April 24, 2018 — Meeting Minutes
04-24-18 BOA Minutes April 24, 2018 Page 1 of 6 THE CITY OF CLAYTON
Board of Aldermen City Hall – 10 N. Bemiston Avenue April 22, 2018 (1st Meeting) 7:00 p.m.
Minutes
Mayor Sanger called the meeting to order and requested a roll call. The following individuals were in attendance:
Aldermen: Mark Winings, Alex Berger, Rich Lintz, Michelle Harris.
Mayor Sanger City Manager Owens City Attorney O’Keefe
Absent: Joanne Boulton Ira Berkowitz (arrived at 7:36 p.m.)
Alderman Berger moved to approve the April 10, 2018. Alderman Lintz seconded.
The motion to approve the minutes passed unanimously on a voice vote.
PUBLIC REQUESTS AND PETITIONS
None
A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR 7601 FORSYTH BOULEVARD
Mayor Sanger opened the public hearing and requested proof of publication.
City Manager Owens reported this is a public hearing to consider an application for a Conditional Use Permit submitted by Trevor Becherer on behalf of Clayco, Inc., to allow the operation of a temporary construction office with parking on the subject site.
Trevor Becherer, applicant, was in attendance to answer questions by the Board.
Mayor Sanger closed the public hearing.
Alderman Winings moved to approve Resolution No. 18-07, granting a Conditional Use Permit 7601 Forsyth Boulevard. Alderman Berger seconded.
The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.
AN ORDINANCE TO CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF DATA CENTER REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT
City Manager Owens reported that the City has an extensive computer network that includes two data center locations. One of the locations is at City Hall and the other is at the Police building, located on Brentwood Blvd. These two locations provide the City with built-in data redundancy which prevents loss of data should a server fail and provides for little to no network outages. These data centers were originally built in 2011 and 2012 and it is time for the first
04-24-18 BOA Minutes April 24, 2018 Page 2 of 6 phase of our two-part replacement cycle for these data centers and related equipment. Funds have been set aside for these purposes in the Equipment Replacement Fund.
Alderman Winings introduced Bill No. 6665, an ordinance to authorize the purchase of Technology Infrastructure Replacement Equipment to be read for the first time by title only. Alderman Berger seconded.
City Attorney O’Keefe reads Bill No. 6665, an Ordinance Approving the Purchase of the First Phase of Replacement Equipment in the City Data Centers for the first time by title only.
The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.
Alderman Winings moves that the Board give unanimous consent to consideration for adoption of Bill No. 6665 on the day of its introduction. Alderman Berger seconded.
The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.
Alderman Winings introduced Bill No. 6665, an ordinance to authorize the purchase of Technology Infrastructure Replacement Equipment to be read for the second time by title only. Alderman Berger seconded.
City Attorney O’Keefe reads Bill No. 6665, an Ordinance Approving the Purchase of the First Phase of Replacement Equipment in the City Data Centers for the second time by title only.
The motion passed on a roll call vote: Alderman Winings – Aye; Alderman Berger – Aye; Alderman Lintz – Aye; Alderman Harris – Aye; and Mayor Sanger – Aye. The bill, having received majority approval was adopted and became Ordinance No. 6532 of the City of Clayton.
A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CERTIFICATION OF THE APRIL 3, 2018, MUNICIPAL ELECTION
City Manager Owens reported that on April 3, 2018, a municipal election was held for the offices of Aldermen in Wards 1, 2, and 3. The results of the municipal election as certified by the Board of Election Commissioners of St. Louis County are as follows:
Ward I Joanne Boulton
383 votes (58.47%)
Blair Ian Kaiser
271 votes (41.37%)
Invalid write-in
1 vote ( .15%)
Ward II Ira Berkowitz
422 votes (97.46%)
Invalid write-in
11 votes ( 2.54%)
Ward III Bridget McAndrews
538 votes (63.82%)
Andrew E. Galakatos 302 votes (35.82%)
Invalid write-in
3 votes ( .36%)
Motion was made by Alderman Winings to accept the certification of the April 3, 2018 Municipal Election results. Alderman Berger seconded.
