City Council - Regular Meeting

We're live. Good evening everyone. I'd like to call the February 9th, 2026 meeting of the University City City Council to order. Madame Clerk, would you please call the role? Council member Clay, present. Council member Teeman, present. Council member McMahon here. Council member Briner present. Council member Fuller here. Council member Smotherson here. Mayor Crow

here. Before you, you have the agenda as presented. During the study session, the city manager asked that we move item number K4 down to item L1. Is there a motion to approve? Motion made by council member team and seconded by council member McMahon. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. Oppose. The eyes have it. We've now had an amendment made to the agenda. Is there a motion to approve the agenda? Motion made by council member Smothers and seconded by council member Briner. Is there discussion hearing? None. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. Oppose. The eyes have it. You have We have no proclamations this evening. You have before you the January 26th, 2026 draft minutes. Is there a motion to approve? Motion made by Council Member Fuller, seconded by Council Member McMahon. Is there discussion hearing? None. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. Opposed. The eyes have it. We have no appointments. We have no swearing in. We have citizen citizen participation. For those that was I don't think I've done that before in a while. Sorry about that. For those of you who've just been in the room, I think I know almost everybody here, but I think you know there are signup sheets over by the door. If you'd like to speak on an agenda item or a non-aggenda item, there are signup sheets over there. Please fill it out. Please put it in the basketus in front of the city clerk and you will be called upon at the appropriate time. At the present time there are two requests to speak I believe on non-aggenda items. Each of you will have five minutes to speak. When you come to the microphone please give your name and address and push the button at the bottom and turn on the green light. The first request to speak is David Sandell.

Good evening everyone. Dave Sandal, longtime UCD graduate, UCD high school graduate, and owner of I Neighborhoods. Uh, last week I was notified by the Stormwater Commission that I neighborhoods had been awarded a sole source contract for to complete the rest of the uh, storm water monitoring system along the river to bear. That's really fantastic. What I wanted to do tonight was just take a few minutes to share some of the history of the project, some of the highlights, and some of the challenges. So in 2022, April of 22, two U City High School graduates, myself and Doug Gilbert, we we had been dog catchers when we had gotten out of high school and we were very familiar with the river to pair because we used to chase dogs down there all the time. So we decided to start working on a flash flood detector. So we went ahead and built one of our own. We spent about $2,000 to do that. We put it over near Groby Road. And then in July 22nd of 2022, we got our first flood alert at 1:30 in the morning and it was the big flood. So we zoomed over there and uh things were pretty bad. Took a lot of pictures, but we continued building the system. So after that, we went to the storm water commission to tell them about the work that we had done and we were never able to get a hearing with them for two years. Um what I did to get the hearing with them was was to actually come to a public meeting, give them the links and show it on the screen. And when they saw it on the screen, they said, "That's great artwork, great graphics." I said, "No, that's all live data coming from the river right now." So anyway, we started working together. We developed a strong collaboration. Um, we've developed more and more features and the feature development is far ahead of what you've heard and keep

in mind the stormwater commission decides what the public will receive in terms of features. But we develop features such that um you're all familiar with code red, right? So in a code red alert go to your phone, a link could go to your phone. When you tap on the link, you'll see live four camera feeds and all the analytics from four different stations on the river to pair on your phone. And then if you get in front of your TV, uh mirror the connection to your TV, you'll see a full screen just like HBO of everything going on in the river dear. So that capability exists today, but it's the storm water commission monitoring commission the monitoring group which will decide whether that comes out to the public or will just be a standard code red alert with a code red alert message. We also recently were in a webinar with University of Michigan where they had studied uh blood monitoring for three years with Intel, three different government agencies and at the end of the webinar we realized that we our work was better than all of them. We made a much more interesting system much more cost-effective and nobody else had the features like that. So, a lot of great work has been done and with the monitoring committee, too, and we're looking forward to working with them more. One of the challenges we have with this, it's taken so long to get this all done, and these are really cool features. It's a big win for University City. It's a win for the storm water commission. and we should try to find a way to accelerate the final phases of funding and moving the equipment that's out there replacing the old equipment, moving our equipment in. We currently have um Philon's been working on those proposals and I would hate to see

another year go by. It would be really fantastic if we could just get it all done this spring, let the storm monitoring commission determine what features will be shared with the public and then present it back to you city. I think the residents will be very delighted to hear about this and know about it and the story of how do dog catchers beat the University of Michigan and Intel U city high school graduates. And that's all I had to share. Thank you. Any questions? Oh, Dave, can you give your name and address real quick? Dave Sandal, 6910 Washington Avenue. I think that we don't normally do Q&A during this point in time. It's usually just

