SEPTEMBER 12, 2006

All committee members, Bliss, Bond, Farris, Hall, Knudsen, Miller, Spitzer, and City Information Office Claire Budd were present for the organizational meeting of the Committee. Eight members of the public were also present.

Committee Purpose/Goals/Outcomes Described

Purpose - Undertake a review of the city’s communication with the public.

Goals - . Assist in strengthening and improving communication between the city and the public

. Increase understanding of how Kirkwood functions

. Provide a non-threatening avenue for citizens, council, and officials to

to interact for the greater good of Kirkwood.

. Help citizens overcome reluctance to become involved in community issues.

Outcomes - Recommendations to the city related to the purpose and goals of the project.

Communication Information

. Committee members received binders with samples of written information currently available.

. A significant amount of written material about city boards and commissions is available.

. A packet of information about Kirkwood is made available each year to the 700 to 1,000 persons who obtain occupancy permits.

. City billing inserts reach all Kirkwood households. Bills are mailed daily.

Committee Action

. With input from all in attendance the attached list of concerns and ideas was generated.

. Endorsed plans to promote E-News - see # 6 on attached list.

. Recommended implementation of items # 8 and 9 on attached list.

. Determined that the committee’s initial efforts of the committee will focus on soliciting information and suggestions from a broad cross section of the community.

. Committee members will observe city meetings as follows: City Council - Miller; Park Board - Knudsen; Board of Adjustment - Bond; Planning & Zoning - Bliss. Other members will observe as schedules permit.

. Announced that committee meeting summaries will be available on the city’s web site.

. Set the committee’s next two meeting dates for September 26 and October 17. Meeting times will be 7:00 p.m. in the downstairs meeting room at City Hall

Attachment to Communication Committee September 12, 2006 Meeting Summary

Concerns and Ideas listed in order in which they were raised

Communication Concerns

. Lack of timely and definitive information about developing issues

. Need to counter to misinformation

. Lack of response to concerns raised by individuals

. Sense of general negative feeling about changes occurring in the city

. Frustration with one way dialogue

. Lack of understanding about financial matters

. Lack of understanding and confusion about the responsibilities, financing and autonomy of Park Board, Housing Authority, and Library District.

. The speed with which misinformation and rumors spread through e-mails

. A need to focus on the positive

. Need help in identifying who to go to in city with specific problems/concerns

. Negatives seem easily communicated. How surface the positives.

. Lack of respect shown individuals who raise concerns

Communication Ideas

1. Series of meeting/classes on “get to know your city”. Three communities were identified as using this kind of a process.

2. A reverse call system for use in emergencies

3. Billings inserts to solicit information about communication and suggestions. Sixty percent return rate on insert used three years ago to solicit information.

4. Series of informational and input meetings held throughout the city - using school, church sites.

5. Provide information about the status of Station Plaza & general information about the City at Station Plaza - a town crier/kiosk

6. Preparations underway to include E-News sign up info in new resident packets.

7. Community survey - Use prior survey results as baseline for comparative purposes.

8. Have multiple copies of board/commission roles/responsibilities available at all meetings of same.

9. Provide list of information sources

10. Promote city web site & E-News

11. Review and adapt organizational chart on St. Louis City’s web site for Kirkwood.