Master Plan Citizen Oversight Group - 2026 - Regular Meeting

We're right 6:30 ready to get started. We do have a quorum. It looks like we're doing very good. Thank you all for attending our meeting number 16. Any from the mayor Joe? Okay, Melanie. Roll call, please. Uh, Mayor Garitano is not here. Uh, Chair Routton here. Uh, Vice Chair Loyal here. Member Avery.

Member Baker. Me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me member Batty. Member Boomergel, member Borne, member Clark. I am happy to be here. Member Clayton, member Coleman here. Uh, member Dler, member Hellfrey, member Hman, member Rubis, member Jackson,

member Jackson, member Con here, council member McCutchen here. Uh, member Mets here. Member Pic. Council member Rambo here. Member Ren here. Member Shiken. And we have a quorum. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Would you all please join me in the pledge of allegiance? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Do we have a motion to approve or amend or discuss our previous meeting minutes? Theresa, I move to approve.

I'll second. All in favor? I I.

All opposed. The motion passes. Thank you. Joe, you'd like to take over, please. Mr. Chair, thank you. Mr. Chair, members of the group, I too would like to offer the Department of Planning's welcome and thank you all for being here tonight. It is much appreciated. As the chair mentioned, this is meeting number 16. Time flies when you're having fun, right? Right. Okay. Um, we are getting toward the home stretch though. Um, as part of tonight's agenda, you probably noticed that we're going to talk about our land use discussions. And that's typically the last step in the update process of the core components of the master plan. Not to say that the narratives aren't, but again, those are more we're describing what we've done versus what we're trying to do and and in terms of the plan, making it better and reflective of what we've learned in the last 10 years and what we hope to achieve in the next 10 years. So again, your perseverance, your patience, and your cooperation is greatly appreciated by all of us. I do want to acknowledge uh Miss Keefe, Mr. Newberry, and Miss Ripto. A lot of what goes on here when you sit down is all orchestrated by them. And obviously, we as a group couldn't do it without them. I also do want to acknowledge our um our officer, Mr. Fiser. Officer Fiser. Um it's always nice to have one of our police here um just to kind of provide us some support.

and if we need them, we've got them. So, thank you all. Um, I'd like to think that you'll never say I'm not enthusiastic about planning and particularly in this particular case, um, the definition of arterial for in terms of roadway and then the list of our arterial roads that we will propose for the first 10 years. What I'm doing is apologizing to you for getting a little too far out in front of our Department of Public Works. And so at our March 10th meeting, we'll have all of that information available for you. But I do apologize. I thought we were a little closer. I started looking at the information I had and I will also um I say in the defense of the department of public works they've had a lot of bid openings getting ready for the spring summer and fall construction seasons I they've been swamped so my apologies to all in terms of the economic development element as you know we completed the goals statements um and our objective statements at the last meeting uh held at the beginning of this month. And with that completion, the department has gone through the list of goals and the list of objectives and summarize what I think were the key points of our discussion that occurred at those meetings because we did start the goals back in January and concluded again in February. um and then uh what alterations to the the gold objective statement that grew out of those. I do not necessarily want to go through each of them, but I do want to highlight a couple of them because I think they were well done in on the part of the group in terms of our discussion and ultimately the direction

you gave to the department of planning. And the first of those is uh goal number two. And I'm going to simplify it down to one word, retention. And again, from the perspective of this group and I think particularly from our business representatives, the best uh business development policy is a retention policy of our existing businesses and commercial entities. And you've said that very strongly. And from the perspective of the department in preparing the statement, we did add a request of the chair to kind of reference commercial as part of that description in the gold. I also want to just talk about one thing relative to that gold. oftentimes when um the city minister Thomas Lee or the mayor or city council members or the departments meet with potential business interests. We always hear that we don't have the standard five mile radiuses of rooftops. Uh we don't have an interstate to provide access and visibility and traffic counts. But I think you all as we talked through this one identified some of the uniqueness and the non-traditional assets we have here in Wildwood and I tried to list those as accurately as possible which include like recreation amenities, load taxes and fees. That's one that doesn't get discussed much but we don't have a property tax. We don't have a personal property tax. uh we have a low um business fee charge. So that's something I think is important, the outreach and communication from the city. Um now with the businesses of Wildwood, we're

working together as Miss Keefe mentioned at the last meeting on our Route 66 celebration. Prior to businesses of Wildwood, the WBA, the Wildwood Business Association, we partnered in many events. Obviously, we could always do video better as a city, but in this particular instance, I think it's something that we've always tried to foster and I think we can always do better. And that's what I think comes through in the gold existing transit. We do have bus service here, excellent local schools and workforce training. Now, at the St. Louis Community College Wildwood campus. So if you look at that as a list, okay, we may not have as many rooftops in that five mile radius as we'd like and we may not have an interstate which I think is a plus, but again we do have things I think we need to accentuate relative to the community. Um in terms of uh goal three and this is a common thread through the objectives and policies as well. We as a city have only on three occasions offered some type of public finance incentive to a development entity or in terms of the city's action. The first was extending sanitary sewers west of its their terminus basically at Etherton Road and Manchester Road by the porch that general area because most of that area west of there wasn't served by public sewer. So we wouldn't have the YMCA, we wouldn't have the community college, we wouldn't have the developments such as um towns at Windr Rush, Main Street Crossing, Cambury. So what the city did is influence development through infrastructure and we've done that in a lot of instances and those are listed as part of the

explanation that we discussed during our thing. So infrastructure capital improvements it's something this city in my opinion does very very well and I think that's an economic incentive we can offer. It lowers cost to the developer and it um shortens the construction time frame. If you're only having to build the building where you're going to house your business and not all the road improvements or infrastructure or utilities, it's a shorter construction period and you save money. Um, for the most part, um, we added the new go gold of target commuters driving through the city and I came up with probably a very non-catchy phrase, stop and shop campaign. So, that's something you all brought up um about Route 100, Route 109. Instead of going north, south or west, stay here. In terms of objectives, again, um you as a group spent a great deal of time focused on the town center and the Chesterfield Valley, our two key components. Um in terms of town center, I thought the discussion was particularly interesting because we talked a lot about just what makes Town Center so unique and how we should market it. And you all talked about the architecture of the buildings and streets, the theater, the hotel, two uses a lot of communities don't have. Now, the all-inclusive playground, the community college, the W Wildwood YMCA, and just all the activities that we offer both as businesses of Wildwood, the city of Wildwood, and others to bring people into the community and keep them here and make them feel part of it. Yes, ma'am. Sorry. Hey chair,

can I um so when I was going through this um before to meeting tonight, I got a little confused whenever whenever it reads something like um the town center and Chester Chesterfield Valley and I saw I don't know something that you wrote that I thought clarified it a little bit more. I don't know how other people feel it, but the ind say the industrial area within the Wildwood um portion of the Chesterfield Valley because we're not really I mean when somebody says Chesterfield Valley they think of the Chesterfield Valley and so every time I would read that I would get confused.

