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Session 1702, Minutes <br />July 28, 1997 <br /> <br />weekday trash collection, fully landscaped transitional yards to protect the adjacent properties, a provision that all signs must <br />be approved by the Historic Preservation Commission. Council should realize that this is a tax exempt institutional <br />occupancy, although it will not be removed from the tax roles during the early stages of development. There is a condition <br />that compliance be maintained with all City construction and occupancy codes. With these conditions in agreement with the <br />applicant, Council can approve if ready to do so. <br /> <br />Mr. Donald Beimdiek, is the attorney representing the applicant, The Church of Scientology of Missouri, He believes that <br />Mr. Ollendorff has completely summarized the result of a number of meetings that he and his staff have held to review the <br />plans and the proposed use of the building. This is an existing structure and there is no plans for any external construction. <br />There will be some renovations on the interior. The City will see the same building. He believes the criteria of the City's <br />ordinance has been complied with and the matter is ready for action unless there are further questions. <br /> <br />Mr. Lieherman said that the operation claims to provide counseling and he would like to know what kind of counseling is to <br />be provided, be it criminal rehabilitation, drug rehabilitation, homeless or halfway house rehabilitation. The organization <br />says that they will rent this facility for the present time, but intends to buy it possibly in the future and therefore he would like <br />to know if there is any consideration being given in providing the City or the School District with anything in lieu of taxes in <br />exchange for what the City would lose as a result of that purchase. <br /> <br />Ms. Marcie $argeant, Executive Director of the Church of Scientology, 1804 Corando, Overland, responded to Mr. <br />Lieberman's questions. She said that the Church provides spiritual counseling, which is done on an individual basis. They do <br />not do drug rehabilitation or any of the other counseling that Mr. Lieberman mentioned. It is strictly an individual counseling <br />session with the aim of making a person better. As far as the property tax offsets, she had proposed to the Mayor, that she <br />would be interested in possibly donating volunteers from the Church's parishioners to do public service work, such as <br />painting the school, providing tutoring for students, etc. She is very open regarding this issue. <br /> <br />Mr. Schoomer said that all monies received in lieu of taxes, must be shared with all taxing jurisdictions, if it would become an <br />item for discussion. Responding to Mr. Schoomer, Ms Sargeant said that there was no time table for the purchase and was <br />not ~irm. <br /> <br />Mr. Munkel asked if any of the Church's counselors were licensed by the State of Missouri. Ms. Sargeant responded in the <br />negative. She explained that this was pastoral counseling. Mr. Munkel asked if the counselors were degreed in any <br />discipline. Ms. Sargeant replied that they follow a code for a spiritual counselor, but they do not go to school. They are <br />taught religious studies in and through the Church. <br /> <br />Mr. Wagner asked the City Manager if he was correct in assuming that the Trustees of the University Heights subdivision <br />were satisfied that all their restrictions and indentures would be met. Mr. Schoomer commented that Mr. Ron Scott, one of <br />the trustees for the subdivision was present tonight. Mr. Ollendorffsald that the City does not enforce the private <br />subdivision restrictions. That is the responsibility of the subdivision trustees. It was tabled to ensure that the proposal was <br />shown to the trustees so that they could take whatever action or interest they felt was appropriate. The City did not ask for <br />what that action was and it is not in the City's jurisdiction to do so. The City did get a letter from the applicant stating, for the <br />record, that they did share all of their plans and proposals with the subdivision. <br /> <br />Mr. Ron Scott, 6942 Amherst, is a trustee for University Heights # I. Responding to Mr. Wagner, Mr. Scott said that the <br />trustees did review the site plan proposal, but they were not submitted by the owner of the property, but by the applicant. <br />Mr. Wagner asked Mr. Scott if he saw anything in the site plan such as parking or landscaping that might violate the <br />subdivision codes. Mr. Scott said that he did not. <br /> <br />Mr. Schoomer asked the City Manager to explain how the calculations for parking requirements were made. Mr. Ollendorff <br />replied that staff looked at the number of spaces or cars that were parked at their present location as compared to the <br />number ofstaffand others present at this site and saw that the ratio was about two people per space. The ordinance <br /> <br /> <br />