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BDC plans events, forms budget subcommittee; city touts sustainability grants and new hires
Summary
The Webster Groves Business Development Commission discussed format options for upcoming coffees and happy hours, agreed to form a budget subcommittee with members volunteering, and heard city updates about the Green Dining Alliance grant program and recent hires in planning and code enforcement.
The Business Development Commission debated whether to change the programming at the quarterly coffee—keeping it as an unstructured networking event or shifting to a focused roundtable—and agreed to keep the regular touch point while exploring more focused content and speakers.
The commission said events that combine networking with a short speaker or table-topic prompts are useful for business owners who must justify time away from their operations. Commissioners suggested guests such as Greater St. Louis economic-development staff or Missouri Municipal League presenters for future programming and discussed moving the February coffee to March because the city's rec center is unavailable in late February.
Commissioners also agreed to assemble a small budget subcommittee to draft the BDC's 2026 budget request. Jerry and Julia volunteered to serve; additional commissioners volunteered during the meeting. Staff said the budget request form will be due to the city by March 14 to inform the city's budget schedule. City staff outlined related city budget deadlines: capital requests are due Feb. 12 and the city manager will present the official budget to council on April 15.
In city and council updates, staff summarized the Lakota Group's comprehensive-plan presentation and highlighted sustainability work by the Sustainability Commission: the city is using remaining ARPA funds to promote the Green Dining Alliance (GDA), a program that audits restaurant practices and can lead to a green-dining district designation if a sufficient share of restaurants participate. Staff said the GDA charges approximately $250 for participation and that micro-grants are available to help restaurants implement recommended changes.
Staff also announced personnel additions: Elliott Lietz has been hired as planning director (joining from Berkeley and a former Webster Groves employee) and new hires for building inspection and code enforcement will start mid‑ to late February.
Commissioners requested that staff share clearer lists of responsibilities and estimated staff time needed to support BlueDot, workinwebstergroves.com and other outreach so the BDC can weigh requests in its budget submission. Staff said they will provide metrics and a proposed work plan for the next meeting.
