2009-09-21 Regular City Council Session

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the new driving range. The commission was to receive periodic reports on the operations, including the revenue and expenses. Mr. Field stated that they of yet have not received any reports on the expenses. He was told that it was too hard to break out the expenses but thought it would be easy to establish a comparison of what electricity cost was before and what it is now; recreational supplies, golf balls, would be for the driving range. The actual performance of the driving range can only be found when expenses are subtracted from the revenue received. Robert Davoli, 7378 Milan Mr. Davoli stated that he and his colleagues were collecting signatures for a state audit of University City in front of the University City Library. He stated that Elliot Davis from Channel Two News joined them to interview and record their efforts. Shortly after the news crew left, he continued alone to collect signatures and a University City policeman stopped him and said he could not stand where he was, as it was federal property. The officer asked him for his ID and he stated he did not have it with him. The officer then asked for his name, date of birth, phone number, weight, height and his social security number. Mr. Davoli felt like his identity was being compromised. Paulette Carr, 7901 Gannon Ms. Carr stated that she received an email from Mr. Davoli warning petitioners that he was instructed by University City police officers that anyone standing in front of the post office would be ticketed for obstructing traffic coming to and from the post office. Ms. Carr stated she went into the post office to see if anyone there had a complaint or complained to the police about their petitioning. They told her that they did not call and really could not see what was going on outside. She then checked with the police department to determine which ordinance her petitioner had violated. The police department stated that someone had called in a complaint but would not give her a name. They then told her that the petitioners were violating 9.08.040 of University City’s Municipal Code “Disturbing the Peace.” She stated that she has contacted the ACLU to be sure that the petitioner’s rights will be protected and free from harassment. Ms. Carr asked for a copy of the complaint. Kevin Feeley, 7320 Colgate Mr. Feeley complimented the University City police department as being one of the best. He could not imagine the U City police bothering with a man carrying a clipboard unless instructions from a superior were involved. He stated that the petition for the audit is to hold public officials accountable. Mae Etta Weston, 1595 Mendell Ms. Weston stated say she is excited about some of the things planned for the Olive Street redevelopment but she wanted to address what is happening in the area now. Ms. Weston stated that some times it feels like she lives in the forgotten land. She knows there are plans for the area but reality is now. When she looks down Olive between North & South and Woodson Road, she sees a cleaners boarded up, used appliance store with appliances being displayed outside, an adult daycare center with painted hand written signage, two dollar stores, two thrift stores, the dragon dance troop displaying flags, maybe a Mexican restaurant but she did not know because the menu was not in English. Stores of interest have closed liked the $29.95 shoe store because they could not afford to reopen after the flood and