Planning and Parks Committee - Regular Meeting

very much.

Okay, we are live. All right. Well, thanks everybody for being here. Welcome to the City of Wildwood Council Planning and Parks Committee meeting for today, December 16, 2025. Um, thanks everyone for being in attendance and we will start off the meeting in the evening with a roll call from Miss Ribbit. Chair Galani here. Council member here. Council member McCutchen here. Council member Dodwell here. Council member Rambo here. Council member Crayons here. Council member Atenberg here. Council member Tratier. And we have a quorum.

Awesome. Thank you very much. And we will move then to the first um item on the agenda which is the approval of the minutes from the committee meeting from November 18th of 2025. Do I have a motion to read? Council Rottenberg. Uh not a motion yet, but I do have a question on that. Yeah. Just is now the time to ask or uh Sure. We can ask that before we vote on it. So, um I noticed on the minutes from the last meeting there was to be a report on advisory bodies that was due back to this committee on December 3rd which seemed like an unusual date. So, I was wondering if is that date correct or was that a misprint? I can speak to that.

Yeah, go ahead. Um so that was referred uh reviewed by the administration public works committee and then there was a determination to do the full review. We had like a check-in Charlie we can provide the report. It was on the council agenda at the last council meeting but we can distribute the report uh that has the chart if you will and the idea was to do the full analysis complete the rest of it in January of So that was the report that we saw at the last council meeting. Yep. Okay. All right. Perfect. All right. That answers my question. Uh I'll make that motion. Okay. So, we have a motion. Do we have a second? Second by Council Matchin. Um, any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all in favor, please say I.

Any opposed? Any obstension? All right. Awesome. Thank you very much. And that brings us to public participation input. Do we have anybody online? If anyone online would like to speak, please use the raise hand feature and we'll promote you to panelists. Does not appear so. Okay. And uh Mr. Brown, did you have anything or are you just here because you love them? All right. Camaraderie, you know.

That's right. All right. Well, seeing none, we'll move forward and that takes us into the action items and we'll start off with the planning matters and there's three items for consideration. First being storm water management master plan and the next steps which includes all awards and director Vunich.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. chair and members of the committee, thanks for being here tonight. We appreciate it. We know it's on the shadow of the holiday season, so thanks again. In terms of this particular item, I know there's been some questions raised about it and certainly the department isn't trying to create confusion. At the last city council meeting um on December 8th, clear direction was given to the department of public works and the department of planning to proceed forward with the basin retrofits. As part of that though, we have been talking about multiple projects. One of those projects was the storm water management master plan. Two engineering firms have continued to work on that particular item. And as you'll recall, in September, M3 Engineering and HR Green were in attendance at a committee meeting did a presentation on what they believed would be a solution to the $1.5 million stormwater management master plan that the city could do. Obviously, they've invested a great deal of time because if you've tracked the master plan for storm water management, we started back, I believe, in March of 2024 with a request for qualifications. We received, I believe, six or seven of them. They were reviewed. Ultimately, the watershed erosion task force picked several that they wanted to interview. interviews were held and the process had a lot of parts to it. What the department is still trying to address is that the two consultants continue to contact the city and are trying to figure out a a formula that'll allow the city to proceed forward with some type of management plan.

Given the action at city council um basically a week ago, I think it's only fair that we provide them with the direction we're taking and that direction is the basin retrofits and then the analysis if we can actually do in channel storm water storage and do it in a way that's probably the least expensive that I've seen and actually store a whole lot of water in storm events. So tonight I I am asking that if there is not intent to proceed forward with the stormwater management plan as a secondary project this coming fiscal year that I be able to tell the two consultants that we're shifting direction and that in the fall of 2026 we can return to it and see if it's in in if it's ready to be considered or if it's not if it should be funded or if it should not. But I just think it's only polite to tell them that at this stage we're not moving forward.

Can I ask you one quick question? Um Sure. related to So if we moved forward with the engineering of it, what would be the cost of that in 26? The engineering then the basin retrofit.

Yeah. Because we wouldn't be able to actually do any of the work until 27. Mr. Brown, that's why he's here tonight. And certainly, he's our expert. I appreciate him being here. And actually, I'm glad he's here. And Mr. Lee is here as our budget manager. And all three of us talked this morning. And frankly speaking, and Rick, please jump in here. Our opinion is is that by the time we do the RFQ for engineers, because we're not sure Todd Wagner, who did a great job in the analysis, is actually the engineer that'll design it, seal it, and then present it to the different review agencies. So an RFQ, review of the RFQS, potential interviews with committees or committee, then actually contracts, then design, engineering, permitting, and then we need also permissions from the different property owners, the HOAs. So in in reality, Rick, if we were lucky, it might be fall of 2026, but that's if we're lucky in my opinion. We're talking about retrofitting.

Yes. Okay. Of completing the work. Yes. Because again, the endorsement was to do all all of the basins identified on the east and west branches of Cox Creek. Rick, I want to say your question, Council, was more towards the cost of that. Was it not? [clears throat]

Well, I was just wondering part of it is the timeline and part of it's the cost, right? Because I mean, if we're talking about we we would have $800,000 in 2026 that could go towards this. My question was is that I I can't see any way that we would be ready to break ground on doing any actual work at 26 if we started today. And so how much would the engineering cost? would be if if we're talking a couple hundred thousand for I mean I'm just making up a number here by the way but if if it was a couple hundred thousand for engineering and we did that in 26 and then push the other 600,000 into 27 along with whatever other additional monies we would get for that same purpose in 27. I guess my thing is that is that if we know we want to do it or we need to do it, if we delay starting the process, all we're doing is kicking the can further down the road to where now it's going to be 28 or 29 before we would ever be able to. And those problems are just going to escalate or become more comprehensive between now and then to where then do we have to have another analysis done to see if what was originally done in 25 is even relevant in 28 or 29. So, I mean, I just if if we know we want to do and the council has said this is what we want to do, it's all not going to happen in one year anyway. So, I guess my question to you, Rick, is

what would be the cost to do, you know, obviously the RFQ and all that, but what is our estimated ballpark range of engineering costs to do that? And what would be expected to more likely spend in 26 in the timeline of being able to actually do this stuff in 27, I'm assuming? So, I don't know if Joe remembers the actual numbers. Todd Wagner when he put his cost estimate together for the basin retrofit project included engineering fees in that estimate. So, if we're assuming, and I recall that they were probably no more than 10% of the construction cost, say it's easily less than $100,000, probably more on the order of $80,000 for the engineering remaining. And then the 800,000 we have that we could use in 2026, could we push off any of that money that's unused into 27 or are there other projects that we could use some of that for?

I think when at administration public works committee, Rick had gone to a conference or workshop with MSD and they talked about the grant program and Rick, didn't you say something? You don't have to spend it the same year to receive it or something like that. So yes, the if for referencing the new MSD stormwater grant program, they receive 300,000 starting in 2026, but what they're saying is we don't have to use it every year annually. We can bank it and hold off and then spend it in a subsequent year. And so we could technically take our 500,000 bank that till 26 use 100 150,000 of their 300 grant to do the engineering and then bake the difference

and then we'd have to apply for it but that's is that an eligible expense to engineer the I'm assuming it is engineer for the detention b I would see I don't know why that wouldn't be eligible as long as it's in Cox is in the in the MSD jurisdictional area which it should Yeah, but in theory the c sorry in theory the council if say that 500,000 and say we use MSD grant funds to fund the engineering portion of it. We don't spend it on breaking ground in 2026. If the council desires that money could in theory be hey we didn't spend it so we're going to use that. Um considering we do have a balanced capital budget for 2016.

Yeah we could so council member Kutchen Yeah. So I thought we had like 300,000 from MSD to do some of the work for the homes around Cox Creek. So would then the 300,000 not go to those homes that are falling into the creek or

well Metropolitan St. Louis Fair District has their own set of projects and I believe there's three or four of them in the city of Wildwood. One of which is on Evergreen Forest Court. the home that is slipping into the creek. Um, and so they'll do those regardless of the amount that they send to the city as part of this sales tax collection. So we have four projects in the three or four projects in the city MSD is going to do and each year we anticipate now getting $300,000 from the district to use in their jurisdictional boundaries which is partially the Marramac River. um uh Cox Creek, portions of Bottom Creek, and then I can't think of the other one that's over by Kefir Creek Road slips Kefir Creek. [laughter]

So, so even if the master plan uh for the water management or whatever waste, whatever you want to call it. Sure. So if that So that 300,000 is going to be separate from what MSD is going to do in their area already. Yes. Right. And so is this new project in MSD's jurisdiction?

Um the basin retrofits. Yes. Yes. That's in the east and west branch of Cox Creek. And all of Cox Creek is served by MSD. And do do we have the 300,000 for that already that MSD is going to use or is that going to affect the um like the house on Evergreen? MSD's projects are more repairs to the banks st so stabilization projects. Ours are there they're they're treating the wound. We're trying to heal the patient and that's the basin retrofits and that point though is separate like MSD is going to do those what you're talking about is going to do regardless of what we do with the 300,000. Yeah.

Yeah. And then we have 500,000 in the budget. So that would be the 800,000 that we need. Yes, ma'am. But the 500 only get you two two lakes, right? Copper lakes. I thought we're going to do four the the dry basins and but that's just for 26 though discussion could come in where if we wanted to bank it and didn't get spent say we were able to use MSD funds on engineering where that money could compound and if the council was comfortable with it we would be able to budget that in 2017. My understanding we're going to take some money from the the reserves that could be done to to ex expedite it, right? were were behind on it and uh so uh

so we're talking more money is well no actually okay for what we for the bas of retrofit project we need x amount of dollars brick is estimated now somewhere between 80 and $100,000 to begin that okay we have in principle at sometime in 2026 $800,000 so we don't need necessarily to touch into the reserve. All right. That may be in 20 2026 or 2027 when we have the engineering the permitting complete and we're ready to go to construction if we want to do all the bases instead of which is a major task. That's the whole purpose what he was saying is because they want us to I guess

the department wants us to give clarification on do we want to move forward now and start the process or do we want to hold off, right? And so the the premise is what I was saying is that if we start the process today and say go ahead and start working on it, we got to start with RFQS for engineers and that could take however long. And then we get the RFQS, we have to review them, discuss them, and then eventually pick the one we like. Then they have to start doing the work, which which um Rick said is 80 to 100,000 to do the engineering work. So we're looking we're looking late 26 into early 27 before we would even be a position to break ground if we said let's start today. If we don't say let's start today now we're pushing it out to 28 29.