Okay. So it's a suggestion. I don't know how everybody else feels about it but

well certainly I can clarify it better so that there is a an understanding and that I appreciate the suggestion very much. Um so that's objective one. I'm kind of going to skip over to objective three. I thought this was an interesting conversation. We talked about how we present information to interested parties, whether it's a a real estate broker, a real estate agent, um a development entity, a a franchisee, a national chain, and we talked about using AI models, something that we'd likely be on the front end of, but not necessarily on the the back side. our mapping software and other techn technological tools to help us basically provide truthful and solid information about what's going on in Wildwood to those that might be interested. So, I commend you on saying let's keep front and not behind. Um I think again it deserves attention that in terms of objectives six and seven um those have been completed in the last 10 years. The first was creating an economic development manager position um that has been fully funded and in place for almost that entire 10-year period. It's there's a vacancy right now. Uh but our city administrator is working on filling that position. And then um we do have a third standing committee. Up until the last 10 years, the first um 20 years, we had two standing committees. Now we have a third and that's the economic development committee. So those are some of the highlights of

our discussion relative to completing the goals and objectives. And before we jump into the policies, if there's any errors, omissions, things that we as the department should do to make those statements more clear or better. Great time to talk about them now. All right. Policies. Um the first policy um conduct research to determine what attracts people to Wildwood and develop a promotional campaign highlighting these fe features. The department said retain and revise. And the reason I identified revise is I think we needed to define what research constitutes. I think it's too broad of a term and too much to interpretation. Is it surveys of our residents or are they just general surveys available through let's say survey monkey or they actually scientific ones done by a consultant that provides us a level of assurance that the results are accurate etc. So again, the department is recommending it be retained, but I think we need to do a better job for you all's part to define what research is and then how to use that research in a promotional campaign. A lot of the policies, as you see as we work through them, talk about promotion, strategies for promotion, things along those lines. policy one. Policy two, identify key strategies for promoting and marketing Wildwood and then implement them. Um, again, retain, but I think from the perspective of the department, I think

we probably as a policy need to be a little bit more specific than general. So tonight, that's what the department means by revise. What are a few of those key strategies? Or if as a group you were told you have two or three strategies that if you were king of the world or queen of the world, you would implement to help Wildwood. So those are the things we're searching for from you. What are those strategies you think that would be most effective? And those are the ones we can talk about. Yes. Isn't policy one and policy two really all-encompassing? I guess my question to the group is is it is it a total plan or is it peace meal and should we split it out or should we roll it all into one? I'd be looking for some input that

well certainly there's a lot of interlocking or overlap. So yeah, it's a good question. Thank you. Yeah,

random thoughts time. Um, I think two follows one, so we can do it any way we want to. Uh, but that is a that's a very good point. Um, I just wanted to ask Mr. Buunich. Um, I'm having real trouble hearing. I'm working on a migraine and um, if I get up and walk out, it's not because I'm aggravated with anything going on. It's because I'm miserable. But um Joe, I can't hear you for some reason tonight. If you could move the mic a little bit closer or something. Certainly. I'll do my best. And Travis has adjusted the volume. Okay, great.

Um prior to prior, we've hopefully fixed the problem, but there used to be the buzz from the microphone when we turned it up too loud. I think we've addressed that. So, I'll try to do better. Thank you.

Yeah. My question is who does this and what initiates coming up with these key strategies or the you know the the list of things that we're going to work on in these two areas. Um how is it initiated? Um, is it something that comes up with the council and then they say, "Hey, we should work on this specific thing and come up with these key strategies." Does the staff do it as a normal um day-to-day routine? Who is coming up with those?

Well, from past experience, it has been the economic development manager and the city administrator. So whether it's in the economic development guide or component of the master plan or something that comes from the businesses of Wildwood or one of our business forums, those two collectively work on is this something we can do, can't do, if we can do, how do we do it? And then that goes to the standing committee, economic development, and then from there it goes to the full city council. So there's a a chain so to speak but from the perspective of the department always starts internally with team members staff and then goes from there because as it as in the case of like Miss Baker or others who own their own business sometimes um you know you can bring in an expert but it's the person in the on the showroom floor or at the sales counter that knows what's working and not it's kind of But I think Tom, our city administrator and the economic development manager do.

Okay. So as followup over the last 10 years, do we have that list that we can look at that we those were the key strategies and we can see how well we did?

Certainly. Um out of the economic development guide, there were five major initiatives. For example, one was there was a cluster of businesses at one time. um at Ether at at Rockwood Point Court, Etherton Road, Manchester Road by the Old City Hall, the first city hall, now the porch, Adler's Dry Goods, um Three French Hens, there was a collective kind of group of businesses that seem to market themselves to a certain customer, customer base. And so one of the initiatives was to build on that make that a core component of a development a business strategy. So we work from that the economic development guide we work from the master plan and oftentimes as I say I like to think that from our business forums where we have a group of businesses show up we take that input and put it into um into programming. Uh we've done a lot of changes to our sign regulations lately based upon comments we received from the business forum and the I think we've improved the sign regulations we'll find out. So, at the risk of digressing, who owns it and which entity takes the lead and make sure that we're all headed in the right direction.