Okay. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Our next request to speak is Gerald Tears. Well, Mr. Mayor, members of council, Gerald Tears, 7345 Chamberlain. I'm here to compliment the city. We had a big snowstorm. And I can't speak for any other areas, but I can speak for my area. Uh the area uh near the high school on uh Jackson and Chamberlain. I couldn't ask for better. I've been living in this city for 40 years and I don't think I've ever seen better snow removal. And uh I don't know what more to say. That's pretty much says it all. And I thank the city and whoever made that happen. And if you tell them that I said so, that's fine with me. Thank you.

We'll take that. How's that? Thank you very much. That may be the highlight of our evening. Should we go? Maybe we should go home now there. Madam clerk, I believe there are no other requests to speak at this time. Is that correct? That is correct. Thank you very much. Before you you have Oh, are there any are there any council comments, Mr. Smotherson?

Uh, thank you, Mayor Crow. I just had one correction with uh Dave Sandal's date. And just to let everybody know that that the corrected date of the storm was July 26, 2022, which is was a Tuesday. though. Trust me, I know. I woke up at 4:30 in the morning to sewage backing up in my basement. We have no public hearings to see if you have before you the amended consent agenda with items K1 2 and three. Is there a motion to approve? Motion made by council member McMahon. Is there a second? Seconded by council member Fuller. Is there discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. opposed. The eyes have it. Miss Sharp, we'll turn now over to the city manager's report. Welcome, by the way. Welcome. Welcome.

Thank you. Thank you, honorable Mayor Crow, members of the city council. Uh, this agenda item asks that you all uh ratify my actions in um signing an agreement for a budget consultant. As you all know, um, shortly after Gregory announced his retirement, our finance director, um, announced his resignation as well, uh, right at the beginning of budget season. I spoke with the staff in the finance department and learned very quickly that they are not 100% equipped to assist me in preparing the budget. So, uh, we have a master services agreement on file with MGT for interim services and they were able to identify a consultant that could assist me. Uh, this is a retired city manager. Uh, she served as a controller. She served as a treasurer in um, cities and areas with much larger budgets. Uh, she will work approximately 20 hours a week. Uh, I don't anticipate needing the full $100,000 that I put on there, but I wanted to uh ask for enough funding to cover three months of her assisting me uh getting us through the budget process. Uh, the ratification is because she needed to get started right away. Our budget calendar um has us starting our budget on January 31st, so we were actually a little bit behind the curve already. So she needed to start getting materials. She needed to start getting access and everything so that she can start assisting me with the budget uh which she is doing now. So I am asking that you all ratify my actions given the amount that the um that her services might cost and I can take any questions you may have.

Are there questions for members of council and the city manager? If there are not qu first anyone ask a question. If there's not, we can have a motion to ratify as well. Either way you want to go. Is there a motion to ratify? Motion made by Council Member Clay, seconded by Council Member McMahon. Are there questions of the city manager? Council member Smotherson.

Thank you, Mayor. Um just a quick question uh Miss Sharp and that is um will we be able to with this consultant will we be able to break down our different departments and have that presented to the council in different departments in reference to the budget that's going to be approved and the reason I say that is because I I just don't want to see us have it all piled up on us in one day. You know, I I'd rather see it broken down if that's possible to the to each department that we can actually go through what they're requesting in reference to the budget. If that's possible, I'm just just a question I'm asking.

Um, if I may give that some thought, Mayor Proim Smotherson, um, we are on a tight schedule and so I'm just not sure. Um, as you know, the charter requires that we submit the budget to you all by a certain date, and I'm just not sure if we would be able to do that. But, uh, if I can give that some thought and get back to you, um, I will do so. Any other questions? Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. Opposed. The eyes have it.

Okay. Okay, honorable Mayor Crow, members of the city council, this next item asks that you receive an update on the city manager executive search from Lee Samorski. So, if you would step to the mic, Lee, welcome this evening. You've got a busy couple of days here with us.

