City has draft proposal to manage pocket prairies after neighborhood concerns, council liaison says

Pam Bliss, the Webster Groves city council liaison to the Sustainability Commission, told commissioners on June 16 that the city has drafted a proposal to manage the pocket prairie islands following neighborhood meetings and resident concerns.

“We have heard all the concerns and put together a draft of a proposal for taking care of the islands,” Bliss said. She said city staff had met with the neighborhood and that the draft is preliminary. Bliss and commissioners agreed not to hold a lengthy discussion at the meeting; Bliss said the city will bring the issue up under new business at a future meeting for fuller discussion.

Commissioners and Bliss discussed outreach and communication around the pocket prairie work. Bliss said pre‑engagement and implementation “wasn’t carried out so well,” and staff plan to “button up the communications a little bit more.” Commissioners noted the prairie planting is part of a phased program that appears in multiple neighborhoods as part of the city’s broader campaign.

No formal action or ordinance was taken at the meeting on the pocket prairie proposal; Bliss said the item is in draft form and that staff have a list of locations identified. Commissioners asked for updates and said they would expect forthcoming communications to the commission and to affected neighborhoods.