City
Council Meeting Minutes
KIRKWOOD CITY HALL
February 15, 2007
7:00 p.m.
Pursuant to notice of meeting duly given by the Mayor, the City
Council convened on Thursday, March 1, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at
Kirkwood City Hall, 139 South Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood,
Missouri. Present were Council Members Godi, Griffin, Karr,
Lynch, McDonnell, Yuan, and Mayor Swoboda. Also in attendance
were CAO Michael Brown and City Attorney John Hessel.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public
Hearing #1:
Mayor Swoboda recessed the meeting for the purpose of conducting
a public hearing on the City of Kirkwood Operating and Capital
Budgets for Fiscal Year 2007-2008. Mr. Hessel entered the
following exhibits into the record: An Affidavit of Publication
in the St. Louis Countian on February 10, 2007, attached to
which is the summary of the operating budget as Exhibit 1, the
Notice of Publication in the Webster-Kirkwood Times attached to
which is the summary of the operating budget as Exhibit 2, and
the Kirkwood Code of Ordinances as Exhibit 3.
Operating
Revenues = $44,130,399
Operating
Expenditures = $44,098,222
The city
operates a number of separate funds, many of which by state law
can only be used to fund specific types of projects or services,
including: Park Fund, Debt Service Fund, and Capital Improvement
Fund. The city’s main fund is the General Fund and receives
nearly half its income from sales tax revenues. A transfer from
the Electric Fund has always been necessary in order to balance
the budget.
The City has
been working with a relatively flat line of revenue for a number
of years, particularly as it pertains to the General Fund.
Staff has buckled down and been innovative in finding ways to
deliver high-quality services to residents even under these
trying conditions. The budget being proposed is a very
responsible budget. It is becoming harder and harder to provide
the same services that were provided a year ago when revenues
are held flat. The General Fund receives nearly half of its
income from sales tax revenue. Unfortunately, sales taxes have
been relatively flat for the past five years. Every expenditure
is looked at and very significant reductions in staffing and
services over the past several years have been made. The City
likely cannot continue providing existing levels of city
services in coming years without additional revenues for the
General Fund.
Steve Powell of
the Citizen’s Finance Committee made comments regarding the
proposed budget. Some of the issues he raised are as follows:
- The
Citizen’s Finance Committee meets throughout the year.
- Committee
members met with department heads and as always, the
department heads were very cooperative.
- During the
past three years the City has made a major effort to reshape
its delivery of services to Kirkwood citizens to become more
cost effective.
- These
measures have resulted in pay freezes, hiring freezes,
departmental restructuring, delayed funding of capital
projects and a substantial reduction of city staff.
- Cool
summers are have a significant impact on the City’s revenues
- Mission
Possible, a program where employees of the City submit ideas
on how to improve City operations, is very successful.
- There have
been pay and hiring freezes in affect for the past few
years.
- The Street
Division is down 10 people and this department has been
restructured.
- Pay scales
are on the bottom side of comparative cities.
- The City
of Kirkwood targeted to be at the 75th percentile
of other cities and Kirkwood hasn’t been at this target in
years.
- Some
Police Officers are earning $10,000 less than officers in
other communities.
- These
items are putting a strain on delivery of services.
- The
Citizen’s Finance Committee applauds the efforts of all
those involved in making Kirkwood more efficient and
accountable.
- For
several years the Citizen’s Finance Committee has
recommended a property tax to support operations of the
City.
- City must
continue to anticipate and plan for the long-range future of
the community, to take the tough action and the responsible
steps necessary to keep Kirkwood strong for future
generations.
Some of the
other issues discussed were:
- City must
urge everyone to contact Senator Gibbons and Representative
Rick Stream to object to the current AT&T proposal. Not
only is this money not going to cities, but the money that
AT&T has collected would go back to AT&T.
The following
individuals spoke regarding the issue:
1.
Charles Thornton, 351 Attucks, regarding legal expenses.
2.
Paul Ward, 224 South Geyer, regarding falling behind on
compensation for City employees, the need to correct the City’s
funding problem, and the need to leave a strong legacy.
The Citizen’s
Finance Committee was thanked for their continued dedication to
the community. Kirkwood is unique in that it has a formal
citizens committee in place to work closely in the development
and review of each year’s budget. It appears that the City
staff has done an outstanding job of containing costs, however,
there is still a challenge to deal with to keep Kirkwood the
highly regarded community it has always been.
There being no objection
from the council, the item became Bill 9777 and was placed on
the agenda under New Business as item 8.
Public
Hearing #2:
Mayor Swoboda recessed the meeting for the purpose of conducting
a public hearing on the Special Business District Budget for
Fiscal Year 20065-2007. Mr. Hessel entered the following
exhibits into the record: Mr. Hessel entered the following
exhibits into the record: An Affidavit of Publication in the St.
