be rel should be very similar is the cost of the uh the other survey the notch

it's typically it's it's not very expensive. it's a couple thousand bucks due to overtime versus right now it depends on what survey company you go with. But if you go with a top tier surveying company, I mean that's where you start getting to that upper bound of $40,000. But that said, we did speak with uh an individual today um that could do it for, you know, upwards of a dollar. It could be a dollar an acre plus, you know, processing fees. So that that said, um it could be much cheaper um but depending on how well suited the individual drone um consultant is. The other side of it, just wanted to note this uh because the drones being brought up, the Northeast 2 region, we're going to have issues with clean data collection because there there is a boundary that we cannot fly at the altitude necessary for the data collection because of the airport. Um, you have to be above 200 feet in the air uh to get a good spread. Typically, they like to be around 250 300. Um, that said, if you're it's not the whole entire NE2, but the northern boundary of any two, we're going to have to be pretty careful with uh and we're working to get get in touch with the airport now to see if they would be willing to kind of look the other way or help us out a little bit to be able to have a not flying time period we could fly within. So, as it relates to a vote on a second reading, is it even possible to coordinate both surveys simultaneously within the next 30 days?

No, within the next 30 days. No. Uh, but you we could maybe that the key is and what changed today is we did get a call from a survey consultant individual um that could possibly do at least the Northeast One region within the next 30 days or so. Possibly. I don't want to make any promises because we just confirmed that today. seems interested. Um, but overall it's not guaranteed that they'll be able to finish it or do the entire thing and also be to the credential that is being requested by the public. Thank you. Thank you. Do we have any speakers? Council member CR and then Rambo. Couple questions. How many deer are we planning on to kill this year? 239.

How many? 239. And have we um uh seen a reduction in deer vehicle accidents over the years? In the NE1 region, we saw approximately 20 20 less deer accidents, but we only have one year of data. So the first two years of the coal are not represented yet because we haven't got the 2024 um the 2025, sorry, crash analysis. We have the 2024 analysis which showed a slight reduction, but about 20 deer in the area where we called. So it it is making an impact in the area where we called, but we're going to know quite a bit more once we get this updated report in the beginning of the year. So how many accidents did we have uh prior to the calling?

We're averaging around like 240 accidents per year related to deer that are recorded and now we're about 220.

Well, that said there there's more accidents still occurring on 100 and 109. So in the area, let me let me clarify here. We saw a reduction of 20 accidents from one year of operations in the area of Wildwood that is east of 109 and north of 100. But when you account for how big Wildwood is and you got the western a lot of the accidents happen along the SE1 region south of 100 on 109. Um and also west of 109 out on 100. Uh so that said, we actually saw relatively similar numbers, but we saw a decrease in the area that we called. If that helps,

it does a little bit, but uh that's a lot of deer for for 20 less accidents, I guess. But as long as nobody's seriously injured, that's the key. But uh uh I have a problem because I don't think that data I think we I think I have obligation to make sure that data is accurate as possible. of of having a drone uh to verify the spotlight. Um that puts me in a different position. I I I can't not support this unless I get the drone data and I'll just be honest about it. I I think I would shy my responsibility. Council member Rambo and then Ber.

Yeah. Um the we only got a couple of drone companies from MDC and um uh the only the only report the only density type report that I could find online was um uh one page of verbiage and one page with a satellite photo that showed a heat map of where the deer were located that could have been you know goats or heat pumps or whatever. But um so you get what you pay for. Um a a professional drone survey would run to 25 pages and it would be expensive. And um drones are I've said this before, drones are not a panacea. It's a technology. It it's great. I'm happy that we're going to form a relationship with the community college and do drone surveys hopefully routinely and we'll back them up with a with an inexpensive Wildwood Police Department survey that provides again data that has this methodology has been proven over decades. It's not a spotlight survey. It's called distance sampling and it's scientifically valid. Every wildlife biology biologist out there supports it, understands it, uses it. it's pretty sophisticated and so forth. It's not um oh well gee we don't know the data. We have the data within a you know reasonable degree of confidence and um we're planning on backing it up with drone surveys and we need to do that in the appropriate time frame. Uh so but what I would say to the um to the the um um miserable's comment I completely understand um what folks are saying um but the question that you didn't ask was okay we have 240 deer uh vehicle collisions in Wildwood every year. The AAA has estimated that for Missouri

