2010-02-08 Regular City Council Agenda

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Mr. Wagner stated he has heard from many residents on this lighting concern. He noted that as was said in the presentation that this is a fairness issue and he does not understand why there has been talk about subdivisions as all lighting changes in the City will be treated the same. Mr. Wagner stated that the same rules should be applied to all. Mr. Glickert asked Ms. Feier if the City has looked at some stimulus funds to change the lights that are costing more money which in turn is causing problems on all of the City’s street. Ms. Feier noted that the rate Ameren charges is not dependent on the lighting used. She noted that the City could try to get stimulus founds for removing and/or buying the lighting poles. Mr. Glickert asked what the private subdivisions will go home with tonight from this conversation. Ms. Feier said that they should go home tonight knowing that there is a study underway that should be completed by end of spring at which time a letter will go out to the subdivisions. Mayor Adams said everyone needs to understand that even if a light is out, Ameren still charges for that light. Mr. Crow said that everyone needs to keep in mind that we are at the beginning of a process and it is good to have the conversation now. The Council has never been presented with turning out lights or discussed it so he is glad to have this conversation now. He noted that until the study is done will there be any decisions made and if they felt they were not be communicated with enough, to please let them know. Mr. Price asked the City Manager about his concern over the long term solution as Ameren will keep increasing their rates. He said we should be getting all the information on the conversion from rental to ownership basis to prevent being tied to the will of Ameren versus ownership. 2. Interim Community Development Director Ms. Riganti updated Council on TIF Commission activities and the potential Cunningham Park expansion. Ms. Riganti stated the purpose of TIF is a development incentive to encourage redevelopment within a defined area. Funds from a TIF can be used for acquisitions, site preparations and installation of site improvements. University City has decided to use TIF districts judiciously and strategically and we currently have two. The first was the Olive Central TIF district created in November 1988 which boundaries are the commercial properties on the north and south side of Olive Blvd. between Midland to just west of the Westover Center. Just recently the City has been acquiring properties within the TIF district and this proactive economic development activity is consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan which states the physical and economical redevelopment of Olive Blvd is the City’s highest priority. Advantages are the ability for the City to land-bank property to control and influence development, to assemble tracts of land into a large developable parcel and to facilitate the successful transformation of Olive into a destination rather than a transportation channel. Ms. Riganti stated that to date twelve parcels have been acquired. A design charette and an open house were held for input. The second area the City has targeted is Olive at Midland and has purchased six properties so far. Ms. Riganti emphasized that despite the economy the City has maintained its vision and philosophy of only attracting a high quality developer of these properties. The second active TIF is Kingsland Walk created in November 2009, with boundaries of the southeast corner of Vernon and Kingsland. Once completed the development will include ninety-eight residential units and 20,000 square feet of retail space. This is still in the early stages. Ms. Riganti gave a report of the Council’s request for the expansion of Cunningham Industrial 9