Louis Countian on February 10, 2007, attached to which is the
summary of the operating budget as Exhibit 1, the Notice of
Publication in the Webster-Kirkwood Times attached to which is
the summary of the operating budget as Exhibit 2, and the
Kirkwood Code of Ordinances as Exhibit 3.
Donna Poe, Executive Director, and Amie Riggs, Treasurer,
presented the matter to the council.
The budget being presented has been approved by the Special
Business District Board and was presented at the annual SBD
meeting. The following Summary of the Proposed Operating Budget
was presented:
Revenues:
Operating
Revenues $
300,500
Transfer from fund
balance $ 2,000
TOTAL
REVENUES
$ 302,500
Expenditures:
Administration
$ 250,895
Farmers’
Market
$ 51,605
TOTAL
EXPENDITURES
$ 302,500
The Special Business District Income
comes from real estate property tax, occupational licenses and
the Farmer’s Market. Issues relating to tentative events for
the district, planters, the Farmer’s Market, the continuation of
enhancements to promote a pedestrian-friendly district, and the
plan to sell more gift certificates were presented. SBD
Treasurer Jim Squires presented information on the proposed
budget that included items such as office operations,
enhancements, and the Farmer’s Market.
The Kirkwood SBD was the first Special
Business District in the State of Missouri and the Farmer’s
Market was ranked in Sauce Magazine only second to
Soulard Farmer’s Market.
The item was placed on the agenda as item
9 under New Business and became Bill 9778.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
1.
Mike Kearney, 326 Sugar Creek, spoke in support of a
property tax to rectify, improve and balance city funds
2.
Pat Soraghan, 714 Elm Tree, spoke in support of a
property tax and applauded the City Council for taking the
responsible step to move forward in this regard
3.
Charles Thornton, 351 Attucks, court case
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion was made by Council Member McDonnell and seconded by
Council Member Lynch to approve the Consent Agenda. The motion
to approve the Consent Agenda was unanimously approved as
follows:
a) Approval of the February 15, 2007, City Council
Meeting Minutes
b) Resolution 7-2007, transferring funds from the
Electric Department MISO Account to the Electricity Account
($500,000)
c) Resolution 8-2007, accepting the bid of Jim Taylor,
Inc. for the Community Center Roof Project ($323,844)
d) Resolution 9-2007, accepting the bid of World Wide
Technology, pursuant to State Contract, for three laptop
computers and docking station for the Fire Department ambulances
($13,544.64)
OLD BUSINESS
Bill 9768, amending the Kirkwood Code of Ordinances,
Chapter 14 “Motor Vehicles and Traffic,” Article II.
“Administration and Enforcement,” Division 3 “Enforcement,” by
adding a new Section 14-92 “Wheel Immobilization Device” was
brought before the council.
Roll Call Vote as Follows:
Council Member Godi “Yes”
Council Member
Griffin “Yes”
Council Member
Karr “Yes”
Council Member
Lynch “Yes”
Council Member McDonnell
“Yes”
Mayor
Swoboda “Yes”
Council Member Yuan “Yes”
The
bill, having received majority approval of the council, was
adopted and became Ordinance 9653.
Bill 9769A, appropriating $165,000 in additional
funding from the Parks and Recreation Sales Tax Fund Reserve to
Account 302-2001-600.75.03, Project PR0603 for roof repairs and
replacement at the Community Center was brought before the
council.
Roll Call Vote as Follows:
Council Member Godi “Yes”
Council Member
Griffin “Yes”
Council Member
Karr “Yes”
Council Member
Lynch “Yes”
Council Member McDonnell
“Yes”
Mayor Swoboda
“Yes”
Council Member Yuan “Yes”
The
bill, having received majority approval of the council, was
adopted and became Ordinance 9654.
NEW BUSINESS
Bill 9770, calling for an election within the City
of Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri, to be held on June 5,
2007, for the purpose of submitting to the qualified voters of
the City of Kirkwood, Missouri, the question of enacting a
general property tax of $0.34 on each $100 of assessed valuation
for the purpose of funding Fire, Emergency Medical Services,
Police, and other City government operations was brought before
the council. Motion was made by Council Member Lynch and
seconded by Council Member McDonnell to accept the bill for
first reading approval. Members of the City Council each made
comments regarding the need for this property tax.
Roll Call Vote as Follows:
Council Member Godi
“Yes”
Council Member
Griffin “Yes”
Council Member
Karr “Yes”
Council Member
Lynch “Yes”
Council Member
McDonnell “Yes”
Mayor
Swoboda
“Yes”
Council Member
Yuan “Yes”
The
bill received first reading approval and was held over.
Bill 9771, appropriating funds in the amount of
$25,000 from the Electric Fund Balance for a liability insurance
deductible was brought before the council. Motion was made by
Council Member Lynch and seconded by Council Member Karr to
accept the bill for first reading approval. The motion was
unanimously approved.
The
bill received first reading approval and was held over.