those cost $6,500 a piece on average. If you if you calculate that out, it's $1.6 million per year that the res mostly residents have to pay just for that. And if you factor in the fact that I personally budget $200 a month for tick born disease mitigation for myself and my dog because we both had besiosis two or three times. I probably have Lyme disease, etc., etc., etc. times, however many residents spend as much time in the woods as as as they would like and probably not near as much as as I do. And so if you add all those together, not even mentioning the property damage and the forest floor damage and so on and so forth, it's a few million dollars. And if the question is made, hey, should the city spend 2 million or 5 million or whatever dollars to save spend $200,000 to save the residents collectively two or three million or more every year? I think the answer would be quite different from the answer that that you you got because it's this is not about, you know, protecting hostas and stuff. It's really about protecting public safety and part of that the only way to one way to measure that is um hospital visits data that we don't have but it's also the costs of the collisions. So I I I think we should try to move forward do our best job to recruit a um a maintenance cadre uh and um to recruit the white the white buff uh the um Wildwood Community College for drone counting and next year everybody's happy. Um, we I do have Council Member Bocker next.

Yeah, just a couple of really really quick questions and I do think the drone gives us another kind of point of information, right? The numbers probably won't lie, but I do have two questions. One, how many deer were killed within Wildwood from accidents? Uh, well add I had to look up the numbers, but it's about half that the 240, so a little bit over 100 each year. So the second question then how many were killed by hunters legally? MDC no longer that gentleman earlier today showed the tags. MDC no longer records that so we don't have it. They have a general understanding but it's not exact and I don't have

another question and again I want to make sure we understand all the facts here before we can go to a vote. How many deer does white buffalo going to kill? 200 how many? They have uh called 300 I 600 this year 39. So they're going to kill 23. We don't kill were killed by natural hunters or if we should go that route, right? Should we be saying, "Hey, we need to do more that way."

Overall, I mean, the main thing is when you have like the the most recent managed hunt that they're doing in the park right now, it I think it resulted it's it's actually shown a decrease. I think it was like 20 deer. I have to check. But that said, it you're not going to find another organization that can do if you want to remove that many deer doing it that quickly. It's it this is the way to do it if we want to do it. If the question is though, is the council doesn't want to proceed. That's that's a whole another discussion and we can we can do that too. But I think if you're going to do it, you use this and you use the you know your your entire community to come in and be able to help with the maintenance. I think connecting residents with uh property owners that may be interested would be a great move for both the city. U there's been requests though that MDC has advised against like changing the in the denser areas of Wildwood changing from east of 109 from 3 acres down to 1 acre and allowing uh certain types of hunting activities on that land. MDC is advised against that. In some areas you could potentially look at it, but there are some things that we have to almost be beholden to our state holder. Council member Alers and then Council Member Dodwell. If

we wouldn't move forward, if we would not move forward this year, were really negating the efforts made these past two years and the money that was spent the last two years is sort of wiped out also. So, uh, that's just something to consider in all this, too. Okay. Council member Dodwell,

I live in the area that was the first group that was um called I've lived out here 32 years off of Streker Road in a subdivision and I watched the deer population move from five or six deer coming up from Cox Creek through my backyard every day morning and evening to before this call occurred two herds of at least 25 a piece. Okay, that's how dense it has become in our city, folks. And as that density increased, I watched the health and the well-being of the deer themselves deteriorate. I saw starving deer. I saw deer with hair falling off of them because they were malnourished, etc. After the cull, we saw maybe three or four deer go through that same route. The next year, guess what? Deer have twins. There's a purpose for that, so that at least one survives. But when you reduce the herd like that, we have four deer now where we had two. This year it's gone up more than that. It's still nominal to what it was 3 years ago. So, as we discuss this, um, I don't understand why we can't continue with our plans for the 2025 2026 year that we've budgeted for, we've we're going to vote for today. And

then if we want to engage residents in a more proactive approach, I'm not against that. Let's do that. But we're also dealing with professionals who a do this on a routine basis are sharpshooters so they minimize the risk to our residents. B come equipped with the necessary night vision and baiting routines that allow the deer to go to a safe area rather than a nonsafe area to do this work. and B I I don't understand why this worked for the last two years, three years, and suddenly we're debating, well, we need to do analysis here at the end of the year when we put it in the budget last year to get it done. So, I'm just frustrated,

council member. Uh, thank you. Um, so, uh, the mayor suggested that we have a second reading next month rather than this month. Uh, city administrator Lee, if we have the second reading next month, does that impede our plans with White Buffalo as they are today?

I think they would still come out. U, the thing we do have in front of us is, and one one note we did want to include, um, the we did not have the site visit included in the original document. So that said, we did include that um in the online version that you can see in front of you. Uh so that said, it's broken out its own cost. So we would be responsible if that's within the city administrator's purchasing authority and unless given direction tonight to not do it. Um I would fully intend to have them come out and plan as if we were doing the program. Um but we would be on the hook for that that cost, which is approximately $8,000. All right. Thank you. All right. Uh, Council Member Marshall.

