LIVE BLOG Crestwood Board of Aldermen, Tuesday

Highlights: 7:20pm on Enterprise; 7:45pm on city room rental policy; 8pm on dissing Mayor Schink's nominee; 8:15pm and 8:19pm on animal control fees; 8:20pm and 8:45pm about buying police cars; 8:50pm about appointing new alderperson.

7pm  Mayor Jeff Schlink is missing. Later we learn he is on a pre-planned business trip to Washington, D.C. He works for Edward Jones.

Deputy Mayor Mimi Duncan sits in the center chair, and runs the meeting.

7:01pm Agenda item: Old Wendy's Restaurant needs a conditional use permit to become Enterprise car rental.

Tim Hof of Enterprise introduces himself. 

Acting Mayor Mimi Duncan calls for resident comment.

7:03pm: Resident living behind old Wendy's takes the podium. He doesn't want Enterprise there, because of noise and cars. He asked Enterprise neighbors in other locations, and they complain about vacuum cleaner noise. "I hadn't thought of that."

McIntee says he pays taxes too, and deserves some quiet.

McIntee goes on about noise and lighting annoyance from Schaefer cars and Butler auto body, next door to Wendy's.

7:10pm: Duncan thanks him for comments when he pauses. He sits down.

7:11pm: Another resident (male) takes the podium and talks about the city's noise ordinance. "Is there a decible limit?" Learns it's really a disturbance or annoyance ordinance.

Alderman Wallach: Says he himself is on the Planning and Zoning Commission, so he heard the testimony of residents last week. He asks Hof (Enterprise) about noise and whether doors on the cleaning bay are open during vacuuming.

7:14pm Hof: Yes. The building is heated but not cooled. So garage doors would be open during the summer. "I would be less than honest if I said the doors were going to be closed during nice weather like this," Hof said. "It's just not feasible for our business." Hof is operations manager for Enterprise in the St. Louis area.

Alderman Duchild: He asked Hof how the cleaning of cars is going to operate in the bays.

Hof: It's not automatic. "It's people like me, with a spray." Two vacuums in the cleaning garage. "We may have a power wash." Gas fired. It would be on the north side of the bay.

Alderman Pickel: Says Enterprise is moving across the street, essentially, right?

Hof: Yes, the old one is too small for us. We outgrew it about six months after we rented it, he said. It was unclear how long they have been there. They are going to combine two offices at the old Wendy's site, car and truck rental.

Alderman Pickel: Is it going to mean more jobs at this new location?

7:20pm Hof: Yes, because we are adding more services, he says. "We're here for the long run. I told Mr. McIntee, outside before the meeting, that it doesn't do us any good to start with an adversarial relationship. We are a very proactive company. We don't take these issue lightly. We will do our best." He also promised to plant shrubs for sound muffling.

Alderman Pickel: We look forward to having Enterprise here, he says.

Alderman Miguel: Is there a wall between the Wendy's site and resident's yard? Fence?

Several talk at once, but the consensus seems to be there is a short stone wall. McIntee says "it doesn't do any good."

7:22pm: Acting Mayor Duncan closes comment period on Enterprise. Calls for vote. Wallach introduces. Vote 6 yes, 1 abstain. Passes. This means Enterprise will proceed with developing the old Wendy's site.

7:24pm Next item on agenda is city policy on Gov't Center room use and rental by outside groups.

Alderman Duchild: A $20 room use for aldermen chamber—he asks why don't we charge the same as the Community Center charges, so we aren't bidding against ourselves, b/c people might go for the cheapest room.

Duncan calls for public comment.

7:26pm: Dave Wissler, president of Gravois Township conservative Republican group that rents the Bd. of Aldermen room at Gov't Center takes the podium. "Are we still taking about letting us rent the room or are you talking about how much? You're still up in the air about this? Are we going to make a decision?"

Duncan: We are scheduled to vote on it after the public comment.

David Wissler: Says he is going to continue to show movies at the meetings in the Gov't Center like The Third Jihad "because it needs to be said." He acts angry about the anonymous caller who complained about the video being shown by the group last November in the Gov't Center. "Then I'll stick around and see what you have to say." Sits down.

(Editor's note: Some consider the film to be anti-muslim, inflammatory propaganda.)

7:35pm John Winston: The second speaker on room policy and member of Gravois Township Republican group. He says he checked around and many cities don't have policies to exclude groups from use of city government buildings. "This room is the best one for senior citizens." He cites the police and lighting here as pluses for the elderly. He said since 1977 they have used the Crestwood Gov't Center room. "We've never been out of control. We don't use food or drink."

Alderman Wallach: How long are the meetings?

Winston: "We get the keys from across the hall. We turn out the lights and lock it up."

Alderman Pickel: Let's be clear, he says. We are deciding to have no restrictions on room use? And one vote will cover the new fee and new room use policy?

Duncan: Yes.

Alderman Wallach: I would like to make the fee change effective January 2012, if the policy moves ahead.