The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.
Other
04-24-18 BOA Minutes April 24, 2018 Page 3 of 6
Mayor Sanger – “Alex Berger, things will not be the same without you. Cannot think of anybody in the most recent history that’s had the enthusiasm and influence on the things that have happened in the community other than you for a very long time. So, the dynamics here are going to be different. I’d just like to let everybody know who is here, the extent of the things that Mr. Berger has accomplished…and I say this because we are a group here, we make decisions, together and we do things together and what happens is a result of us as a whole. But part of it is some of us are involved in certain things and others are not, but Mr. Berger is deeply involved in everything! Just a short list of things that he has been involved with over the past few years: lead advocate for the residences in Haddington Court to get the buyout because of flooding; he led the effort to ban smoking in the City parks; he facilitated and insured neighborhood input for the creation of the Outdoor Learning Center at the Hanley House; he led an effort to revise and enhance property maintenance ordinances for duplexes in the residential neighborhoods; led the collaborative effort to solve neighborhood parking and traffic issues in Davis Place in the area around Central Pres; principle advocate for an inclusive and fully accessible playground in Shaw Park; promoted accessibility as a value proposition for Clayton resulting in the City initiating action plans and over all strategy to enhance walkability and accessibility throughout the City and we were recognized by Paraquad as a result by awarding the City an ‘Accessibility St. Louis Award’; he actively promoted a parking app to individual retailers and restaurants in the downtown area; established a positive working environment to guide the Uniformed Employees Retirement Fund; advocated for new solutions to service delivery via outsourcing to support the goal to balance the budget; past chairman of the retirement funds and the CRSWC; served on the parks & Rec Board and the Economic Development Advisory Committee…and that was only in his first six months.”
Mayor Sanger read a statement from Alderman Boulton – “Dear Alex, I am so sorry I can’t be with you on your last day as a City of Clayton alderman but I am celebrating you nonetheless. I have so enjoyed working (and laughing and drinking and b-tching) with you over the last six years. You are irreplaceable (and irascible and sometimes a bit irreverent)! You have given so much of your time and talent to the service of the city and you will be sorely missed! Thank you for your passion, your wit and most impossible to replace- your amazing vocabulary! Sending you lots of hugs and warm fuzzies. Your favorite “kid”, Joanne”
Mayor Sanger – “Alex, I will tell you just personally I’ve enjoyed sitting down with you and Mark when we sit at our monthly get togethers - and you have your insight on things. You have a tremendous amount of Clayton information that you have always been willing to share and we’re going to miss you.”
Alderman Winings – “Congratulations to Alderman elect McAndrew! – very pleased to join everyone else here in welcoming you to the Board and I look forward to working with you in Ward 3. You got some big shoes to fill, as I’m sure you know. I think we all do, we all have some extra work to do now to make up for the loss of Alex. I did a little research in preparation for this meeting – crunched a few numbers and I’d like to share some of the results, some of these are estimates and some of these are actual true verifiable facts. Start with 15 years as an alderman, verifiable fact, that works out to about 450 Board of Aldermen meetings, not counting that one meeting you missed in 2012, but it’s about 450 meetings. If you count committee meetings and other reoccurring commitments, that number is well over 1,000. This is also verifiable, I looked in my Outlook inbox and since I’ve joined the Board, I’ve received 1,620 emails from you – that is a true fact, I’ll go on the record with that, I can prove that. The next one is an estimate, but I’ll estimate that you’ve had 3,000 cups of coffee while conducting City business and I estimate that you’ve cast about 2,000 votes over that time – that’s an estimate. But I did look this up and you voted correctly 98% of the time – a verifiable true fact which is interesting, because just to put that in perspective, Joanne is only correct 92% of the time – it’s speaks very well for you. This all adds up to about probably 4,000 hours of time that you’ve donated. It’s a good thing for us and the tax payers of Clayton that you’re not a lawyer or an auto mechanic because that would add up to about $2 million worth. It’s been an enormous sacrifice on your part, but I know that
04-24-18 BOA Minutes April 24, 2018 Page 4 of 6 you don’t really view it as a sacrifice - I know you view it as a labor of love. We can all tell how much you love this job and the City. Your passion shows in the way that you advocate for our residents and the way you push our excellent staff to be more excellent and in the way you challenge us at Board meetings. So, we know all of that comes from a good place, we know that you’re also really one of the biggest cheer leaders for our Board and for the City. On a personal note, it was you who first appointed me to the Parks and Recreation Commission about 10 years ago and later persuaded me to run for this Board. So, I would not be here if it wasn’t for you and I certainly would not be wearing this tie if it wasn’t for you. You’ve been a great mentor, role model, and friend. Thank you for all your service and congratulations!”