Yeah. So it's really do we want to do it? Let's start the process today is what I would say right and move forward and then that if we only use 80 to 100 grand out of the 800 we have allocated the other 700 can be pushed into 27 and beyond to do the work. I I'll make that motion that we do it today. Start today. So, we got a motion. We got a second. Sweet. No, I was going to make the motion. They beat me to it. Oh, okay. So, they got that. All right. Sorry, you raised your hand. I was like, I made it. So, we've got a motion on the floor that says to proceed with the RFQ process and move forward in 20 going into 26 to get this process rolling forward. Um, we got a second on the floor by Council Member Dodwell and then Council Rambo had discussion on

Yeah, I think it's still on the I think it's still appropriate. Um, [clears throat] uh, the motion's been made. Um, funding gets yanked and um, uh, so we have a sort of a natural tension between getting work done ahead of time and then finding out that we have to redo it again because funding got yanked for that year or whatever. And so I have two questions. The first one is how how durable is this um uh banking? Is it completely it's our money, we can spend it whenever or is it subject to any whim of any board at MSD or or any place else? That's

from my understanding, Mr. Brown, correct me if I'm wrong, but it it stays there and and I don't think there's any intention to to drink. Well, there's no intention, but I don't think there's an ability with the way that the legislation that got passed by the voters had stipulated. I mean and then to say, hey, each municipality is getting a certain percentage of the the new tax and then we get that money to do projects within their service area. That said, the whole idea of banking it with them, I mean, that we could do some further study there. I do not believe it.

Yeah, I'd be a little concerned, but my other question is sort of this same philosophy. Um, I would like to see us spend money on other durable activities during the course of 2026. Like for example, if there's any rightway acquisitions required to do the the the um the the the the basins and those kinds of things, we can work ahead on that because [clears throat] those will stay in place even if it takes us three years to get around to it. And so we can spend a little bit more money now and do some actual useful good because I would hate to say, okay, it's 2027 now. We got to look around. Okay, we got to get these three rightaways and people squawk about that and it takes a couple of years sometimes. We pursue doing everything that we can do in the most timely manner. Yes,

it's just that we already know to break ground on building the base in retrofits, we got to go through this whole process of engineering and RFQS and everything to even get to a point where we're ready and we know that's going to be late 26, early 27 if we start. But to your point, I think everything else that's able to be done in the meantime like getting easements and everything else, we can pursue everything else as if we're full go ahead. We're on the same page. Yeah. Yeah. So, Mr. Chair, I would note that in Mr. Wagner's presentation last month, his his assessment was we only needed one easement outside the existing basin easement or common ground. We could still pursue that. We

could still pursue that, but I think Rick and I would make the point that the engineering firm will tell us if that's accurate and if we need more or if we don't need that even onto itself. So, we'll have to wait for the engineering to kind of catch up with what Mr. Wagner's done. But I think the department's anticipation is with all the work that Mr. Wagner's done and pretty detailed in some regards, any engineering firm that steps in, it's got a pretty good head start. They did a very good job surveying it. I know that. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, we just we just know that basically if we give the green light to move forward as we all pretty much want to do.

Yeah. We're going to do everything we can do in as timely as of a manner as we can, but we're all pretty much aware that we're not going to be able to spend that 800,000 in 26. So, we all are on the same page and know that we'll just push the money into 27 to actually do the work. Do we do we have the funds right now to be able to do that? Yes. Um, and the only other caveat would be if you wanted to pursue some of the storm water management master plan, maybe on even a more scaled down version, we do have funds if we only if we're anticipating the engineering and construction. Engineering to occur in 26 and construction occur in 27, but that's a separate conversation.

That's a separate conversation. But again from and pardon me and but I just want to be able to tell the two engineering firms we're going this direction for now. Correct. Council member Dadwell,

might I make a suggestion that we um based on tonight's conversation put together a summary report to both committees, our committee and um admin and public works outlining what the three of you have identified as targets for 2026 going into 2027, what the targets will be and then any ancillary um additions that we can make based upon the funding sources that we have for 2026 so that in our January meetings we can each make a determination as to here's what we're going to do the rest of the year sounds good

okay from my perspective at least you have the direction now for the firms Yep sounds oh wait we got a vote still yeah I'm sorry all right so we any further discussion on the motion all right seeing none all in favor Please say I. I. Any oppose? Any objection? Anybody else? Okay. You did. You did. Oh, okay. [laughter] I'm sure you're aware of that. Yeah. All right. That brings us to the next item on the uh planning matters, which is a sculpture on the move and the city's participation in the program, which affects all awards. And Miss Roto,

thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh Mr. chair and committee members. Um I believe you're pretty familiar with the sculpture on the move program. So I'll be brief with the background. Um it's offered by the creative community um alliance and it's intended to support the arts and cities in achieving like an artistic collaboration um based on you know arts being a vital component of community building and community development. Um it was created to streamline processes and bridge relationships between artists and cities. Um the [clears throat] city did participate in this. Um basically it's a two-year loan uh for sculptures and the city participated from 2019 to 2023. Uh there's concrete pad in the front of city hall and then also one in the rear of the building. Um and the city participated with the two-year loans. We had they alternated every other year. And so essentially um all the cities would go in and kind of choose sculptures in kind of a draft type style. Um, and the program costs $1,000 per year. Um, and so with a two-year loan, it would be $2,000 for each sculpture, and it rotated, you know, a new one each year in the front and then the next year in the rear. Um, so that being said, um, prior to Sculpture on the Move program, the city did, uh, collaborate with the community college and bringing in temporary art displays at minimal cost. um it was more work and the program simplified the process and provided a platform that gave cities and artists a greater opportunity. Um so that being said um you know the city of wild recognizes the importance in art and culture and um I mean it's demonstrated through the focal point requirement for public spaces in the municipal code as well as programs and um such as the photography contests and plane air and such. um and occasionally still partnering with the community college to do displays inside

city hall. And so that being said, we discussed this earlier this year because the department continued to get requests um for art. I was wondering what happened to this program. And so we brought it to the committee um earlier this year and had the go-ahhead with either moving forward with 2025 if we could still get in, but we had already missed the deadline, but thought we could choose between sculptures that um were left. um but if not to move forward in 2026. Uh since that time the department attended a meeting uh with the creative uh comm creative communities alliance and um discussed the program and uh the members that were at the meeting voted to increase the artist stipened and it was kind of a choice between starting next year going from a,000 to500 and then 2,000 per sculpture in per year in 2027. Um, so that being said, um, acknowledging the budgetary constraints, um, the department thought that it would be wise to bring this back to the committee to discuss this further and see if this still was a priority and if this was still something that we wanted to participate in despite the cost increase. Um the group voted to keep it at 20 $1,000 for 2026 and then increase it to 2,000 in 2027 because it was a little late in the year when we had this conversation and budgets were already written. Um so that being said, um if we [clears throat] participate next year, it would be the same cost. Um 2027 it would go to $2,000. And if we did two sculptures, it would essentially be $4,000 a year instead of 2,000. And so tonight the department is um asking a if this is something that we still want to pursue or and b um also present a different option um while looking at the sculptures last year. Uh these sculptures while they're out there, they're for sale the whole time as well

as available for purchase after. And um these were just three of the five that were the final contestants. um on this that that we presented to the committee last year. And it turns out that I mean one of these is $4,200. And so if we did essentially, you know, you get a loan for this sculpture, we'd be paying $4,000 for two years, whereas it's $4,200. The next one was $5,000. That one was $7,345. Um, I don't know if the costs of the sculptures have gone up this year and we won't know that until they've gotten all of them in. Um, but that being [clears throat] said, if if pro like having sculptures and arts in, you know, and around the city is important. The city does have the option of either a participate participating and purchasing at the end of um or contacting the artists and bringing artwork in. And essentially at $4,000 a year, I mean, the city could actually own the art um at at a very similar cost. Um, additionally, there are arts and humanities grants out there. And so the city could pursue something like that. They're usually a 50% match. And so could be essentially, you know, $2,100 to actually own the sculpture and keep it someplace. And then we could pursue having art and other parks and such. and you wouldn't have the regulations of it has to be in, you know, a a highly visited area and such. And so, um, yes. So, that being said, do we is this something that we would like to pursue and or would we like to pursue option B or is this just something that we don't see, you know, having the budget for at all. Um, and so the department's just looking for some guidance. And that concludes my presentation. Yeah.

Rambo brands and then not.

Yes. So, I missed the um bright, colorful, eye-catching sculpture out here at the corner every time I drove by. And I wondered what happened to it for a long time before I found out what had actually happened to it. I I the one back here, not so much. But with our new um with our new village green, it's a great time to dress up city hall with something eye-catching. I I I know the budget is tight. And so my my questions to you Melanie would be um uh how to explore that grant and if we um if we could even like find some somebody in a and I don't know if the community college over here has an art program it's probably more vocationally oriented but if we could find some group of of artists even like you know we got Washu we got Slooh we got this and that and so on and so forth and, you know, just ask them for designs and pick one that's in our budget and we can just buy it and have it out here. Because it, to be real honest, some of some art students are as good with art, to my eyes, as some expensive sculpture that you see in a in a national museum. They just are because art is subjective. So, it doesn't have to be good art. It just has to be something that we like that spruces the the place up. house.

Yeah. What's that? I said we should all build something. Well, we could do. I mean, I can weld. I just, you know, is like an oil pile, but 7345. I bet the person would take 73.40 for that, right? You [laughter] know, so there's there's opportunity to do the same thing. I liked the idea of spending a grand a year to support a low support an artist, but um it's a good program,

you know. But yeah, and it is a good program, but if we don't have the budget for it, maybe we can just, you know, half step it with that um the ideas, one of the ideas that I threw out or more and um get a grant for half of it, etc. And um and uh still accomplish the same thing except we'd have a a sculpture out there forever and we would have to keep coming back and paint it or I I mean, I don't know. A lot of a lot of sculptures are made out of quarten, you know, which rests rust and then it it's rusty forever, but it, you know, it looks cool. So, I'm throwing a lot out there. I believe in the program. I don't know that we have support for, you know, among the the group here to spend $1,000 or 1,500 or whatever it's going to be this coming year, but I would support either alternative. So, over to you, Melanie. Do you think there's any opportunity to do any of that that I mentioned? Um, yeah, absolutely. I mean, we can definitely reach out to and I mean, Webster University has a great art program. Um, I believe that a lot of the artists in the area participate in the sculpture on the move program. And so, it's one of those things that like I mean, I have um email addresses as well as websites for all of these artists as well.

