Minutes of April 2008 Meeting Board of Aldermen

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Meeting of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Clarkson Valley at City Hall (Fru-Con Center), April 1, 2008.
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The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. A roll call was taken with the following results:

PRESENT	Ward	ABSENT
Mayor Scott Douglass
Alderperson Susan Shea	Ward 1
Alderperson Jim Meyer	Ward 1
Alderperson Honora Schiller	Ward 2
Alderperson Wendell Sittser	Ward 2
Alderperson Scott Schultz	Ward 3
	Ward 3	Alderperson Barbara Hethcote

Alderperson Schultz made a motion to accept the Minutes. Alderperson Sittser seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken with an affirmative result and the motion was declared passed.

Mrs. Janet Renda, a resident of Forest Hills Club Estates, spoke regarding airplane noise due to a change of flight patterns at Spirit of St. Louis Airport.

REPORTS

St. Louis County Police Report: Officer Thom Taylor of the St. Louis County Police handed out the March Police Report.

Metro Presentation: Mayor Douglass introduced a special guest, Mr. Patrick McLean, Vice President of Marketing & Customer Care who spoke about the November 4, 2008 referendum that failed. He said they would bring it to the citizens for another vote in the spring of 2010.

Temporary Sign – Midwest Music: City Clerk, Michele McMahon, read the Notice of Public Hearing. Jerry Roberts, owner of Midwest Music explained that he is currently using a sign that was used by the previous owner, Ellisville United Methodist. He went on to say he knew that if he purchased another sign, it required Aldermanic approval, but he thought he could use this same sign with a change of company name.

Alderperson Shea, who served as Chairman asked everyone if they had an opportunity to read the Minutes from the March P&Z Hearing. She said Gregg Bogosian had questions of the Board. Mr. Bogosian was present and asked the City Attorney for his thoughts on the City’s current ordinance regarding signage exceeding four (4) square feet? The City Attorney explained the ordinance was crafted for the purpose of having Board Members review each sign. He also said each property (of which it was noted by Alderperson Shea, there are only six) requesting signage is a separate case and each is unique to itself.

Mr. Bogosian stated that in order for the P&Z Commission to approve a sign, the code should be reviewed and adjusted; i.e. lighted internally – is that permissible? Mayor Douglass explained to Mr. Bogosian that the Commission could not approve anything; it can only make a recommendation to the Board of Aldermen.

Alderperson Shea concluded the discussion by saying she showed the applicant the elevation of a monument sign that Ellisville United Methodist applied for in 2000. (Due to certain circumstances the sign was never purchased and the church used the temporary sign until the time they moved to Wildwood.) Alderperson Shea said she would like to see the music store with some type of similar signage.

Mayor’s Report

Court Report: The total amount collected for traffic fines and court costs for the month of March 2009 was $17,685.00.

Traffic Fine Increase: Mayor Douglass reported the City has new traffic fines to review and that would be discussed tonight.

Weed Ordinance: Mayor Douglass said he met with Board Members Schultz and Schiller to further discuss the weed ordinance. There are some changes, he said, and he will get that information to the City Clerk to be typed.

Feedback from Letters Mailed Regarding Sanitation and Yardwaste Change: Mayor Douglass said he received five calls about the yardwaste, asking Board Members to consider one month less on the winter opt-out. He said December through February seems to be more appropriate to these residents because they have an inordinate amount of debris, such as gumballs, that shows up at the end of winter.

Seat Belt Law: He said he and Officer Taylor reviewed the County’s seat belt law and that will be discussed at tonight’s meeting.

Helmet Law: Mayor Douglass said the County passed an ordinance recently requiring minors to wear safety helmets when bicycling, rollerblading, or skateboarding. He said the police officers warn the parents now, which is what the ordinance mandates so we are in compliance.

Kehrs Mill Road Electric Signal Problems: Alderperson Shea stated the signalization setting isn’t always working and last week it took sixteen minutes to get through the signal. Mayor Douglass said he would call MoDOT.

Mechanical Screening Still Required: Alderperson Shea mentioned it appears that Marquette High School’s classroom addition is nearing completion and the air conditioning unit is still not screened. Mayor Douglass stated that Jack Schenck continues to be in touch with the contractor.

Berm Clean-Up: Alderperson Schultz reported his subdivision contracted to have the berm on Clarkson Road cleaned-up and mulched after AmerenUE topped all the trees. He concluded by saying that now it looks good.