Alderman Lintz – “Alex, it’s been a lot of fun. I certainly echo everything that everyone has said about your contributions, the waiting to listen to hear what you have to say on any particular issue – the discussion is not complete until we’ve heard from Alex. The other part about that that I take away is that as passionate as you are about some things and as contrarian at times, it is very easy for you to then turn around and immediately befriend and joke and laugh – there’s no recurring thoughts about any debate that gets carried over. I think that’s part of your role model for me has been part of what makes this Board so collaborative and affective and I thank you. On a personal note, you may not remember this, but we first met at your favorite coffee place before I had decided to run, or earlier on, and we sat down and you told me all about what it was like and it didn’t dissuade me, it actually encouraged me. The one thing that we did come away with and I don’t think you remember, but it is an honor for me to know that you and I share the same birthday. I learned that on that first meeting and I’ll keep that as my little keepsake. Thank you.”
Alderman Harris – “Someone strategically placed that podium between us about a year ago and I think that you remember that in prior years where Alex and I actually shot some ‘bottle rockets’ across at each other a few times. I can claim to have served with Alex longer than anyone else on this Board including you, Mayor. It was 2006 when I first joined the Board of Aldermen and it’s now 2018 – about 11 years and we had some ins-and-outs during that time – I went off, came back. I just want to say how I’ve enjoyed all those moments and how welcoming you were to me when I first came on, I was the newest ‘kid.’ I would say we’ve had our differences, we’ve had our agreements, we have gone through everything to ‘toe-to-toe’ to ‘arm-and-arm’ and it’s always been fun, and I always felt like we were accomplishing something. Really, I am hoping that we are not losing you, I’m planning that you are going to continue to collaborate with us, continue to be an advisor, continue to work with us, and be right there with us going down the road. We will definitely miss you. By the way, Bridget – very strong welcome to you.”
Alderman Berger – “First of all, I think it’s important and appropriate for me to recognize and thank my wife, Cindy. Without her persona and energy I would have never been an alderman. She won the first election I was in and certainly I give her credit for every following aldermanic race that I was in.
I want to thank all of you and the experience of being an alderman in Clayton has been so rewarding and satisfying for me personally. My principle reason for me to say this is because of my fellow elected officials, first, thank you Mayor. Harold, you have been terrific to work with, your record of accomplishment is without peer, your commitment to collaborative leadership is a style that has been effective. We as a group have worked as a team because of your efforts to engage and create a vision for change and enhancement. Clayton has benefitted greatly from you being our Mayor.
The quality of people who make up this Board of Aldermen is remarkable. Each and everyone of the alderwomen and men has been a huge contributor to enhancing our community. I personally am a better person because I’ve had the opportunity to work with each of you and become a friend. These aldermen are caring, genuine and very bright. They are individuals who are both candid and committed, who advocate and listen to one another, who propose solutions and
04-24-18 BOA Minutes April 24, 2018 Page 5 of 7 debate those proposals with respect for everyone in the room. Our community is lucky to have chosen these individuals. They have made significant contributions to our City.
