Live Blog: St. Charles City Council Meeting May 17

St. Charles City Council Meeting was held May 17 at St. Charles City Hall. 

9:01 p.m. The city council returned to closed session. 

9 p.m. City council approved an emergency ordinance to buy a replacement fire truck for the this month.  

8:53 p.m. Mayor Sally Faith announced appointments to several boards and commissions. She also reminded residents about Music on Main, scheduled for May 18. 

8:45 p.m. Councilman Tom Besselman asked that McGraw First Capitol Cleaners be considered for the uniform dry cleaning services for St. Charles Police Department. The council received a recommendation to sign a contract with Starcrest Cleaners for the $46,400 a  year.  The original bid requirement was for 7 days of service, which McGraw First Capitol Cleaners does not provide. Councilman Dave Beckering said the bid process has to be sacrosanct. He said if a business didn't meet the qualifications of the bid for whatever reason, "you can't get a second bite at the apple." The contract will be held over until June 7. 

8:37 p.m. The city council discussed a request from Fischer and Fritchel to waive fees for the construction of the St. Jude Dream Home in Talbridge. Councilman Dave Beckering said he wanted to know whether those fees would be pocketed by the contractor or whether it would go to the charity. Councilman Mike Kneemiller said he has no problem supporting these donations long as it benefits people in St. Charles. Council member Laurie Feldman said children from St. Charles, or anywhere, who are suffering from cancer can go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and not have to pay for treatment. The city council approved the request. 

8:35 p.m. Council bills 10498, 10500, 10501, 10502, 10503, 10504, 10505 and 10506 were introduced. 

• Ordinance 10505 authorizes a contract with Layneco Construction Services for the construction of the Frontier Park Restrooms for $378,190.

• Ordinance 10506 authorizes a contract with Colleen Dealey who would be paid $143,366 to provide project management services on a temporary basis for the implementation of the Project Enterprise Project. 

8:30 p.m. Councilman Tom Besselman suggested the city consider putting a stop light at either end of New Town Boulevard to allow the traffic to go in either direction during construction. Director of Public Works Debra Ayslworth said she's not sure how well that would work in this situation. Aylsworth said she has had lots of discussion with residents at New Town who said they wanted the road to be one way with all traffic going into New Town. Councilman Mike Klinghammer said it's important to business owners that people know how to get into the neighborhood.

8:20 p.m. The city council discussed authorizing a $1.933 million contract with Kuesel Excavating Company for the New Town Boulevard reconstruction project. The road will be open only to one-way traffic for the majority of the time contractor is working on it, said Director of Public Works Debra Aylsworth. The contractor expects it to take 180 days for the road to be "substantially completed," and able to be reopened to two-way traffic. However, Kuesel would have 300 days to complete the project. If the project is substantially completed in 180 days, the contractor would receive an additional $60,000. The bill was introduced tonight and will be voted on June 7. 

8:13 p.m. City Council member Mary Ann Ohms suggested amending council bill 10498, which would get rid of a section of prohibited parking that's in front of a house on Hawk Drive and create a new handicapped parking only restriction in that area. Ohms suggested just getting rid of the no parking zone in the area and having the home owner apply for the handicapped parking only restriction through the normal channels. "It seems like signaling out one resident for special treatment is not right," she said. The council approved the amendment and will vote on the bill at the next council meeting. 

8 p.m.: Nine city council members voted in favor of rezoning a portion of St. Charles bordered by First Capitol Drive, Boone Avenue and Wilmes Avenue to a planned development mixed use district. All of the properties in that area are owned by Lindenwood University, except for properties at 2130 First Capitol Drive, 723 Spring Avenue and 1611 Wilmes Avenue. Councilman Tom Besselman voted against the rezoning. 

7:59 p.m.: City Councilman Mike Klinghammer, Ward 8, suggested an amendment to bill 10497, the development plan for Lindenwood Village. Under the amendment, Desco, the developer, would have latitude to try to put a hotel on one of two sites in the property. If, after 18 months, the developer was unable to recruit someone to put in a hotel at one location, the developer would be able to put a restaurant in that spot. "I thought this was a good middle ground," he said.  The amendment was approved by nine council members but not Councilman Tom Besselman, Ward 2. The city council will have a final vote on the plan at the June 7 meeting. 

7:54 p.m. The city council approved bill 10492, which clarifies that recreational vehicles cannot be parked anywhere between the front of a building and the street on a 6-4 vote. The council failed to pass bill 10493 which requires residents who store their motor vehicles, boats or RVs in a backyard to install a paved driveway leading to the pad on which the item is stored.

7:50 p.m. City Council voted to unanimously approve council bill 10490, which is an agreement with the city of St. Charles and the city of St. Peters for improvements to Hackmann and McClay Roads. The project will cost $1.43 million, with $946,800 coming from federal funds, $402,080 from the St. Charles County road board, $69,120 from the city of St. Charles and $20,000 from the city of St. Peters. The city council also approved council bills 10491, 10494, 10495, 10499. 

7:43 p.m. City Councilman Dave Beckering, Ward 7, asked to table bill 10398, which addresses retiree benefits. He said he wants to create a city council committee to study the issue. The motion was approved unanimously by the council. 

7:35 p.m. Wayne Mayer, 44 Empire Drive, spoke in opposition to the rezoning consideration for the Lindenwood Village development the city council is set to consider. "I see you all are sponsors of this bill," he said, adding that he feels the glad for the opportunity to speak formally against the proposal, although the decision may already be decided. 

7:24 p.m. Steve Swan, who lives on Hawk Drive, spoke about a no parking zone that was installed in front of a house on his street at 3104 Hawk Drive. He read a letter on behalf of his neighbor that asked for the no parking zone to be removed. Swan also said the parking restrictions at the house across the street from him have created issues for adjoining neighbors. "This is a public street in the city of St. Charles and it’s not by a college," he said. 

7:20 p.m. St. Charles Mayor Sally Faith proclaimed October 20, 2011 "Lights on After School Day," a necessary step for the St. Charles School District to apply for a grant for funding for after school programming in the district. May 15-21, 2011, was declared "National Police Week" in the city.  

7:15 p.m. Retired Police Officer Steve Pope was recognized by the city council. Pope retired April 23 after 34 years of service to the city and received more than 40 letters of commendation and appreciation, said St. Charles Police Chief Dennis Corley. "I've had a great time working in the city of St. Charles," said Pope. 

7:11 p.m. St. Charles Director of Public Works Debra Aylsworth recognized George Callaway, the city's retiring fleet maintenance supervisor who has been with the city since 1971. During his 38 years with the city he oversaw 175 pieces of equipment and vehicles, said Aylsworth. 

7:08 p.m. City Council members are sitting for the meeting. About 30 residents and 15 city staff members are in the audience.