Resident comment, David Brophy: I would like the original, more liberal policy, to allow the room to be used, he says. He cites democracy as the basis for such a policy.

Another resident, a woman: Says Brophy speaks for alot of people, very well said, she says. She says she can not walk up to the podium and speaks from her chair.

Alderman Miguel: He thanks Planning and Zoning commission for doing the legwork on this policy. He looks at chart provided on how city rooms were used over the year. Major users are Gravois Township, MADD and STARRS, he said.

Police Chief Mike Paillou is missing from the meeting. Deputy Chief Frank Arnoldy fills in.

Arnoldy: STARRS is a quasi-governmental agency that uses the room, in answer to Alderwoman Beezley. 

Acting City Administrator Jim Eckrich: Talks about fee for Gov't Center room. "The $20 seems to make sense. It seemed to be reasonable, based on what the planning/zoning commission wanted." He said it was for wear and tear on the room, and custodial.

Alderman Miguel: Wants to leave determination of the fee amount to staff. 

7:42pm Charles Berry, Municipal judge for Crestwood: What is the liability if a fee is paid and "invitees" become "licensees?" It may be better for the city to let people use it without a fee.

City Attorney R. Golterman: "I don't believe the fee would raise any issues of liability."

City Clerk, Tina Flowers: Says she gets calls about using the room, and would like the fees decided, clarified by the aldermen.

Marilee Sauers, Crestwood resident: (Also a member of conservative Republican group.) "I feel there should not be a fee." Especially for wear and tear. We cover that already, she says, indicating by paying taxes. She thinks that the exact recommendation by the planning and zoning commission should be voted on by the aldermen. If not the same, then it should be done at a later aldermen meeting, so that she can prepare to speak about it. She said the commission did not talk about leaving the fee in the policy.

Alderman Wallach: He responds that they did decide at the commission to leave the fee up to the Board of Aldermen. Both Sauers and Wallach were at the same commission meeting.

7:50pm: Duncan closes the public hearing.

Alderman Wallach: Proposes the board vote on room policy use immediately, with the fee beginning 1/2012.

Aldermen vote: Unanimously passed. Basically, the policy returns to what it was before the emergency policy was passed in Nov. by the board. In previous meetings, Tea Party members confronted the city over the exclusionary policy and alluded to potential court challenges, so the board suspended it. The difference now will be the fee. 

7:53pm: Longtime Crestwood resident and retired Crestwood police lieutenant Doug Mosby steps up to the podium as nominee to fill Mayor Jeff Schlink's vacant Ward 2 place on the Board of Aldermen.

Alderman Wallach: Asks Mosby whether he has any animosity against city employees?

Mosby: No.

Alderman Wallach: What are your views on Community Improvement Districts? (a special taxing district for local businesses)

Mosby: "My stance on CIDs . . .I'm very fiscally responsible, I'm in the business world. I consider myself to be very pro-business, I'm also pro-employee. We need to take a better look and sharper look at how we spend our money."

Alderwoman Beezley: How do you stand on the mall? (Crestwood Court)

7:56pm Mosby: We need to do what we can to have that property developed, but not at any cost. I don't think it's ever going to be what it was. I'm at a loss.

Mosby's work: Electronic/computer-related for police. 

Alderwoman Beezley: Mosby is a former employee of the city. "It's a concern for me." She says we still have people here that used to work with/for him.

8pm: Duncan says we need a motion.

Alderman Wallach: Moves to accept the nomination by Mayor Schlink to accept Mosby onto the board.

Vote: 4 no, 3 yes. Motion fails. Later, Wallach says he is "upset" by the vote result.

8:01pm: Duncan moves on to other routine items.

8:08pm: Motion to accept grant for park and stormwater fund from MO Dept. of Conservation. Passes 7-0.

8:10pm: City considers raising fees for animal control, and re-define "running at large" in pets ordinance. Alderpersons Beezley and Foote want to raise the fees.

Alderman Wallach: Fees are for licensing animals, $2 for the tag. Originally, it was to control rabies. Wants $5 now. "If we want to have animal control, I think it should try to pay for itself."

Alderman Duchild: I agree with paying for tags from county. But we have microchips now. I don't see a valid reason for the (city) fees/tags. Do other cities charge?

8:14pm: Wallach says not many cities have animal control. Those that do, charge. $2-$10 range.

8:15pm Alderwoman Beezley: It's all pets. Not just dogs. Says she is clarifying for Duchild. "As far as the chipping, it's up there, I think it's $35. And it's not what many people can afford."

Duncan: Do we have a microchip reader? Answer is unclear.

Marilee Sauer, resident: I think the raised fees should stay with animal control funds, not the general fund.

Eckrich: Animal control doesn't have a fund. It goes into general fund.

8:18pm Another resident (a man): "I'm confused now. All these tags. Some little dogs probably have trouble holding their head up. But it sounds like it's to raise revenue for the city. We're putting it on the animal owners. It seems an odd burden to put on animal owners. Why that large increase? Why put it on animals?"

