To:
Honorable Mayor Adams and City Council
From:
Julie Feier, City Manager
Date:
October 5, 2007
Subject:
Weekly Update
The American Planning Association (APA) announced this week that the Delmar Loop
has been designated as one of 10 Great Streets for 2007 through APA's Great
Places in America program. APA Great Places exemplify exceptional character and
highlight the role planners and planning play in creating communities of lasting value.
They are places where people want to be — not only to visit, but to live and work
everyday. America's truly great neighborhoods are defined by many criteria, including
architectural features, accessibility, functionality, and community involvement. Through
Great Places in America APA recognizes the unique and authentic attributes of
essential building blocks of great communities — streets, neighborhoods, and public
spaces.
In the 1960s U-City reserved all street-front building space for retail, restaurants, shops,
and galleries. This led to more than 140 boutiques, eateries, and entertainment venues
along the boulevard. Despite the zoning change and streetscape improvements, the
area remained partially deserted until the 1970s when young entrepreneurs organized
local business owners and helped create a special taxing district to raise money for
streetscape enhancements including dusk-to-dawn lighting in alleys, flower planters,
and unique, eye-catching holiday decorations and store awnings.
The nine other APA Great Streets for 2007 are Bull Street, Savannah, Georgia; Canyon
Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Main Street, Northampton, Massachusetts; Monument
Avenue, Richmond, Virginia; North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois; Ocean Drive,
Miami Beach, Florida; 125th Street, Harlem, New York City; South Temple Street, Salt
Lake City, Utah; and St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana; For more information
about these streets, and the list of APA's 10 Great Neighborhoods for 2007, visit
www.planning.org/greatplaces.
The School Board President, Superintendent, Mayor, and I held our quarterly lunch this
week. We made strides in organizing two joint meetings. Due to the complexity of
schedules, we arranged to have two Monday night meetings. The first will be a study
session for Council on Monday, November 19 at 6:30 PM in the EOC Room. Interim
Superintendent Wilson agreed to attend along with any other district staff you might find
helpful to field questions and identify strategic initiatives for partnership. A second
meeting for the School Board and City Council is scheduled in the District Board
Room (McNair School on Groby Road) for 6:30 PM on Monday, December 10.
Council Members Arthur Sharpe Jr. and Byron R Price will host a third ward
community meeting on Thursday, October 11, from 6:30 PM until 8:00 PM at the
Heman Park Community Center. Interim School Superintendent Joylynn Wilson and I
will be the primary speakers. I will review the City’s Strategic Plan, budget history, and
two million dollar collections deficit.
The Great Rivers Greenway District, the public organization leading the development
of a region-wide system of greenways, parks, and trails known as the “River Ring”, has
announced plans to extend the popular River des Peres Greenway along Germania
Street and the River des Peres channel, from Morganford to Interstate-55. The nearly 1mile extension of the existing 4-mile River des Peres Greenway will include a new
pedestrian plaza with a stone seat wall, and pavers and pedestrian level lighting that is
consistent with the existing design of the River des Peres Greenway, which opened in
September 2005. A new trailhead parking lot will be created near the intersection of
Eugene and Germania. While Great Rivers Greenway has put the U-City projects on
hold due to monetary demands from neighbors. Through the acquisition of grant funding
by our Parks Staff, we currently have a ¾ of a mile of trail under construction in Heman
Park. The spur trail will link into the Centennial Greenway when Great Rivers proceeds
in the future.
U-City in Bloom Bulb Sale will take place this weekend in conjunction with the Loop in
Motion, on the sidewalk between Craft Alliance and Bread Co. New this year: A large
number of wearable art and stationary will be for sale. The fundraiser will take place
Friday, Oct 5 and Saturday, Oct 6 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. If you can volunteer to
work on Saturday, call Linda at 727-4232 or email [email protected]
The St. Louis County Legislative Affairs Committee will provide their report during
their November 3 breakfast. The Committee narrowed their selection to approximately
40 and will highlight five during the annual breakfast. The five issues on the “short list”
are identified below. The numbers correlate to the full packet included as an
attachment.
A 1. Taxation of Cell Phones and Other Communications Systems
During the summer of 2007 municipal attorneys reached a settlement agreement
with Verizon Wireless regarding the payment of gross receipts taxes on cell
phones, flat taxes levied by cities and antenna taxes. The agreement stipulates
that the company will pay two years of back taxes and all future taxes at the
current municipal rate. Settlement negotiations with other companies are
underway as well. This is a positive outcome to a situation that has been
working its way through the courts for over five years. Cities and most phone
companies value this compromise. The cities realize a more stable financial
environment while the phone companies eliminate the potential for 10 years of
back taxes and achieve the tax clarity they desire.
League Policy:
The League opposes legislation that would change the settlement agreement
with Verizon Wireless or any agreements that may be reached with other
companies. Changes would destabilize the reasonable settlement along with
municipal budgets and likely renew litigation.
A 3. Tax Increment Financing
TIF is one of the most important economic development tools for cities. Changes
during the 2007 session resulted in a new requirement for St. Louis, St. Charles
and Jefferson Counties, which are likely unconstitutional as it is a special law,
which is prohibited by the constitution. In addition, the legislation creates a
countywide TIF commission to review and make recommendations on municipal
projects. However, the bill did not repeal the requirement for a municipal TIF
commission. There is a great deal of confusion over whether there should be
two TIF commissions or if the new countywide commission will replace the
municipal commission. Potential legal challenges to the law in the future could
derail any TIF after the city has spent considerable time and money on these
development efforts.