Bill 9772, appropriating funds in the amount of
$28,463 from the General Fund (fund balance) to various Police
Department expenditure accounts was brought before the council.
Motion was made by Council Member Godi and seconded by Council
Member Lynch to accept the bill for first reading approval. The
motion was unanimously approved.
The
bill received first reading approval and was held over.
Bill 9773, transferring funds in the amount of
$107,516 from Water Department expenditure accounts to salary
accounts was brought before the council. Motion was made by
Council Member McDonnell and seconded by Council Member Godi to
accept the bill for first reading approval. The motion was
unanimously approved.
The
bill received first reading approval and was held over.
Bill 9774, transferring funds in the amount of
$24,825 from a Street Division expenditure account to a Street
Department overtime salary account was brought before the
council. Motion was made by Council Member McDonnell and
seconded by Council Member Lynch to accept the bill for first
reading approval. The motion was unanimously approved.
The
bill received first reading approval and was held over.
Bill 9775, transferring funds in the amount of
$102,042.51 from Electric Department expenditure account
501-2115-480.75.15 to various Electric Department overtime
salary accounts was brought before the council. Motion was made
by Council Member Lynch and seconded by Council Member McDonnell
to accept the bill for first reading approval. The motion was
unanimously approved.
The
bill received first reading approval and was held over.
Bill 9776, appropriating funds in the amount of
$40,000 from the Capital 301 Fund to Account 301-1102-600.75.03,
Project AD0701 for unanticipated asbestos abatement at 236 East
Monroe was brought before the council. Motion was made by
Council Member McDonnell and seconded by Council Member Lynch to
accept the bill for first reading approval. Motion was made by
Mayor Swoboda and seconded by Council Member Griffin that the
amount of $40,000 wherever it appears in the bill be changed to
$45,000. The motion was unanimously approved. The motion to
accept the bill for first reading was unanimously approved.
The
amended bill received first reading approval and was held over.
Bill 9777, adopting and approving the
operating and capital budgets for the City of Kirkwood for the
year April 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008, and appropriating
such sums as are set forth herein for all departments and the
accounts therein specified, for all expenditures of the city of
such year, which appropriations total $44,224,342, capital
projects of $3,760,522, and appropriating the sum of $1,138,143
for payment of principal, interest and bank fees for bonded
indebtedness from the debt service fund; and reappropriating
$8,328,359 for previously approved 2006/2007 projects that will
be incomplete as of March 31, 2007, was brought before the
council. Motion was made by Council Member McDonnell and
seconded by Council Member Karr to accept the bill for first
reading approval. The motion was unanimously approved.
The bill received first reading approval
and was held over.
Bill 9778, approving the
budget of the Special Business District in the amount of
$302,500 for the fiscal year April 1, 2007 through March 31,
2008, was brought before the council. Motion was made by
Council Member Godi and seconded by Council Member Lynch to
accept the bill for first reading approval. The motion was
unanimously approved.
The bill received first reading approval
and was held over.
CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR
DISCUSSION
NONE
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Mayor Swoboda reported that the last performance of
the Wind Symphony will take place on Sunday, March 4th
at 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Swoboda reminded everyone of the Saturday at
the Station meeting this Saturday with the speaker being Police
Chief Jack Plummer.
Mayor Swoboda noted that crews
from Arbor Masters/Shawnee Mission Tree Service completed storm
debris collection throughout the City. Arbor Masters’ crews,
with City monitors from the Engineering Office and Street
Division, worked long days and on Saturdays to clean up the
debris as rapidly as possible
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER REPORTS
Mr. Brown read the following
report of the Planning and Zoning Commission’s February 21, 2007
meeting:
1.
Recommended approval of a Special Use Permit for a
restaurant in Suite 100 at 200 South Kirkwood Road (Station
Plaza) known as POPtions. The next available Public Hearing
date is March 15, 2007.
2.
Approved the final draft of the City of Kirkwood
Comprehensive Plan Vision 2015 dated January 8, 2007, prepared
by Permit Consultants with attached revisions on Special Focus
Areas.
Mr. Brown
reported that the City received a request from Wal-Mart to pace
a tent in the parking lot for the purpose of selling Garden
Center merchandise during remodeling. The tent would be in the
parking lot from April 15 through June 21 and the tent size is
35 feet wide by 50 feet long. The location of the tent will be
on the parking lot due west from the Garden Center gates on the
north end of the parking lot and would take up 18 parking
spaces. Motion was made by Council Member Lynch and seconded by
Council Member Godi to approve the request. The motion was
unanimously approved.
Mr. Brown
mentioned that the Neighborhood Volunteer/Crime Prevention
Dinner will take place on March 8, 2007, at the Kirkwood
Community Center and will begin at 6:30 p.m.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
Mr. Hessel had nothing to
report.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to
come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:43 p.m.
The next regular council meeting was scheduled for March 15,
2007, at 7:00 p.m.
Approved: March 15, 2007 |