So, what would be the one thing that's going to come up between now and next month that we would decide not to do it? The idea would be to get that drone survey completed by this uh lost drone company is the name of the organization that contacted the department tonight. Um, there was an indication that they could possibly do the any one region by itself uh by the before the end of the year. They were more so looking at they were looking at it would be done right at the end of the year though. It's not within the next month is going to be tough. It's going to be real tough. So say they come back and say that our numbers are off 20%. Would we scrap all this program then and not do it?

I think if it was off depending on which which side of it if it's 20% up then I think we'd actually have more curious. I mean I I understand why we do. We're never going to get everybody to agree. Yep. And the bigger issue is knowing the timeliness of coming January 15th, hunting season is over. They a lot of the hunters can go and hunt during the hunting season. Hopefully they'll get what they want. So that will reduce the numbers. Y but the idea of having all of the home the property owners agree to having this legally done and doing all the homework. You just hate to think that we've been that far off after two successful years of doing it. So

well that said too, I mean that is where it comes down to. I mean, at the end of the day, they were able to if they did some maintenance work in the NE1 region in the second year, and they filled the quota. I mean, the deer are there and they're there's just plenty of deer. Um, and there we do have quite a few residents right now in the SE1 region and actually quite a few residents from the Northeast One and Northeast 2 region that have reached out uh provided their info again and said, "Hey, we'd like we'd like you to come back out because we still got a problem. Um, all right. I know we're really running late, so I really want to try to stick with the two re two two times to speak. Um, so if it's super quick, I'll let you

I just want to be real clear. We have a name and we've had a conversation. We don't know if there's a wildlife biology professional on the staff of this drone company or if it's a dude with a thermal drone. And we don't know the methodology. We don't we there are so many things that we don't know. I think it's unlikely that we're going to find a qualified company that can fit us into a professional schedule and produce a professional report and get it to us before the next council meeting. I just feel like it's very unlikely. I agree with Ed that there's nothing material that we're going to find out um uh between now and and and the next meeting. And um I think it cleans things up a whole bunch if we just go ahead and and and do it and and develop a good plan for next year. That's that's that's my spiel. Anyway,

Council Member Golani. Yeah, just in the interest of of bringing this to a head here, similar to what Ed just mentioned and and Rob just said, I I I understand that people want more information, but for what Tom said, even if we go with this company we just met today, which there's a lot of ifs regarding that, we know 100% for sure we're not getting any report back before the next council meeting, right? So, that'd be pretty difficult.

Yeah, you said end of the year. So, I mean, the bottom line is you're voting tonight. You may as well do the first and second reading because you're either voting to go with White Buffalo in January or scrap it and go a different direction alto together because if we don't get it done now, we're not going to have it done in time. And between now and December, we just did this with the with the lot split last month. We k we waited an entire month for absolutely no reason. There wasn't anything that happened during that month that changed anything or helped anything or did anything. But we just wasted time and we're really good at that. Um, I would say just vote one way or another tonight. You either want to go with wife Buffalo or you don't because you're not getting any more information between now and when it would happen. Thanks,

Council Member CR.

I just want to say that from what I heard tonight, there is evidence from the residents, I think that their input's important, that they're not seeing any deer. And uh, and that's a concern I have. It seems like some of you don't have that concern, but I do listen to the residents and I think there is a shortage somewhere and I'd like to have a drone. Uh get the data, get it right. Uh why go out and slaughter deer? You don't need to slaughter. Uh I I I got enough evidence here to uh to make me decide that we need to delay this and uh and play it out. But I I need to add drone data before I support this.

Okay, Council Member Mabry.

Yes, thank you. Everybody's got their anecdotal, personally, memorable, our forgetful memories about everything. I can state very confidently that the herd that's running across my six acres in any two went from 14 to nine after this last year. But I still got nine. And they're still after everything that grows. We have a we have a very valid plan in place. We've executed it two years in a row and we're using single source potential potentially nothing more than a single source blind bid source. That's that's I'm just not in a from a background of of doing anything that it hasn't been vetted. Nothing's going to happen to change the program for this year. So, we're voting on the program for this year. You're not voting on on ifs and ands or may or let's let's delay a year. We're going to lose two years worth of momentum and progress and results and success and be starting over from square one or even worse than square one. Uh, I'd recommend that we since nothing's going to change nothing's going to change between this meeting and the next meeting. Uh, let's give White Buffalo an opportunity to succeed as they have for two years or following their notes if they can't make their quota. Thank you. Anyone else that wishes to speak? Okay. Uh, looks like we don't have anyone else that wishes to speak. So, um, we can go ahead since we do have a second, uh, a motion for a second reading on the floor, then please go ahead with the roll call.