League Policy:
The League urges the General Assembly to act quickly to address the two
problems that were created in the 2007 legislation:
1. Eliminate the unconstitutional provision that applies the new legislation
only to St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson Counties, and
2. Clarify whether the countywide TIF commission replaces the municipal
commission and whether two commissions will review each proposal.
A 6. Property Taxes, Reassessment and Tax Relief for Senior Citizens
Property taxes are generally considered progressive in that those who own property
of greater value typically have higher incomes. But several problems arise in the
property tax system in St. Louis County, including:
1. The need to evaluate each property every two years to ensure that taxation is
fair;
2. Determining values of business property is difficult because true comparables
nearby are rare and large taxpayers are motivated to haggle over the values;
3. Voluntary rate cuts by taxing entities, if reversed, are confusing;
4. Retirees, especially in area where values appreciate considerably, may struggle
to afford the ever increasing tax bill;
5. Subclasses can be taxed differently in St. Louis County since January 1, 2003;
6. Appealing assessments is challenging and sometimes viewed as unfair;
7. The very large number of properties and their diversity is almost guaranteed to
result in human error; and
8. Very complicated programs add to the confusion, which leads to government
mistrust.
League Policy:
The League encourages:
1. A more streamlined system of reassessment, perhaps done somewhat less
frequently, that adds more certainty, reduces the need for appeals, maintains
fairness, and instills confidence;
2. The State to simplify the two programs that offer relief to seniors, the Circuit
Breaker for low and moderate income seniors, and the Homestead Program, for
somewhat higher income seniors facing the largest increases in assess value;
3. The State allocate funds to make up any local losses due to property tax
simplification and provide for growth; and
4. The State close loopholes that allow shifts in the tax burden from commercial to
residential, unless the State hold homeowners harmless by utilizing state funds.
D 9. Collective Bargaining
In early 2007, the Missouri Supreme Court determined that all public employees,
including police and supervisors, have the authority to bargain collectively with
municipal employers. However, no statute guides the process for the previously
excluded groups. In addition, all labor agreements are binding on both parties
during the term of the contract. This decision overturns 50 years of precedent,
adds confusion, and will result in significant costs to taxpayers.
League Policy:
The League supports legislation to clarify issues related to the bargaining
process without changing the underlying “meet and confer” law. The League
also supports legislation to clarify that cities should have authority to enter into
agreements that allow cities to modify memoranda of understanding when
unforeseen situations occur. The League adamantly opposes any efforts to allow
binding arbitration in collective bargaining negotiations. Personnel and financial
decisions should be determined by local officials who are responsive to the
public, not by an outside arbitrator.
D. 10 Overtime Pay for Public Safety Employees
The Missouri Department of Labor ruled in 2006 that municipalities must pay
overtime to all employees. This greatly impacts budgets for police and fire
service, which routinely schedules employees to work over 40 hours in some
weeks but balance that with additional days off. The decision eliminates this
option and is currently causing cities to pay significant amounts of overtime
and/or modify practices supported by both employers and employees.
League Policy:
The League strongly supports legislation that exempts public safety employees
from the provisions of Missouri’s overtime laws and retains the ability to follow
the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in order to return stability to
municipal budgets and provide work rules supported by employers and
employees.
As follow up to our Verizon conversation, the league provided additional information
regarding their involvement and the planned use for the additional funds from the
municipalities.
*Get out and enjoy Loop in Motion and the U-City In Bloom bulb sale this wkend
in the Loop!
Upcoming Meetings and Events:
Thursday, Oct. 11:
6:30 PM Third Ward Community meeting at Heman
Community Center
Monday, Oct. 15:
5:30 PM Business License/Solicitor’s Permits
Monday, Oct. 15:
6:30 Council Meeting
Wed., October 24:
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Civics101: Public Presentation on Do’s
and Don’ts of being Public Servant by Attorney and civic
leader, Mondi Ghasedi-Council Chambers, 5th floor
Monday, Nov. 5:
5:30 PM Study Session, Collections
Monday, Nov. 5:
6:30 PM Council Meeting
Monday, Nov. 19:
6:30 PM School District Study Session, EOC Room
Tuesday, Nov. 27:
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, Civics 101: Public Presentation on
Planning and Development by Community Development
Department Director Lehman Walker and Planning StaffEOC Room.
Monday, Dec. 3:
5:30 PM Study Session, Parking Assessment
Monday, Dec. 3:
6:30 PM Council Meeting
Monday, Dec. 10:
6:30 PM Joint Session of School Board and City Council,
District Board Room
Attachments:
Great Streets Notification Letter
Public Works Week-In Review
PW Letter RE: Olive Sidewalks
Invitation to meet Interim Superintendent Wilson
Betty L.Thompson Press Release
Deputy Chief Ernest Green Press Release
Return of HUD Lead Abatement Program
St. Louis County Municipal League Legislative Information
Contingency Occupancy Notification for Students w/o permits
Information from Private Subdivision Summit
(Service Delivery Info and Sample Crime Stats)