Yeah, for for people that participated last year. And so, we could reach out to individual artists or put something together. It's just a matter of do we have the budget. Is this a priority? And so that's that's a starting point. And if if if that is then yes, we can absolutely explore every avenue when it comes to grants as well as um yeah, it's all negotiable. And if I mean two grand is better than no grand. And if they're making it out of junk anyhow, just welding it up, you know, like I said, they can come over to my place and I can do do the welding for sure. [laughter] I'm Yeah. I mean, if if you know, I don't want to I don't want to get out over my skis here, but there are there are optional funding sources that this group has not

Well, and a lot of these art pieces, I mean, have been in like on the move for years, you know, like it's the same sculptures that are used over and over. You can see which cities they've been in, and so, you know, they've held up. Okay. Yeah. Some of them were cool. And I mean, yeah, there's nothing more eye-catching than a b building that's otherwise kind of drab that has a cool sculpture out in the front. I'm not suggesting that that that you know, our building is drab, but I'm just saying it always catches at least my eye. You drive by like the one in um the one at Brentwood Boulevard, the place with the um I forget his name. Trova, the that you know, bright chrome men behind one another. It's cool, you know. So anyway, I said a lot there, but

No, you're good. All right. So, Councilman Cray, well, I'll I'll be the Scrooge. Um, I think any extra Do we have a budget for this first of all, I would defer to Director Vunich or city administrator Lee. I don't remember talking about a budget for or did we at the amount within your authority? Is this what you're saying? Well, we have in the department of planning and the department of parks different line items that covered this, but that was we were thinking $1,000 for each sculpture more than $2,000 a year. I

I'm an art person. Um, but we do have plain air art contest. So, we do we do support the art community. I'm a little concerned about the money we took away from Wildwood Celebration and then we're talking about art pieces now. Uh we're talking about a tight budget. Uh we just pointed up what $270,000 for the uh log cabin. Um that could be our art piece. Um so I'm going to oppose this because I I just don't think this is necessary this year. Not that I disagree with what I've heard tonight. I do do like the statutes, but I just don't think this is a time for it. Uh when you're telling everybody you're cutting the budget, you don't even give out free hot dogs now. So there you go.

Well, it comes back to you want by Thank you, Council Rober. Do we have any data on what community reaction has been to past sculptures that we've had in this area? I mean, I'm sure there's few some people out there that appreciate seeing them, but can we gauge the impact this has on what people think of city hall or our downtown or any positive result from having these sculptures around? Well, when we remove them, we can see how many complaints we get. We don't have them right now. Have you gotten any complaints because they're gone?

We've gotten a lot of inquiries as to what happened. And I mean they've they started as soon as the sculptures were moved. I started here the the year that it was ending. Uh well the last year that we didn't we had a two-year um after that. But yes, we have gotten a lot of inquiries as to you know what happened. Um everybody remembers the sculpture out front. Yeah. [laughter] Cheaper than fixing the fountain. Um one we had back by the community garden when that was removed. That was probably the most concerted set of questions. Okay.

Because obviously they walk by it every time they go to the garden and leave the garden. And there was an expression that that was disappointing. It was always fun to see the sculpture and it was kind of just a quirky thing to have with the garden. No one said it's this is a disaster and it needs to be corrected immediately, but they were just more curious. That's the nature of the conversation. That's our concussion. Yeah. Um, so if it's $3,000, if that's what it is, two years. Is it is that that would be

It's $2,000 per year for the contract. And it's a two-year contract. So it' be $4,000 per sculpture for two years. Okay. So, if it's $4,000, what other project could we do with that $4,000 if it wasn't displaying art? And just as aside, when we first starting doing that, I think we put it up by Kimberry Place

and it was getting um vandalized. So, that's when it got moved over here. Um, so I don't I don't know about that. But anyway, if if we have $4,000, what project can we do that we had to take away because we didn't have the funding that we normally do? I mean, for back to school concert, could we use that money for giveaway for food for that particular concert? I mean, what what else can we do with 400,000? I'm I'm sure that we can find something,000. Um well we can look into it and I mean if there's any fuss but it's mission it just might cover the increase in cost that we experience every year now

it's kind of the buffer against inflation.

I think it's I was going to say actually I mean obviously I think everyone here agrees that art's important and it's great and it looks great and it adds value and I don't think anyone here would deny that. Right. The question is is to the points that have been brought up. Obviously, we've cut in a lot of areas and we're talking about dipping into the reserve, which we've got reserve, but at the end of the day, we also have to be fiscally responsible in the fact that, you know, we start dipping in the reserve. There's a terminal velocity to that, right? Because we'll keep using it and as our revenues go down and our expenses go up that that and you know, the value of the dollar is something to think about too, right? Is that as inflation continues to rise that [snorts] reserve goes down in value year-over-year even if it doesn't get touched. So, um, with all that being said, I think that's the issue, right? Is if we're talking about doing this, but at the same time, I know I think Council Ramble brought this up, but there's a lot of artists out there,

whether it's WashU or or St. community or whoever or even just some people that are just getting into art that are, you know, that so to speak starving artists um that would just like the exposure and the notoriety where we said, "Hey, we're commissioning a sculpture to be built at city hall for Wildwood and if you know, if you're willing to donate your artistic services to build a sculpture that we can display here, we'll give you a prominent uh prominent, you know, um exposure where we can put a big plaque that has their name and who like give them some recognition for it in a more pronounced way and we'll pay for the plaque or whatever or what you know I mean to where it's almost like someone who's trying to get their name known versus like some of these artists that are more established and are expecting I just I feel like we could find in the city of St. Louis an artist that would be willing to build us a sculpture without us paying for it. I think that that was actually part of the reason that Sculpture on the Move happened was a to give artists recognition because you have to have a plaque with their name on it and it has to be displayed in like a prominent area where there is foot traffic and so that

and and it's for sale the entire time and so I think that that's kind of the purpose of the program and yes but that is something that we can't I think it's a great program and it's a great but there's nothing that says we have to go through them if we want to sell you know and the majority like the main reason that that the department's bringing to you now is because we have to kind of decide on whether we're doing sculpture on the move by December 31st of this year. Um, anticipate in 2026. But if we decide not to go that route, the department can continue to look into other options and see if we can come up with something that is because and if we can we can say that and put it out there, you know, almost like a RFQ for like people that would be interested in in doing this for us, free art.

Yeah. Well, I mean, I'm just saying like and and we can be honest and we can tell Sculpture on the Move, too, like, "Hey, we love your program. We love what you're doing." Absolutely. We're going to just try to do it at no cost because we can't afford it. I mean, I think it's fair to say that I feel like when it comes to artists, I mean, there's always some sort of cost, cost of installation. I mean, also for the materials and such, you know, I feel like there's it's a lot to ask. I think maybe um but it is it's absolutely an avenue that we can look into. Council Rambo. Yeah, this is um there's some uplift associated with the sculpture on the move.

We're not interested in funding um starving artists at this time, but we are interested potentially in a a sculpture or two to dress up city hall. This is tailor made for for your energy and interest to explore what we've told you. Just

sure. just figure it out and come back with some sort of report and we can there will be there could easily be donations for this relatively trivial sum to pay them something. It doesn't have to be a freebie like Mike is saying. Um we can do you know we can we can pay them a few bucks and then they get their name out and so so I I I don't know if that requires a motion. Does that take a motion or I would I would request a motion to if we're not doing on the move then at least eliminate that possibility and

explore other options because there was a motion to move forward with it at the last meeting. I would move that we kill the the pursuit of um of sculpture on the move and ask you to explore all the other opportunities that have been stated and whatever other opportunities you come up with and and well we have a motion don't we already don't [clears throat] oh you didn't turn yours so we got the motion you second second on the motion did you still have a comment okay we got a motion if you didn't

okay so we got a motion on the floor to not pursue sculpture on the move and for the department to come up with other alternative options that are not costly or less costly or just different ways that we could potentially get art without spending that amount. And uh that's my question. Yeah, I if we're going to pursue somebody else to do the artwork, we could put it on the city website and we probably have a lot of artists here in the city of Wildwood that we're not even aware of. Sure. Absolutely. And we'll I the department will definitely look into it and uh see what else we can come up with.

Yeah. There there would be two tricks to that. One of one of which is if we if we have a bunch of artists in the local area that say they want to do it, we would have to then have some sort of a contest or competition or whatever and people would have to vote and it would be a lot of effort. Whereas if we just, you know, uh find one that or a couple that this group likes and find a sponsor, then we just accept a donation of this this sculpture or that sculpture. Just seems cleaner to me. Meanwhile, I would I would advocate if if we have residents that are questioning or complaining about a lack of sculptures, tell we got a three and a half million dollar one called Village Green right here. [laughter]

I'll be sure to tell them that. We'll see how that goes. Tell them I said it. Excellent. Well, thank you very much. All right. Thanks, guys. You need to Oh, yeah. Yeah. All right. Without any further discussion on the motion, uh, all in favor, please say I. I. Any oppose? Any extension? Awesome. Thank you guys. That takes us to the last item under planning, which is the recent development trends within the city of Wild, including authorizations. Any questions or director Vish, do you have anything to say first? I have a few things, but I'll defer to Miss Mat. No, go ahead.

Just kind of keeping you um updated on the fee structure for zoning authorizations and where we're at. Based upon the number of authorizations we've done over the last few months, we're going to fall a little short of our goal of $50,000. That was premised on a $50 fee for each authorization. and are doing about our average thousand authorizations per year. I think we're going to come in somewhere between 42 and $43,000 based upon the trends that we're seeing. Secondly, I don't know if you've noticed in the Sunday St. was post dispatch there was an article about Westland Acres was disappointed in that they portrayed Wildwood as probably being a stick in the mud whereas we actually reszone the property to the R1 oneacre resident district in 2006 and that survives something that say city of Chesterfield is has just recently done and obviously I've been told we've established several conditions that almost all in for all intents and purposes kills project. So, we have been more proactive with the Westland Acre community. We have reszoned the property and the property survives um the time frame that's gone from 2006 to now

and certainly we've been willing and able to work with the development entity, but we've not received anything to date whether it informal or formal to middle. It's thankless Joe. Yeah. I mean, we have helped them out. I remember years ago. Yeah.

And then finally, um, Bar Greenhouse. They have a new owner, Chalilly. They were formerly a business in the city of Manchester. Was very aware of them. They purchased Far Greenhouse. We had a public hearing at the December 1st Planning and Toning Commission. Planning and Zoning Commission fell in love with the proposal. We'll be actually doing the letter of recommendation and skipping a step with the conditional use permit process to expedite the pro uh to expedite the review by city council so as potentially they can be open and be able to sell from that property this coming spring and those some of the highlights.