Council member Farmer. Yes. Is there a motion? Council member Dodwell. Wait, hold on just a moment. Okay. Yes, there was a motion for second reading and the discussion was and I had debate because we did have the second reading on the floor. So, seeing that there's no further discussion, then please go ahead start over with the roll call. Thank you. Council member Farmer, yes. Council member Dodwell, yes. Council member Attenburg, no. Council member Traier, no. Council member Mabberry, yes. Council member Robooski, no. Council member Preston, yes. Can you say that one more time? Yes.

Yes. Council member Marshall? Yes. Council member McCutchen, yes. Council member Rambo, yes. Council member Bockart, no. Council member Crayons, no. Council member Vanic, no. No. Can you say one more time? Just when you do vote, maybe give it a second before you say your vote. That that works better. Thank you. Okay. Council member Alers. Council member Galani. Yes. Can you tell us what the totals are? Nine. Yes. Okay. So, therefore, nine. Yes. Uh, that passes. Oh, sorry. Hang on.

You need you need a supermajority for two readings in one night. Yes. City attorney, just remind us of that. I think he's right. Oh, yay or nay? No. My understanding was that this was the vote to do the second reading in one night. So that would need a super majority.

Okay. A vote for a second reading at the same meeting requires a supermajority two-thirds vote and uh that requires 11. So therefore then uh this we come back to this uh December meeting then. Okay, thank you. So we'll move on. Uh and again that uh so that fails. So let's get back to the regular agenda. All right. Under unfinished business, uh we'll go back to and unless there's any objection, I'll propose that we read and mass uh the following. Um let's see, bill 33010, which is item number one, item number three on the agenda, which is bill 3013, item four, bill 3014, and item five, bill 3015. And I'm recommending that we read these in mass given that they either have a small budgetary impact or none. Uh is there any objection for reading these in mass for a second reading? Okay, seeing none, then can we get a motion for a second reading of those bills? Made by council member Attenburg, seconded by council member Mabry. All those in favor, please say I.

I. I. Anyone oppose or abstain? All right. So, go ahead. Please read those bills for a second reading.

Bill 3010, an ordinance of the city of Wildwood, Missouri, revising the budget for the city of Wildwood, Missouri for the fiscal year commencing on January 1, 2025 and ending on December 31st, 2025. Bill 3013, an ordinance by the city council of the city of Wildwood, Missouri, approving a boundary adjustment plat for lots one and two of Grover Heights, lot 7A, lots split plat, book 372, page 375, and the same being part of section 12, Township 44 North, range 3 east, and more specifically located on the southwest west corner of Manchester Road, historic Route 66. six and East Avenue and now hereafter known as the boundary adjustment plat for lots 1 and two of Grover Heights lot 7A lot split plat bill 3014 an ordinance of the city council of Wildwood Missouri authorizing the mayor of the city of Wildwood Missouri to execute a contract with Ideal Landscape Group for the development of design and engineered plans and specifications in association with the develop Velment of Village Green phase 2 all-inclusive playground for children of all ages and abilities. Bill 3015, an ordinance of the by the city council of the city of Wildwood, authorizing the mayor of the city of Wildwood to execute the attached deed, exhibit, and associated documentation, which will thereby grant a 10- foot wide pole sole purpose utility easement for underground electric onto public property and adjoining right away to the Union Electric Company doing business as Amaran, Missouri, which will be situated at the terminal of Main Street, thereby accommodating new service to the city's village green.

Okay. Do we have anything you wish to add, Director Vunich? No, sir. The bills have not changed since their introduction, but the department is available for any questions. Do I have any? Go ahead. City administrator. I was just going to add on bill 3010 the request tonight. Um after doing the budget for 2026, uh we wanted to request that the amended version be adopted considering we had updated numbers. So that was provided tonight. So we would request that a motion to adopt the amended version uh bill 3010A versus the originally proposed bill. So we would need that now. Yeah, that'd be requested. Okay. Um before we get into that or is that related to the amend amendment with the

Okay, go ahead. Yeah, I'll make the motion to adopt the 3010A amended version of the bill. All right. So that means if this mo can we get a second for that? So made by council member Bocker. So that means right now discussions on the amendment for 3010A. If that passes then we'll come back to the main motion which is all of the bills for the second reading. Council member Dodwell is that related to 3010A? Oh great. Okay. Thank you. All right. So, any discussion on 3010A? Council member McCutchen.