8:2opm David Brophy, resident: I think Crestwood is redundant in requiring an animal ID tag. Runs through the list of tags his dog wears. Vet tag, county tag, microchipped, and personal phone number tag. "The fur on his chest has been worn away by the tags." We should do away with some, consolidate. He has a dachshund.

8:21pm: Alderman Foote: That is an interesting comment, from citizen Brophy. Maybe we should find a way to do away with some of these tags. Let's cut the metal tags down in the future.

Duncan: We are supposed to give direction to the city attorney. Vote: 3 yes, 3 no, 1 abstain. Measure fails.

City Administrator Eckrich: Any desire to move with the "running at large" modification? On the ordinance.

Alderman Foote: I'm fine with the "running at large."

Alderman Pickel: Wants to delay on tags. Okay on "running at large."

Alderman Foote: Still wants tag change.

Unanimous agreement to have "running at large" definition clarified in existing animal control ordinance.

8:28pm: New agenda item.

City Administrator Eckrich: Recommends purchase of two police cars. Police Lt. Avery and Deputy Chief Arnoldy here to answer questions.

Resident (man): "The heart of any vehicle is the engine. If you can tweak another six months out of a car, it's a savings of a lot of money. The city is not that wealthy."

8:29pm: Alderman Miguel says last week he spoke with Arnoldy and Eckrich about city vehicles. "Arnoldy is a very good advocate for the (police) department." We have an excellent police force. Thanks Eckrich for tour of existing vehicles. "I've thought about it quite a lot over the weekend."

There are a lot of intangibles about why we should get new vehicles. The tangibles just aren't there, Miguel says.

Miguel refers to last time they bought police cars in 2007. He says at that time they agreed to buy cars as needed. "I see no demonstrated need at this time" to buy more vehicles.

Miguel says there are no other bids for these vehicles. It's about $1,400 higher than what we paid for them back in 2007. He says Ford is coming out with new vehicles that save a lot of gasoline. They would save about $7,000 in gasoline for the city.

Miguel indicates patrol cars have low mileage in Crestwood. He said 14 patrol cars in Kirkwood have more mileage than the cars Crestwood defines as old.

"It's hard to justify buying a Crown Vic today when Ford claims right down the line we have a car that gets 25 percent better mileage," Miguel says.

Miguel said the 2007 police cars Crestwood bought were in the shop eight times after the first year. He said other cities can get 120,000 miles from patrol cars. Crestwood gets less.

He says if we buy these cars now, they are going to be dinosaurs.

8:39pm Alderwoman Beezley: Police reduced their request from three cars to two cars. The cars that police want replaced are from the 1990s.

Alderman Wallach: Who would get a new Crown Vic? (Ford Crown Victoria model)

Lt. Avery: One would go to the patrol division. The community resource officer gets the next oldest one in the fleet. Avery says something about a 2003 traffic car that goes to the community resource officer.

It is not specifically answered who gets the two new cars, only who gets the old cars. However, the board moves on.

Alderman Miguel: I see no need to replace any vehicle this year. I think the city can wait a year before replacing a vehicle.

8:45pm Duncan: Says pointedly that Alderman Miguel is not an expert on cars and not an expert on fleet management. She says the police are experts and it is her duty as an alderman to rely on their expert advice.

Alderman Wallach: I'm upset that we did not OK Mr. Mosby for the board. He could have helped us with fleet management. (Mosby is a retired Crestwood police lieutenant.)

Alderman Foote: He says he wants to get the cars, because Lt. Avery knows what he's talking about. The Crown Vic is the police favorite car, and it's their "office" and home away from home, Foote says.

Foote says we have fewer officers now and that saves money. He doesn't think we should have smaller police cars. Not comfortable. May lead to inefficient force.

Alderwoman Beezley: "All it takes is one incident. . .someone holding a gun to someone's head, and we can't get there." She says to rely on expertise of police advice and buy the cars.

Duncan: Asks for a motion on buying the cars.

8:55pm: Beezley introduces motion to buy two police cars. Vote: 5-2 passes. Miguel and Duchild vote no.

8:57pm: Purchase of one-ton truck is up for vote.

Vote: 5 yes, 2 no. Wallach and Duchild no. Duchild wants to defer purchase/payment of truck until August with group state bid, to maximize the use of current dump truck.

City Administrator Eckrich is willing to delay purchase. Unanimous agreement by board.

Alderman Pickel: Wants to table the vote on the Sappington Square CID (tax splitting) agreement to date uncertain. Vote: 5-2 it passes. Duchild and Miguel vote no. It's tabled.

8:50pm City Attorney Golterman: The board of aldermen need to appoint someone to the vacancy in the board, since they rejected Doug Mosby. We are in uncharted territory, he said. It's never happened before that the board rejected a mayor's nomination. The next meeting is three weeks away. Now, according to the city charter, board members may nominate someone.

Duncan appears to ignore the matter and moves on with other business, reports.

Alderman Duchild: Reports that the Park Board will get rid of damaged tennis courts in Crestwood Park.

About 9pm, the meeting is adjourned.