Yeah. So um thanks chair. Uh so I had two questions for director bunich. was going to be on Westland Acres and what the latest decisions were by the Chesterfield City Council. And you've already answered my question. I guess I would be somewhat concerned about who was the source of this information that Wildwood would be a stick in the mud. Although I guess at this point in time, it sounds like the project is not going to go forward. So that really doesn't matter. Is that correct?

Well, the it's Lawless Homes and a group of other developers that have worked together over the years. um on different projects, but John Nations is the principal that's been doing the presentations at least to the city of Chesterfield and met with Mr. Brown, Mr. Newberry and I when we talked about Church Road. I don't think it's done at Chesterfield quite frankly given the personalities involved and the individual. Um, I think they wanted them to go back to the drawing board and take into account some serious reservations about the perimeter of the property and etc. So, I wouldn't I think it's going to survive there. That's just my assessment. Doesn't mean it will. Um, I'm more concerned about the decisions being made on a community that over half is in Wildwood and Church Road is in the city of Wildwood and they're making decisions in Chesterfield. Not really, what I would say necessarily telling us what direction they're heading on a on a regular basis. But I just think it's important that you all understand since the We did deny the deanexation and annexation into the city of Chesterfield, but take it in context. It was shortly after the incorporation. And we depend on population for our sales tax. And so to let almost 500 households leave the city within a couple years of the incorporation just didn't seem best interest of allwood residents. That's why the annexation request wasn't supported. it would harm the city financially. But since that point, we have done everything we can to help the Frasier family, which is the primary property owner

is what it is. I So my other question was um Dr. Thank you for that. My other question was um you referenced um under recent development trends the Meridian project 74 single family homes in clusters of nine or 10 units. So describe what a cluster is. Are these homes around culde-sacs or or what are we looking at there?

It's more of a I would almost call a military barracks type of setting. So nine and nine, nine and nine, nine and nine and then a set of 10 and 10. They're on the 10 acres that was owned by the Tannon family. And um when it went to development and zoning review committee, um Mayor Garano made it clear that nine attached units or 10 attached units isn't going to work in the city of Wildwood. Creates too much of a mass of building. So break it up. But the type of unit, it is a two-story unit, but they are owner occupied and they are from what I'm gathering by affordability. They will be affordable compared to what's being built around it. Elby homes in the reserve looks like they're starting somewhere around $800,000 for the smallest home to 500,000. So,

but isn't that to excuse me question? Isn't that to the west of our town center structure already and or is that still within our town center? Because the McKelie homes, as you said, are bigger homes with larger lots and we fought along many years for those larger lots. And then we're going to let somebody build a compact residential area to the west of that. It's actually so envision McKelie. I wish apologize we don't have the plan, but Mckelvy's tail comes down and connects with Manchester Road and then there's Pond School. Yeah,

the Pond School. So is it to the east or the west pond? It's in between those two things. So McKelby's here, Old Pond School's here, 10 plus acres that Shannon zone is the site. Council member McCutchen. Yeah. A few years ago, we had the committee that was looking at permit cost, other costs that would increase city's revenue. So, I I thought that um the permit cost was higher than it is now. Did we lower it? I don't recall. I think we we went from no charge and we talked about $100.

Yeah.

And then the the decision, as I recall it, is let's do $50 because we're just imposing it now almost after 29 years. And then if if we find, which I'll attest to, $50 doesn't cover our our review cost, then we could consider raising it. Since it is a fee, it doesn't need to go to the voters, but it has to be justified. And as I've said before, many many years ago, a lot of the permits were just reviewed by the Department of Planning, decks, interior finishes, etc., etc. But now the arborist, the department of public works, the department of planning, we all review of them regardless because each lot now has to manage storm water. Each lot for all intents and purposes has to basically tell us, are you removing trees? Are you removing gran trees? What's your landscaping? Is it native? So we bring almost five or six individuals into the process now to review what authorization we see. And I also would say that the fee also offsets the cost for my gov the portal that we now have we lease so to speak on a yearly basis. So I think there's justification to raise the fee

and that would be this committee. It would start here. Yes. Yeah. And I know there's a motion on the floor, so I'll wait. Tom, anything? No, I would I would agree. We have a motion on the floor. We don't think so. No. Okay. Well, then I move we we um increase the permitting fee to $100. Second. Do we have a second? I have a Say it differently. Well, how about this? Could you hold that? And this is just I like to provide you some background so there's justification if you get questioned

because obviously eventually somebody's going to call you and say what's going on. I'm just started to pay $50 now it's 100. I think you'd like to have something in hand that would say here's why you know these are the costs we experience. These are the time frames each permit takes. So it's all money that it's all taxpayers money that's going into this and we're just capturing a little bit of it. Okay. Well, I [clears throat] had all that in my head from that meeting. So maybe January I could have that prepared for the next committee meeting and then we could proceed forward from there. Council Rambo,

that's exactly what what Joe said is exactly what I was going to say. I would to me the number of the number of minutes that each of the arborist and others takes to review a typical one plus all the other you know back office administrative stuff plus your time whomever. That's the that should be the cost basis and we can subsidize that a little bit because we're here to serve, but primally um $100 doesn't sound like a a a lot given the types of reviews that have to occur. And so I would rather the the um motion be worded unless unless um Deb wants to change it. I would offer an addendum or a an amendment that we um go off of the data that you provide us to set the final um um cost.

We don't need a motion though because you're just going to bring back he's going to bring back January. Okay. If there is a motion, it would be to bring back statistical data to support a fee increase at the January meeting, but I you don't need to do that. We'll do that. Be good. We're good. I think it should be more probably. Yeah, we can look at the data and then decide. But I didn't think I thought Don't hold me to this, but I was stunned. I we were talking about Wildwood Luxury Living, the apartment complex, and someone told me that the fire district got over $100,000 in fees to review that set of plans. Wow. Yeah.

Like the way it's broken down, the county gets a percentage of the construction cost. 3% of the construction's house. So to extrapulate out a $50 million project, we're charging $100. Share smart. Yes. [clears throat] So, and the $100 is what they'll most folks would complain about, not that 3% off the top. No, because you cost us to do business to a lot of people, but ours are more personal. You know, I'm going to build a deck or I'm going to finish off the basement for my, you know, my mother my mother-in-law's moving. You know, that kind of I got to pay $100. You know, that kind of

if there's a way maybe there there's a way to look at it and justify a percentage based on it. That's the thing though, you have to by state statute, you have to be able to determine and back up that yes, this takes the amount of time you're saying it does. So, if you put x amount of effort in, you got to show that monetarily through the staff time. I think we can easily do it. Um, with any cost quite frankly, because it's about 840 permits we're expecting this year alone. So, um, do think it's necessary to review the current costs.

Oh, awesome. We'll look for that information in January. Thank you. Um that takes us into parks matters. We've got eight items under consideration. First being the accessible ramp repairs for playground structure at community park. Director Vunich.

Thank you Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair and members of the committee. You may recall back in the fall, September, a resolution was authorized by this committee to be prepared for repairs to the accessible ramp that provides access to the twotory swing playground in Community Park. The resolution was approved at the city council meeting and work proceeded with California deck assistance. Prior to the work beginning, um, the department in this case, I met with a representative from the company doing the repairs and we did a thorough inspection of the area where the rod had been identified and caused the closure and actually went even further up the ramp and down the ramp, but not to the particular location I'm going to discuss tonight. As the work was concluding with California deck systems on the repair to provide access to the upper story of the slide, they noticed that there was additional rot down on the entry area to the east of the slide and the majority of the ramp. They provided a cost estimate of $11,000 to repair it. Given that we had spent $17,000 on the initial repair, then with an additional $11,000 potentially being added to that amount that exceeded the resolution and would require an ordinance. The department would like to proceed forward as quickly as possible. Again, as you know, West News Magazine through its readers poll just identified our playground in Community Park is best in the West. It doesn't look that way right now with half the ramp closed. I'd like to do the repair so we could reopen it in time for spring and have the full

event full the full components of the playground available for use. So tonight, the department would like to respectfully request a motion to bring forward an ordinance at the January city council meeting California deck systems to complete the repair to council Rambo. I move we fix it. Second and a second. Council Dodwell, any discussion? Have a question. Yeah, go ahead. Council me. So, the company that we're that we're working with for both sections of the ROT are the same company. Yes. Are they the company that originally built the deck?

Yes. So then why can't we hold them responsible for some of that cost? Well, it's been 10 plus years and I asked the question, why is this body 10 years is a long time, but I'm still he said blame EPA said what just blame the environmental protection agency wood used to be treated with creassol or something to have damage from water. The EPA forbid that because it's an environmental it's a carcinogen cancer.

Yeah. And so now they basically they do we we have treated wood. It's just doesn't have the longevity of the other. And I mentioned in the memorandum so thank you for the question. And I failed to mention this when we were down there with Glen Gaye because I asked Glenn Gaye to check on it and see if it really was as problematic as described by the gentleman from the company and he said it is.

He said, "You know what you need to do? You need to clear out some of this vegetation because it's shaded almost all year long. The moisture doesn't evaporate." So he said, "I can do that work for you." So when you make the repair, it gets more air flow and you shouldn't have the problem. I'm sorry. Will you take a a look at page 12 of that document and number nine? You don't have to do it right now, but I thought there may be a cave caveat there where we might be able to recoup some money, but you don't have to do it right now. I mean, that's quite a bunch. It's quite a lot to read, but okay. The way they phrased it, I'll take a look. Thank you. Cool. Awesome.

Just a structural question. Okay. There are there's there are engineered concrete beams, there's engineered wood, there are um um you know all kinds of composits and so on and so forth, materials that are alternatives to wood. Maybe if we clear away the vegetation, that will do half the job and the deck can still be natural wood, but some of the substructure. Can you at least ask them if that's appropriate to use something that's more durable um so that we don't have to do this again in another 12 years because we cleared the vegetation or whatever? I can ask them to add alternate on different material more. So

yeah, it's going to cost more, but it it's a onetime deal. The decking is composite. Oh, okay. So the Okay. The support the frame for the decking is the treated wood. And I asked why and they said composite isn't as stable. No, it's not and it's not as sturdy either. But if you can substitute um steel beam or you know quart steel again it's another you know it's another going to give us a couple of alternatives and at the price looking for on longevity right but I my guess is as Mr. CR mentioned it's going to be more expensive and right now I always keep an eye toward what's what will work, what is safe and what is the least cost option. Safety is most important.

