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Session 1760 <br />June 21, 1999 <br /> <br />University students attempting to cross Millbrook to get to campus. Where the Washington <br />University power plant stands, is the narrowest place on the route. She wonders how <br />visual and sound dampening material is possibly going to fit in this area. She believes this <br />compromise construction will turn the train into a roller coaster and simply does not make <br />sense. She urged Council to table approving the resolution and join Mayor Harmon in <br />petitioning a 60 day delay in EWGCC's vote until more solid plans are available to study <br />and analyze. <br /> <br />George Floros, 6326 Pershing, stated that he wanted to know why the City Council did not <br />inform the public that negotiations with East West Gateway were taking place. Mayor <br />Adams explained that the meeting was not a Council meeting, which required public notice <br />as required under the Sunshine Law. It was a meeting between himself and East West <br />Gateway. A negotiation of this type is not normally publicized due to its nature. Mayor <br />Adams continued by saying that the resolution was amended to accommodate as many <br />concerns as possible. It was simply impossible to make 100% happy. Mr. Floros believes <br />that the City is just playing into East West Gateway's hands and believes any compromise <br />is wrong. He wants to know what assurances we could count on. He remains bitterly <br />opposed, because this simply sets one part of University City against another part. <br /> <br />Hap Burke, 7112 Pershing, asked several questions about Skinker going underground and <br />how the compromise route will line up with Clayton. Mayor Adams explained that Skinker <br />was a City of St. Louis concern and that we could not do too much about that. The <br />compromise does have it going underground at Skinker, including the station. Mr. Burke <br />asked what would happen to the west of Big Bend. Mr. Ollendorff stated that this part has <br />not changed at all. It is still going to come up somewhere between Bally's and Forsyth. It <br />will line up with the new Clayton route. Mr. Burke asked about the details of the sound <br />and visual buffering. Mayor Adams stated that this would not be dealt with until later on <br />when the plans have been delivered to East West Gateway from Bi-State Development. <br /> <br />David Smith, 7323 Maryland, stated that he was here as representative of the Historic <br />Neighborhoods Association. The association would like to thank the Mayor and the City <br />Council for getting a firm commitment from East West Gateway and St. Louis County <br />Officials to build the extension underground from Throop west to Forsyth. While they <br />oppose any change to the previous resolution that would water down the provisions, they <br />do recognize the accomplishments of getting the route underground just east of Big Bend. <br />University City was the first municipality to invite its citizens to an open debate over the <br />route, as well as the construction. The resolution that was passed by the Council in July of <br />1997 has become the basis for many other municipalities and organizations adoptions of <br />similar resolutions. Since all the neighborhoods have not received the same benefit of <br />underground construction, he would ask that Council consider delaying their vote until firm <br />plans and written assurances are in hand and have been analyzed. <br /> <br />13 <br /> <br /> <br />