Uh, it was on the online version of the agenda. If you had a print out, it would have been on there, too. It was posted originally just right underneath 3010. So, that said, we can post. Okay. So, provide you a copy after the meeting. Do we have any other discussion on the amendment that's on the floor 3010A? Right. Seeing none, uh then uh we need a roll call for that amendment. City attorney. Yes, sir. Okay. So, a roll call on the motion uh which is again the amendment 3010A. Council member Farmer. Yes. Council member Dodwell. Yes. Council member Utenberg.

Yes. Council member Trier. Yes. Council member Mabberry. Yes. Council member Robooski. Yes. Council member Preston. Council member Marshall. Yes. Council member McCutchen. Abstain. Council member Rambo. Yes. Council member Bocker. Yes. Council member Cran. Yes. Council member Vanic. Yes. Yes. Yes. Council member Alers. Yes. Council member Galani. Yes.

All right. That passes. So now we're back to the main motion on the floor which is the second reading again for all those bills that we uh noted before. So and again any discussion on the main motion that we have on the floor. All right. Seeing none then roll call. Council member Farmer. Yes. Council member Dodwell. Council member Ottenberg. Yes. Council member Troier. Yes. Council member Mabberry. Yes. Council member Looski. Yes. Council member Marshall. Yes. Council member McCutchen. Yes. Council member Rambo. Yes. Council member Buckert. Yes. Council member Crayons. Council member Vanic.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Council member Alers. Council member Galani. Yes.

So, moving on. Then that passes. We're going to go into new business. And we we do have several bills in here that are significant items related to the budget. So, um unless you think otherwise, I think we just treat those individually even though they're first readings. However, um I do propose reading and mass bills 3016, which is item number one of the new business, item number two, which is 3017, and item uh number nine, which is 3023, and I believe uh director of public works. Those are all related to the old state shared use. So it makes sense if we could read those in mass. Any objection to that?

All right. City administrator says that you know obviously uh first reading.

Yeah. As long as there's no two readings, he he's said um we can certainly consider all items excluding the one that we already voted on for end mass. Does the council feel any objection to that? Read them all. Mass. Okay. All right. All right. We'll we'll treat 3021 separately, but then let me restart that and let me reprooose then uh motion for first reading. So motion for first reading. Number one, bill 3016. Number two, bill 3017. Number three, bill 3018. Number five, bill 3020. Number eight, bill 3022. And number nine, bill 3023. Someone wish to make that motion for these bills for first reading. Made by council member Trier, seconded by council member Alers. All those in favor, please say I.

Anyone oppose or abstain? All right, go ahead and read. Do you need me to state those bill numbers again or you got them all? Okay, great. Thank you. Bill 3016, an ordinance of the city of Wildwood, Missouri, authorizing the mayor to negotiate and execute a city contractor agreement on behalf of the city of Wildwood with Tehill Construction for the construction of the Old State Road shared use path project, including traffic control and other incidental items as shown on the construction drawings and specifications. Bill 3017, an ordinance of the city of Wildwood, Missouri, authorizing the mayor to negotiate and execute a consultant services agreement with CB Engineering Incorporated doing business as Cochran for construction engineering on the Old State Road Shared Youth Pass Path Project. Root Bill 3018, an ordinance of the city of Wildwood, Missouri, amending chapter 390, traffic schedule 9, parking restrictions of the code of the ordinances of the city of Wildwood, by enacting new parking regulations on Westland Farms Drive, and authorizing and directing the city traffic engineer to erect appropriate signage reflecting such parking regulations. Bill 3020, an ordinance of the city of Wildwood, Missouri, approving the 2026 police services cost sheet as an addendum to the police service agreement by and between St. Louis County and the city of Wildwood. Bill 3022, an ordinance of the city of Wildwood, Missouri, authorizing the mayor to negotiate and execute certain public roads, rights of way, and parks maintenance agreements on behalf of the city with certain contractors for public roads, rights of way, and parks maintenance within the city. Bill 3023,

an ordinance of the city of Wildwood, Missouri, authorizing the mayor to negotiate and execute a maintenance agreement with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District to maintain storm storm water management facilities to be located within permanent easement areas acquired at 909 Old State Road adjacent to the Old State Road shared use path which is planned to be constructed along the west side of Old State Road between Old Fairway Drive and Old State Place within the city. Thank you. Um, all right. Do we have uh anything that you would like to add, Director Brown?

