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Session 1923 June 7, 2004 it was a corruption of his response to a line in The Loop letter which said, "We hope you do not make any hasty decisions about this." Mr. Wagner affirmed that the Council does not make hasty decisions to accommodate requests. Mayor Adams said his change was geared to avoiding hasty decisions on both parts, and Mr. Wagner said that the Mayor's meaning is not clear. Mr. Wagner suggested that by inserting a comma, clarification could be achieved. Mayor Adams said that in his letter he alluded to future propositions by business owners, and Mr. Wagner said his response was to a specific letter in which The Loop owners admonished the Council to not make hasty decisions. Mr. Wagner's letter was a specific response to that admonition, affirming that the Council would not act hastily. Ms. Brot agreed with Councilmember Wagner, that the Council had been attacked, and she approved of his letter and what it expressed. Ms. Brungardt asked about the steps which gave rise to the letter from The Loop owners, specifically whether developers had asked for and were given permission to speak with business owners. Mayor Adams said the Council does not issue permission or deny permission to developers to speak to whomever they wish, and that this question is irrelevant. The Council; however, is limited as to what it can and cannot say. Ms. Brungardt then asked how and why various parts of the Council's discussion became "public knowledge." Mayor Adams responded that a developer approached and spoke to owners and renters of property in The Loop because the question had been raised for the Council to meet with them in Executive Session. Mayor Adam's response to their approach was that it was not possible, because the developers had made their proposal public knowledge; once confidentiality is breached, it is not possible to meet in Executive Session to hear their requests. The City Attorney agreed with the Mayor's position. Mayor Adams said the Council cannot control whether comments made by developers are truthful or not. Mr. Wagner pointed out that the crux of the matter is that no plan has been presented. Then he made a third comment, based upon the next-to-last paragraph in the letter which begins, "We cannot accede to your request .... "Mr. Wagner proposed using these words instead: "We urge you to express your concerns to the Plan Commission as we prepare a new Comprehensive Plan for development in City of University City." Mr. Wagner stated that a letter to The Loop owners should include the three changes he mentioned, under the Mayor's signature. Mayor Adams added that this Council cannot bind a future Council to an action. Ms. Colquitt does not want to send a letter before allowing business owners to comment to the Council. Mr. Wagner pointed out that The Loop owners initiated the matter by sending letters to the Council, and, therefore, there should be an immediate "in-kind" response as soon as possible. If they want to address the Council they may, but to delay the response now would "kill the effectiveness of it." He affirmed that there should be an immediate and clearly-stated response to accusations they have made and it should be Page 7