2014-06-09 Regular Council agenda

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There are many issues that could use constructive criticism, so please consider channeling your energies with productive comments and actions, instead of playing politics of personal destruction. Ms. Adams asked that her comments be attached to the minutes. Stephen Arnold, 7305 Forsyth, University City, MO Mr. Arnold stated that this is the fourth in a series of meetings that he has attended and other than some appointments to commissions he has seen very little in the way of City business being conducted. He stated that he continues to be embarrassed at what is called City government. Mr. Arnold stated that perhaps he does not understand the way that City government works, or the lack thereof. He stated that this administration is literally tearing the City apart and has built a wall that prevents citizens from coming and seeing its government in action. Mr. Arnold then asked every member of Council to listen to its residents and start getting things done, rather than continue the mandated embarrassment in these meetings Kathryn McKay, 507 Mapleview Drive, University City, MO Ms. McKay stated that voting for or against resolutions is the proper procedure and is the honest and honorable way to express your views. Council is in violation of its own rules and had no authority to use the majority vote to remove agenda items. She stated that it is her understanding that Council has used the bogus justification that Robert’s Rules of Order allows voting to remove agenda items. Ms. McKay stated that these rules of order are merely guidelines for the efficient running of meetings and do not supersede the actual City Council bylaws and rules. She stated that nowhere in the City Council rules does it say that a resolution proposed by two members can be removed from the agenda by the vote of the majority. Ms. McKay stated that Rule 5 of Council’s rules state that “we will be guided by the current revision of Robert’s Rules of Order”. She then referenced page 263 of Robert’s th Rules of Order (11 ed.), “Rules contained in the bylaws cannot be suspended no matter how large the vote is in favor of doing so or how inconvenient the rule in question may be – unless the particular rule specifically provides for its own suspension, unless the rule properly is in the nature of a rule of order…..” Ms. McKay stated that because there is nothing in Council’s rules that provides for the suspension of Rule 24, Council cannot vote to remove the resolution or suspend the Council Rule. Ms. McKay stated that she would urge Councilmembers Carr and Crow to continue to place the resolutions on the agenda until Council has the courage and the integrity to actually vote on them. She stated that citizens have no way of knowing how their representatives view the issues in these resolutions if there is no formal vote recorded in the minutes. She stated that it is also obvious that these resolutions are not being judged on their merit to the citizens or to the City itself, but instead on Council’s personal political interest. I. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. The public hearing for the University City 2015 Budget was opened at 7:17 p.m. CITIZEN’S COMMENTS Elsie Glickert, 6712 Etzel, University City, MO Ms. Glickert stated that since the Pershing School was rebuilt two years ago the crossing guard at Kingsland and Etzel has not been replaced. She stated that a minimum of 40 children use this crossing daily and prior to the renovations a guard had always been present. Ms. Glickert stated that she does not understand why the position was eliminated, but certainly hopes that this year’s budget will include funding to restore the position of a crossing guard. Ms. Glickert stated that the Pershing School is the only school in the City without an adjacent park for recreational activities. She stated that generations of neighborhood children traditionally used the large yard for sports and other activities, but that has now been reduced due to the enlarged footprint of the building. Ms. Glickert stated that the possibility currently exists to acquire ground to provide additional recreational space and she would be happy to provide additional information to this administration if anyone was interested in learning more about this opportunity. Ms. Glickert stated that a wonderful perk which was eliminated under the past administration was half price passes for the Heman Pool and Recreational Center. She stated that these passes were provided to City and School District employees and provided a benefit to residents by having members of staff present. Ms. Glickert asked that consideration be given to reinstating this discount. Ms. Glickert stated that the lack of improvements to the Heman Park bathhouse is a big disappointment. She stated that citizens were led to believe that upgrades in the form of slip-proof floor covering and mixer valves for the showers for this eighty year old historic structure were