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January, 2009 Honorable Mayor and City Council: As required by the City Charter, each year the City Manager’s Office provides Council with the Annual Administrative Report. This report covers July 2007 through June 2008. Historically, it is distributed in November, but due to extenuating circumstances that occurred in the City in the late summer and fall with the flood on September 13, 2008 and the murder and funeral of Sergeant Michael King, and delay in Council’s ability to review and approve the goals, this report is being distributed later than planned. It contains data for the fiscal year ending in 2008. During FY08, City departments were adjusting to the first round of layoffs and other service cuts that occurred effective July 1, 2007. Seventeen positions were eliminated and many other actions were taken in FY08 to reduce the City’s expenses. Bulk waste and recreation programs were reduced, CityScape and the Recreation Guide were combined, professional development was cut in half, vehicle replacement schedules were extended, computer replacement was extended from 3 to 4 years, the Senior Service Board funding was phased out in transition to St. Louis County’s CORP program, police overtime and part-time salaries were reduced, maintenance of streets, sidewalks, curbs and alleys were substantially reduced, replacement of telephone set were cut by two/thirds, mapping software for Community Development and the Police Departments was delayed, the Board and Commission Appreciation Dinner was eliminated, Summer Employment Appreciation Event was not funded, apparel for public safety workers was reduced, new police vehicle emergency lights and replacement of outdated shotguns were postponed, ambulance replacement was postponed and the Automated Vehicle Locator System for Public Works was not funded. On the revenue enhancement side, the City began its Delinquent Trash Bill Collection program and passed an ordinance increasing non-moving violation fines and penalties. Despite the downsizing of staff and other reductions, the departments have functioned well. More creativity in how to provide quality service and aggressive applications for grant funding increased. Our employees are hard-working dedicated public servants who have been asked to do more with less. In FY 08, aggregate number of positions eliminated increased to 36 including the elimination of the Public Relations Department. I am pleased to report staff once again made great strides in accomplishing goals set by staff and Council, including: 1. Commercial and Retail Development. 2. Housing and Development that strengthens neighborhoods and encourages growth. 3. Financial Stability and Long Term Vitality. 4. Streamlined and Strengthened Municipal Operations. Identified methods of collections of delinquent trash bills and non-moving parking fines; Navigated the path to the construction of a driving range at Ruth Park in order raise funds and create a self-sustaining golf course through multi-jurisdictional grant application for a learning center; Developed a strategy for interaction between the City and the School District; Began the process of acquiring land in the Third Ward for green housing development to help ï