Yeah. Yeah. And if it rots in 10 years and a kid goes crashing through it in nine um you should have spent the money, right? So and I I want to do maybe a shout out. You know, Chris Nagger and Stacy Chansky, they've been certified as playground inspectors through the national organization. They're the actually the ones that caught this at first along with Glen Gaye. So, we do monthly inspections and reports. What comes out of those reports are handed off to our contractors to fix. So, we don't typically have major repairs because we cut them off before they get to that point. So, we have a good team and they do a great job out in the playgrounds and parks for us.

Awesome. Cool. We've got the motion on the floor to move forward and is going to get some alternative options for materials as well and uh we'll go from there. So, we've got a motion, a second. Any further discussion on the motion? All in favor, please say I. I. I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? All right, good deal. Next on the agenda is the sponsorship programs for events that celebrate Wildwood. Director Run.

Thank you again, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, members of the committee. Obviously, we've been talking about budget a lot tonight, either between the sculpture on the move program, the most recent discussion on the repair work at Community Parks playground. But over the course of the budget process that began in earnest in my mind in October and concluded with the meeting on December 8th, there's been discussion about going out to the community to raise funds to offset either the reductions we've done or maintain current programming. The department summarized those and one the first is one we've done since almost the inception of the event. Celebrate Wildwood. We offer sponsorships and we charge fees for participation. This year for through inind included with the sponsorships and fees raised almost $46,000 to support the event. That helped us that helped us offset about a $20,000 overage and actually returned some money below the budgeted amount of $95,000. Also, as you know, Miss Ripto has been working very hard over the course of the last year with the all-inclusive playground and the fundraising efforts that um the consultant unlimited play recommended we undertake to offset cost associated with that facility. To date, we've raised approximately $20,000. wouldn't say we put the hard press on the community, not only the local community, but the overall metropolitan area, but for the purposes of what we've been doing, we've got $20,000. The other item that came up in the discussions relating to the concert series was going out to the b business

community and seeking sponsorships or some type of participation on their part. So collectively we have about 250 to 300 businesses. In almost all instances we've we're basically going to them and asking for their participation and support. And quite frankly I think that's a lot for our business community. So tonight I want to make sure that we're targeting where you want us to go in terms of fundraising efforts. I think in the past it's always been celebrate Wildwood and now the all-inclusive playground but I think there's a breaking point for our businesses and I don't want to reach that and sour them on the city of Wildl. So again, tonight just want to make sure we're not doing something you don't want us to do and we're focusing our attention on those things that you feel are priorities for the city to underpay such as celebrate Wildwood, the all-incclusive playground or the concerts. So Mr. Chair, I'm looking for guidance. Real quickly, uh Joe, on the music on main section of your memo here, you're indicating four concerts, but I thought at our last meeting, we had recommended we knock it down to three concerts instead.

Well, Mr. Lee, the council at the end of the discussion for the budget work session had decreased the total authorized amount from 85,000 to 60,000, but with the elimination of the free food and freebies other than water. Okay. uh that resulted in savings. Originally the department had presented kind of both as options like hey if we can go this way or this way we wanted to keep the freebies we would have had to remove down to three concerts we can technically do four since we're not doing those freebies anymore. Yeah. So where did where did the funding come for for the free food? Did it come from the city or outside the city?

Oh it was the city's city. So, has anybody ever thought about going to like Deerbergs or Shnooks? They have community relations departments and maybe ask them to provide some food for us, whether it's chips, whatever it might be. We've had uh Sam's Club in the past provide free chips. Um they sent up a little tent and gave chips out with the the free hot dogs. Um we can make an attempt, but I cannot guarantee that they will supply them. Of course you can, but if you reach out to them,

we've made some attempts with Shnooks and Deerberg specifically. Um, Shnooks is gracious enough, and we do appreciate the inkind donation of letting us use their uh parking lot for the the Celebrate Wildwood event, but typically, and even with the all-inclusive playground, we haven't really gotten any lights. The other thing we might do is put up a little sign that says please donate to and then put what it's for. You're laughing but this works. I did it for parents as teachers. So, and then I mean you can put it at the registers at the stores or companies or wherever mostly where people go. And you'll you'd be surprised how much money you collect. And now we can put those little what you call it things

QR codes.

Yes. we could put those up there and they can donate through those. I I think it's worth trying, but that's up to everybody else. Um because again, I did a parents as teachers and we collected quite a bit of money. We didn't have a budget, so we had to come up with our own with our own money. So, we got kind of creative. Um but those do work. Um they won't put it on their their little bags though. They save that for other don, you know, other collaborators or whatever. Um, and the other thing I thought, I mean, we've talked about it, you've talked about it, is that, you know, council and PNZ commission members and other committee members could help on day celebrate Wildwood to give the staff some relief. Um, so th those are my suggestions. Okay.

Council member Obli,

I just wanted to mention that when we had the discussions about this, I think part of it too was to say as we go out and ask, it seems like we ask for one event at a time and we're asking the same people and part of the thought and my suggestion was that we take this and make it a more global way of asking and say these are the events we're having this year. So instead of like hitting the same people multiple times, we put it out as here's all our events, here's some of the activities. How would you like to support us this year? So that the different companies can decide how they want to support us and then we don't have to do individual ask, we can try and build it. And then for some of those things, if you want the sponsorship for the concert, you know, certainly you can go outside Wildwood because there's other companies that we can ask if we want, but to start with, you know, let's find out what our folks want and then kind of expand it from there if we can to have a little more effort into it. And I think I also agree, our staff get hit a lot and support all the events and are very tired by the time they're done. Certainly um increasing our volunteer kind of efforts whether through the community or through um council members and committee members um there's a way to organize that too. Certainly you have to look at liability insurance and things when you do ask people but um there's methods to do that as well.

Awesome. Thank you council member CR. So, uh, you're asking about the, uh, companies here that really can afford to donate, and I I'm not sure what the top 10 is, but certainly in Deerbergs or Shnooks, they probably have some sort of a foundation because Union Pacific had a foundation for this if they're track, unfortunately, we don't they don't go through here, but, uh, they would have paid some money for something like that because they supported communities. So, I'm assuming uh Dearbirds and Shnooks probably have those that kind of a foundation. And I'm just wondering if there are any other uh businesses that have foundations that do support uh the the corporations support these gifts and not the individual uh business person. So, uh uh I would focus in on on the big businesses, the smaller businesses. I just drove by that restaurant uh that opened up where Benos was. There's nobody in there. I looked in the window. There's a big open sign. There's nothing. It's It's sad to see. And I I you know, uh uh Three French Hands does well. Uh but there's not that many businesses here that that uh have a lot of money uh like Dearbergs and uh and you keep hitting those people up and and they stay in business and then they go away. So it's tough to get uh um donations and uh so I I would uh I would focus in on on the ones that do well here. Uh we got accounting firms or law offices or anything like that around. I don't I don't know.

Well, you don't think they have to be within the city of Wildwood as long as they're corporations

and then you Well, but to really go out and try to get money from them. Uh I used to be on the Lions Club and and it wasn't easy, you know, because they go, "Well, um nobody's I donate, but nobody's coming here." You know, that kind of thing you hear once in a while. And he understand their situation. So, I get all that. Uh, but you could put something on the website, you know, if people really look at it. I don't know. Or send something out. Uh, but uh uh I I just think, you know, you're going to get the real money um uh from the companies that do well here in Wildwood. And Deerberg certainly is a big uh draw. and Shnooks, uh the dollar store. I don't know that if those are franchises or how they operate, but I'm just giving you my opinion that uh it's going to be tough to raise the money here and because we go we you know, am I right or wrong is uh have you gotten money from Deerbergs in the past?

We contact Dearbergs uh every year for Celebrate Wildwood and I think the donation we receive each year is $250. How much? $250. Do you go to their community relations department or who do you go to? We actually send it to Deerberg's the home offices because we understand the store manager probably doesn't have that authority to basically take money out and give it away. So we start with corporate office go from there [snorts] and I understand well okay and what takes a lot of time

every boy scout the girl scout troop every organization every good cause is coming to the businesses asking for donations of some sort my intent was not just wildwood businesses because we already hit them up I understand but I guess what I'm saying is I don't want to dilute some of the projects that are more priorities to you going out and asking for this for concerts, this for celebrate Wildwood, and this for all inclusive.

There's only so many there's only so much of that dollar that's going to come to the city that a business has. And I want to make sure we're doing what you want. Is it the all-inclusive playground? Is it the Celebrate Wildwood? Or is it the concerts? all none or one. I just want we only as I say in the memorandum we only have so much time in a day and we only have so many staff members to do this and fundraising isn't something we're all trained in. Right. Some are better than others. I'm thinking you should do the fundraising. It's just how much work. Yeah. Yeah. Let me go to Council Rambo and then I got Council.

So, um durability is my theme tonight. Uh, evidently, um, I think structural improvements like the the all-inclusive playground ought to take precedence over events because we can always skinny back on hot dogs or just whatever. I mean, just just use your own examples. Um, one of my favorite places in the region, uh, it's not Magic House level or city museum level, but it's a really cool place. the the Doris Shnook Children's Garden at the botanical garden. It's just a very very cool, but it's all natural and it's admittedly it's completely different from our all-inclusive because it's rope climbs and all these kinds of tree houses and so on and so forth in the trees, but there's a lot of pathways and whatnot to get up at, you know, like um uh those those bridges you see in jungle movies where they can walk on boards and get on up to a place. So, um, my the point I'm getting at is I've I want to donate something to the to the all-inclusive playground, but everything that's available to donate is like this plasticky stuff that just doesn't fit my aesthetic at all. I I'm not going to buy a $15,000 plastic tree for kids to climb on. I would pay that kind of money for a real tree. And so the problem I'm having is figuring out what I can donate to and what I can donate to the to that cause. And so the question I'm posing to you is, are there other sponsorship opportunities that we can provide to people that are not buy this plastic flower for five grand and we'll put it out there and you may or may not get any credit for it because I haven't seen anything on on how we're going to credit people for these donations. And so I said two things. One is the Shnook family

probably through their Doris Shnook Foundation pay for that pay for that um thing at the botanical garden. There's probably a similar thing for Dearberg and Shnooks if we can find it. And they might, again, I still think they would be interested in a a spons they're more like the corporation is more likely to be interested in a a multi,000 sponsorship that puts their name on some major feature of the park as opposed to 250 bucks to buy hot dogs for the for the Celebrate Wildwood thing. So, that's one thing. And the other thing is can we find I think there are more sponsorship opportunities available to us than we're than than I've seen that would be more in line with what somebody actually wants to fund than something plastic or or impermanent. So Joe, you have something to to rebut.