If I were do to do an organizational side, organizational chart, I would say who owns it, the economic development manager. And from there it's to the city administrator and from there to committee and then finally city council. So then in your opinion is that pretty well defined? I think so. Okay. I think so. Um there is some crossover at times between public works when we're talking infrastructure or utility strategies

sometimes with parks and planning when we're talking about sign regulations or events to bring people into the town center and expose them to the business community. So but I think at the end of the day and I know that Julian and Gina and Paula they had substantial outreach. I don't know the business owners over here may can speak to that a little can speak much better to that but I think that was the initiative. Thank you.

So the original question was do you think one and two can be combined and instead of two policies one that is all-encompassing. see a lot of heads nodding. So, yes. Okay, we'll we'll craft that back to into one and see what you think when you see it in March.

Well, it's it's two comp my opinion I'm jumping in here, but my opinion is it's two components. One is the analysis, the re the formal research component, and then there's the implementation component. Maybe that's a better better split unless there's I don't recall what the other goals are back here. Maybe there's another other place with the implementation. Take a look. Let us take a look the four of us and see what we come back with. But I think that's a good synopsis. You base your implementation on good analysis, good data. So

yeah, to follow up on Rob's comment, maybe number two, it should be implement key strategies instead of identifying.

Yes, and I've written that down and we'll see how that worked out. Thank you both. Um, number three, policy three, if there's no more comment, um, establish relationship with organizations and businesses that hold unique community assets, which helps to create or helps in creating Wildwood's unique character. I think this is um, one of our better policies. And so if you're asking what might be those unique community assets, um there other than Wildwood, there's only three community college campuses in the metropolitan area, at least in St. Louis County in the city of St. Louis. So our community college, the Wildwood Family YMCA, Pond Athletic Association, Lasal uh Retreat Center, Marinus Retreat Center, and Hidden Valley, one that often times we don't talk enough about. It's our largest employer seasonal, but during the ski season over 200 people are employed there. So, pretty uh pretty impressive. Pardon? Oh, that's a great one. I was just down there today. I should be ashamed of myself. I wasn't riding the train. So, I will do a a a promotion. So, on April 11th, um there's going to be from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. um the train's going to take people up to um Rock Hollow Trail, Zombie Road, and that's when the Blue Bells are all in bloom. And so, we're going to have the Great Rivers Greenway is going to be there to talk about trails. The Wildwood Garden Club is going to be there to talk about blue bells. Our arborist Mike Welsh will be there to give you some ideas about what

native trees are to this area. So mark it on your calendar. Train ride there. You can stay there as long as you want and then catch a ride back and they'll bring another group up on it. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Yes. So, we'll be getting that onsite on our website here very shortly. But there is no limit per se other than um when I talked to Mr. Great House, the president, it's like, well, yeah, I guess we should try to figure out how many we really want. So, we'll have it, but it's not going to be as restrictive as the haunted express. And I don't know if you've been up there and seen the blue bells in bloom, but according to Mr. great hot as president of the WFMP this year. Uh or whatever his term is. Um when you look put in blue bells, that's the first location that comes up. One of one of the best examples and they are just unbelievable. So yes, thank you for the suggestion. the WF and D.

Theresa, uh, yeah, just one more suggestion since we're going with Hidden Valley and it's a a private own. Um, the RNR ranch is Oh, yes. Great, too. That's a great Yes. Thank you. That's um Michael, we really need to promote that because I talk I'm an old skier, literally and uh talked to a lot of people about skiing opportunities in the area and most people think it's Eureka. So we we got to really promote that as wildly.

Yeah. Very good. Well, any other thought? Number four, optimize the utilization of the city's website, e newswsletter, social media, including the possible development of a new mobile app, new mobile applications. Um so the department just in its um commentary just says I think we've done a a very good job of this over the years. Maybe not so much in the first years because the internet wasn't as prominent of a tool as it is today but um folks like Miss Keefe, Mr. Newberry, Miss Ripto, and many others in the building. They do a wonderful job on social media getting information on the website for our residents and visitors. Um, like I say, I I think it's a key component that needs to be retained, and I I'd like to think that we'll do more as the technology and the the programs um grow or or retract. Um, we did have a mobile application for parks and recreation. We no longer offer that. Um, the company that u developed the application and maintained it u was in Chesterfield, Missouri. And um what he described to us about a year ago is that Google keeps asking for more and more information, more personal information, more information about users. and he was just getting to a point where he's very uncomfortable providing that and so he just backed away from the the develop application development. We did go out

and look for alternatives but they were anywhere from um 10 times more expensive to 100 times more expensive and that was just for the development and the maintenance component on a yearly basis was just really astronomical relative to what we used it for. So, no mobile app right now, but we'll keep it in there if there's no objection on the group, maybe someday. Um policy five um promotional materials develop promotional materials in conjunction with community representatives which can be disseminated to disseminated to businesses, restaurants, employers, development interests, others to market Wildwood as a great place to live, work and play. So again, another component that I think is very much aligned with policies one and two.

Yeah. I you know, when we have the um farmers market, for example, we have the small sign or the mayor's coffee. We have the small signs out. Um well, for the farmers market, it's really hard to read it if it just said farmers market arrow. I think it might bring more people in. But um for any of our activities that we're doing off the main 100 to let people know that's going on, maybe have those little signs um you know concert or um you know whatever we are having so that it will draw them in off of 100. Certainly, ma'am. There's

on the message boards, electronic message board. Um Um I believe the city council passed a new policy relative to electronic message boards that limits them to use for roadway and bridge projects. So,

Oh, maybe we should bring that up, Rob. So it was a disappointment from the perspective of the department. We don't overutilize them, but I told the story and I, if I bore you with it, we um when we were developing our action plan for parks and recreation as I recall, um we wanted to garner as much participation from our residents. And so we did all kinds of outreach and we put an electronic message board at Taylor Road and Main Street by Dearbirds. And we had over 125 people show up at Wildwood Middle School. We did um all the polling. Yep. You have a little ma polling machine in your hand and you click it as they show the and you can watch the changes. And so make a long story short at the end we asked how'd you find out about the meeting? Uh 75% of them said the electronic message board. So I was like oh okay. So, it does work.