Yes, I do. Glad to be here. Glad to be back in University City. and and so what I thought I would do this evening is just uh introduce myself, tell you about the process and the calendar that uh we've developed for the recruitment and uh opportunities for input from the public. So um as you know my name is Lee Shamborski. I've been with MGT for and its predecessor company govr USA for about 12 years doing executive recruitment. I've worked um extensively in the St. Louis area as well as uh throughout the Midwest and other parts of the country. Prior to that, I was a city administrator and a deputy city manager. Um so, and started my career when I was 5 years old. So, let me tell you a little bit about the process. um which includes um having kicked off this afternoon doing uh some stakeholder meetings uh with some of you uh as well as then tomorrow we've got a full day meeting with staff uh the rest of the council and mayor and uh getting input that all helps me have an understanding of um kind of an updated uh understanding of the of the community, the organization and the challenges and opportunity unities that everybody sees uh that will be presented to the next city manager. Um then in the evening there is a community forum uh over at uh Heman Park uh at 7:00. We'll also have another opportunity for uh people to weigh in uh share their thoughts uh on what will be best attributes that uh we should be on the lookout for uh through an online survey and that'll kick off in a couple weeks or so. We're working with

uh we'll work with staff to uh get that done. the let me just uh hit some of the uh the highlights milestone dates that we're going to uh seek to attain you know throughout this process. Again I'm I'm here today and tomorrow uh and then soon after that uh we'll be developing a position announcement and then a recruitment profile. that recruitment profile is is gained from all of the conversations that I'm going to have as well as uh the input that I'll get from the community forum. Um next week we'll look to kick off the recruitment um and all our outreach begins. Um that includes any number of formats that we'll use uh to get the word out as this is a a national search. uh you know we throw a wide net out there and that also includes you know my personal contacts with folks that I know are in the field and you know giving them a heads up about the opportunity in in University City. Uh deadline for application if you will or deadline for resumeumés will be at the near the end of March around the March March 27th or so. Uh then with u my coming back and meeting with all of you and I understand you know there will be at least uh you know one new council member here um and meeting with all of you to present a portfolio of resumeumés um and have you uh make a determination on out of that group and let's say my goal will be to bring you a a portfolio of anywhere from 8 to 12 uh candidates for your consideration.

It'll be your job to narrow that group down on who you would like to invite for uh interviews. Uh all with that scheduled for around miday or so. With all of this uh uh uh in play, the goal would be is to have a new city manager begin employment around uh uh early July of of this year. Um as I mentioned, we've got the community forum tomorrow evening at 7 o'clock. We'll have the online survey and uh I'll I'll stop there for a moment and see if there's any questions. Are there any questions for members of council? Council member Clay.

Uh, thank you, Mayor Crow. Um, and thank you for your presentation and your your work with us during the process. I had a very pleasant um exchange with you earlier today. Um, and forgive me if I missed this in the documentation we've been sent. The online survey that when does it is is that live and if not, when does that go live? Well, we'll look to get that um posted maybe um as soon as next week toward the end of next week and we'll leave that uh up for about two weeks then.

Okay. And question about the the uh community engagement forum. Um council member Small and I did send something out to um to folks in our ward. What can can folks expect in that in that meeting? What if you give us a a sense of the format?

Sure. Not not uh that dissimilar from the conversations I've had or will have, you know, with all of you and with all the staff. Uh but from the community perspective is what do they see as some of the the city's uh challenges and opportunities both in the short term, maybe a year or so, year or two, and in the long term. Yes. So, um we'll look to understand that from residents perspectives and then you know ask within the context of those issues uh and opportunities and and challenges what do they think will be uh the appropriate uh attributes and um skills and abilities? What do they expect uh in terms of hard skills but also as well as soft skills? And so as as I mentioned, not unlike the conversations I'm having with you, we'll have a similar conversation with the residents.

Council member Fuller. Thank you, Mayor G. Are we going to live stream this tomorrow night? Do we know? No, it's just Okay. I've been asked that. Yeah. And I didn't know. I didn't know either. So Okay. that question. Now, we have we have a number of uh uh vacancies throughout the St. Louis area. Is that uh how do you see that impacting the search?

Well, the the opportunity will be Yeah. And and you know, mayor, you're referencing Kirkwood is open, Webster Groves is is newly open, uh Crestwood, although a much smaller city or so. Those are challenges not um not unfamiliar you know with uh with our work and uh in any number of larger metropolitan areas you can see a number of vacancies. Uh the opportunity is to make sure that uh we let people know um the unique circumstances that University City presents versus what we know of say some of the other communities that are are going to be open and really to pitch that you've got a great story to tell and um and and uh Mr. Rose has been a great ambassador for his role as city manager. So all of those things go very far in terms of uh communicating to the world of city management and and elsewhere. You know what a a strong community and a strong organization university city presents. So having competition from other cities is not u anything we haven't seen before but we'll make sure that we amplify you know all the good news that University City has and I'm not saying this to um comment on any of the communities that are um that are open or anywhere else but um some in the greater world of things some communities don't tell as great a story as I think University City has. And I can say that because I've been involved with uh your organization for a number of years.

