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August 17, 2009 Economic Development Retail sales Tax Board Meeting Minutes In attendance were Board members Ellen Bern, Janet Wilson, Tim Tucker, and Rosalyn Williams. Also in attendance were Joe Edwards, Eric Klein, Joe Adams, Shelley Welsch, Lynn Ricci, Evelyn Shields Bedford, Lehman Walker, Nancy McCarthy, Angela Gutierrez and Andrea Riganti. Janet Wilson opened the meeting at 4 pm. Tim Tucker motioned approval of the June 1 minutes. Ellen Bern seconded and the motion carried. Director of Public Works Evelyn Shields Bedford presented the Olive Enhancement plan. Due to the economy the plan has been revised to include retrofitting the new lights. The City got state approval to change curbs from asphalt to concrete. The City also plans to replace the scratched glass in the bus shelters. Design work that cost $213,000 for replacing curbs and sidewalks has been done. We can stop working on the Olive Enhancement Plan but she is not sure if the City would become liable for paying for the design cost which has been paid out of the grant. Eric Klein asked if we could spend money to replace the dead trees on Olive and provide funds to maintain them. Nancy McCartney said that the trees on Olive between Woodson and I-170 are part of the Greenway Project and the City has asked Greenway to replant the trees. Also, the City just completed a forestry study and now any department that plants trees must have communication with the Forestry department so that they can be maintained. Rosalind Williams asked about how much of the grant has been done and requested a plan summary. Joe Edwards presented the Planet Walk project. The total cost is $20,000 and he asked for the Board to fund $10,000.The City of St. Louis is paying the other $10,000. Shelley Welsch asked Joe to consider solar panels and lights to be incorporated into each sign. Ellen Bern asked if a Pluto sign could be added near the library. Ellen Bern motioned to approve $10,000 for the Planet Walk. Tim Tucker seconded and the motion carried. Lehman Walker reviewed recommendations from the Advisory Board for Economic Progress study. One issue discussed was that there still is no staff person who is dedicated only to economic development although this was strongly recommended in the report. It was discussed that this report should be revisited on a regular basis. Board members were invited and encouraged to attend the Olive marketing plan meeting scheduled for next week. Lehman Walker updated the group on the status of Olive property purchases. It was agreed to schedule a meeting in late September and to focus on the budget. Respectfully submitted, Ellen Bern, Secretary