Yeah.

Um, but yeah, temporary signage and electronic message board. Got it. U, number six, implement the city's economic development guide. Um, I think that's self-explanatory. And then number seven, the last of the existing um, policies, um, complete the development of Main Street from its current terminus at Market Avenue to State Route 109. Well, um, we have a portion of it completed now through Main Street Crossing, which is from Etherton Road on the east end to Route 109 and the roundabout on the west end. And um, we need to finish the center section. But the Manchester Road streetscape, which is going through a strikethrough line, that has been completed all three phases. So 10 years have been productive. So I don't know I believe Miss McCutchen Dr. Rambo can attest to this that is I think a key priority of our city administrator and our city council now is to get that final section completed so that we have that continuous linkage and we believe it'll do a lot of things. Obviously it'll help village green greatly but it'll also bring I think increased traffic to our businesses in the downtown district. any new ideas?

No, you are. Go ahead.

Um, thank you. Yes, I've been thinking about this a while after um just going through this economic development and and I didn't have this ready to talk about in the goals and objectives. However, I think that we need to put in a goal, objective and policy regarding investment and um I think it works right here in the economic development um element to just include a goal, objective and policy for investment subcommittee of the um EDC. This would be dedicated to investment strategies, cash management and yield curve analysis so that we could enhance our city income optimization. This would include could include this subcommittee could include the finance officer, the city administrator, the a council member that has expertise in finance and um most importantly though bringing in someone that's certified and experienced in investment advisory expert. Now I'm not an expert in this. So, I was talking with Larry Bro, who is closer to an expert, but not an expert either in um investment because we talked about this about maybe two, three years ago in council and Larry brought up some real important points. the um this this um maybe this uh group could meet quarterly or semianually to evaluate performance of our city's finance um u maximization and uh develop secure and legal

strategies for maximizing them the income and our reserves because our reserves are quite substantial right Now um our ma the main function of this group would be to increase awareness and provide informed recommendations to the council. So they would focus on awareness of what we have and pass it on to the council. Um the primary duties might involve uh reviewing the current and planned investment and cash management activities that we have going on now and to that would just be to safeguard and optimize our taxpayer funds. Um this would we would introduce critical oversight process. So right now we might not have that going on. I don't know the latest with the latest U finance officer and her expertise but in the past we know that our finance officer and um Larry McGowan had told us they were not experts in this area of finance. So we need somebody in investments specifically. Um it would be similar to uh what's established in other city functional groups. For example, we we have internet subcommittee or we have um city hall building subcommittee, but we bring in people that know these specific areas so that they can um dear management so that they can give us um um more detailed research than we might

already have. um they all look at budgets and scope and and supplier um selections and but these are highly qualified people and so we would we bring in an attorney we don't bring in a doctor to do the attorney work and that's why I'm saying we really need somebody with the finance um to look at our to strategically look at our yield curve curves. Know where we were before, where we are now. Compare them, know how that compares so that we know where to go in the future instead of um just letting it happen. Um so this would include a provision um in this motion to eliminate potential conflicts of interest that might arise from our financial business partner and us. Um, in the past when this was all brought up, we saw that we were allowing our financial business partner that um um I won't mention the the name of who it was at the time, but they were making all of our decisions for us and um it was benefiting them as well. So, we need to look at what benefits us most and have somebody come in and do that. And I'm just facing that over the last 10 years of what has happened. And um what I really think this could um push us forward with our money. I think I talking to Larry Broen. He said if we had done this 10 years ago, we would have a lot more monies to spend

on these projects that we want to do now. So, Mr. Chair, um, in context, Miss Clark and I had a brief conversation before the start of the meeting. So, to kind of shape it a bit, the the city has a number of different revenue sources. The one that often is talked about most is the pool tax. It's a sales tax collected amongst a group of municipalities in St. Louis County distributed back on a per capita basis. That's almost 50% of our revenue source. The next largest revenue source is utility tax or gross receipts tax. Um obviously those are premised on a lot of different factors. For example, the pool tax. City of Chesterfield at almost every legislative session each year tries to slice more of that poolled tax to them versus the grouping of municipalities. We also spend a lot of time talking about energy efficiency and making our homes more energy efficient. And so oftentimes that affects electric and gas receipts, things like that. What I described to Miss Clark was one of the few things we do control and control 100% is how we manage the money we have in reserve and the money we receive and hold for whatever period of time investments. So I could see this being something that if the group concurs be a motion in second we could at least put out on the paper and see what you all think. That's a big one. I mean, that's huge. And understand where you're coming from,

understand the oversight we want to provide, but maybe I'd like to at least suggest to the group that that's a deeper discussion with somebody like Thomas Lee before we jump in and write something down. I'd like I'd like to flush it out a little bit more. And what's the group think about that? Yeah, I think that may be what Teresa intended to ask Joe to do was go and figure out exactly how this ought to work because it's really the way I see it is this is a strategic financial planning um um initiative that's right in our master plan because we did this as Teresa suggested two three years ago but just kind of and we've made it better but we didn't make it great and just kind of we didn't nobody lost interest in it but it just things moved on and we've kind of dropped it or it's been sitting for a while. I think we could do a lot better. Um we need to we have also talked about um sp potentially spending our reserve how much money we should have in reserve and those kinds of basic financial decisions. And I don't know where that is. We've asked for it and we haven't you know it because there's nobody to charge with it. And so having that strategic element right in the metrop plan I think is critical because we also have to not only that but we have to figure out revenue sources because as Joe suggested revenues are going down in many areas. Um we're the only um major municipality around without any sort of property tax. But people always complain about property taxes. I pay my property taxes. Why can't you do this that or the other thing? But none of it comes to wildwood whatsoever. and folks need to know that.