Craig, I want to thank you for your outstanding leadership and patience, because I know in dealing with me there were times when I was taxing your patience. You have been recognized statewide for your excellence and expertise, we recognized that from the first day you came to interview for the city manger’s position. Thank you.
June, you are the best, you keep the information flowing, you ‘ve always been exceptional in your responsiveness. We all owe you a tremendous thank you.
And the guy who sits up in the corner who doesn’t say very much, your insight and ability you have given us, valued recommendations over the years that have been absolutely fabulous, we owe you a debt, thank you.
I want to thank the entire staff of our City, the professionalism and work ethic of all of our employees is absolutely without peer. The effort made individually and collectively are remarkable and very much appreciated and I want to go on record to thank all of them. Now here is one specific area that I am very, very supportive of in terms of my opinion. I believe that the directors of our city administration are all hall of famers – Patty, Kevin, Paul, Susan, Janet, Dale, and Gary – you are all the best! Our community and City are better off because of all of you. Your leadership and commitment to excellence to develop, to enhance, to create solutions, have directly benefitted our residents for today and tomorrow. Hats off, kudos, and bravo – thank you.
Friends, being an alderman has been a fantastic experience, I am honored to have had the opportunity to represent my City and my community. Clayton is the best city because of the commitment of the elected officials and city staff to engage residents, partner with the School District, and work with the business community to create the outcomes and solutions that are very positive and beneficial – not only for today, but for the future. The ‘Emerald City’ is a community to be very proud of always.
I want to close by welcoming Bridget as the new Ward 3 alderwoman. I want you to know that she will be terrific in this role and make significant contributions to the group and the City.
Friends, once again, thank you very much.”
Alderman Berkowitz – “Alex, you’ve been amazing! I got to know Alex in 2006 or 2007 when we served together on the Ice Rink Task Force along with Michelle Harris. I have been entertained by you ever since. You’ve been an amazing steward and leader in this community and I hope you remain that after this. Seeing you go is an emotional experience for me – really sorry to see you go. You’ve shown yourself to be Mr. Clayton the whole 11 years that I’ve known you. I hope that you stay in touch and I hope that you stay with us. Alex, when you have something to say it’s meaningful and very guiding for all of us. Sorry to see you go.”
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned Sine Die at 7:40 p.m.
____________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________ City Clerk
04-24-18 BOA Minutes April 24, 2018 Page 6 of 6 THE CITY OF CLAYTON
Board of Aldermen City Hall – 10 N. Bemiston Avenue April 24, 2018 (2nd Meeting) 7:44 p.m.
Minutes
Mayor Sanger called the meeting to order and requested a roll call. The following individuals were in attendance:
Aldermen: Mark Winings, Rich Lintz, Ira Berkowitz, Michelle Harris, and Bridget McAndrew.
Mayor Sanger City Manager Owens City Attorney O’Keefe
Absent: Joanne Boulton
PUBLIC REQUESTS AND PETITIONS
Ben Uchitelle, resident, former mayor, addressed the Board stating that we will miss Alex, he is Mr. Clayton and a terrific person. Expressed congratulations to Bridget on the election. Expressed the need and desire of a Clayton human rights commission but would like to hold his remarks for a later meeting.
Other
Alderman Berkowitz reported that Copia II had an open house over the weekend; great restaurant; recommends everyone to visit; they will be participating in Restaurant Week.
Alderman McAndrew commented that she feels very honored to have been elected to serve this community. She feels blessed to live here and is looking forward to getting to work with everyone and representing the wonderful citizens of Clayton.
Alderman Lintz reported that he attended the Hillcrest Neighborhood Annual meeting held recently and has forwarded the citizen concerns to staff.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m.
____________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________ City Clerk