KIRKWOOD CITY HALL
March 20, 2008
7:00 p.m.

Pursuant to notice of meeting duly given by the Mayor, the City Council convened on Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at Kirkwood City Hall, 139 South Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood, Missouri.  Present were Council Members Godi (via telephone), McDonnell, Ward, Yuan, and Deputy Mayor Griffin.   Also in attendance were Chief Administrative Officer Michael Brown and City Attorney John Hessel.  Mayor Swoboda was absent and excused.

RECOGNITION

            Deputy Mayor Griffin recognized lifelong Kirkwood resident Mike Cox who explained his plans to support the USO by walking to Washington, D.C.  He will leave Kirkwood City Hall on March 28, 2008 and walk along U.S. Highway 50 through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and Virginia to reach the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C.  Mr. Cox believes he will arrive on May 5^th.  He will lay a wreath in memorial to all those who have served and hopefully bring attention to his cause of improving the daily lives of soldiers.  Mr. Cox’s son Jay is currently serving in Iraq.  The City Council wished Mr. Cox good luck in this endeavor.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE – COMMUNITY RELATIONS SERVICE

Deputy Mayor Griffin advised that he received a voicemail message a few weeks after the February 7, 2007 incident from the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service regarding facilitating mediation services.  There are alleged allegations of racial issues and Deputy Mayor Griffin and other city officials believe it would be best to use experts outside of Kirkwood.  The Community Relations Service was created by the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  A meeting took place with Police Chief Jack Plummer, CAO Mike Brown, and Council Member Art McDonnell this afternoon with a representative this afternoon.  The goal is to determine what issues exist and what issues don’t exist and residents from the entire community would be involved in the process.  The community-wide project will be guided by the Community Relations Service and not by the City of Kirkwood.  The City Council believes this type of process will help in Kirkwood and will be very positive.

After discussion, a motion was made by Council Member McDonnell and seconded by Council Member Ward to engage the services of the U.S. Department of Justice – Community Relations Service.  The motion was unanimously approved.

Deputy Mayor Griffin reported that there is a website that has a lot of information about the U. S. Department of Justice-Community Relations Service.  The website address is: www.usdoj.gov.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

NONE

PUBLIC COMMENT

            The following individuals spoke before the Council:

1.         Jack Reis, 818 Elm Tree Lane, has lived in Kirkwood for 31 years and has served on various boards and commissions.  He congratulated the City Council for what they do and believes derogatory remarks that have been made are not deserved.

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion was made by Council Member McDonnell and seconded by Council Member Yuan to approve the Consent Agenda.  The motion to approve the Consent Agenda was unanimously approved as follows:

a)         Approval of the February 21, 2008, City Council Meeting Minutes

b)         Resolution 14-2008, transferring funds from full-time salary accounts to part-time ice rink account ($10,200)

c)         Resolution 15-2008, transferring funds from the Transmission Account to the Electricity Account for payment of wholesale energy bill ($100,000)

d)         Resolution 16-2008, transferring funds between two Park and Recreation related sales tax projects to complete the Central Ridge Phase 2 project ($14,000)

e)         Resolution 17-2008, accepting the bid of LeBeau Painting Company for the Aquatic Center Pool Painting-Lazy River Project ($16,850)

f)          Resolution 18-2008, accepting the bid of Landsign, LLC for the retaining wall and concrete walk installation for the Parks and Recreation Department ($10,580)

g)         Resolution 19-2008, approving new members for the Market Committee

h)         Resolution 20-2008, appointing Paul Paese to the Library Board to fill an unexpired term

i)          Resolution 22-2008, transferring funds for law enforcement equipment ($9,600)

OLD BUSINESS

            Bill 9876, appropriating $75,000 from the General Fund (fund balance) to Street Department overtime and salt accounts was brought before the council. 

Roll Call Vote as Follows: *In accordance with Section 610.015 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, while Council Member Godi participated in the meeting by phone he is not allowed to participate in roll call votes. 

            Council Member Godi                            *

            Deputy Mayor Griffin                                        “Yes”

            Council Member McDonnell                             “Yes”

            Council Member Ward                         “Yes”

            Council Member Yuan                          “Yes”

The bill, having received majority approval of the council, was adopted and became Ordinance 9755.

            Bill 9877, appropriating funds in the amount of $45,000 from the Electric Fund (Fund Balance) for costs associated with the Electric Department services in assisting the City of Jackson was brought before the council. 

Roll Call Vote as Follows: *In accordance with Section 610.015 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, while Council Member Godi participated in the meeting by phone he is not allowed to participate in roll call votes. 

            Council Member Godi                            *

            Deputy Mayor Griffin                                        “Yes”

            Council Member McDonnell                             “Yes”

            Council Member Ward                         “Yes”

            Council Member Yuan                          “Yes”

The bill, having received majority approval of the council, was adopted and became Ordinance 9756.