So, there's a lot this I would I I I I will second Teresa's motion because I think it's critical and we'll see what the department comes back with if it'll that's that's my my take on it. Anyway, to the chair's concern, I would certainly not do anything without Mr. Lee providing the guidance right now. I understand that, but it doesn't make sense to get Mr. Lee in front of us. So, we have an overlook. I think that's what we're doing is just putting the concept in the refinement of it will have to come from staff anyhow as in a phase two. So I wouldn't

delay it. I would implement the process by which to implement if something's that effective again to to group I think what we're saying here is let's look at a proposed goal ductive and policy or policies if ne if necessary that the city administrator the finance manager and others would craft that would be presented to you for final for final consideration. Excellent. Teresa.

Yes. And every one of these goals and that we're going over and goals and objectives and policies that we're going over now are going to go through that process. It's going to go and be looked at by the uh the leaders of the city and by the council before understand. I'm just looking for additional information so this team can make an informed decision. That was my way of Do we have a motion and a second? All in favor? I. All opposed. Passes.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I'll let Mr. Lee hear the good news tomorrow. Um so that is a new gold objective policy. Are there any others before we conclude?

So I think we should have um a goal that says resident input survey when we first started this asking residents what they want. I think it would be a good idea to know what kinds of um you know anything related to economic development whether it's a store or business or whatever I think we should periodically get residents input on that because if residents aren't going to use something there's there's no bar there's no reason to go ahead forward with it or um supported it economically so I also suggest that resident survey should be done periodically um to obtain economic development plans that include resident desires or requests.

Miss Puchin, it sounds like you might have written that down. So if if we have a motion in a second to support it, I probably want to borrow that from you for a few minutes. Group thoughts. Yes, ma'am. I wonder if it would be appropriate to have uh a policy in here related to Route 66 revitalization. Oh yeah, it is uh pretty much a a top priority of the Historic Preservation Commission and it's considered an economic development um initiative. Would you like to propose that motion?

I believe that has to come from you. I'll make the motion.

I think that's great. Put that on the back part for just We didn't do anything with I'll make a motion to support. So we have a motion and second on the floor to periodically or survey resident what miss I have resident input surveys periodically interest of surveys of resident pol. So just a couple of random comments here the um Dev is exactly right. we we need to have a more formal mechanism for periodically surveying the community and so forth. But I contend that that would be useless if they if we don't provide them with some context and some prior knowledge. For example, there's there are projects that are enormously complex and folks don't have the appropriate information to make informed, you know, to take informed positions on those topics. And so, it has to be sort of a birectional thing. And it can't be um this is where professional design is critical because it can't just be a leading question um leading people one way or the other way. It has to be neutral but there has to be some some context provided as part of that survey. And so I think it's larger than just hey what do you guys think? Do you want a community center? Do you want a an ice rink? Do you want observation tower? What do you want? it, you know, we have to have there has to have to be some uh some design and I I don't know exactly how to make that happen, but um we don't get the appropriate feedback from the community. Um and any sort of formal way uh if we we do it more of a small town um we take more of a small town approach

and um I think you know now that we're a you know reasonably size city, we probably should do that more formal. So in general you're right. Yeah, we just do survey monkey and that's anybody it monkey is right in the title. I mean any monkey can can do it. That's useless.

I would think some items do have that or an opportunity for the public component. I know whenever things go through P&Z or if there's a change in some of the regulations are uh and even like the development the new committee the it doesn't allow public input right there but it provides an opportunity to learn here and certainly no one is prohibited from shooting the mayor or you guys a note saying I heard that last time that sucks don't do that so I think it just needs to kind of be more encompassing because I I would assume that if I want to put a business in that meets the business doesn't violate the business requirements, doesn't require any change, but some people may not like it. I could still put it in because I am I that there would be no public input on that. I come to you guys, tell you what my plan is, get a business license, and boom, I turn the lights on.

Correct. That's the kind of scenario I can see where maybe there needs to be a more encompassing component that either, you know, solicits or allows for public input. But you can also do paralysis by analysis. You can make a committee for everything and never get anything done. Teresa,

well certainly are we would in do an RFQ request for qualifications get a entity whether it's a survey firm whatever the situation might be and then craft what's the question what's the what are we trying to understand from our residents I think the examples Dr. Rambo mentioned we're a rec center. So I think the context would be what's the best approach to have good information to make the best decisions.

Aren't we really just saying providing the community with the informed information with enough information for them to make an informed decision and that's that's where it stops. Yeah. I I think the only twist to this is as bisputen mentioned if there isn't support why spend the money and that's an economic component right Teresa

thank you chair so what I've seen with the surveys over the time that I've been around um when we get them back we evaluate them only based on number of people that want one thing or another thing instead of looking at some weighted criteria for uh assessing it. If we have more than one criteria for, you know, everybody could want, you know, a brand new city hall, everybody could say, "Yeah, we want to," but we can't give them that. So we have to have some weighted you know what if there's safety involved if there's um uh financial issues involved we need to have some way to break it down more than just how many people want it

question um when these surveys are done and I'm not sure but percentage wise how many what is the percent of people that respond respond to these. It doesn't sound like it's very high percentage of of people that actually follow through. Is it real like 10% of the population or 5%? Did anyone ever figure that out? Because I'm wondering, you know, if there's enough out there that people even realize how important it is. Well, the two most recent examples I would provide is when we were looking at the issue of solar panels,

we I think selected 3,000 households to particip. So we engaged a professor out of Slooh um to do a scientific survey regarding um Wildwood's opinion on solar panels um roof mounted solar panels and we think we the scientific selection to meet it make it statistically significant um was 3200 households um and that's something that that the city paid uh a consultant to to do for us. Um the return on that one was very high. I can't remember off the top of my head. Um, but it was it was very high that we had an online survey. Um, but we also had mailed surveys and the city administrator's mailbox was full of mailed in surveys alone.

Specific topic you were asking to be surveyed on, not a general overview of what would you like in Wildwood. That was a specific topic in that instance. Yes. In that example, yes. The other example is more recent. We did a survey as we kicked off the update of the master plan that was done in the this time frame of 2025 and I believe we had 700 responses pardon 800 responses. Now it was open to all residents so to speak.