Airport 157 Noise Study: Alderperson Schiller reported she had a copy of the noise study and would leave it in City Hall.

BILL NO. 0384 – AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO MIDWEST MUSIC AUTHORIZING THE LOCATION OF A TEMPORARY SIGN AT 15977 CLAYTON ROAD IN THE CITY OF CLARKSON VALLEY, MISSOURI.

A motion was made by Alderperson Meyer and seconded by Alderperson Schultz to discuss and pass Bill No. 0384. The City Clerk read Bill No. 0384 for the first reading. Alderperson Shea, who chaired the Planning and Zoning Hearing, explained firstly they considered the existing sign to be a temporary sign from the time is was used by the church. The Commission is asking the Board of Aldermen to grant the owner a four-month timeframe to keep the existing sign which should give him enough time to obtain bids and set monies aside to purchase a new sign - especially considering that starting a business in this economy is not easy. The Commission also felt the rolling sign is too unsightly and the owner of Midwest Music moved it. Bill No. 0384 was read the second time. A roll call vote was taken with the following result: Ayes: Meyer, Schiller, Schultz, Shea, and Sittser to which Mayor Douglass stated Bill No. 0384 passes and is now Ordinance No. 09-02.

Clarkson Farm’s Request For Signage: Rhonda Pitt, Chairperson of Clarkson Farm, was present to answer questions. The request from the subdivision was for three speed limit signs and one sign to indicate “No Outlet”. Alderperson Schiller felt three signs were too many and mentioned she drove through other subdivisions and found none had that number of speed limit signs. Alderperson Schiller then made a motion for one sign at the subdivision entrance. Alderperson Shea seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the following result: Ayes: Schiller and Shea. Nays: Meyer, Schultz and Sittser. After further discussion, it was determined another bid was necessary.

BILL NO. 0385 – AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF CLARKSON VALLEY, MISSOURI, IN TITLE V: BUILDING CODES AND REGULATIONS, BY ADDING TWO SENTENCES TO SECTION 105 PERMITS IN SECTION 105.1 REQUIRED AND SECTION R105 PERMITS IN SECTION R105.1 REQUIRED.

A motion was made by Alderperson Schultz and seconded by Alderperson Meyer to discuss and pass Bill No. 0385. Mayor Douglass read Bill No. 0385 for the first reading. A motion was made by Alderperson Sittser to amend Bill No. 085 to place the screening of generators as a separate paragraph and to eliminate the portion pertaining to roofs. Alderperson Schultz seconded the motion. Bill No. 0385 was read the second time. A roll call vote was taken with the following result: Ayes: Meyer, Schiller, Schultz, Shea, and Sittser to which Mayor Douglass stated Bill No. 0385 passes and is now Ordinance No. 09-03.

BILL NO. 0386 – AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 380.160: SEAT BELTS BY DELETING A SENTENCE IN PARAGRAPH C. WHICH WILL NOW GIVE POLICE OFFICERS THE ABILITY TO MAKE SEAT BELT VIOLATIONS A PRIMARY STOP AND DELETING PARAGRAPH E. IN ITS ENTIRETY.

A motion was made by Alderperson Schiller and seconded by Alderperson Schultz to discuss and pass Bill No. 0386. Mayor Douglass read Bill No. 0386 for the first reading. There was no discussion. Bill No. 0386 was read the second time. A roll call vote was taken with the following result: Ayes: Meyer, Schiller, Schultz, Shea, and Sittser to which Mayor Douglass stated Bill No. 0386 passes and is now Ordinance No. 09-04.

Traffic Schedule: Alderperson Schultz made a motion to approve the new traffic schedule. Alderperson Sittser seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken with a unanimous affirmative result and the motion was declared passed.

Bank Change: Mayor Douglass reported he has been in contact with several banks discussing rates of return and charges. Alderperson Shea made a motion to change from its current bank (U.S. Bank) to the Business Bank, seconded by Alderperson Schultz. A voice vote was taken with a unanimous affirmative result and the motion was declared passed.

Audit: Alderperson Schiller made a motion to approve the audit as presented, seconded by Alderperson Meyer to have invoices in the amount of $88,191.81 approved for payment. A voice vote was taken with a unanimous affirmative result and the motion was declared passed.

Alderperson Meyer made a motion to adjourn. Alderperson Shea seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken with a unanimous affirmative result and the motion was declared passed.