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Residents press council on consent decree, FNIP funding and a memorial boundary adjustment
Summary
During public comment, multiple residents urged the council to comply with the DOJ consent decree and to support neighborhood needs; a planning-and-zoning chair asked the council to approve a boundary adjustment to allow a memorial to remain.
Public comment at the Aug. 26 Ferguson City Council meeting focused largely on the city's ongoing consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice, perceived respect and decorum at meetings, and local neighborhood issues including a request for a boundary adjustment to preserve a memorial.
Residents repeatedly urged the council to continue compliance with the consent decree and to consider the decree's role in police reform and city processes. Becca Bridal, a resident, told the council: "The consent decree isn't overreach. It's structure. It's oversight. It's the bare minimum to rebuild trust. It's here because Ferguson proved it couldn't be trusted to fix itself." Larry Robinette said he had "acquired a $6,000,000 grant for the citizens of Ferguson to be able to only pay a small portion to have hazardous trees removed from their yard." He asked that the city recognize that work.
Adrian Shropshire, chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission, asked the council to consider a boundary adjustment and special building-line adjustment for a property that includes a memorial to four children who died in a recent fire; he said the owner would not develop the lot for housing and that the intent is to leave the site as a place of reflection. City Manager Hampton said staff had asked the applicant to contact other family members and recommended the parties consult before the item reaches council to ensure agreement among the family.
Councilwoman Noah asked whether it was legal to appropriate $330,000 in EDST funding to the Ferguson Neighborhood Improvement Program (FNIP) after FNIP had changed its bylaws. Attorney Ryan said he would review the question and report back; City Manager Hampton said FNIP's bylaws had been submitted for review and proposed staff would take the matter to a work session.
Later in the meeting council members scheduled a Sept. 9 work session to review EDST programs, bylaws for boards and commissions, and day-care matters. The council approved the work session date on a voice vote.