So that's a very low percentage that even bothered to respond. Generally speaking, um I in past if we get 10 to 15% response, we feel that's a successful outreach. I I can jump in. I we've had surveys uh for different projects on site. Um I can't remember what the last one was, but we get quite a bit of input from that as well. And I'm not saying that that if you I think you need to do a you know one or two three items maybe

that you're asking them about but the city belongs to the residents and so I think we need to have their input on what it is they want wild to be. Um, and again, if if we're coming up with something that's economic development wise and the residents don't want to utilize it, wasting funds. Um, so I I think it could be done in different ways and certainly they consulted, but that was right. 10% is a very good return on a survey. Well, it's it's just that it's kind of sad with how many thousand people do we have now? Close to 30. Yeah, I don't 36,000

close that small amount even bother to respond. Michael, would town hall meetings be a mechanism that would be able to be used to solicit input from our our citizens?

Well, Miss Puchin has a W five meeting tomorrow night with Mr. Marshall. Uh we have the coffees with the mayor and I believe mayor Garrett Towner is looking at doing something in the evening um to kind of capture people that can't make it early in the morning to his coffees. So but yes over the years word meetings have been kind of the bread and butter of of the pair of ward representatives and um there are generally they'll fill this council chambers. Y

the watershed erosion task force. We reached out to all the property owners that had either flood plane on a portion of their property or adjoined a creek just to assess what are you experiencing um on on your property. So Teresa You good?

So I believe um Miss Puchin has a motion on the floor. It was seconded by Dr. Rambo to add something in terms of a objective or potentially goal objective policy, one or multiple ones relative to engaging the residents of the city through regular surveys or public outreach. Any more discussion? All in favor? Yes. I just had a quick question to clarify. So, of the 35 36,000 people, how many households does that come down to roughly? You guys know off the top of your head?

I believe the census from 2020 had our household size just under three per household. So, doing a simple math, it's about 12,000 households. Because and and are those surveys expensive? Are they costly to hire a consultant or a firm like the the lady who came in at the beginning of all this and had the summary of the 800 that came back? That was several thousand dollars. I don't remember what the professor from St. Louis University charged. It was something in in that range.

I was I was just curious because I was I'm with I can't see your name, but I sort of had the same thought as you. Yes, I can't see your card. Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry, I forgot your last name. But I'm sort of with with her in that um the surveys are great, but 800 responses are not, you know, a great indicator that speaks for 10,000 or 12,000 households. It's it's the people who are, you know, voicing their opinion, which is great. Um, but oftentimes I feel like the people that I run into, the ones that are finding those surveys or responding whether they're seeing a the digital board um or getting the mailer or the people who are going to find it anyway, whether whether you put it on your website, do a mailer, like they know that they have a voice and they can come in. You anybody can go on the city website and find an email.

I feel like the bigger issue is the people who aren't responding and some of a big portion of those aren't going to respond no matter what you do or how much money you spend. And so I'm with you to the point if I'm just and and to your point too of just making sure that we're spending the resources the the the city's funds in the in the best way. Um that's my only thought. You know I I don't know how to engage more people clearly with the electronic board you guys had for Celebrate Wildwood. The two days that two or three days the city was setting up and closing down the streets. You would not believe how many people came in our store and they're like what's going on? Like how can you not know what's going on? this is an every year thing. So, I think some people are just not aware. Um I don't know. And but I do think if we were going to do a survey that it definitely should be um not as general and maybe more directed with certain topics so that you can find out what are they what are they interested, what are they not interested in. Certainly,

I think survey tools are most effective when you, in the case of solar panels, we ask specific questions because we wanted not to know if the development down the street was okay, but we wanted to know, do you like solar panels on the front of homes? Because that's was the crux of the issue at the time. And we got a resounding response and we changed our regulations. Seems to make everybody happy. All right, we'll we'll craft something for you.

You're gonna have to get creative with that one. Yep, we'll figure it out. I've got a lot of smart people next to me, so they'll do good. Mr. Chair, the department would respectfully request a motion and second to add something relating to the revitalization of Route 66 as part of our economic element. I'd like to propose a motion. Thank you. Second for Route 66 revitalization Vince. Second. All in favor? All opposed? Motion passes.

We'll call that the KEF amendment. Any others? New goals, objectives, policies. Well, we have completed this task then. So, we've made motions on certain additions and certain changes. Um, we'll bring it back to you for final action and our March meeting. Thank you very much. Good conversation. Mr. Mr. Chair, the next item relates to one of our major components of the update and that's the review of the land use categories and associated map. Today we've received, I believe, four requests for consideration of changes to the designation of properties relative to their current categories. And so the process has been in the past that we give those property owners or development entities an opportunity to present to you before we ask you to make a decision. And so that would be part of the March 10th meeting. In preparation for that, the department has provided you a memorandum that kind of describes um the four categories, the four kind of land use categories. And then the fifth being historic, which is very unique because it's more site or districtbased um relative to an asset, a historic asset, whether it be a structure, a building, some type of um other important asset. It could be a what we're calling heritage trees, things along those lines. So, tonight the department is

respectfully requesting an endorsement of the six steps that we'll ask those that are presenting to the group follow. The first is that the department would introduce property and give some basic information regarding the property and um any previous development activity that may have occurred on it. I think again context or background so you know has this been before other updates um volunteers or not things like that. Second, um the department would then just introduce the team, the application, and the team presenting it to the group. Um the chair would then ask the applicant to come forward and present why they're requesting the change in the land use category for that property or properties and provide up to 12 minutes for that presentation. After the presentation concludes, the group members can ask any questions they like and seek additional information before making any decision. The chair would then ask for any concluding remarks from the group members or applicant before closing the matter. And the department would then basically um conclude by saying what the next steps are which it could include an action that night or certainly an action at the next meeting relative to the preparation of the component that I want to call it an element but the conceptual land use categories and the map associated with them. So again, tonight the department would like an endorsement of those steps so we can send those steps to the applicants that have filed officially filed letters for the review and then we'll get them prepared for the meeting on March 10. Thank you.

I would move to accept it. Second. We have a second. All in favor? I I opposed. Motion passes. Thank you.

