To:
Honorable Mayor Adams and City Council
From:
Julie Feier, City Manager
Date:
May 25, 2007
Subject:
Weekly Update
After careful and substantial analysis and deliberation, the $1,979,905 deficit budget is
balanced. In order to preserve City services, and stabilize employment for all University
City employees we were required to reduce ongoing operational expenses.
Unfortunately, this includes a number of fee increases, service reductions and difficult
personnel decisions. The goal was to make adjustments based on attrition as much as
possible. In the end, seven positions will go unfilled via attrition and 12 positions
eliminated as a part of a layoff. Layoffs began this week and will be concluded on
Tuesday, May 29. It is always difficult to make the decision to eliminate jobs and lose
valued employees because of budgetary concerns. Please be assured that we gave
very careful consideration to these layoffs and did not take this decision lightly. In the
end, however, a layoff was the only reasonable choice given our budgetary issues, and
our desire to continue to provide a high level of service and a quality work environment,
including competitive pay and benefits for our remaining employees. As follow up to our
May 21 study session, I have included a Park and Recreation fee summary to solidify
our discussion along with the revised budget summary sheets.
A reminder of the Open House and Public Meeting to be held June 7 at the Heman Park
Community Center, to offer interested citizens an opportunity to discuss ongoing flood
damage reduction planning efforts for that portion of the University City Branch of River
des Peres between Purdue Avenue and Olive Boulevard. The agenda includes
indicates that from 6:00 PM to 6:50 PM citizens may view maps and talk with study
team members about specific concerns. At 7:00 PM, the formal meeting will begin. U.S.
Army Corp of Engineers and MSD representatives will present study results to date and
answer questions from the audience. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is conducting
the study in collaboration with the City and MSD. The Corp will report on flood risks,
present a preliminary screening of potential flood reduction measures and solicit input
from affected residents regarding which conceptual solutions examined in more detail.
As an update on senior medical transportation issues, we are working with the
County to begin recruiting volunteers as drivers for CORP (County Older Residents
Program). The first step was a press release and a front-page CityScape article. Ms.
Eastman will coordinate directly with the local churches, synagogues and community
groups to encourage citizens to volunteer for this most important service. If you have
suggestions for contacts or any interested, individuals have them contact County
Coordinator Linda Willis at 615-7430. Ms. Eastman has also continued to work on the
congregated housing issue and located a transportation service at St. Mary’s, which
specifically transports individuals to their hospital, lab and physician facilities. St. Mary’s
regularly transports seniors from Crown Center to it facilities and will continue to provide
the service at no charge. We are also securing a commitment from CORP that it will
accommodate seniors who are currently receiving service from the Senior Service
Board. We have initially identified 17 seniors who will be “grandfathered”. Their names
are listed in the attached letter. The Senior Service Board President has requested that
the City be named as an additional insured on the Senior Service Board's motor vehicle
policy. Further, University City has requested that the Senior Service Board not
use University City's logo in its operations, including on envelopes and letterhead
because it is a separate legal entity. Lastly, the Senior Service Board President
confirmed that no uninsured vehicles have been or will be used in Senior Service Board
operations.
The County’s latest list of I-64 traffic mitigation proposals is attached. We are
following up on some areas of concern including the striping of Midland to four lanes.
The County has indicated it is not their intent to stripe the length of Midland, only from
Olive to Canton. However, upon staff investigation that would leave three properties
without parking as well as complicating trash removal. I have included our response
and recommendations for additional and improved pedestrian crosswalks.
The Olive I-170 intersection bridge demolition is scheduled for Saturday, June 17,
requiring Olive Blvd. to be closed June 16 at 10:00 AM until Monday, June 18 at 5:00
AM. There will be no access from westbound Olive onto northbound I-170, and no
access from northbound I-170 to eastbound Olive during the closure times. General
public traveling on Olive will be able to access the businesses west of
Woodson/McKnight intersection but they will not be able to continue through to the
Olivette side. This request is to keep the project on schedule. They prefer to affect the
general public one week-end, versus daily night closures.
Students interested in either learning or improving their skills in such athletic activities
as basketball, baseball, track, field hockey, soccer, tennis, pom-poms, cheerleading,
water polo or wrestling should consider enrolling in University City High School’s
Sports Camp. The one-week camp is open to University City students who have
completed fourth through seventh grades. Sessions will be held June 11-15 beginning
at 9:00 AM and ending at 4:45 PM. All sessions will be taught and supervised by
University City High School athletic coaches and players. Fees range from $20 for one
session to $80 to participate in all day camp. A non-refundable registration fee of $5
per camper is also required. For more information or to register contact Nancy Mozier,
evenings only at 314-721-7554 or via email at [email protected].
Upcoming Meetings and Events:
Monday, May 28:
Memorial Day Run
Monday, June 4:
6:30 Council Meeting (Budget Public Hearing)
Thursday, June 7:
6:00 PM River de Peres Forum at Heman Park Community
Center
Monday, June 18:
5:30 Study Session (Second Century Commission Report)
Monday, June 18:
6:30 Council Meeting
Monday, July 16:
5:30 Study Session (Liquor Licenses)
Monday, July 16:
6:30 Council Meeting
Attachments:
Council Concern List Update
PW Week-in-Review
Letter to School District
County Letter RE: Deed Scam
Legislative Wrap Up
Letter From Mr. Daniels
Letter RE: Crown Center Senior Medical Transportation
Letter RE: Fire Hires
Ages 14-17 Event Flyer
Updated Cates CID Information
County Proposals for I-64 Mitigation
Budget Summaries