And then the other question I guess I would ask is I'm presuming that Miss Sharp and staff will get enough information on your online survey proposal that we can be marketing that out to our citizens because if it's only going to be up for two weeks, that probably means we need to get the message out for folks to participate. Yeah. And of course, we'll mention that at the forum as well. That online survey will also be available for employees. We'll ask people to identify what constituency uh they relate to just so you'll have a breakdown in that regard. But uh yeah, we'll get that uh we'll get that going very soon. Any other questions? Hearing none. Thank you very much.

Yeah, you bet, Miss Sharp. Honorable Mayor Crow, members of the city council, this next item asks you all to consider a engineering and design uh proposal from her shiffron. Uh we have David Lol here from Nate uh our owners rep that is assisting us with the uh driving range project. I would ask that he step up um and introduce the item to you all and then answer any questions you may have.

Good evening. Um so basically the summary of this is is they've had some deterioration through erosion at the driving range portion of the golf course. Um there have been some fixes to it in the past but they uh have not held. Uh so this proposal is a global reook at the entire thing. We've gotten all the old documents together and gave those to the uh proposing companies. her and Shiffron uh presented a proposal that we recommended. Um it is a holistic look at getting this repaired uh and back in service for the community. If you have any specific questions, I can answer those for you.

Are there specific questions for members of council? Council member Clay. Uh thank you, Mayor Crow. Um and uh read the uh read the proposal and appreciate you submitting it. Um, I guess my question is more for uh, city manager Sharp. Um, and forgive my bluntness. It's really born out of ignorance, but I I read their proposal. What was happening before? Like what what were the things that were taking place last year with this project if they were not these things? And and maybe I I missed something and I I I realize I very well could have, but I I thought some of these things were addressed in in earlier arrangements. Am I incorrect there? Honorable Mayor Crow, Council Member Clay, um I wouldn't say that you were are incorrect. I would say that we didn't have an a thorough explanation of what occurred last year. Um there was a request for dirt uh to be relocated from the market at Olive Development to the driving range. That was done unfortunately without a a plan in place. It was done as a stockpile which means the dirt was just dropped off and uh there were some conversations that resulted in the dirt actually being spread further than it should have been. So it's created all types of issues that we on top of the issues we already had, it's created new issues for us. So um it's created erosion issues. It's resulted in a violation um because the disturbed area it was increased beyond

what was initially submitted in the stockpile plan. So essentially the dirt was requested without a plan in place and it made a bad situation worse. So this uh proposal would have them take a holistic look at everything and tell us what we need to do to not only get the driving range open but to keep it open and not keep putting band-aids on it and it's closing every two years. I believe that's why we would say the two of the challenges that we've had that we wanted to face were Persing Avenue and the driving range. And so with that, I'm pretty certain that all of us would like to move forward with this uh appropriately, but yet also with a little bit of uh of uh uh well-paced speed because of how long this has taken. With that being said, is there a motion to approve? Motion made by Council Member Briner. Seconded by council member Clay. Is there discussion hearing? None. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. Opposed. The eyes have it. I don't believe we have any unfinished business, nor do we have any new business. Are there any uh uh council member reports? And by the way, we've had one set of citizen uh comments. And if there are any citizens who would like to speak, there are citizen uh uh speaker request forms over by the door. And if you'd like to speak, please make sure you fill out the form and put it in the basket in front of the city clerk. Are there any reports from members of council? Hearing none, we'll move forward. Are there any final requests to speak from citizens? Madame clerk,

there are none. Thank you very much. Are there any council comments this evening? Other than that, we hope we all everyone joins us tomorrow night at the community center at 700 p.m. for Lee's presentation on the city manager search and the Q&A with our citizens. Are there any other comments from members of council? Hearing none, is there a motion to adjurnn? Mo motion made by council member Fuller, seconded by council member Teeman. Is there discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor please signify by saying I. Oppose. The eyes have it. Thank you very much for joining us this evening.