Webster Groves council advances comp plan discussion; council to consider creating a stormwater commission amid long-term funding gap

City Council members reported that the Webster Groves comprehensive plan draft is available online and that council will begin formal post-adoption discussion in upcoming meetings. A council member said the comp plan has been shaped by more than 20 listening sessions and town halls and urged business-district representatives to review it before council discussion on Aug. 19. The council also discussed forming a stormwater commission to help prioritize projects and gather expertise; one council member noted a projected funding shortfall for stormwater projects of "50 plus million dollars" and said the plan spans 20 years so projects would be phased rather than immediate. Council members asked the commission to help identify technical experts for the stormwater commission and noted that some grant and external funding would be necessary. The council update also referenced ongoing conversations about EV ordinances and other development standards; no final votes occurred during the meeting. Council staff reported that some advertising and promotion contracts have been reviewed after the budget was approved and said staff would confirm which media buys and contracts are finalized and coordinate with business-district contacts on promotional plans for the season.