KIRKWOOD CITY HALL

April 17, 2008

7:00 p.m.

Pursuant to notice of meeting duly given by the Mayor, the City Council convened on Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at Kirkwood City Hall, 139 South Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood, Missouri.  Present were Council Members Godi, 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. 

Deputy Mayor Griffin welcomed Council Member Godi back.  While participating in meetings by phone since January, this is his first meeting that he has attended since that time and he was welcomed back with a strong round of applause.

MAYOR SWOBODA

            Mayor Swoboda was present to make a statement and be present for presentations that were made.  This is the first meeting that Mayor Swoboda has attended since the tragedy on February 7, 2008.  The City Council was welcomed to their seats with a standing ovation from the audience.  Mayor Swoboda was greeted with a long standing ovation as he took his seat on the dais to read his remarks.  Mayor Swoboda left the meeting at the conclusion of the Presentations portion of the meeting.

PRESENTATIONS

            The 27^th District Masons presented two proclamations, one for the City and one for the Police Department.  Mayor Swoboda is a member of the Masons.  The proclamations are signed by the District Deputy Grand Masters.

            Representative Rick Stream presented two proclamations one from Senator Gibbons who was unable to attend and one from the House of Representatives.  Since both proclamations were similar in nature, Representative Stream read the proclamation approved by the House. 

            Dr. David Damerall and other representatives of the Kirkwood R7 School District were in attendance and spoke about the annual Thanksgiving morning breakfast that Mayor Swoboda has attended.  Everyone in attendance at this breakfast talks about the years they graduated from Kirkwood High School.  Mayor Swoboda is a graduate of Normandy High School.  The Kirkwood School District determined that a way to honor Mayor Swoboda was to present him with an honorary diploma, cap and gown from Kirkwood High School.

            Tom Huber of the Lions Club donated $630 for new council chamber chairs and renovations and spoke as a representative of the Saturday Morning Breakfast Club.  The group meets at Spencer’s and is proud to have Mayor Swoboda as a member.  He thanked each of the Council Members for the services they provide to the citizens of Kirkwood.

            Pat Hessel, spoke on behalf of a group of individuals that are organizing a fundraising event for the victims of the February 7, 2008 tragedy with the theme of Friends, Family, Forever.  The event will take place on Saturday, September 27, 2008 at the Des Peres Lodge from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.  The cost will be $75 per person and the evening will include food, music, etc.  The logo for the event has a five-pointed star in the center to honor the five victims.  The five petals represent Love, Hope, Peace, Understanding and Healing.  The group is looking for corporate sponsors for the fundraiser.

Newly elected officials Gerry Biedenstein and Gina Jaksetic were recognized and Boy Scouts from Troop 352 (Keysor) who were in attendance.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

NONE

PUBLIC COMMENT

NONE

CONSENT AGENDA

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

a)         Approval of the April 3, 2008 Council Meeting Minutes

b)         Resolution 30-2008, renewing the contract with Delta Dental for employee dental insurance ($96,520)

OLD BUSINESS

            Bill 9884, amending Chapter 14, Section 14-393, “Schedule C: No Parking” by adding Attucks Street, North Side, 300 and 400 blocks was brought before the council. 

            Roll Call Vote as Follows:

            Council Member Godi                          “Yes”

            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 9763.

            Bill 9885, terminating the designation of a portion of the City of Kirkwood, Missouri, as a redevelopment area, dissolving the special allocation fund related to the redevelopment area and authorizing certain actions relating thereto was brought before the council. 

            Roll Call Vote as Follows:

            Council Member Godi                          “Yes”

            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 9764.

NEW BUSINESS

            Resolution 29-2008, amending Resolution 4-2002A that approved the site plan for a mixed-use development on the properties now known and numbered as 100 and 200 South Kirkwood Road, and referred to as Station Plaza, to allow 5,000 square feet of non-retail use on the first floor of a building along Kirkwood Road was brought before the council.  Motion was made by Council Member McDonnell and seconded by Council Member Ward to accept the resolution as read.

            Roll Call Vote as Follows:

            Council Member Godi                          “Yes”

            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 Ward announced that Kathie Stephey, Administrative Secretary to the Chief Administrative Officer will marry Dave Valentine from the Kirkwood Electric Department.

            Council Member McDonnell advised that the Library Book Sale is taking place at Station Plaza and thanked Station Plaza for donating the space for the sale.

            Council Member Ward announced that there will be a meeting of the Community Unity and Healing group on May 3^rd.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER REPORTS

Ms. Ragland read the following report of the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting of April 16, 2008:

1.         Unanimously recommended approval of a special use permit for a Qdoba restaurant in the Woodbine Center at 481 South Kirkwood Road.  The public hearing for this issue was scheduled for June 5, 2008.

2.         Unanimously recommended approval an amended B5 Development Plan for a retail building at 1263 South Kirkwood Road.  A resolution will be prepared for council consideration.

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 May 1, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.