No, it's not a rebuttal. Actually, um I'm going to let Melanie, with chair's permission, respond to how we're recognizing donors because that's a key component. Yes, it is. Yes. Yes. I don't care. But some people I like it, but some people more of a natural setting. Eventually, you'll see a set of plans for all inclusive playground, and it's going to include landscaping. Maybe not necessarily inside the playground on its perimeter and on the remainder of property. Do you want to does a sponsor want to participate in that? Do something a little bit more. Just let's screen this, place a tree here, do a shrub there. And certainly that's an opportunity. It can be packaged that way if you want.

Well, I I mean it doesn't have to be custom packaged for me. I'm just suggesting that there are folks out there like myself that looked at it and are uninspired by all the um the admittedly colorful and cool plastic stuff that kids will love. But I if it's if it was wood, I'm all in. Which is why it's the way it is. It has to be accessible by all. Well, I understand. But it's it's it's it's stuff made by uh what's the company? Little Tikes. Yeah, Little Tikes. Yeah, we could say this is expensive. [laughter] Well, let me tell you, it's longlasting. Mike on his 41. I've got something from the time he was like, "Yeah, but it's not out in the weather. It's not plastic out in

You're talking like just personal preference and stuff, but I Yeah, exactly. like six flags is everything that's red is now pink because it's aged and it just doesn't it doesn't work for me. I'm just going to make a go ahead.

I'd like to make a recommendation that at this point we hold off on being concerned about the donations necessary to do all the things that we used to do for a concert series. As we are asking residents to pay for hot dogs and pay for soda, perhaps we could have a small little three question survey of some sort that would ask them, would you be willing to donate into a fund to help sponsor this kind of stuff? I'm just

Yeah, I think I I don't think us arguing about how we're going to quantify for this concert series tonight. Well, I'm sorry, not arguing that that was a wrong term, but debating the details. I understand what you're saying, but I would say Joe to your point where you were asking earlier, the unlimited play, the Wildwood concert series, and celebrate Wildwood and Right were the three things you had mentioned. I think if you collectively package those because you want to keep the list relatively limited. You don't want to have like 50 things on there that we could spend the money on. But I think those three things are things that everyone in Wildwood could get behind in one

capacity or another, right? And and then that way they know if I contribute 500 bucks to this fund, it's going towards those things collectively. Then that's on a smaller basis. But if somebody wanted to write a check for 15 grand, then they could sponsor a tree or a slide or whatever else. Council Rod.

Um, yeah, at the last coffee with the mayor, there was a a woman that sat over on this side of the room that had, I think, recently moved to the city and she gets involved in fundraising and she offered to assist the city in its fundraising efforts on a pro bono basis. Did we ever make contact with her? Do we know who she is? I have her email and contact information and at the mayor's coffee I mentioned with the holidays coming get with you at the start of the new year because that's when we're going to really kind of relaunch everything all inclusive plan. Perfect. Thank you. I think those three things you were talking about from the very beginning are three things that we could focus on and go for.

Well, I going to add I was going to add to your li to the list by one. There are so many people that used to take prom photos in front of the fountain. There are so many folks that probably missed the fountain. And it's going to be even more prominent people coming in to the [clears throat] new building over here next to the u the new what what's the name of that place? I keep forgetting. Rose luxury apartments.

Yeah, the luxury apartments. Whatever the name of them is. And um and coming to the new playground and coming to the new um village green and so on and so forth. the the the fountain is going to become more prominent than ever and it's dead right now and yeah, we'd make the best of it, but I know it's expensive, but I would think that a lot of people would be interested in firing that baby back up. No, I don't disagree. I would The only thing I would say in that regard is that we're talking sponsorships for these like specific events and stuff. I mean the unlimited play I would say is included in Village Green which is everyone's going to be all the events are going to happen at Village Green. I don't disagree with you at all about the fountain. I just think that would be a separate project

because we could come up with a list of 20 things in Wild. Yeah, we should talk about the fountain. Maybe se maybe it's a separate discussion find out what it's going to cost. Put that in the budget or or do something else.

Yeah, real quick. I mean, the CCID oversees the the fountain, and with the CCID, it does not have access to the same level of funding. It only has about $80,000 a year that it's able to spend on maintaining all the sidewalks, streets, street trees, electrical. Everything you can see that's west of the city hall here, 2100, all the streets and everything in their public space has to be maintained with that $80,000. There is a way we could set up some type of cooperative agreement between the city and the SID uh where the city would pretty much help out the CCID, but technically it's SID property. If people thinks it's worthwhile, I think it's worth having a separate discussion about fixing the fountain or not fixing it.

Yep. Originally, we did have that discussion. We went out and got bids. 150k or 250 new fountain out here. The fountain at fountain places 250 to restore to and get it to us. to just repair it. It was 56,000. Um the department has recently looked at a couple different ways where we could maybe retrofit it. U fill in the current basin that's out there and then have a smaller water feature inside that basin and that does seem to be a little bit cheaper. Uh we're trying to put something together right now on that, but that that's something the CCID is going to be looking at. But it it's going to be extremely expensive to open it like it was. I would assume that if anything,

it could be a few little fountains like people have in their yard for $100 in a basin. That's what it's probably. If you're one of the residents that liked it, what if we put out to the residents who would like to donate to the repair of the fountain in town center? Yeah, that's that's I'm just that's the idea. I'm just saying, yeah, we could let's start asking some citizens for we can come up with different things. I I don't I disagree with you, but I think for the scope of getting this off the ground, I think keeping it to a limited of those three things that you said initially and then we can look into the SID and what ways we can look at raising money or finding ways for the city to participate. I think some of these different projects that

just could be could be relevant and important are just separate. comment I I got is that I hate to see the uh Village Green, the all-inclusive playground be a place to advertise, you know, I like to have that clean, you know. Well, there would just be a small thing and for the big ticket items didn't Yeah, it's how how they put it. That's my only concern. Those are only going to be little have it be like a wayfinding sign area that's recognition. Yeah, we almost talked about having a board or something, but that's a conversation for later once we have all the donations, right? Yeah.

If if I may, u go ahead. the the fundraising group has discussed signage and signage costs more money and so signage was partly dependent upon how much money um we're able to fund raise and so but we've been looking into various different ways and some of it um if over at Queenie Park they have names like they're actually um like vinyl letters on the equipment and so there's a possibility there's a concern that vinyl comes off and so we're looking into the best way to do it but at minimum There will be a sign at the entry that gives everyone credit. Um, and in addition to like sponsoring the actual pieces of equipment, you can donate money and we have different tiers that will,

you know, the the top tier would recognize and probably be in larger font than this like lower tiers and such, but you don't have to sponsor a piece of equipment. Um, I mean, there's a whole lot of the rest of the park that still needs to be funded. There are examples everywhere of just what you suggest. Yeah, absolutely. But either way, everyone that donates more than $1,000 um will be recognized on the sponsorship signage outside of city hall. And right now, people are recognized on um the story map um for their sponsorships. Okay. So, I didn't I wasn't aware of either of those. Yeah, I got Council Member McCutchen and Council On, but I want to make sure Let's do this because I feel like we're getting off track. We're having conversations about 20 different things.

We got to stick to the agenda because we're already at 7 o'clock and we still got other things going. Uh This is strictly to discuss the sponsorship that director Vunish talked about and the fact that we're going to have unlimited play, Celebrate Wildwood, and the concert series as the beneficiaries of the sponsorship dollars that we're going to be talking about as a collective fund to go through those three things. So, discussion needs to stay strictly on that topic. Well, I was going to back up to the what Mr. Lee said about the fountain is well, I don't want to talk about the fountain right now. Not that we should have discuss. I'm sorry. I still Oh, no. You're good. No, no, it's important. It's a good discussion and I and I put it on the agenda for next month.

We can put that on the agenda for another meeting. We're totally good with that to actually talk specifically about that. But I don't want to because then we just we branch off into different things and next thing you know, we're talking about five different conversations that are So, go ahead council. Quickly to this topic. Yeah. Yeah. Uh going back to uh director vonage and something you mentioned I think early on in the in the um discussion of this topic you mentioned that the department hasn't necessarily put on a full court press yet for sponsorship. So what does that full court press entail?

As Melanie mentioned we have a group of volunteers that city council authorized us to form. Many of the volunteers have firsthand experience in all-inclusive play. They have been doing some of the preliminary groundwork with organizations that they're affiliated with, but primarily we're going to take that plus issue a letter to any business in Wildwood and any of the larger corporations throughout the metropolitan area explaining our project. That draft of that letter has been prepared. And so we're basically going to expand our reach and start soliciting from the region, not just Wildwood. Primarily, most of the money we've raised has been from Wildwood residency businesses. So that's that. Also, we're going to have what we like to think as part of the opening of Village Freedom phase one events out at the facility to show people where the new playground's going to be, where the equipment's going to be, so they know what they're buying, our sponsoring, so to speak. So, that'll happen once the weather breaks in early spring. So, it's multiplepronged approach. But at this stage, as I say, we've had a we've had to form the committee. Then we had changes in personnel at unlimited play. The trainer left. We have a new person now. So we're letting everybody get their feet on the ground there.

All right. Perfect. Thank you. Cool. Awesome. All right. Well, we've got the direction there, so we're good. Yep. Let's move on to the next item, which is a city recreation schedule for 2026 and the proposed and for action awards.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair and members of the committee, as you know, there is now a matrix that is required to be completed for each event that we sponsor over the course of any given year. The has completed those and they will be available for discussion at our next meeting. However, we have a couple of events that are coming up quite rapidly. There is the winter scavenger hunt with component of required hikes to find the clues and then the cabin fever hike both one and two. And so tonight I'm not asking the committee to endorse the full schedule. I'm asking the committee to endorse the first few events so we can do the planning necessary, the advertisement, promotion and then implement. So that would be the winter scavenger hunt which scavenger hunts are very very popular and the first of the two and the cabin fever hikes one and two. Just a note about the cabin fever hikes. Um leadership at Rockwoods Reservation contacted us and learned if we would like to hold a hike at their facility this year. We accepted that invitation because it's a great facility. So we'll have one generally in the Al Foster area as we typically do and one over at Rocklights Reservation. So again, Mr. Chair, an endorsement of the first three events.