Um, thank you, Mayor. Um, I don't have anything additional to mention per se. I will, although I would like to reference the comment earlier from council member CR. I think he was questioning the cost for the consultant contract for construction engineering on the old state road project. Council member, that is a cost plus fixed fee contract. So in essentially they will only charge the hours that are worked on the project. So uh there is that cap essentially in place. Uh if they don't charge all the hours, they don't work all the hours, they don't charge the whole contract. It's not a lump sum contract is what I'm trying to say. So there is some protection there from the city's perspective. And that does happen. Um believe it or not, they do occasionally underestimate

the hours and uh they don't work them all and they they don't bill them. So, with that, I'll Thank you. address any other questions that you may have. All right. Thank you, Director Brown. Anyone have any questions? Okay. Well, then these bills will be back up uh for second reading next month. So, that leaves us with bill 3021. Is there a motion for first reading made by council member Galani, second made by council member Bcker? All those in favor, please say I. I. Anyone oppose or abstain? I please go ahead and read bill 3021.

Bill 3021, an ordinance of the city of Wildwood, Missouri, adopting the municipal budget and capital improvement program for the city of Wildwood for fiscal year 2026. City administrator um just for first reading tonight. We did the public hearing earlier tonight, but available to answer any questions uh regarding the bill. Council member McCutchen. Yeah, as long as we don't get into debate. So, go ahead.

Um I'm what I'm doing. I I spoke to um take deleting the third node of the um Green Pines Park uh last month, but I wanted to be a little bit more specific. Um so what I'm what I did was I looked at the city administrator's comments within the budget and um then I did some research. So I would like to share with you all um what I found and I am doing this on behalf of the residents of Ward 5. So um regarding master plan um he gave it a five, I gave it a nine. The rationale is the project is a key component of the master plan. It's directly listed as a high priority initiative and essential for achieving the city's long-term objectives. Um, it's included in the master plan as a high priority and enhances green space. It provides highdensity neighborhoods with a neighborhood park. It provides space for community connectivity. And it provides space if the third note was in there not only for the young children but for the older children in the family as well for public spa sorry public safety. Um it it provides a location for the children to play and I think the only option for that was a zero. Um estimated cost project. The comment was the project would consume 5% to 15% of the city's annual capital improvement sales tax revenue making it a reasonable expenditure but still a significant investment. Um I gave it a five because grants and private donations are being sought and a grant was obtained for the first two nodes. Most of the grants that were available in the last two years have

gone for the village green. Um the overall benefit to the city. I gave it a nine. He gave it a three. Um the comment is the pro project significantly benefits the entire city and all residents of Wildwood providing citywide improvements or essential services. And the park also provides educational recreation for toddlers and preschoolers and um families from all wards utilize the park. families from outside of the city of Wildwood utilize the park and all whether it is Green Pines Park, Community Park, whatever park you're in, everyone's asking for swings and that's what is to be in the third node of the park. The five-year strategic plan, I gave it a nine, he gave it a zero. The uh comment is the project is a type priority initiative identified within the five-year strategic plan and is essential for achieving the city's long-term strategic objectives. The street strategic plan states that no new parks are to be constructed but existing parks are to be enhanced and um Green Pines Park third node relates also to strategic goal number two. Ongoing expenses and long-term operational maintenance costs um I gave it a five, he gave it a zero. The comment is the project will lead to minor increases in operational or maintenance expenses that are easily absorbed into the existing budget. And the third node is an enhancement to an existing facility that requires only minimal maintenance. Urgency and timing. I gave it a five. He gave it a zero. The project is timely and delaying. It could lead to problems in the near future such as minor safety concerns or or rising cost. That was a statement. Um the installation of the

third node had been included in several capital plans. It was included in the FY2529 and each budget year or midyear this project is pushed back another year. Now it's being pushed out of the budget entirely. And so therefore um cost of materials are going to rise. We all know what that looks like currently. So, it' be more cost-effective to do it now rather than later. Um, city-owned infrastructure improvements. The statement is the project addresses moderate instructional needs for city-owned assets that provide tangible benefits to residents. City parks are in need of swings. Swings play a critical part of a child's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Swings enhance the origenation centers of the child's or organizational centers of the child's brain. Legal implications there is none. Um resident stakeholder input. The project has strong widespread support from the community and the key stakeholders. I gave it a nine. He gave it a three. Um, for those of you who are around, there was over 20,000 signatures on a petition for this park in its entirety, of which the third no was partially of the entire park. Um, so it it does and it still has they're not aware now that it's been taken out of the budget, but they would be here as well. Um, the business needs and economic development benefits. The statement is the pre- project offers limited economic benefits or supports or for only specific sectors. The families from all over St. Louis County comes to this park. And so while they're here, they they utilize our trails. They visit town