There are two that there is one in the Chesterfield Valley portion, the Wildwood portion of the Chesterfield Valley. Sorry, Miss McCutchen. I messed that up. U the Wildwood portion of the Chesterfield Valley. It's the Do Lo property, the 200 plus acres. Um, both the attorney representing the Do Lo family and McBride Homes have proposals, have letters before the group, so to speak. The other is at the north end of Route BA and Route 109. It was Gibbl's nursery. So, it was a uh was a plant nursery with green houses. They are seeking some type of industrial designation. Um the other is uh by Mr. Routton's property, Chair Routton's property. It's the 100 plus acres that used to be owned by the Wright family. They donated it to the Boy Scouts of America and the Boy Scouts of America are um wanting to sell it. And so Lombardo Holmes has a proposal for residential. Pardon sir. It by valley road and um streer road generally but more to the east non- urban residential area and they're asking for a suburban to do like a 1acre density on a portion of it. So those are the am I missing any? Oh, and my gosh, um, Kelp Contracting, they have a facility out on Manchester Road at St. Albvin's Road. Um, they, um, have a board of adjustment variance that allows them to continue operation as a legal nonconformity. They would like to

take the nonconformity component from that and seek some type of industrial exception in the non-urban residential area. Two of them want to come out of it industrial and one wants to go into it. Just get ideas. It's a crazy world, Chief. You wouldn't plan it that way, but if it's there, it's

Does it make sense in those regards of specific properties to have a meeting before the meeting? I would very much appreciate to hear the overall reaching impact of your department. We're going to hear the builder's going to put their best foot power. We're only going to hear the good things. We're not going to hear the bad things. And to get an overall picture, can you give us an overview of what they're going to propose before they propose it?

Yes. Uh certainly. And you'll have the maps and exhibits. You'll have an explanation prepared by the department, the four of us, that basically says, "Here's what's been proposed in the past. why it didn't succeed. Here's what's being proposed now. So, no, the intent is not to send the group members into a meeting and just hear all the good things it's going to do for the city. There are reasons why other update groups to the master plan didn't support it and you'll know those and it'll be the responsibility of that applicant to tell you why theirs is different or not different so that you make the best informed decision. Yes,

I have a quick while we're considering this. I guess I'm look part of me says well goodness the person who owns the land they should be able to do what they want with it within reason. Another part of me says that if we take a significant part of the industrial allocated area.

No sir.

That's why you're up there and we're down here. And what we'll tell you is we'll give you the pattern of development that's occurred over the last 30 years which includes like pick supply services now Kurtz landscaping some of the smaller developments on Centaur Road Dalco. We'll let you know what's been happening. Is it stagnant? Does it need a boost? Or should we be patient? Those are the decisions. Um Charlie Wright's family owned you owned about 125 plus acres of ground that abuts Bretmore Place. Brentar Place is served off of Valley Road to the east of Streker Road is the next major cross street or if you go to the east Clayton Road. It's in that general vicinity. Thank you, Travis. Um, so what I was saying is is that um those see those big kind of 40 acre tracks. I think there's three of them about 120 acres. Now, one of the major um Amaran Missouri utility easement goes through there for those high tension towers that have the strands of um the high voltage line. So, there's some things that we'll identify for you to help you make your decision.

Yes. from um they believe it's consistent with the development pattern in the area and topographically a portion of the site might lend itself to it. Those are the things we'll kind of put in our little synopsis for you. Where does the community involvement come in after this process or

um the description in is that that we can accept public comment. We'll not do a posting like a public hearing. We won't do a mailing. We'll have information on the website and certainly as a resident of Brentmore Place you can advise people. What we would ask is that the um either we have public comment before the discussion is presented which may not be the best because they don't know the details. We have public comment after or certainly they can provide comment before a decision is made either via email or our our comment center comment form on our website things like that. Um again what you'll hear is for all intents of purposes the first presentation. I'd be very surprised if you chose to make an action the same night.

Director Mr. Code. Yes. Yes, sir. That subject track of land, is it not the same one that became before planning and zoning roughly 10 years ago? I believe was under contract by Levenson family homes and was rejected.

Yes, sir. Um, in 2006, Levenson Custom Homes brought it forth to the group, um, the volunteer group updated master plan. they rejected it. Um, Hilty Holmes had it under contract for a while and was looking to develop it. They did it outside the 10-year update, never came to fruition. So, those are the things will tell you who's tried and why they didn't succeed or what were the reasons there was opposition from either the planning and zoning commission, which Mr. Con served on, or um just what happened. So, it's always an interesting meeting. you get to put your planning and zoning commission hats on and and see what they go through. So, um, thank you for the vote. We'll get this information out to the applicants and then we'll have information prepared for you. I'll conclude by saying my apologies for being eager with arterial roads. Don't we all love roads and not having it ready though? And then thank you again for your efforts for the purpose of our master plan and making Wildwood the great place it is to live, work, and play. Thank you,

Deborah. Um, can we were having a discussion about um town center and the density of each lot and it was near the end of the session one day and we didn't get to complete that. Joe, is there some point in time that we can have a small discussion on that? We certainly can and we can have it as part of the land use discussion because obviously that's a component of the conceptual land use categories as well as the map. What I will tell you is is we've so to speak divorced the town center from the discussion typically because we do a separate update for the town center and that will occur in two years.

Okay. But we can have a discussion. You certainly can. The group can open any door they like. And I think that's the strength of the process. We don't leave a stone unturned. So yes, thank you. No. Didn't we just do that? We we we started in 2018. Um it took a little longer than we all expected. We finally had city council uh endorse and ratify it in 2021, but we'll start the process or someone will start the process in 2028.

Teresa, are we doing sort of like miscellaneous now?