Just a motion to authorize the first three events. There's always been a problem with parking cabin Weaver. Are there you know years ago when I used to go down there participate? We've reformatted. It's we lay out a course. We give the individuals that want to participate the course, they go out, take a selfie indicating they completed it. They submit the selfie. There's no event anymore. It's self-guided hikes. Oh, okay. So, anytime you show up and Yeah. We have no food, no drink. We don't put up the tent. We don't do any of the things we used to do. No sweatshirts, nothing.

Nothing. Well, we give all those that complete food hikes get a some a t-shirt. Okay. for the for that year's event. Were you going to make the motion? Council, I was going to make the motion. Yes. We got a motion on the floor to move forward with those three items that director Rudich asked for. Do we have a second? Council member Dodwell, we got a second. Any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all in favor of the motion, please say I. I. Any opposed? And any abstensions? Okay, good deal. The next item is a trash receptacle installation at the Enclaves of Cherry Hills in War 8. Director Rich.

Thank you again, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair and members of the committee. As you may recall, back in September of this year, the department presented a request from the president of the homeowners association at the Enclaves at Cherry Hills. The president noted a problem with trash in association with the public um multiple use trail. the department asked the president at that time, how can we attribute that to the public and not residents or trash just washing down stream that gets picked up in storms along the streets and etc. Um he said that residents I guess that live around that particular area had attributed it to the public. The department asked the committee if they were willing to install a couple of trash recepticles at that location and then have basically have weekly service to empty him. All of that has a cost. The committee um said that at this time it wasn't something they thought was appropriate and did not support it. Mr. Jensen, the president of the homeowners association, was disappointed with that decision and asked that it be reconsidered. So tonight, the department is presenting his as his request for reconsideration. Again, in the memorandum, I note that receptacles that match the character of the area and what else is in place in terms of public improvements are around a,000 to $1,500 to purchase. And then once we put a trash can in, we have to maintain it 12 months out of the year, generally in the busy seasons, at least once a week. So there's a cost for that service as well. It's not an inexpensive proposition, but certainly one that I felt obliged to at least present back to you for the request of this particular

association. Hey, Council Rober. So, um, what is the justification for them asking us to provide the trash container? Because we have a public trail around their private lake. And that public trail was established long before anybody built a home on that property. So, the public trail predated any resident. There a trash problem back then?

This seems to be something recent. Several years ago, there was complaints about um dog waste not being picked up. Um and again, how you attributed to residents and non-residents, I don't know at that time. Um those two way stations at both ends of the trail. They get used a lot a great deal, but like I say, everything has a cost and very cost. That pond's not very large, is it? I would say probably a half acre water surface, if not a little bit. I remember hitting a golf ball over it. [laughter] Probably then it's about 10 acres.

Yeah, it was. Yeah. Yeah. Council Trout has got a question. So, the only complaint on this to date is from the residents of this neighborhood. There's no general public use of the trail. There is general public. Nobody in that category has complaint. No, it's just been the president rep the president of the association representing the problem to the department. So if if the neighborhood wanted to do this themselves, would the city of Wild would have to permit them some sort of access since the trail is public?

Our easement is about 20 feet in width with a 10-ft trail within that confines of that that that that strip. They wanted to put trash cans outside the strip. they wouldn't need any approval from us. I mean, this this seems like a reasonable cost for an HOA, you know, to bear on an annual basis. So, and if they're the only one complaining, yeah, fix it.

Well, there's always some alternatives. I didn't describe them in the memorandum, but we could certainly purchase the receptacles if they agreed to basically empty them, things like that. If there's a there's a willingness on the part of the committee to consider some alternatives, we can certainly explore that. But for us to accept purchase, install, and then maintain, it just seems like if we do it here, there's a good chance we'll be asking.

No, I think that's the problem too is that if we purchase them, there's almost a and and we we purchase them and we place them on our easement. We're almost creating a a liability if they don't take care of making them cleaning them out and they overflow and there's trash every where technically it's our liability because it's on our easement on our trail. So, and like you said too, I think you know I to I understand their concern, but at the same time it is opening a can of worms because you know there's trails throughout the city that are near all kinds of neighborhoods. There's parks, there's, you know, um I I think you just got to be careful with that because, you know, it's just a matter of um you know, once again, that trail, everyone in that neighborhood gets the benefit of using that trail that we maintain and take care of. So, it's just a matter of rout. This is going to sound a little um cynical, but can we just put a light little sign at the entrance to the trail that says do not litter or something of that sort?

That actually is not a bad idea. It's just like Tom and I have been talking about um the facility down on Ridge Road if that comes to fruition. And I had found an example of a sign in San Diego that said, "Pack it in, pack it out." Meaning if you bring it with you, take it out with you. There's no receptacles here to take care of. And I would offer that as a alternative, at least once. We have people walking through our subdivision and if they drop something, subdivision's not asking the city to pick stuff up. So, they're trying to get the city to pay for it. Yeah. Well, it's just it's cost, right? We just turned down two grand for a statue.

We can't buy everyone in the city could enjoy. So we can't get a trash can to 20 people to see what we use. Uh so anyway, all right. Is that good then? There's no objection. We'll have a couple of signs manufactured and put them at the entries and obviously back in we'll do our best to accommodate what if there are problems arise. And I do want to say, and this may not be something you want to know, but other than occasional dumping along some of the trail corridors, they're very clean, I think. Yes, I think so, too.

Biggest problem I see are the u little doggy bags that people leave behind on that connector going from Bent Ridge down into Garden Valley. When I ride through there, I'll see, you know, one or two of those along the trail. Do I like seeing them? No. But it's is it a significant issue? No, it's not because you do have the little collection boxes at both ends. See where the dog poop they don't they take to the trail to do this. What typically happens since we cut along the edge of the trails, the crews will usually pick those up if they're there. Okay. And not cut over them, so to speak. So, we tried our best to keep trails clean. [clears throat]

Okay. Awesome. Well, thank you very much. Uh, next item on the agenda is the village green phase one update W 8, the change order request from bombshell construction. Director Vish. So, first of all, let's lead off with some good news. All goes well, tomorrow Missouri will complete the installation of all the components of the electrical system. It'll be energized and they'll turn it on. So, tomorrow night we may have lights and it'll be green. Christmas is coming early.

Keep our fingers crossed. Well, that's the good news to start with. Also, tomorrow, Mr. Lee and I are meeting with Amy D kind of go through the punch list of items that remain and try to get a a firm commitment when they'll be concluded. Um, more important than those two things is approximately six weeks ago or so, we received the change order from Bob Shell Construction requesting $350,000 relative to the delays associated with the electrical components associated with the project. The $350,000 was justified as delays, mobil re mobilizations, remobilizations, etc. Certainly the department was surprised by the amount and feels that the amount is unjustified but given the circumstances wanted the committee to understand what was submitted the content of the submittal and seek your direction the city administrator and I feel it's not justified speak for Mr. But it's a whole lot of money for something we had really we did not cause and at the end of the day we corrected. Now that's the first component. Secondly, each month I've been giving you an update of all the change orders and the current billings and how much has been paid out. Um those list of current change orders needs to be modified. As you know, we took on the electrical work at half the price as was shown. So, that's already been paid but through an ordinance that was approved by city council for the undergrounding. So, that'll come out. The trash enclosure will come out. So, at the January meeting, you'll see all of the change

orders that have been authorized and will need to be added on to anended contract so that we keep the auditors happy. But you've approved all of the change orders through the process as they've come forward like the Mayor's Grove relocation. So change order number one, $350,000. We recommend we not accept that. Um and then secondly, we'll have to you the final accounting so to speak at the January meeting. That's um

I just maybe this is just refreshing my memory, but um did we ever get to the bottom of the who was responsible for that snafu with the um with the undergrounding and whatnot because there was some question as to whether it might have been part of the responsibility of bombshell construction to [clears throat] to get that right. Am I am I missing something? I can't speak too much to it. There should be some updates coming from that. Yeah, it doesn't necessarily fall all on bombshell. It would be more so on the individual that had established a utility there, but at least they share responsibility for some of the delays is kind of what I'm trying to get at

that there is that and the department at least from my perspective I at $350,000 change order the department would not recommend approving. Yeah. And a mobilization. Okay. You got to you [snorts] got to bring your flatb back with your Bobcat or whatever. Well, I would imagine too the other thing about that is the fact that you know if if if the ch if the resulting delays or whatever caused this supposed change order need was that significant. I mean, $350,000 a lot of money. Like, we should have been being told about it in real time when it first started like, "Hey, this is costing us 10 grand every two weeks. Like, we need to figure this out."

And they need to put that in their estimate, you know? Well, either telling us that the the cost is significant right out of the gate, so we could talk about it then when it's 10 or 20 grand and figure out what how to approach it versus waiting six months and then coming back with a $350,000 change order without having said anything pri prior and saying now you never agreed to that. You know, my opinion,

these scenarios also quick share. These scenarios are accommodated in our our contract that we typically approve for these types of agreements that say that hey um when you're requesting money that's not authorized and typically with this contract we were going through this committee to for the mayor's group things like that but for this one it was not notified till after the fact and it's supposed to get approved in writing from both parties. So that said, there's not much argument to Yeah. Selected as low bid. Why should we pay, you know, addition? Yeah. You can't come to us after the fact and say we own this. So what do you think it's worth then? You said you you just held it's high. Do you feel

for for I mean at the end of the day, I think the city has no we are not responsible for their extended delays. And I think there's plenty of things that the city actually could be quite upset with with this contractor for their delays if we could turn the discuss with the city attorney. Yeah, this this is being discussed. Okay. So, council,

my comment was early in the spring when he came to one of the meetings and said the next day he would have five people here putting bricks pavers down. I started watching that project and certainly, you know, there were times whether things happen, but there were weeks where the weather was fine and nobody showed, but managing their time and managed to have people here didn't seem to be always the priority. Um, and so every week I made sure at least I came up twice a week to look at it to see if there was progress being made. And I think it was it's just as you just said um there's plenty of things that I think that you can bring to his attention at the meeting tomorrow to say we can go both ways on this. Um I have pictures of every week just to go okay what happened this week in this process because he made many promises in the beginning that were not fulfilled and it's way beyond the time period that he said he would have this project done.

