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Commission weighs meeting frequency and overlap with business association
Summary
Board members discussed reducing meeting frequency and coordinating with a separate merchant association to attract more volunteers and reduce burden on small business owners.
Commissioners debated whether to reduce the Webster Groves Business District Commission's meeting frequency and to better coordinate with the Merchant and Business Association of Old Orchard (MBAOO).
Board members said small business owners have limited time and that two meetings per month — for the district committee and the separate merchant association — discourages participation. One board member argued the district might meet quarterly or combine meetings back to back to make participation easier. "This is really an obsolete group in my opinion almost with how small our district is," a board member said, urging fewer meetings and clearer roles.
Members discussed maintaining responsibility for approving special activities and events (parades, races, seasonal events) while moving operational tasks (planters, watering, lights) to a larger merchant group. Several commissioners suggested making meetings shorter and scheduling them back to back with the related merchant organization to reduce travel and time costs.
The commission did not take a vote but agreed to continue the conversation and to explore legal and liability constraints with city staff before proposing formal changes.