center for food and drink and for shopping. Um this park has been listed in a park a publication that rates all parks across St. Louis County. this one was number three. So that does bring in residents from all other areas who will then maybe spend some dollars in in our city. So it it does attract and helps bring in possible economic development. Um and then for community morale and beautifification. Um it says the project significantly improves both the aesthetics and morale of the community, enhances the visual appeal appeal of the area and creates a sense of pride or unity among residents. Um and that in a nutshell is is the reasons one of the big reasons that the residents of W five push so hard for this park and push for it in its entirety. Um it it is very I don't know how many of you have been there but it is very well landscaped. Um the residents who live around the park are very happy with and happy with the landscaping. It is a pride among residents and it not only in Ward 5 but for other residents in the city who come to the park speak very well of the park and the importance of having a toddler preschooler park. What we're missing is the elementary So what

we we spent the entire time last meeting going through every one of these specific budgetary discussions on every point including Green Pines Park and what we were going to take out and what we were going to put in. Yes, we did. And coming up with the budget that was presented tonight was talking. Excuse me. We don't need to sit here for 20 minutes.

I am finished and I was making comments from my residents based on the board and the mayor approved it. I completed my comments courtesy to make your statement uh from anformational perspective. But uh is that conclude your comments complete? Okay, great. Uh council member Galani appreciate your uh point of order there as well. So it looks like we are ready to move on. Okay, so anyone else have anything uh related againformational any questions related to this bill? If not, um, Council Member Marshall,

I just have a request before the next meeting, and I know that I talked to Mr. Lee about this. I would like for the city to prepare the last 10 years, what our budget was, where we finished, and how much of that money went into our reserve every year, so that we can see that every year we try to jam everything in or don't do it, it keeps building up in, you know, in these reserves and we end up with a building that we have problems with and other stuff. So I just think visually it would help us understand the fact that you're going to have to spend some money to reduce some of these problems going down the road. So uh we've talked about it. I just think it'd be a great asset to have that completed that today and we can share that right after the meeting. Thanks.

All right. Great. Anyone else have anything?

All right. Uh and I think you know maybe I'll make just a quick remark from anformational perspective. Uh and Council Member Marshall made me realize this. uh you know I think for many years the city was at a point where we did spend less than what we collected in revenue but that curve has now suddenly inverted where revenues have not kept up with expenses and so I I do appreciate everyone's work really hard to get us where we are these are very difficult decisions um certainly we're hearing from residents tonight um and so uh you know we will continue to do the best that we can but I think the reality is that while we are trying to make uh some trimming uh in the budget and some of the decisions that we've made uh that's not going to be sustainable forever and sometime down the future maybe when I'm not around here but you know or some of us I mean they're going to be faced with difficult decisions because then at that point you know there's not much left to trim and then the the next thing is to seek more funding which um those are difficult decisions as well. All right. Uh seeing that there's no other comments then we have that uh that bill will come back next month for first reading uh second reading sorry for that. Okay so moving on uh now we'll move into the next section which is the first readings from hearings with a favorable city recommendation and again uh with if there is no objection unless uh there is I would say read these first readings and mass bills 3024 and bill 3025. Any objection to that? Otherwise, uh made by council member Galani. First first motion by first first read uh first by council member Galani, seconded by council member Dodwell. All those in favor, please say I.

I.

Anyone opposed or abstain. All right. Please go ahead and read read bills 3024 and 3025. Bills 3024, an ordinance of the city council of the city of Wildwood, Missouri, authorizing the certain recommended changes to the zoning ordinances, regulations relating to definitions, sign requirements for wall and temporary types of them, and creating a new set of parameters for electronic message centers, EMC, that will be limited in application to only governmental entities and others having federal, state, or local taxing authorities. authorities. Bill 3025, an ordinance of the city council of the city of Wildwood, Missouri, that hereby endorses and ratifies the approved changes to the workplace district of the town centers regulating plan as duly acted upon by the planning and zoning commission, which thereby adds allowances for drive-thru facilities on locations designated by such that Abut adjoin state route 109 or state route 100. further set forth by the addresses and locator numbers provided herein while authorizing the department of planning and and the planning and zoning commission to undertake and complete a prezoning process for these identified locations to accommodate this allowance supported herein.

Director Vunage Mr. Mayor, other than what I have provided during the public hearings, I will correct bill 3025 and remove W five. All right. Anyone have any questions for Director Vonage? Thank you.

All right. Seeing none, then these will be back for second reading next month. Moving on, uh we have a consent agenda and I do have one item that uh we we do need to pull out from the consent agenda which is under mayor's appointments. Number one, Hugh Share. Um he's uh seeking to serve in an alternate capacity. So therefore like to exclude that item there and we'll bring it back for uh appointment in the future. So if there's no objection then the remaining items except for mayor's appointment item number one uh the rest would be part of the consent agenda. Any objection to that? All right. Can I get a motion for approval of the consent agenda made by council member Bachard but seconded by council member Rambo. All those in favor Oh hang on just a moment.

