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Session 170 I, Minutes July 7, 1997 Mr. Thomas Dixon, 6605 Chamberlain Avenue, wanted to discuss people loitering and just hanging around for extended times in residential areas. He stated that East St. Louis, Illinois had a law against this type of activity. He has noticed people hanging around for more than live minutes, drinking and possibly using drugs. He would like to know why this type of activity is allowed in University City. Mayor Adams stated that there are various amendments to the United States Constitution that would preclude the Council from moving people along who are apparently not breaking the law. This would be violating their rights as given to them by the U.S. Constitution. If someone is congregating and is breaking the law, then that would involve the Police Department, in which case, a citizen can could to report a potential crime in action. Council has to be very careful in not violating people's constitutional rights. Mrs. Thompson asked Mr. Dixon if he calls the Police when he sees people congregating and acting suspicious, because the Police would probably come. Mrs. Thompson said that a person could not just call the Police to have people stop congregating on the street. She said that we all have to be cognizant of the fact that this kind of activity can cause trouble, especially with teenagers. She despises drugs and she wants it run out of her community. These are the types of issues she stands for and wants to see happen in her community. When suspicious activity occurs, it is our responsibility to report it to the Police. Mr. Wagner stated that the Council would now be dealing with the issue on MetroLink and would like to also state that he, for one, was very unhappy with the resolution that passed the Council on June 23rd. Judging by the conversations that he has had with many of the audience, many of them, including himself, is very unhappy with what the Council did that night. He believes that the process was flawed and the results were embarrassing and quite disappointing. Mr. Wagner said that tonight he would offer language which will amend the resolution passed on June 23rd and he urged all his colleagues to pass the amending language. He wants to get the language back that was in the October 21 st resolution, recovering all the points that were missing and maintaining some of the really good points that were in the resolution from June 23rd. (Applause) Mr. Wagner, at this point, asked to review the amending language with Council and the audience. Mrs. Thompson asked to comment first. Mrs. Thompson said that she agreed with Mr. Wagner. The resolution was rushed through without thorough review and it was truly an oversight. She stated that Mr. Wagner had worked up amending language with other Councilmembers and she hoped that these changes would be acceptable. (Applause) Mr. Wagner reviewed the amending language. First of all, he said that his constituents had a wide spectrum of opinions regarding MetroLink and that there was no hope to please them all. Council tries to do what it is best for University City. The Council believes that having MetroLink along Forest Park Parkway is good for University City, as stated in the June 23rd resolution. Mr. Wagner also believes it is good for University City to have good, strong constraints on how the MetroLink route is constructed - if it does come through University City. It is those constraints that the amending language deals with. There are four main points: I) reinstate the language on prohibition of forced home and property sales; 2) No park and ride lots; 3) recover the strong language in replacing the word "restrict" with the word "no" and the constraint would now be read as "no commuter parking on adjacent streets"; 4) ask for the entire route that is in University City from the eastern city limits on up into Clayton, about a mile and a half, to be underground (cut and cover or tunnel) so there is no confusion. The Council believes that this has to be underground and out of sight for the benefit of the neighborhoods, some of which are going to have this route within twenty feet of their backyards. (Applause) Mr. Wagner encouraged all of his colleagues on the Council to vote for this amendment. These points were strongly stated in the previous October resolution. Mayor Adams thanked Mr. Wagner and Mr. Schoomer for correcting the language on this resolution. He admitted that there were some oversights in the resolution passed on the 23rd and he is glad that they have been corrected. There was no attempt at collusion or secrecy to change things. It just happened like some things do. The Mayor asked the audience to be civil and respectful as they listen to what everyone had to say.