            Bill 9878, transferring funds in the amount of $15,000 from a salary account to vehicle parts/repair account and gas accounts was brought before the council. 

Roll Call Vote as Follows: *In accordance with Section 610.015 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, while Council Member Godi participated in the meeting by phone he is not allowed to participate in roll call votes. 

            Council Member Godi                            *

            Deputy Mayor Griffin                                        “Yes”

            Council Member McDonnell                             “Yes”

            Council Member Ward                         “Yes”

            Council Member Yuan                          “Yes”

The bill, having received majority approval of the council, was adopted and became Ordinance 9757.

            Bill 9879, appropriating $8,000 from the General Fund (fund balance) to Account 101-1201-421.66.21 for equipment for additional Police Officers was brought before the council. 

Roll Call Vote as Follows: *In accordance with Section 610.015 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, while Council Member Godi participated in the meeting by phone he is not allowed to participate in roll call votes. 

            Council Member Godi                            *

            Deputy Mayor Griffin                                        “Yes”

            Council Member McDonnell                             “Yes”

            Council Member Ward                         “Yes”

            Council Member Yuan                          “Yes”

The bill, having received majority approval of the council, was adopted and became Ordinance 9758.

            Motion was made by Council Member Yuan and seconded by Council Member Ward to bring Substitute Bill 9880 on the floor for consideration.  The motion was unanimously approved.  Substitute Bill 9880, adopting and approving the operating and capital budgets for the City of Kirkwood for the year April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009, 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 $52,404,901, capital projects of $4,905,210,  and appropriating the sum of $1,187,032  for payment of principal, interest and  bank fees for bonded indebtedness from the debt service fund;  and reappropriating $5,166,340 for previously approved 2007/2008 projects that will be incomplete as of March 31, 2008 was brought before the council. 

Roll Call Vote as Follows: *In accordance with Section 610.015 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, while Council Member Godi participated in the meeting by phone he is not allowed to participate in roll call votes. 

            Council Member Godi                            *

            Deputy Mayor Griffin                                        “Yes”

            Council Member McDonnell                             “Yes”

            Council Member Ward                         “Yes”

            Council Member Yuan                          “Yes”

The bill, having received majority approval of the council, was adopted and became Ordinance 9759.

            Bill 9881, approving the budget of the Special Business District in the amount of $282,200 for the fiscal year April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009 was brought before the council. 

Roll Call Vote as Follows: *In accordance with Section 610.015 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, while Council Member Godi participated in the meeting by phone he is not allowed to participate in roll call votes. 

            Council Member Godi                            *

            Deputy Mayor Griffin                                        “Yes”

            Council Member McDonnell                             “Yes”

            Council Member Ward                         “Yes”

            Council Member Yuan                          “Yes”

The bill, having received majority approval of the council, was adopted and became Ordinance 9760.

NEW BUSINESS

            Bill 9882, granting a Special Use Permit to Parktown Imports to remodel the existing building and utilize the site at 10256 Manchester Road as a New Car Sales Office subject to certain conditions was brought before the council.  Motion was made by Council Member Yuan 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 9883, adopting a revised City of Kirkwood Classification and Pay Plan was brought before the council.  Motion was made by Council Member McDonnell and seconded by Council Member Ward to accept the bill for first reading approval.  The motion was unanimously approved.

The bill received first reading approval and was held over.

            Resolution 23-2008, calling for an election within the City of Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri, to be held on August 5, 2008, for the purpose of submitting to the qualified voters of the City of Kirkwood, Missouri, candidates to fill the unexpired term of Council Member Connie Karr to April 2010 was brought before the council.  Motion was made by Council Member Yuan and seconded by Council Member McDonnell to accept the resolution as read. 

Roll Call Vote as Follows: *In accordance with Section 610.015 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, while Council Member Godi participated in the meeting by phone he is not allowed to participate in roll call votes. 

            Council Member Godi                            *

            Deputy Mayor Griffin                                        “Yes”

            Council Member McDonnell                             “Yes”

            Council Member Ward                         “Yes”

            Council Member Yuan                          “Yes”

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

NONE

CITY COUNCIL REPORTS

            Council Member McDonnell announced that Kirkwood recycling started on March 18, 1971.  The first recycling container was located at McDonnell’s Market.

            Council Member Godi said he appreciates everything the City Council and City Hall staff members are doing.  He thanked City Clerk Montaño for delivering meeting material and mail to him and Public Information Officer Claire Budd for assuring that he could participate in the meeting via telephone.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER REPORTS

Mr. Brown reported that there was no official action by the Planning and Zoning Commission at its March 19, 2008 meeting.

CITY ATTORNEY REPORT

            Mr. Hessel had nothing to report.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned.  The next regular council meeting was scheduled for April 3, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.