Just wanted to make a quick note. Uh I know the resolution is in there for the rock hollow trail. Um just given the fact that I think it this may be necessary to run through the committee review not committee review the the priority matrix process and it has not been completed yet. So do you wish to is your comment recommend to postpone and incorporate with the city council's agenda for December with the budget object question. This is the third time the resolution's been on the agenda. Why wasn't that brought to everyone's attention at the first meeting or the second meeting?

Well, Mr. Vunich, complete the matrix then. If you want to do the matrix, then complete it. Well, as you know, this was an item that came up very quickly due to the plan period and the time frames associated with it. We're partnering with the Open Space Council in St. Louisis County. Ultimately, we'll get an 80 acre parcel of ground and a trail head facility for $180,000. Um, I don't know if the matrix can do anything other than say it's a great deal.

I think it is a great deal. At the end of the day though, with Miss McCutchen raising concerns about the another project, I think it's only fair. Okay. Let me ask if the council if you want to leave it in there and approve the resolution. I think at this point this would not be well we we would be seeking the joint grant uh application at this point. So um you know anything I guess could be still changed in the future I mean or

this would be locking in 180 but it is for I will say it's a it is an amazing parcel of land. This is a really cool opportunity for the city. I just want to point that out. I'm just saying that I think it's important to understand that this will affect the 5-year capital. It's the only thing I mentioned. Well, last week I asked the city administrator if this needed to be reflected in the documents and he said no, it's already on the agenda as a resolution. Am I misquing you, sir? No, that's correct. I was saying that the overall would have asked me to do the matrix then I would have done the matrix.

Well, let's just bring I will do all nines. Let's just ask the council. Do you want to go ahead and proceed with this resolution? Leave it in there or do you wish to take does anyone wish to take it out? If not, we'll treat it separately. I've got a couple of hands. Are these just quick answers like opinion? Yes.

I I just I I'm just I mean we have a process. The process is the matrix. The administrator is asking to do the process. We're delaying stuff all over the place. I don't know what I mean. Is this part going to disappear in the next 30 days? Let me ask let me ask a question. Uh does this uh does this allow us to push this to December? Can we go ahead and approve the resolution then since if the city administrator asked for it to be delayed? The department's fine with that. We'll do it in December and then Okay. Thank you. Go ahead. So is is this similar to a grant? Do do we have a deadline that we have to do this?

That was my question. Yeah. Is there a deadline on the grant application or will December suffice if we put it in? Yeah, December is fine. All right. Thank you, director Vunage. Well, then in that case and we can still submit for the if we approve this in the December meeting um which um do we have the ability to get this done then? Yes. Okay.

All right. Thank you. So then in that case if there's no objection we'll we'll remove from the consent agenda not only the under May's appointment number one H you share but also the resolution uh and then again we'll revisit the resolution in December and also the other appointment for historic preservation commission. No objection to that. All right seeing no objection then can I get a motion for approval of the consent agenda again as stated. So I had uh previously I believe it was council member Bockard and then seconded by council member Rambo. So all those in favor please say I. I. Anyone oppose or repain?

All right that passes. Anything under miscellaneous. All right. Uh council member council member just u one brief clarification going back to bill uh 3019 the um white buffalo agreement. We had a u motion to have the second reading tonight which failed. Uh and I I just want to clarify did council member Preston was he present for a vote on that legislation? The city clerk do you know?

But I think with the way the the vote was with the nine even if he if he was not counted we would still not have the majority. Yeah. I wasn't questioning the final outcome and and I know uh whether or not he voted it wouldn't have changed the final outcome, but I just wanted to make sure we had an accurate vote. Yes. Okay. All right. Thank you. Okay. Any other questions? Again, miscellaneous here, Council Member Rambo.

Yeah. Um we agonized over uh and um you know cussed and discussed um and had lots of public comments on the um the the the J turn and left turn project on Highway 100. It's a spectacular job. I think the Department uh of public works and um their coordination with MDOT um deserves a whole lot of praise. They certainly have my gratitude because it's a really really great job. Um I think it's all over with but the shout and now all the painting striping has been done and um it it really enhanced safety um and it was really really cheap for this for the city to to do that. So I just wanted to um um thank um the director for for whatever efforts his department put into that.

Okay. Uh thank you for that. Uh only miscellaneous comment is uh wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. So with that a motion to adjourn made by council member Bert, second by council member. All those in favor please say I. I.