Yeah. I think probably if you're asking us tonight that I would say we don't approve moving forward with the change order and from that outside of that I would say let the city attorney review the contracts and figure out everything else. There's no sense we can go back and forth discussing this for an hour. But really all we're deciding is we're not approving the change order and see what the legal process is from that. Kind of have to say it but I told you so. Anyway, do you need anything? a motion or anything like that to not to a motion to Yeah. A motion to not accept a $350,000 change would be acceptable at this time. Yeah. They could have been working in another area, too. That's what it says. We already told them. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. But just So, who's making the motion? Rambo. Whoever wants to. I Council Member Rabiski seconds. All in favor of the motion, please say I. I. Any oppose? Any abstensions? Thank you. All right. And next item is the village green phase two fundraising efforts ward eight. Miss Ribbon.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, members of the committee. I will keep this brief since we've already discussed most of all of it. Um so, uh I would note that uh the group hasn't met the last couple of months due to scheduling conflicts and the change in staff with unlimited play. Um but uh that being said, one of the uh group members has been working diligently on coming up with um stuff for the website for the uh all-inclusive playground that includes you know a putting it out there that hey this is coming but then also thank you to sponsors and then as well as uh um like educational pieces that we finally have gotten onto our website. And um the good news with that is that we were only at like 350 views uh prior to getting it out on social media and as of today we have almost 1300. So it's gone up about a thousand views. I did check the uh uh fundraising catalog to see if any pieces of equipment were no longer available and uh it's not showing any of them have been purchased. However, we do have um just donating um funds and so we won't know until next month. We get a monthly um report from un unlimited play and we are up to almost $2,100. Um so that's good, but we've kind of hit a little bit of a lull. I was hoping for more of an increase closer to the holidays. So we're doing our best to put it out there. Uh you might have seen out in the hallway here, we have a little holiday display for the fundraiser and then also for the Hometown Heroes uh banners. Um so another thing that we are collecting [laughter] sponsorship for. Um, also Premier Martial Arts uh did have a fundraising activity. I don't know yet the total of how much they collected, but I did hear that they uh did collect some um funding. Um and uh and then lastly um there is one thing that the department is seeking um approval for

because it is kind of on a time related issue. Um so the city was contacted by the Able Fables. Um they are an organization that is a oh there it is um disability forward children's they sell disability forward children's books and apparel um to kind of help build belonging um and so uh one of our group members actually reached out to them and then they contacted us and they wanted to uh do a partnership with the city from December until February. Um I spoke with them this week and they said that we can still do it from January uh two month um January to February. Uh so if you look at their website um they have Queenie Park, they have Teddy and Friends and you can shop and support essentially people purchase books. Uh they've got clothing, things like that. And uh so much of their um so much of the proceeds go to the city's actual park. Uh she said that they tend to do, you know, it's a small business and so it's maybe $2,500, but she's gotten as much as $6,000. And um I mean any, you know, sponsorship is good sponsorship and it's also helping out a good cause. And uh we reached out to Unlimited Play to see if they um you know, were aware of the company and they are and they have nothing but positive things to say about so it seems to be a legit reputable company. And so tonight, the department is seeking uh the committee's guidance as to whether uh this is something that um would be supportive of us proceeding with um a partnership with them. And that concludes the department's presentation, but director would be happy to answer any questions you may have. I'd like to make a motion that we uh put something on the homepage

of the Wildwood website so that residents can see sponsorships for community park. Um and have some kind of button on that homepage and then we include this as part of that.

Sure. Absolutely. I was thinking that if we would also add it into the story map and wherever we had the sponsorship. Um we do have uh the the fundraising effort in a news flashash on Wildwood website and so it it is on the homepage. Um but that being said, yes, we're doing our very best to put it out and I think social media has actually helped out tremendously and that's only the views that the story map is has. Um, some of the QR codes on the stuff that we initially did before the story map was around go straight to Unlimited Plays website. And I have no idea how many times that's been viewed. So, I've got you a partial number here. [laughter]

It's all good work by the way. It's going fine. Whatever works for the department and the effort. Oh, yeah. Absolutely. I feel like people have to do very little effort. We just have to say yes and they'll take care of the rest of it. You need a motion from us to pursue this? Yes. If that somebody like to make that motion my motion. Okay. Council Dwell, Council Oberg seconds the motion. Um, all in favor of the motion, please say I. I. Any opposed? Any obstessions? Okay. Excellent. Thank you very much. Question. Did I lose a month because you needed approval from this committee? So, is, you know, not being new to this, is this standard

partly? We didn't hear about it until like the end of November, you know, and uh, you know, it's the government. we can't do anything on that short of notice and so therefore getting it to someone for approval. um we didn't have the time to do it and so uh but it turns out that she said in her email that she is only she's go like turning over to like a twomonth thing starting in 2026 and so yeah I I just am more curious if there's other opportunities like this that we can you know take advantage of sooner is there reason to go through the voting process here to approve this or can you

technically you are using the city's likeness in any type cooperation agreement should be approved by the the board. That's the our where that's why the we have to get this approval is because the the logo and the likeness is affiliated. So say that company wasn't let's just say they were not they they are vetted they are not a bad company. I've looked into them personally but say it wasn't it they it would be as if the staff were kind of doing that on their own without the board's endorsement is the good enough for me. Yep. All right. Cool. Um thanks. Thank you.

That takes us into the final two items um on the agenda, which are the wild and recreation programming update on current future offerings and the facility reservations, event registrations, and ongoing long-term maintenance costs for parks and trail facilities. Director Vish, do you have anything on that? No, sir, but there are any questions regarding to memorandums. Okay, does anybody have a question? question. Totally unrelated, but I mean, it's not a big thing, but I noticed on the calendar

as we start looking at what's on there, and I don't know if I know what should be on the calendar or not, but you had talked about doing the Halloween train event again, but I didn't see that on the calendar. So, is that would that normally be on the calendar if you decided to do it, or is that I was just curious what what I should be seeing or not seeing. I shouldn't be asking about the Halloween treatment. the Halloween train, right? It's a if the committee wishes to proceed with Halloween train, ride, it it can definitely be carried out. Oh, you saw I know that you said it was so popular and you were going to do it again. That's the only reason why I asked. Got a tip to buy tickets first. I remember that. I wish I would have bought it. Sold out fast. Yeah.

And then the ribbon coming cutting for Village Green. Is that just a date that will come out later? many at the previous meeting decided not to try to do it in the winter months. So, as soon as spring gets here, we can find an agreeable date for everyone. We'll have we'll have the ribbon cutting and that's also when we hope to have people out green phase two kind of show. Yeah, because that's why I'm asking about that because we want to do some work around that through the other committees. Anybody else? Good. All right. Well, I will say Merry Christmas. Great. Miscellaneous. We got four minutes left. That's where I was at. Miscellaneous. That's why I said anything else.

Oh, yeah. I thought you were going to give your closing remarks and shut me down and I got um Well, very quickly, um will there be sufficient um portable public water fountains and such in Village Green such that we don't have to pass out thousands of plastic bottles of water? the water fountain that's being installed supposedly Friday um will have a bottle fill in. Okay. But the one thing that did was retained as part of the cops was water. Okay. And with Tom's assistance, pardon me, Mr. Lee, we actually purchased the water from Sam's. They loaded into the van and they burn. They're still plastic bottles. They have thousands of them and it just

we need to do a better job of recycling. We've gotten away from it. We have recycling containers at the concerts. They're pretty much contaminated. So, it would have been Yeah, it's sad that we didn't think ahead and put in more bottle filling stations. Um, well, now we're stuck with these forever. Two will have water fountains and certainly if we have we can afford it, we could always do more if the committee wants sponsor new.

Yeah. Yeah. I I mean Well, yeah. I mean, it's just it's just heartbreaking. All the plastic we pass out and we got a brand new park and it should have a water fountain. Anyway, my other suggestion was going to be this might start another discussion. I don't think it will. Can we like say a $1,000 fine for littering and have those kinds of signs up with the doggy bags and those kinds of things because it's gross and people ought to be um um held more accountable than they are. And you know, if we we say that, then it's easy to put up a trail cam and catch some of the people that are leaving those little deposits and stuff. Is that is that a reasonable thing to do or do we just want to be wild? That's an ordinance for that, though.

It's illegal to litter in wildwood right now. So, is you got to catch them and somebody's got Yeah, but I I mean, yeah. So, yeah, you could just add like when you put the litter sign for instance on that trail, just put fine for there's Yeah, that's what I'm asking. And you know it it might be a little bit more confrontational by death. Yeah. I was Yeah. Yeah. You can also indicate there is video surveillance that doesn't necessarily break up uh tomorrow. Yeah. So tomorrow there's at the reserve right that's what I was going to bring up Holmes is hosting a ribbon cutting groundbreaking reserve site off of Manchester Road. your access.

Do they have a house when you go in or they're just just No. Be on the ground. Is that a Is that a ground's been broken for quite a while? They're starting 800,000. Huh? That's what I've heard. Tom, there's your opportunity, buddy. They've got uh 10 different buyers already lined up that are over some are over a million. You got 105 more to go. So, without any of the display homes being built, that's pretty They're in a They're in a They're moving pretty quickly. Yeah, I don't think they'll very They're very bullish on Wildwood. I like that. They love the community. They're selling the community along with the homes.

They are. If you look it up online, it's They are paying a lot for paid advertising, too. And seems to be working out for them. They're They're promoting the heck out of Wild Blue. Ask them for sponsorship. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. They like public art. First time ever they They purchased the tent were part of celebrating them up with Yeah, I remember that. Yeah, they're definitely interested in being part of the community and promoting the community. I'll say that. $150 million worth of homes they're going to sell over there. I mean, I guess they probably ought to like our community just

I like is have four or five people in. So, we get about a thousand people living over there and that's a thousand more full tax dollars coming to us. So, how big are the lots? Some are as small as 6,000. Yeah. Some are around 15,000. They average just around 8 8500 9,000 square feet. Yeah. Those are a fifth of an acre is the biggest lot over there. Yeah. So, they're going to be proud. Yeah. Dominoes. What do you want from me and what's inside the house?

Late, but it's my fault. So, go ahead. Let us go. No, no, you're good. You're good. Hey, that's what miscellaneous is for. Um, thank you all. Yeah. No, all good. Just wanted to say merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah. Uh, stay safe outside and in between, but pleasure. Uh, we won't see everyone here until January. So,

great 2025. Thank you for working so diligently and great conversations and debates and discussions always. and thank you to the department and all the city staff for all the hard work you guys do for us to be able to have these conversations and do everything here. I think it's been a I love working on this committee. I think it's a great committee and you guys are all great. So hopefully we roll into 2026 and continue having fun and doing great things and uh getting out on with that. I'll take a motion for Richard Cber. Any debate discussion? All in favor please say I. I mean, happy holidays. Happy holiday. Happy holiday.

12 acres burned. Christmas or was it all brush? Was it brush fire or I don't know yet. It's It was Don't