2014-03-24 Reg - Laserfiche WebLink

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improper location of the signs. Ms. Carr stated that based on the statute she thinks the City is putting itself at risk by continuing to remove these signs. In her opinion this issue needed to be addressed in a different way rather than simply removing the signs and saying it’s been done forever. She stated that just because it has been done forever does not mean that it complies with State law. Mr. Kraft stated that last weekend he found a piece of paper on his desk from 2009 regarding Proposition S. As he looked at this piece of paper he realized that a lot of good things have happened during the four years he has been a member of City Council. He was reminded that the brochure on Proposition S, which did not pass, was sent out by University City to inform residents that this proposition, although it would not solve all of the City’s budget problems, was necessary to help maintain the then-current level of City services warning that if it did not pass City Council would need to make significant budget cuts within two years in the following areas. He stated that the list of services were long, but to highlight a few the brochure list included “reduced hours at Heman Park Pool; closure of the Heman Park Community Center; the transfer of street tree maintenance to residents; a reduction in police presence; reduced snow removal on residential streets; the transfer of sidewalk/curb repair maintenance to residents; further reductions of streetlights and a charge for leaf collection.” Mr. Kraft stated that that’s what was going on in University City in Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010, and even though the tax failed none of the things predicted in Proposition S ever happened. He stated that almost every day in the summer he continues to swim at the Heman Park pool, the lights are still on and more trees are actually being trimmed. Mr. Kraft stated that in 2009 the City was spending approximately $700,000 per year on street repairs. Today they are being done at a much higher level, and the sidewalk/curb maintenance is still being performed by City staff. He stated that while it is not a perfect story, it is certainly not the gloom and doom of University City needs more taxes to run this government. What was needed was to run the government better which this City Council and City Manager have done, by merging departments and hiring the people with the skill sets needed to effectively perform the work that needed to be done. Mr. Kraft stated that in his opinion University City Council has done all of these things in a responsible manner and thinks that the citizens of University City should be proud of the results. Mr. Crow stated that he is sure that everyone recognizes that time is ticking down with respect to the contested races for the Mayor, School Board and City City Council. So if it is already this tense, then it will become even more so in the next two weeks and he believes that it would behoove everyone to stop and take a breath. He stated that while he always appreciates when his colleagues take a walk down the list of City Council’s accomplishments it is also important for everyone to remember that University City does not have two budgets. There is only one budget and when it is passed it’s either balanced or it is not balanced. Mr. Crow stated that over the past four years the City has dipped into its reserves utilizing approximately five million dollars. So although he welcomed the comments made by members of City Council, he thought that the citizens made it clear that they would have liked to have heard these comments during a voter’s forum. He stated that it strikes him as odd that prepared remarks were made during this City Council meeting rather than at a forum where the attendance would have been much greater. Mr. Crow stated that when he moved to St. Louis in 1994, one of the reasons he chose University City was because it was a progressive and open-minded community. He stated that the action of everyone on City Council speaks volumes about this