It's a good question, Joe. Well, I was putting together a map for myself of like the town center with all of the businesses and where they are located so I could just look at it. Do we have something like that already? You know, like you go to um I know this is a apples to oranges ex example, but if you went to um Las Vegas and you had this map and it shows you all of the different places in on the strip, do we have something like that already? So, um we don't have something like that already. Um, and it's something that's hard to keep up to date as far as businesses are concerned. But we have been discussing creating something like that in order to bring more attention to the businesses and also part of the Route 66 efforts. Um, you know, to get some of these businesses that are doing Route 66 promotions and stuff like that. And so, yes, this is on our list of things to do. Um, but yeah,

I think it would be good if if we could keep it up you keep it something like that could be updated because um I know it's a lot of work but I was driving around and just taking pictures so I could go back and you know fill in my map and I was just like I didn't know that was here and I' I've been by it so different things so many times and just

certainly um Well, and part of I mean part of the problem is like we did have something like that as part of the like one of our economic development guides and you know businesses leave and keeping it up to date, but I think that if we did it like electronically and had it online with maybe a way of printing it, it would probably be easier. Um but again, businesses don't have to let the city know when they leave. So it we know when they come in hopefully, but when they leave, not so much. And so um it's a challenge, but I feel like uh Um, I feel like it would be beneficial for our businesses for sure. So, it's in the it's in the making. It's added on to a very long list that's in the making. Where are we in the process and what are we we're kind of at a stopping point and and that's why we're having open discussion

certainly. So the six elements for all intents and purposes are complete. So we'll have revisions to the economic development element that we discussed tonight. We'll put that element along with the other five and you'll receive a packet of all five elements that have been formally acted or excuse me six elements that all have been formally acted upon by the group. So you'll see collectively finally all six elements the gold subjectives and policies in their revised form. The land use component will start at the March meeting probably conclude April and then in that period as well I think we have a second meeting in March. Um so we'll do the narratives. That's the missing piece. We did the first one, the environmental element. We'll need to get you the other five or the other five elements. So, goals, objectives, and policies, six elements, land use, and narratives. And once you've seen all of those, that becomes the draft plan. Now, more creative people, much more creative people than I, such as Melanie, Robin, Travis, will pull together a document hopefully that's engaging to the eye, informative, and something that you all agree with that you would like to basically put your name on and then we'll do some print copies, but primarily rest on the website and other electronic means. So elements are done, land use is getting started and narratives will be the

what exactly happens in the meeting on the 10th. Um again just we'll do the land use first because we'll have visitors so to speak then we'll go back to the economic development element and if things go well you'll have either most of the narratives or all of the narratives. Will there be presentations on the death? Yes. And are we going to have any heads up to what's going to be presented before they present?

Yes. You'll have a packet of information on each of the properties. You'll have the revised economic development element. And as I say, you'll have either a second draft of the environmental narrative or first drafts of the other five. But no team discussion ahead of time ahead of the presentations.

Um I wasn't anticipating it because on each presentation the department will introduce it and provide an explanation of the packet of the materials you receive both from the city as well as the applicant. So, we'll do our best to kind of set the stage and then really it's you all asking questions and just sitting there and hearing what they say and hearing what's been said. And um you think it'll be in this room or that?

We'll probably be in here in the event that we have additional public participation because we are anticipating it as part of each of our agenda and this may generate some. I don't know. The area down on Centaur Road doesn't have residents per se. The area at Route BA and Route 109, there's a few homes. The one the Boy Scouts is promoting by Brett Moore Place. There's good number of people there. And then um the other Kelp um I think people have grown so accustomed to it. if we have people um when we did the board of adjustment hearing um this was years and years ago um we filled our council chambers and had standing room only so but I assume if if you're like I say that was

there's something to be advertised as yep yeah it's not the time or place we'll have public engagement we'll do outreach we are we contacted silver tablet marketing Debbie Ward who did the initial survey so we'll make sure people know there's a proposed land use change, they're aware of it and can comment on it. To that point, if I made when this all comes down, not for our approval, but ultimate approval, I think you said this goes to PNC, correct? Yes, sir. Can they um veto portions?

They have that authority under state statute and our code. Um what I found in the past is generally they have been very supportive because they're an intricral part. Remember 20, we have 23 members, eight of them are the commission. So conceivably this group would decide, hey, one of those land use news changes is a good idea. They could send it to PNZ, who had been here, but perhaps they weren't crazy about it, and they could carve that out. They could cherrypick, but as I say, there's a mad there's a logic to the madness. If the eight of the citizen members sit here and listen to what you hear and what you say and what's been presented, there shouldn't be any questions really.

You make certain that that those members are aware that what the plan is for next meeting? Certainly. Okay, we've got an opportunity to end a little early tonight. Any additional discussion before I ask Travis for any outside comments? Teresa,

yeah, this may be too much to ask, but if you if we could have that information, the packet a little bit farther ahead of time before the meeting, it would be really helpful to really go through it because not that I am detailed in reading, but I want to read it all before I get here and know what's going on. It takes me a little longer than the rest of the people. Um and um also on the next meeting we are going to do the arterials and get that finished too, right?

Yes, I forgot that. Thank you. And yes, Mr. Brown, I think if push came to Chevy probably could have had something prepared tonight, but why rush? Let's get it right the first time. And your request is so reasonable. Um most of the meetings I've started by saying, "Sorry, you got it today." But we'll we'll aim to do better. Thank you. We can go if there's going to be a second meeting in March. See? Okay. Good.

We'll check on that and send out an email because like I say, we're so close now. And I'm sure as much as we enjoy your company and you hopefully enjoy ours, it's probably getting to that point where you'd like to do something else. So, we'll see what we can do. Teresa, I'm sorry, but I had another question. So, when um then we'll go on into April, if we don't have another one in March, and if it goes past election time, are we going to lose our our council members?

Well, we've had some turnover already, but the mayor has allowed the members to stay on and retain that continuity. For example, Mr. con reside from the planning and zoning commission and has stayed on as a member because um obviously the experience he has from the first year we lose. Um so um it's not a decision I'll make but I'll advocate that we retain the group we have through the election cycle and um hopefully most of the major decisions by the new by the time the members are seated um will be made by the the folks that have sat through what will probably be close to 20 or 21 meetings when we're all said and done. Yes, the elections early April as you know the results are certified approximately two to three weeks later. The first available meeting of council to seat the new members is the second Monday in May Travis. Any outside comments? Next meeting March 10th. It's going to be a good one. Look forward to everybody being there. Motion to adjourn. Second, Michael. All in favor? I

motion pass. Everybody have a good evening. Thanks for coming.