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Session 1234, Minutes Page 3 December 17, 1979 CITIZEN COIIMETIT ON GROSS RECEIPTS UTILITY TAX REPEAL Mr. Raymond G. Hilgenbrink, 8341 Cornell Avenue, asked to address the Council. Mr. Hilgenbrink felt the gross receipts utility tax should be repealed, and asked the City government to be more prudent and economical in its management. Mr. William B. Hillis, 7434 Stratford Avenue, asked to address the Council. Mr. Hil- lis also felt the utility tax should be repealed, saying it had doubled in recent years, as utility costs have doubled, and it falls on people who are least able to pay. Mr. Willard F. Peace, 1347 Midland Drive, asked to address the Council. He said he felt the Council was not representing him, since he would like to see the utility tax repealed. Mrs. Frieda I. Hillis, 7434 Stratford, asked to address the Council. She also spoke in favor of repeal of the utility tax. T1s Patricia Forster, 7438 Stratford, asked to address the Council. She agreed with the previous speakers. Ms Forster asked why counsel was hired in this matter, feel- ing it was a waste of funds. Mayor Mooney agreed that it was a waste of funds, but said when the City is confronted by a group of people who want to take action against the City, the Council is obligated under its oath of office to defend the City, and it's necessary to hire counsel to ensure that the proper legal steps are taken. Tls Forster asked if the attorneys were investigating the petition or the law on this matter, and Councilman Metcalfe said they were giving an interpretation of the Chart- er as to whether the petition was a legitimate petition under University City's Charter and Missouri law. Mr. Elliott Waxman, 847 Westgate, Vice Chairman of ACORN, asked to address the Coun- cil. Mr. Waxman said he felt Council should put this issue on the ballot. He feels the utility tax is an unfair tax and a burden on the poor. APPOINTME TITS Councilman Adams moved the appointment of Mrs. Mary Ann Hartigan, 7330 Chamberlain, to the Traffic Commission, for a term expiring January 21, 1983. The motion was seconded by Councilman Sabol and carried unanimously. Councilman Glickert moved the appointment of Mr. Esley Hamilton, 1169 Ursula, to the Plan Commission, for a term expiring January 1, 1981, replacing Air. Paul Rhiney, who has resigned. The motion was seconded by Councilman Lieberman and carried unanimousl; RESPONSE TO MS FORSTER BY COUNCILMAN KELLEY Councilman Kelley said he wished to give :Is Forster a more complete response to her inquiry. He said the opinion of counsel was provided at the request of the Acting, City Clerk to determine what she should do in response to this particular petition. Basically, the opinion strongly suggests that the matter is not a proper subject for either the initiative or referendum process, since it deals with matters of taxation, which are excluded by the Charter from those two processes. The reason those pro- cesses are excluded by the Charter is because the budget is drawn up ahead of time,