2012-04-09 Regular City Council session

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working closely with the St. Louis City Police and the Washington University Police. Mr. Glickert said that it is a regional issue not only just a local issue in U City. Mr. Kraft congratulated Ms. Carol Wofsey and Mr. Crow (even though he was not present), for running a very positive campaign. He said they stayed on the issues and showed U City in a good light. Mr. Kraft said it is good to have Mr. Crow back on the Council and welcomed Ms. Paulette Carr, representing Ward 2. He thanked Ms. Ricci for being a dedicated Councilmember. Mr. Kraft also made special reference to Ms. Jan Adams being a great contributor to the Civil Service Commission. Mr. Sharpe thanked everyone who voted and supported him during the campaign for Ward 3. Mr. Walker responded to Mr. Glickert’s concern about the readiness of U City Police. He said that U City worked very closely with the St. Louis City Police, Washington University Police and with Metro. Mr. Walker emphasized that the incident in the Loop did not occur in U City, but in the City of St. Louis. He said that U City has a curfew and St. Louis City does not. He also said that the Police presence was doubled on that night in anticipation of the nice weather and youth just being out. It was also doubled in St. Louis City. Mr. Walker said that there were between 1,000 and 1,500 youth present in the Loop area. He said that U City and St. Louis City do not have the number of police officers available to manage a crowd of that size and would look at other alternatives. Mr. Price asked why it was taking so long to get the curfews in line with each other. Mayor Welsch said that she received a call at 11:30 p.m., asking her to attend a meeting with the City Manager, the Police Chief and representatives from the City of St. Louis, which included; Mayor Slay, their Police Chief and their Public Safety Director. She said they discussed bringing their curfew in line with U City, but that would be a decision for their elected representatives. The Mayor said that St. Louis City was a much larger community than U City and they look at curfews in light of all their entertainment venues that they have around the region. She said the City would look at the curfew on their section in the East Loop but noted that it would also affect their other entertainment venues. The St. Louis City Police Chief said that it would just move the youth from one part of the City to their other venues. Mayor Welsch also echoed with Mr. Walker in that the City does not have the Police Officers to manage between 1,000 to 1,500 youth. She said the St. Louis City Police Chief said that it was about 20 youth that caused the problem. The Mayor reiterated what Mr. Walker said the Police Chief of U City bumped up the staff in early March due to the nice weather. She said in the beginning of the night, U City had 20 police officers on the streets and St. Louis City had 15 police officers and then another 35 – 40 came on duty as the night progressed. Mayor Welsch said that Chief Adams confirmed that U City had very little problems in the Loop on that evening. The Chief said there were not an inordinate number of fights, if any, no purse snatchings or any other problems. Mayor Welsch said that this was a very unfortunate incident and should not darken the name of all of the young people. The Mayor said as a region, it should be decided upon on how to provide opportunities for youth to have social and recreation activities, rather than hanging out. Mr. Price asked the City Manager how soon it would be before they could meet with the Police Chief. Mr. Walker said that he would speak with the Police Chief the next day. Mayor Welsch said that this may be the last meeting of the present Council depending on when St. Louis County certifies the election results. She said swearing in the elected 6