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Webster Groves planning staff rebuilt after turnover; city reports flood‑buyout progress and near‑final comprehensive plan
Summary
Deputy city manager Renee Tyler told council the planning department has rebuilt staffing, reduced inspection backlogs, started Magnet software training, and completed several flood‑buyout and demolition tasks; the 2025 comprehensive plan draft is expected later in March.
Deputy City Manager for Community Vitality Renee Tyler reported to the council on steps the planning and development department has taken to restore operations after a period of high staff turnover and to address the November 2024 flood response.
Tyler said the department lost roughly 55% of its staff to retirements, medical leave and resignations. The city contracted with Shockley Consultants to analyze operations and developed a 30–120 day plan to stabilize staffing. The city also contracted SafeBuilt to provide inspection capacity; Tyler said contract inspectors began work in February and have handled commercial inspections while city staff focus on residential needs.
Tyler summarized operational changes: updated job descriptions, documented institutional knowledge, cross‑training, standardized operating procedures, dedicated inspection appointment windows (reducing a prior 4‑hour block model), Magnet database training for staff across departments and a plan to reduce paper records. She said the planning staff is currently at about 80% of full complement, has hired a contract inspector who has performed more than 200 inspections, and is recruiting for two additional positions (administrative coordinator and a code enforcement officer).
On flood buyouts and demolitions, Tyler said the city closed on and demolished 834 North Forest on Dec. 27 and Feb. 27 respectively; an offer was accepted for 844 East Pacific and three council‑approved houses are undergoing environmental checks and asbestos reviews before demolition, with those demolitions expected within the next two months. Staff told council they completed approximately 280 construction and occupancy inspections in the immediate post‑flood period and sent letters to 55 properties affected by flooding.
Tyler also reported the 2025 comprehensive plan final draft is expected the week of March 24. She asked the council to continue supporting department goals including succession planning, GIS implementation, customer portal rollout and a review with boards and commissions to streamline reviews.
Ending
Councilmembers asked for additional detail where appropriate and requested that more of the 2025 comprehensive plan materials and selected appendices be made available to council and the public for review.
