2010-05-17 Regular City Council Session

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N. CITIZEN COMMENTS Elsie Glickert, 6712 Etzel Ms. Glickert addressed the Council and management that on duty firefighters attend these meetings. At a previous Council meeting this became aware to her that they were on duty when they were as a group of pigeons and took off but could not fly as they were on the fifth floor. They are first responders for emergencies and did not belong on the fifth floor while on duty. Ms. Glickert stated the south Loop should not be one way as the businesses there need to ingress and regress from there parking lots. Edward McCarthy, 7101 Princeton Ave. Mr. McCarthy asked that the dates on Bill 9075 be tightened up and asked Council to amend and tightened up the fifteen and thirty days as it has been going on far too long. He would like to see the development begin and stated the developer has a lot of money in it. Mr. McCarthy felt it would not move along without the threat of condemnation. O. COUNCIL COMMENTS Ms. Ricci provided Council with her Council comments and asked the City Clerk to make a part of the record. She is concerned with the Youth Employment Program as she has previously noted. Ms. Ricci would like the Council to look in to it as if the City is only offering this to University City High School, it is not appropriate. The City has 1700 kids that this applies to, 700 go to non U-City schools. There is a constituency there that cannot be excluded. Ms. Ricci asked Ms. Watson to report to Council what the process was and how all youths of University City of qualifying ages were engaged in this. Ms. Watson stated that the full program was intended to cover University City but this was just a pilot program to check it out to see how it would work and had very little time to advertise as it was near the end of the school year and her answer was yes. Ms. Ricci also asked if there was anything presently going on and Ms. Watson responded by saying no. Ms. Watson stated that a Coordinator was hired but has since left to take another position, so are finishing out this period without a coordinator until it can be discussed during budget process. Ms. Ricci asked Ms. Watson to keep the Council informed of the program’s status. Lastly Ms. Ricci stated that she understand that there were certain citizens that wanted her to be part of the audiences but she was not able to be present. She stated that she is always available for anyone who would want to talk to her directly. Democracy is all about sharing information and every one’s opinion is important to her and the Council. Mr. Glickert thanked Ms. Kennell for her ideas in moving University City along but did want to mention that we are probably a victim of the City’s own success as the bicycle shop she mentioned, Big Shark was once a business in University City for many years but expanded out of area. He mentioned the Council retreat and its success. He noted the facilitator moved Council along and because of her success the Council was able to crank out a policy statement a mission goals and objectives that all will be able to see. Mr. Glickert stated he hoped all would look at, scrutinize them and challenge the Council to abide by them. Mayor Welsch stated the Council retreat was the first step in a long term strategic planning process and will be sharing the document following this retreat. She noted the Council will be working over the next nine months to come up with a long term strategic plan and there will be plenty of times for the citizens to give input to that process. Lastly she wanted citizens in the flood area that the City has not forgotten them and will continue to encourage the legislators in Washington to move forward on the legislation. Mayor Welsch asked Ms. Watson to give all the citizens an update of what has been going on and where we presently stand. 8